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Make your own magical egg!
Posted by ihor on August 08, 2002 at 09:59:27:
In Reply to: Re: In reply to message posted by Ihor on 08.05.02 posted by chalykoosha on August 07, 2002 at 20:54:20:
Everything you said is right, but there are also plenty of success stories (me included). I've seen our people who came here before the collapse of the USSR and unlike modern immigrants could not sell their appartments, so they came here practically with nothing and in less then a year they were way within middle-class level. What's the secret? They came prepared, with skills and fluent English. You have to have both. That simple. I know a family of medical doctors, who came here a month after me. So first she took the job of a nurse and he would sit at home and study,study, study to pass the Kaplan licensing test for foreign MDs. After he passed and got his first job as a doctor she went studying. Throw into the equation two kids and three elderly parents. Now, of course, they both have their own practices etc, etc.
Truly, in this country sky is the limit and it's only up to the person where he or she stops. Sure, I am not talking about old people, it's a special case, but about us - normal middle-aged gorup. Our success is directly proportional to the level of effort to rise and persistance we put in.
I myself been there, in the position you described, not here though, but in Italy, where we waited for our visas for 7 months. Keep in mind that we DID NOT receive monthly assistance as most of people did (from the Jewish fund) - so me and my wife worked for cash to support ourselves and our 2 boys. And of course our knowledge of Italian was limited to basic music terminology (forte, pianl, legato and such). But we made it and i swear - never-ever we complained! We were happy. Later I got a job of a caseworker in Tolstoy foundation (emigrant services in Rome) - a move from a broom to a typewriter. By the way there I met one lady who complained a lot about what she had back home and what she was reduced to here in Italy. I asked her: "If you knew ahead of everything you'd have to go through - would you still leave?" Nagging stopped right there.
Sure we all miss things we were used to. But we made our choice and it's up to us what we make of it.
As far as judgement - where did you find it? I only pointed out things that did not sound right to me. I too have my right to be honest. And let me repeat the question I asked that lady in Rome - if you knew ahead of everything, would you still leave? If the answer is "yes" - then, as they say, put your act together. If it's a "no" - well, it's a free country after all.
Sorry for taking that much space on the board, but I thought these stories might be of some help to some people. And I sincerely wish you all the luck and all the strength to make the most of your life here!
Good luck!