What is your wifes profession

[Lily]

No, Lit_1nce, please don't be sorry - I really appreciate your ideas on my eventual employment in the U.S., just in case if and when...
My speciality is corporate and transactional work, I did not even take classes in immigration law, as I was supposed to work in Moscow, not in the U.S. I think that it is very complicated to land a job in the U.S. that would consider my Russian experience as an advantage, though.

[SANDRO43]

Same could be done with many medical professions (although entry level).. but again to learn the terminology would be difficult if you didn't attend such a school.. (or even higher education here)  and this terminology is like learning a new language even for native English speakers...

Medical terminology is mostly based on Greek and Latin, and I read somewhere that some US universities include crash Greek courses for their students. Since it's used internationally, I should expect a foreign MD to already possess a large part of it.

[ScottinCrimea]

Medical terminology is mostly based on Greek and Latin, and I read somewhere that some US universities include crash Greek courses for their students. Since it's used internationally, I should expect a foreign MD to already possess a large part of it.

I've never heard of any US medical school that offers classes in Greek, and trust me, although much of the terminology has Latin roots, there is much that differs from language to language.  While a knowledge of Latin may work fine when learning, ultimately you need to explain things to your patients.  I spent a good portion of my medical career treating patients who spoke only Spanish and came to understand that there were significant differences in practicing medicine in another language.  One significant variable was being able to explain things in a way that they could understand culturally.

[mischief]

I've never heard of any US medical school that offers classes in Greek, and trust me, although much of the terminology has Latin roots, there is much that differs from language to language. 

Interesting, isn't it... my sister is in med school and they have very intensive study of Latin...
when I do translation for my mom of some med reports and other info written in English, she always asks me to leave medical -terms which are up to 50% of the text as they are... her English is not that great and yet she understands almost everything on international conferences just because of the terms knowledge...

[SANDRO43]

I've never heard of any US medical school that offers classes in Greek, and trust me, although much of the terminology has Latin roots, there is much that differs from language to language.

Scott, I cannot give you a quote on where I read that, it's a tidbit I tucked away as interesting, being language-related. FWIW; here's a site offering "Medical School Preparation" (Tips for getting into elite and top-tier medical schools): www.optimates.us/medschool.htm.

I'd say that communicating intelligibly with patients/colleagues in their language is part of the picture, its importance varying with the specific specialty/activity, say forensic pathologist (dead "patients" ) vs. general practitioner, for instance.

[ScottinCrimea]

Sandro, In all of my studies about the best way to get accepted into medical school, this is the first time that I have ever heard anyone mention that learning Greek or Latin would improve my odds.  Of all the hundreds of doctors I have known, only two come to mind that ever took a course in Latin and that was mandatory for them in their high schools.  Not once has Greek ever been mentioned other than by those of Greek descent, and not in the context of medical school admission, so from a practical experience I really don't know what the author of the article you cited is talking about.  I do find it interesting that the site contains an ad for an off shore Caribbean medical school.  Perhaps it is aimed at non-US students whose first language isn't derived from Latin.

We do use a goodly amount of Latin as roots for many medical terms such as parts of the body, but most of that is pure memorization anyway.  The area in which most Latin is used is in writing prescriptions, but there is a movement to write them in more common language due to some confusion in interpreting them by pharmacists.  Of course the penmanship doesn't make this any easier.

[SANDRO43]

The area in which most Latin is used is in writing prescriptions

Latin in prescriptions ? Now you make me curious. I was aware only of the time-honoured symbol at the beginning, the abbreviation for Recipe (Latin imperative meaning receive!, i.e. take). In prescriptions for galenics, or for anything else ?

[Zhena]

I've never heard of any US medical school that offers classes in Greek, and trust me, although much of the terminology has Latin roots, there is much that differs from language to language.  While a knowledge of Latin may work fine when learning, ultimately you need to explain things to your patients.  I spent a good portion of my medical career treating patients who spoke only Spanish and came to understand that there were significant differences in practicing medicine in another language.  One significant variable was being able to explain things in a way that they could understand culturally.

The medical vocabulary is pretty much based on latin terminology,of course there are other english specific termins but it is not difficult to learn at all.
By the way...today I was in the bank and spoke to a teller who is from Russia originally,here for 5 years-almost no accent!

[Fashionista]

I used to teach in university and now i am a stock girl, isn't that fabulous?

Ladies! (and gentlemen) If you have a decent career and you love your job, never ever change your country of residence, unless the war is coming. You can find another soulmate, and another soulmate, and a few more, but you can't build another good career after thirty in a foreign country. You'll always will be a second-rate professional: ether too wierd or too old. Don't try arguing with me: I admire your optimism but don't envy your blindness.

[myrddin]

I'd never argue, I'm just not the type  , but I don't think optimism has to be blind.  No one is saying it's easy or quick, but it is possible.  In the US 13% of the work force is self-employed.  More than half the rest are employed by small businesses.  At least one RW on this board started her own business.  What subject did you teach?  Could you tutor students of Russian?

[Fashionista]

What subject did you teach?  Could you tutor students of Russian?

Philosophy. Nope.

