The history of Muscovite, who moved to the state of Michigan and lived in the US for half his life

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To move to another country at a young age means not only to get more opportunities for assimilation and to get settled in a new place. It is also a test, because you have to leave your parents and friends. Among those who did decide and did not regret it, is Maria, a Muscovite.

She said "Tape.ru“Why, having lived in the United States for half his life, is unlikely to return to Russia.

American Dream

In 1999, I graduated from one of the Moscow special schools with in-depth study of foreign languages. Where to go? I decided to try my luck in two directions at once: not only to pass exams to a Moscow university, but also to try to send documents to a higher educational institution in the States. I chose the University of Michigan.

Photo: depositphotos.com

As a result, she entered the university at home, but also from the ocean came a positive response. I thought it over and decided to go to America. Chose the direction of "Finance". Initially, the plan was to unlearn and return to work in Russia, but life decreed otherwise.

When I arrived, I settled (and now live) in the city in which the university is located - Ann Arbor. She lived with friends, then rented an apartment. She graduated from undergraduate, found a job. The employer made me a work visa. My profession is a financial analyst. I successfully received the green card and then citizenship on the basis of the employment activity itself.

In the last year I met my future husband - he is also from Russia, but he studied in another department and now works as a programmer. Already together we bought a house. We have a growing 5-year-old daughter.

Expat

The population of Ann Arbor is about 120 thousand people. It is a very international, multicultural city, as a student one. Accordingly, everybody got used to foreigners here for a long time. In general, the city is very liberal, the attitude towards all is good, including sexual minorities (so there is no homophobia).

Russians also love Russians, especially teachers: they know that students from Russia come with high-quality knowledge. There used to be even a program of international exchange between the physico-mathematical faculties of the University of Michigan and Moscow State University, but then the Moscow University refused it, because almost no one of the Russian students returned home.

Of the newcomers, there are especially many programmers, engineers, because here are the Google office, the Toyota development center. In general, the state has a lot of highly qualified workers from other countries, because in Detroit there are many different automotive industries.

Few people live in Detroit itself, but there are many small towns around it that blend seamlessly into one another, and there you can make a nest for every taste: there are communities (cottage villages) for white-collar workers, blue-collar workers, and where African Americans mainly live. Yes, everything is pretty segregated. In our area, for example, whites dominate, and in the class of the daughter are all 2 or 3 small African American. This, believe me, is very small for America.

It is no secret that in America most people prefer not apartments, but houses, especially family people. In Ann Arbor, the range of real estate prices is very large, but the average price is around $ 225 thousand. The middle class spends $ 350-400 thousand to buy a house, it is about 250 square meters. The average annual income per family is about $ 65 thousand.

Our house is worth $ 500 thousand, but it is considered to be above average, and its area is bigger - 300 meters. We have already paid the mortgage, but generally here it is usually not in a hurry. They try to pay for retirement in order to free themselves from large expenses.

Do not forget about property taxes: $ 3-5 thousand per year for a house.

Food and Fun

In Ann Arbor, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is an old authentic grocery market, where you can buy farm goods - to support a local manufacturer. But I often go to a regular supermarket. They are here for every taste: and more expensive, and cheaper, there is even for vegetarians. I try to go to those where organic products are sold - there, of course, is more expensive, but the quality is different. We go for groceries once a week, we usually leave there $ 150-200.

In our free time we visit the gym (costs $ 55-60 per month per person).

Even here it is customary to dine often outside the home, in a cafe or restaurant. The average bill is probably $ 50 to $ 70 with drinks.

American childhood

In the States, they marry and have children later than in Russia. This is due to the fact that people rely only on themselves and want to first get on their feet. Years to 25 - study, then - career. Years for 30 they buy a house, start a family, then live a little “for themselves”, together ... So it turns out that the first child is somewhere in “30 plus”.

No grandmothers are sitting here with the babies, and no one will let go on maternity leave on 3 of the year. After 3 months after birth, you need to go to work. Accordingly, either a child in the nursery, or hire a nanny. The latter is much more expensive, so kindergarten for babies is a common option.

Our daughter went to a Russian garden. We were lucky that such was nearby - of course, not in all cities so. A kindergarten costs about $ 200 a week, but for some reason Russian is cheaper. A nanny would cost about $ 450 per week.

