For me, it was communication—not language, but emotional honesty. My wife, Olga, was raised in a culture where showing vulnerability wasn’t common. It took years for her to open up.
But once she did, our marriage deepened. I learned that Russian women express love through action, not words—through cooking, caring, and small gestures.
The hardest part became the most rewarding lesson: love doesn’t always sound loud; sometimes, it’s quiet and loyal.