It had passed one year since I’m here in America. So following to proverb ” It’s time to gather stones” , I can probably look around and say what really I did and got during my staying in another country.

Surely I can say that this first year wasn’t really easy. It compared with the tree which was growing many years in one ground but then was transferred to another. Sometimes you feel sad because you had left your Motherland, parents, friends, usual work; sometimes your depressed, sometimes you don’t understand human mentality and surrounding world.The only thing I can say since I came to another country I got so many events and experiences in one year than couldn’t probably equal with other my years spent in Ukraine. I was growing, getting education, job, working experience there very gradually. Year by year. But America!

As soon as you plunge to new atmosphere in other country it seems like you need to change your life entirely and get used to it. You may feel like deaf and dumb if you don’t have any language skills. Hopefully I knew English before I came here and could avoid some awkward situation. Although any English needs to be practicing via live speech or writing a letter or even text messages to any Americans.
Anyway I insist if you wish to achieve some progress you have to appreciate culture of country where you are and first of all – to know native language.
So what about other things? During one year I :

• learnt fishing and crabbing and caught a lot of them;

• I got stuck in Gulf of Mexico for whole night when current was tight and it was scary but new adventure;

• I met many nice and wonderful people, who later were my guide among usual American life;

• I learnt how to drive small fishing boat and car including a big truck and I was able to drive from small island to big cities;

• I still improving my English learning it in the college and I also think about other necessary education like nursing courses which can help me to apply for the good job;

• I was in official estates getting my documents trying to communicate with lawyers and officers ;

• I don’t work here in America and just help my husband with his small business but someday I’d like to do something useful for the people and this country;

• I learnt to cook an absolutely new dishes like stuffed crabs, lobsters, seafood and fish, Key lime pie, red velvet cake and many others;

• Never ever planting flowers and vegetables in my life now I know how to take care about it and get a good tomato and eggplants harvest;

I’m still amazed about many invisible but very important comforts in America like even and smooth roads with a good seeing lanes and lights, good service whenever you go and of course friendly and polite people. Human warmth is very important in the country which a new for everybody who once decided to change a life and become a small part of a new society. I’m really grateful to everyone who now surrounding me and helping with any other minor problems.