First of all, the girl was taught the Russian language, and she is learning English just now, having entered SK (in Russian - “nulevka”). While studying for free. The process is very interesting - there are no textbooks or notebooks; in general, children are trying not to load too much. Great emphasis on independent work at home: tasks that parents themselves can do with a baby are given (but they are optional, it's all optional). The results are good: the daughter came to “zero”, knowing only the alphabet, and now she reads and speaks quite well in English.

In general, here the public school is not always bad. They have their own ratings, and in our area, for example, there are many strong schools to which you can request a translation, if the school is not suitable for the place of residence. After a public school, it is quite possible to enroll in a decent university - well, not in the Ivy League, but at the same University of Michigan - completely.

Private school is expensive, and the more - the more expensive. Let me give an example of the Cranbrook School, which we looked after for our daughter, if she does not go to the state. Elementary school (classes from 1 to 5) - $ 25 500 per year, average (from 6 to 8) - $ 28 100, older (from 9 to 12) - $ 33 100 (or $ 45 200, if there are $ XNUMX XNUMX, or $ XNUMX XNUMX, or $ XNUMX XNUMX, or $ XNUMX XNUMX, or $ XNUMX XNUMX, or $ XNUMX XNUMX, or $ XNUMX XNUMX, or $ XNUMX XNUMX, or $ XNUMX XNUMX, if there are ). So think about whether it is normal to spend that kind of money on school. In fairness, I note that this is really a very good school, one of the top ten in the state.

Gentle doctors

Earlier, before the introduction of Obama Care, we had free insurance from my husband's work. Now we pay somewhere $ 500 per month for everyone. This insurance does not cover all cases - various small things like a cold have to be treated at their own expense. You can make any check-up (medical examination) for free, it is included in the insurance price.

Insurance is still protection against serious health problems or for large planned hospital admissions. For example, childbirth costs $ 15-20 thousand, but I paid extra $ 3 thousand from my own pocket, and everything else was insured.

I gave birth to a child in a hospital at the University of Michigan. This is a solid medical institution, one of the best in the country. Accordingly, everything was at a very good level - and qualified doctors, and 1-local chamber, and attentive nurses.

About the attitude to the patient should be told separately. All medical staff speaks very politely, very correctly and gently - it feels like they pick up every word.

However, I didn’t go to doctors much in Russia, and that’s why I find it difficult to compare. But of course, the overall level here is higher, and most importantly - a different attitude towards the sick.

Native state - the best vacation spot

In the summer in Michigan is very good - warm, many picturesque places to go to. Michigan is called the state of a thousand lakes, and this is true. Very beautiful views, a wide range of hotels. So we, as true Americans, support the economy of our native state, have a rest here.

In winter, it pulls into warm lands, and we mainly choose the Caribbean. The cheapest and closest for us to fly to Mexico or the Dominican Republic: somewhere 5,5 hours, direct flight, all inclusive ...

In the winter we ski and snowboard. In the north of the state there is the Boyne Highlands resort - the mountains are not very high there, but you can come to 2-3 of the day (at the weekend). If you get away, that is the famous resort of Aspen.

Many places where managed to visit the States over the years. I liked it in California, Hawaii, Washington ...

In America, the sights are not like in Europe - not museums and monuments. The main attraction here - landscapes, nature.

In Europe, too, sometimes we are, but not often - still far away.

Russia, my doll house

My parents also moved to the States and live in a nearby town. I still have a brother in Moscow, but he is also thinking about moving somewhere.

There are no special reasons to come back home often, therefore. And desires - as you remember how much to fly, you will change your mind immediately.

In total, I have been to Russia three times since moving to the States. I met with classmates and friends. The penultimate time I walked right into that same Moscow summer smog in 2010, and now the whole family came for the New Year holidays and found themselves in 30-degree frosts. The city was very beautifully decorated, and despite the cold, we enjoyed walking around the center, visited Kolomenskoye Park, and went to the theater. But I felt terribly unusual in our three-ruble apartment, which once seemed so big - after our American home - it was like a doll’s house.

It is unlikely that we will ever return to Moscow for good. Although, for example, I would accept the offer to work in Russia for a couple of years, as in other countries. But in general, we have settled here, in the States, have established a life, it is comfortable and calm here, and I do not want to change anything drastically.

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