7 years in the US

And here it comes – October 20. 7 years ago, on this day, I crossed the US border. 3 planes, 36 hours on the way, and I’m on the opposite side of the globe. The time difference with Tomsk is 11 hours in summer and 12 hours in winter.

You know what question I was asked most often (well, besides “Where are you from?”) – “How do you like it here?”

Depending on who asked, the answers were: a) “I like it”; b) “I like my husband”.

My husband is the only reason I live in the US.

Yes, It has been 7 years.

I cannot tell, was it a long or short period of time to me. I know that it was difficult, intriguing, sometimes fun, and sometimes sad. But in general, it was (and still is) very cognitively.

So in these 7 years, I got my driver’s license and citizenship, made new friends, and found a good job. I can go grocery shopping by myself, order things online, make an appointment over the phone. I learned how to use credit cards and pay bills with checks.

I improved my English to a “good enough” level. I speak with an accent and mistakes, but confidently. “Confidence ” is the most important thing in this case.

I don’t forget my Russian roots in any way.

In 2018, I gave a presentation From Russia with love (twice), where I told interesting facts about Russia in my opinion.

In 2019, I hosted a series of programs called Taste of Russia about the popular dish of the season.

I plan my own trips (single and multi-day).

I learned how to cook some American dishes.

There are other small (and not small) things that I am quietly proud of mastering.

Sometimes I think my husband is more excited about my achievements than I am.

It’s not that I underestimate myself. I’m just in a hurry, in a hurry to learn something new, to master the undeveloped , to get used to the unusual.

Fortunately, I was not alone in this 7-year period of life.

So on this anniversary of my American life, I thank my husband Daniel, my family (Russian and American), my friends and colleagues for their faith in me, for their help in word and deed, for their patience and tolerance, and for not judging me.

P.S. I almost forgot my blogging… this is my special pride, I don’t forget about it….