Immigration after 40: stories of Russian-speakers who started a new life in America in adulthood

Immigration is not easy for any person: everything is new and new, and especially for those over 40. People who moved to the United States at a mature age share their experiences, reports WE.

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These are the stories of those who were not afraid and risked moving to the States, despite their age.

Irada Flood, 45, Wisconsin, USA, project manager

About moving

Irada was born and raised in Almaty. Now lives in Wisconsin, near the city of Madison. Works as a project manager in a company that provides healthcare services, including IT Health, Care Management and Disease Management.

She dreamed of living for some time in a completely different country, with a different culture and way of life. Therefore, she learned English and applied for the Edmund Muskie program for graduate studies. I went through all the stages the first time and left for the USA in 2007.

During the two years of study, Irada liked transparency and freedom of speech, strict observance of human rights, organization in solving everyday issues, openness and goodwill of Americans, society's values, lack of corruption, and much more. After graduation, she returned back, because she was not one hundred percent sure that she wanted to leave Kazakhstan forever.

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She made the final decision to move in 2014 after another business trip to the United States. In Kazakhstan, Irada has built a good career in an international company. She was stable financially and socially. But she didn't feel completely safe.

She began preparing for the move by creating a financial cushion, teaching her son English, and obtaining additional professional certificates and licenses. She clearly imagined that she needed to build a career in a corporate environment, in the United States. She did not plan to work in the service sector in the long term, but allowed this way of earning, in the first months. In 2017, Irada moved to the USA.

About adaptation

Irada had already lived in the USA as a student, so the adaptation was easy and painless.

“But I didn’t take into account that in ten years the country has changed in some ways for the better and in others for the worse. For example, the food has become better and more varied, and tolerance for non-English speakers is higher,” says the woman.

Since she was educated in the USA, she understood the rules of hiring and clearly knew what she wanted and what she was worth.

Therefore, there were no problems with finding a job. In general, Irada recommends that people who come to the States not judge or condemn, take many things easier, without criticism.

About life in the USA

“Life in the Midwest is stable and regular. Family ties are strong here, just like the Kazakhs,” says Irada. — Americans make new acquaintances easily, but they also easily break off relations with old friends. I have never seen such friendship here as in Kazakhstan. Many emigrants do not understand how, despite such goodwill and openness, Americans remain closed to closer acquaintances.”

Tips for those who are afraid to move

“Everyone must make a decision for themselves. If you are afraid to move or are unsure of your decision, then you don’t need to do it. It's better to stay where you like. But if you feel strongly about your decision and have a good idea of ​​what you will be doing here, it is better to take advantage of all the available opportunities,” she says.

Azat, 63, Florida, USA, lawyer, tai chi instructor

About moving

In Kazakhstan, Azat worked as a lawyer in the financial sector. All his life he earned money, somewhere he “ran and hurried”.

And moving abroad became for him a way to switch to downshifting. By this time, he had long been fond of tai chi, his personal philosophy and outlook on the world had changed. Therefore, when there was a reason and an opportunity to go to the USA, he took advantage of them. Now Azat is a taijiquan instructor. It is a Chinese martial art and health practice. Here he made his old hobby his main occupation.

In his youth, Azat was interested in American literature, cinema, and music. He traveled a lot and was in different countries. But I wanted to live in the USA. “It's a huge country that's fun to explore,” he says.

About adaptation and life in the USA

“For older people, countries with a higher level of social security are suitable for moving. For example, Canada or Australia. There are more benefits for older people, better medical care,” says Azat.

“The USA is a country for young people. Young people can achieve a lot here, work, study, do business, try themselves in different fields,” he says. — But I know many Kazakhstanis who moved here in adulthood or even old age. They do not regret moving, even if they encountered difficulties in adaptation. There are only a few of those who returned.”

Americans are tolerant of visitors, because this is a country of emigrants. It was created as a special historical project, a multicultural society, albeit on an Anglo-Saxon basis. “By the way, this is one of the reasons for my choice. I also wanted to take part in such a project,” he says.

Tips for those who are afraid to move

Azat says that it is necessary to integrate into American life, learn the language, find a job, make contacts in local communities. You can always find a friendly environment here.

“At the same time, it is possible and even necessary to maintain ties with your fellow countrymen. That is why in my free time I make connections between them: arrange joint picnics and other events, communicate in groups, share useful information.

