Single Russian Ladies are notorious for taking pride in their intellectual capacities. They prize getting to know intelligent peers, and would prefer to be surrounded by smart, educated, and well-read individuals. As an average Joe on the lookout for a Russian girl to have and to hold, how do you sweep her off her feet, then?

Hold your ground. According to this guide by Château Heartiste, a man must persevere through a Russian girl’s defiant stance. Once a man shows the Russian woman that he cannot be bullied into submission, he will be rewarded with an interesting relationship with a passionate, interesting, Slavic girl. So be a man, do not be intimidated so easily, hold your ground, and reap the benefits of your perseverance.

Read, especially Russian classics. There are a lot of classic books written by revered Russian authors. From Fyodor Dostoyevsky to Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy, there is no dearth of thought-provoking novels and other forms of literature written by Russians. Because their country was the center of a lot of pivotal historical milestones, their country and culture has given birth to a lot of acclaimed literature. Peek into your potential Russian bride’s heritage through the lens of the literature that authors from her country have produced.

Prepare for lots of good Russian food, and to be introduced to her family. Russians are very family-oriented, and like a lot of Slavic cultures, they are very likely to give their future in-laws a very gustatory welcome into the family. In order to return your future Russian family’s welcome, make sure you eat everything they serve you, and if you must decline certain dishes, have a good reason. But seriously, eat everything. The experience is worth it.

Be a gentleman. A woman from Russia will expect you to be at your most gentlemanly best. Single Russian ladies still expect you to open doors for them, as well as to care about them as if you were a knight and they, a princess. Yes, a Russian girl will want you to be at your most gentlemanly, most chivalrous best, and that’s okay. Don’t allow the cliché “Chivalry Is Dead” to be your motto; rather, choose to be your Russian lady’s knight in shining armor. You’ll be all the better for choosing to be a chivalrous gentleman.

Be the best you. It’s beyond manners, etiquette, opening doors, and caring. A woman from Russia will be one of the most loyal potential brides around, and she’ll be one of the most interesting, too. And so, work on being “the best you” possible, and they will definitely reciprocate. Nothing impresses a woman, Russian or otherwise, more than a man who constantly works to improve himself, and one who chooses to be “the best him” for the one he loves.

A relationship, whether with one of the single Russian ladies you meet, or even with a woman from your own town or city, is nothing less than hard work. It is a dance of respect, caring, love, romance, passion, and even more caring. At the end of the day, the pursuit goes beyond how to meet Russian brides. It’s about how to become the best you, in order for your partner and your relationship to thrive. At the end of the day, as you nurture your bride and your relationship, you also nurture yourself. In the process, you will thrive, too. And so, impressing your Russian girl goes beyond putting your best foot forward—it’s all about being the best you.