Second anniversary

[Misha]

I am happy to note that today is my second anniversary. My wife and I have been married for two years.

It has not been an easy two years: my wife had to deal with culture shock and the challenge of learning a new language. But, things are much better now. She is not capable of having a conversation in English and has a part-time job.

We are now planning our first trip to a nice sunny locale this winter. Life is good and we are both very happy.

Marriage is never easy, but fortunately it can be very rewarding as well.

[groovlstk]

Congratulations, Misha.

I hope there are many more to follow. In reading some of the posts from OMBs, the two-year mark is one of the big mileposts. Hope you guys are planning something special.

[Shadow]

Congratulations Misha and wife.
I hope you will repet the celebrations many times.

[Misha]

Thank you! The first two years are certainly the hardest: the first year is culture shock and the second year gradual adaptation to a new country. My wife loves sushi, so we will be trying out a new sushi steakhouse in our city.

[Kuna]

A belated congratulations... and a request you update your profile info.   

   I'm always confused when reading your posts thinking you're a newbie...   

[Misha]

A belated congratulations... and a request you update your profile info.   

   I'm always confused when reading your posts thinking you're a newbie...   

LOL. You are right, I should update it. I never noticed that for some written it indicated that I was looking. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Chicagoguy]

Congratulations !

That is a nice small milestone !

One thing got my attention. I am waiting now for the time of her K-1 interview and my fiance is studing English every day. But you said that you can not have a conversation after two years ? If true this scares me. Also, my daughter is specialist in teaching what we call ESL or English As A Second Language. And she told me it is 10 years for complete literacy. I suppose she means before they are reading English novels and understanding newspapers.

If this is all true we have our work cut out for us.

[Misha]

Congratulations !

That is a nice small milestone !

One thing got my attention. I am waiting now for the time of her K-1 interview and my fiance is studing English every day. But you said that you can not have a conversation after two years ? If true this scares me. Also, my daughter is specialist in teaching what we call ESL or English As A Second Language. And she told me it is 10 years for complete literacy. I suppose she means before they are reading English novels and understanding newspapers.

If this is all true we have our work cut out for us.

Sorry, it was a typo. I should have read "now capable" and not "not capable."

I would say 10 years is right, but that is to get to the stage where you will right and read with the same proficiency as your mother tongue. It takes a year or two to go from zero knowledge to being able to have a decent conversation.

[MarkLeftTX]

Thank you! The first two years are certainly the hardest: the first year is culture shock and the second year gradual adaptation to a new country. My wife loves sushi, so we will be trying out a new sushi steakhouse in our city.

Sushi steakhouse? What is that... raw beef?

Congrats... however you plan on celebration -- marriage should always be celebrated :-)

Two years is an interesting mark, because all of the doubters will be convinced that she is leaving you now... you know, they'll figure she just came for the green card...

It used to piss me off how it seemed that some people were almost routing for my marriage to end... now, at that we are coming up on the six year mark, most of them have quit their vigil.

The language thing comes with time... Viktoriya speaks what I would consider fluent English, but even now there are times she gropes for a word, and I find myself biting my tongue while I let her finish a sentence -- even when I know what she is going to say. I have to let her finish it. Mostly, she is perfect with her English now. The only time she struggles is when she gets really emotional (which doesn't happen too often) or really tired. Also, when she visits Ukraine and comes home, she has to get her "English legs" back.

But, she is dreaming in English now. She also prefers writing in English. She hates having to email back home because she tells me it is just so hard to remember all the rules...

Anyway... Congrats and good luck...
 

[Gator]

Misha,

Congratulations to you and to your lady. 

Having just completed our first six months, two years seems like an eternity.

[Misha]

Sushi steakhouse? What is that... raw beef?

Congrats... however you plan on celebration -- marriage should always be celebrated :-)

Two years is an interesting mark, because all of the doubters will be convinced that she is leaving you now... you know, they'll figure she just came for the green card...

Anyway... Congrats and good luck...
 

Many thanks! In Canada, she could have left me many months ago without facing any immigration difficulties.

Sushi: we ate loads of raw fish. My wife has acquired a taste for it and I love it as well.

Misha