Many Kazakhstanis know me in Florida, and I am sincerely glad about this,” he said.

Natalya Slavina, 45 years old, hometown — Moscow, journalist

About Me

Natalya is the mother of three children: they are 21 years old, 8 years old and 3 years old. They won the lottery and moved to the US, reports WE.

“ This was not a final and irrevocable move, but an attempt to find out what America is. For us, this country seemed like a dream in the colors of Manhattan. We knew that people were emigrating to America and not coming back,” she says.

Natalya was already in the States thanks to a business trip to New York. She worked there as a staff correspondent for two years. But business travelers who receive wages, have rented housing, are provided with a car, gasoline, and insurance—this is a “different experience.” “It’s different from arriving on your own,” says Natalya.

About moving after 40

The advantage is, as Natalya says, that we are already firmly on our feet, with real estate in our homeland, with a good financial and social status. “So we can try this adventure, challenge ourselves. And if it doesn't work out, we'll be back. Thanks to this, it was mentally easier,” she said.

“The age factor is also a minus, because we will not be able to adapt like children and youth. Easily understand humor and traditions and perceive them as your own. We have a different mentality,” says Natalya.

She believes that at the age of forty you are no longer so young to make mistakes, and not so old to say that life has been lived.

“We are living a second life thanks to the fact that we found ourselves in another country with a different culture. We concluded that if you are running away from a bad life, you have no job, home and prospects, then you need to move and not think,” says Natalya, “Here, if you are ready to work and work, there will always be work, the opportunity to teach children, travel and see something new.”

In her opinion, if you have housing in your homeland, a good job, a high social status, and a family, then you need to be prepared for the fact that life will seem difficult. “Everything is more expensive here in terms of accommodation, food, education,” she says.

About plans

Natalia says that on the one hand, the desire to return does not leave. On the other hand, the more you live here, the more you get used to it.

“We walk this road, but we know that there is always a way back,” she says.

Yerzhan Karipov, 57 years old, Cheryomushki village

About Me

You can talk a lot about America, but in order to understand it, you need to come and see it live, as Yerzhan says.

His daughter got married here. He first came to Florida for a month's vacation. But after returning to Kazakhstan, he again wanted to go to America. He and his wife have been living and working in the United States for four years.

About moving after 40

Yerzhan believes that after 40 years it is easy to come and conquer America.

“I arrived at 53 years old. Since my wife is with me, psychologically it was easier for us. There are also a lot of fellow immigrants here,” he says.

“Domestic tourism is developed in the USA,” says Yerzhan. “You definitely plan a vacation, travel to different states. There is a positive mood around, people are smiling and laughing.”

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He says that you need to be brave, purposeful, and have a good attitude to move to America. He works every day and sees something new. “It all depends on the person,” he says.

Yerzhan says that people in the US are the same as in Kazakhstan, just in a different place. You can get used to everything.

“There are difficulties due to the language barrier, since we learned German at school and age takes its toll. But over time, you begin to understand English,” he says.

About plans

Yerzhan wants to see the world. “There was an opportunity to travel, see the USA, Europe,” he says.

Olga Mark Landsberg, 58 years old, hometown — Moscow, entrepreneur

About Me

At the age of five, she had a correspondence acquaintance with Angela Davis. It was then that she first heard about human rights in the United States. Olga constantly asked questions to understand this topic.

Then she had a “crazy career.” “I unexpectedly found myself in the USA on a business trip, saw unlimited opportunities and decided to try myself in a new place,” says Olga.

About moving after 40

At 40, Olga made herself a present in the month of her birth. She explained to friends and partners that she was leaving, the family had nothing against moving.

"It all depends on the person. Some people know exactly what they want at 18, while others are always looking,” she says.

Olga says that when moving, one must accept that if the law is violated, it will be “painful” and expensive.

“America is a territory where you can make a name for yourself. This is a simple and transparent country for understanding,” says the woman.

“Before moving, you need to be honest with yourself. If you don’t agree to play by the rules of this country, it won’t be easy,” says Olga. “For example, my parents received a green card, but gave it to the immigration service after a year of living in the United States, since they were uncomfortable living in this format.”

About plans

Olga has an international charitable organization to support the education of children from 3 to 18 years old on the planet. It helps children have access to quality education.

He studies Constitutional Law and prepares an education program for the US public school system.

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