I am not saying that RW can't find some kind of job or even run her own business, i am saying that after you made yourself you can't remade yourself in something else. It's a matter of adjustment: if you were well-adjusted in one place it makes you pretty much impossible readjust in another place without major personality change. And you don't do a major personality change after 30 if you don't have a nice solid case of amnesia.

[groovlstk]

I used to teach in university and now i am a stock girl, isn't that fabulous?

Ladies! (and gentlemen) If you have a decent career and you love your job, never ever change your country of residence, unless the war is coming. You can find another soulmate, and another soulmate, and a few more, but you can't build another good career after thirty in a foreign country. You'll always will be a second-rate professional: ether too wierd or too old. Don't try arguing with me: I admire your optimism but don't envy your blindness.

It depends on what your career is... My wife was a kitchen designer for a large firm in Moscow, she easily found a similar position here (only difference is she now designs bathrooms, also) without much difficulty. I'm glad we didn't pay to have her diplomas evaluated because none of the firms she interviewed at had the slightest interest in her academic credentials, they only wanted to review her portfolio. Of course if she was a doctor, lawyer, or in another profession where academic credentials are very important, things would be much different.

[Misha]

Philosophy. Nope.

I am not saying that RW can't find some kind of job or even run her own business, i am saying that after you made yourself you can't remade yourself in something else. It's a matter of adjustment: if you were well-adjusted in one place it makes you pretty much impossible readjust in another place without major personality change. And you don't do a major personality change after 30 if you don't have a nice solid case of amnesia.

Not always. I have a number of good friends who are doing very well. It took ten years for one friend to get her credentials as a Canadian dentist. She is now doing very well financially. Other friends immigrated to Canada in their late thirties. It took a while but both found great jobs. He retired early and now spends his days playing the stocks from home. She is working as a teacher (her old profession). Overall, most of the Russian immigrants who were well-adjusted back home and work hard here have succeeded extremely well. The ones who didn't are usually those who built careers in Russia through connections instead of skill and hard work.

[Faux Pas]

Philosophy. Nope.

I am not saying that RW can't find some kind of job or even run her own business, i am saying that after you made yourself you can't remade yourself in something else. It's a matter of adjustment: if you were well-adjusted in one place it makes you pretty much impossible readjust in another place without major personality change. And you don't do a major personality change after 30 if you don't have a nice solid case of amnesia.

Fashionista, you appear to be stuck in a dogmatic point of view. Why is it not possible to enhance or increase both education and livelihood after relocation to Canada? I understand your educational degrees from FSU are not accepted as credulous in the west but you do still have the education no? I can't speak for Canada because I have only visited there but in the US you will only remain a stock girl if you choose to. What prevents you from furthering your education for western degrees? I have changed professions 3 times in my life. The last time I was 32.

[Fashionista]

Again: I am not saying it's impossible to find a good job and be successful in any meanings. This is about standarts and expectations: many ppl find themselves more satisfied living in Americas then they were in Russia. But if you are a dancer it's hard to find a satisfying career after they cut off your legs. You can reevaluate all your diploma - you will never be the same.

I am a language-rooted professional. I had changed a few professions in my life, but they all were somehow "getting-a-message-across-oriented". Then i moved to Canada and I felt like they cut off the air. Twice! Because there are TWO FREAKING LANGUAGES I CAN'T SPEAK NORMALLY!

[myrddin]

But if you are a dancer it's hard to find a satisfying career after they cut off your legs. You can reevaluate all your diploma - you will never be the same.

I am a language-rooted professional. I had changed a few professions in my life, but they all were somehow "getting-a-message-across-oriented". Then i moved to Canada and I felt like they cut off the air. Twice! Because there are TWO FREAKING LANGUAGES I CAN'T SPEAK NORMALLY!

I don't know what "normally" is, considering what some of my fellow citizens do to my language every day.  But clearly you have no difficulty communicating your views in written English and you have a great sense of humor.  I love philosophy and I think I would have enjoyed being in your class.  But to go with your analogy: I simply do not believe your legs are cut off.  Maybe they were broken, and I am sorry for that.

BTW, I know several Americans who graduated with degrees in philosophy and they all struggled.  It's just a tough road.  I don't personally know about Canada 

[Misha]

I am a language-rooted professional. I had changed a few professions in my life, but they all were somehow "getting-a-message-across-oriented". Then i moved to Canada and I felt like they cut off the air. Twice! Because there are TWO FREAKING LANGUAGES I CAN'T SPEAK NORMALLY!

This is certainly the hardest part of immigration. My wife is learning English, and she is quite frustrated by the entire process.

[Jet]

I understand your educational degrees from FSU are not accepted as credulous in the west but you do still have the education no?

I think I understand Fashionista's problem. Yes, she does have the education, and the degrees are still worth *something* but probably nowhere near what they were in Russia. A Master's is rock bottom minimum level for University professors, they'd really rather see a doctorate. On top of that, if you're not a native speaker, there will be some tests to take if you want to go for a western degree, not sure the names in Canada, but in the States it's either the TOFEL or the GRE or both, to be completed before an application for admission is submitted.

Further, and more to the point Philosophy and Psychology are *not* universal areas of study. My wife's degree is in Physics, it was easily transferable because physics is physics everywhere, ONLY the language changes. The most difficult aspect of getting her professional educators certificate here in FL was the test they call "Professional Education Exam" which is mainly comprised of procedural, Philosophy, and Psychology questions. Native citizens find it so ridiculously easy they don't even study for it, and this was the advice she received. She did eventually pass it after 5 attempts because she based her answers to what seemed to be "common sense" questions, on the common sense of the area she grew up and taught before - it was completely different.

Example Question:
"A child in your tenth grade class gets a small paper cut on his finger in class, you should___________
a) Send him home
b) Give him a band-aid and let him return to his studies after cleaning it in the restroom
c) Alert his parents, file a report with the office, and send him to the school nurse
d) Give him detention for being careless"

Most of us would automatically pick answer c) knowing how things work in our litigious society, but my wife chose the more pragmatic answer b) and got it wrong. Obviously in most cases, her answer is what would actually happen in a real classroom setting, but in order to pass the test, you have to know what to tell people you're going to do, before you actually do something else 

This kind of thing is not just irritating, it's infuriating to an immigrant that's worked in the field for many years with many honors, only to be told she's not smart enough to do the same thing she's always done, here.  :seething: ESPECIALLY after spending a while in the business and seeing just how incompetent many of her colleagues actually are 

[Fashionista]

I don't know what "normally" is, considering what some of my fellow citizens do to my language every day.  But clearly you have no difficulty communicating your views in written English and you have a great sense of humor.  I love philosophy and I think I would have enjoyed being in your class.  But to go with your analogy lines: I simply do not believe your legs are cut off.  Maybe they were broken, and I am sorry for that.

BTW, I know several Americans who graduated with degrees in philosophy and they all struggled.  It's just a tough road.  I don't personally know about Canada 

Thank you for reminding me all of this, really, it's true. I have a friend who is canadian and  once he suggested to organize a support group for PhD. You know, like: "Hello, my name is John and I am PhD"  And the guy is in the pharma research - not stupid philosophy!!!

[myrddin]

Further, and more to the point Philosophy and Psychology are *not* universal areas of study. My wife's degree is in Physics, it was easily transferable because physics is physics everywhere, ONLY the language changes.

This kind of thing is not just irritating, it's infuriating to an immigrant that's worked in the field for many years with many honors, only to be told she's not smart enough to do the same thing she's always done, here.  :seething: ESPECIALLY after spending a while in the business and seeing just how incompetent many of her colleagues actually are 

Some of my experience unfortunately confirms that....  I studied history, literature, philosophy and anthropology, but got my degree in Astronomy.  I remember looking at professor's last names, looking for the ones I found harder to pronounce.  My "career" has gone further in editing/writing fields and I am actually now in pharmaceutical editing.  I can sympathize with all kinds of people!

[Fashionista]

This is certainly the hardest part of immigration. My wife is learning English, and she is quite frustrated by the entire process.

Is she doing "repeat after TV" thingy? It helped me a lot ones. Basically you tape a TV show (sitcoms are the best), print out a script (there are plenty shows you can find n Internet), read the script, translate it, and then you play the episode an repeat every sentence after the actors, peeping in the script and trying to copy their intonation and an accent. When you do it regularly you pick up many common idioms, vocabulary and get use to anderstand by ear. It sounds may be dorky but I highly recommend it.

[Fashionista]

I think I understand Fashionista's problem. <...>

Thank you, you do understand and your example was very illustrative.

[Lily]

  i am saying that after you made yourself you can't remade yourself in something else. It's a matter of adjustment: if you were well-adjusted in one place it makes you pretty much impossible readjust in another place without major personality change. And you don't do a major personality change after 30 if you don't have a nice solid case of amnesia.

Fashionista, I have a question for you.

You say that after a certain age a person cannot considerably remake herself. Would that depend on her, meaning that after some age she is not able to adjust/change herself, or would that depend on the others, on her surroundings, meaning that it is her enviromnent would not accept an older person who beginns to do a new profession? Is the older challenger not willing, or willing but not accepted in society?

Hope my question is clear. Would the odds be rather internal, or rather external?
Thank you.

[Fashionista]

Fashionista, I have a question for you.

You say that after a certain age a person cannot considerably remake herself. Would that depend on her, meaning that after some age she is not able to adjust/change herself, or would that depend on the others, on her surroundings, meaning that it is her enviromnent would not accept an older person who beginns to do a new profession? Is the older challenger not willing, or willing but not accepted in society?

Hope my question is clear. Would the odds be rather internal, or rather external?
Thank you.

Both. And I meant people of both sexes.

[Misha]

Is she doing "repeat after TV" thingy? It helped me a lot ones. Basically you tape a TV show (sitcoms are the best), print out a script (there are plenty shows you can find n Internet), read the script, translate it, and then you play the episode an repeat every sentence after the actors, peeping in the script and trying to copy their intonation and an accent. When you do it regularly you pick up many common idioms, vocabulary and get use to anderstand by ear. It sounds may be dorky but I highly recommend it.

That sounds like an interesting strategy! Thank you.