Asking the [probably] Impossible...

[shikarnov 7]

Just to give you an example, I am no medical expert so, I'll use laymen terms. My sister -in-law had a child with a heart defect that required under US medical conditions a shot administered directly to the heart in order to close it. The dose has to be very small. So small that only modern technology can be used. The dose must be delivered within 10 days of birth to be effective. If it is not done a surgery with greater risk to death is performed when the child is 6 months of age, in the meantime a risk of death or developmental problems continue. The Russian doctors diagnosed the problem but were unable to do delivery the dose of medicine due to lack of technology. It's these small issues that can become really big problems when dealing with Russian medical care, that make me shy away from ever relying on their care.

What happened with the baby?

[shikarnov 7]

Okay...so I'm not the one responsible for pulling your post off-topic this time.

Guilty as charged... But, anyway, the original question has been answered for the most part -- difficult, yes, impossible, no.

I mean no offense, but many of your conceptions of what Russia was and is seems to be based on conjecture and secondhand. You might want to hit the library and start really learning about your SO's homeland. It is a rich and wonderful place, and if you approach it with an open mind you'll realize that not only is life not backwards and primitive, but there are many aspects that are better.

I do take some offense to what you're implying -- which is that I've been sitting in my apartment, safe and secure for the past two years, living in relative isolation in a "little America." I can tell you that nothing could be further from the truth.

I'll grant you that I haven't driven across the country, from St Petersburg to Rostov, but I also don't claim to be an expert on any given topic. I can only report my opinions, which have formed after living in Ivanovo (and exploring this oblast). The conceptions that I had *before* coming to Russia were of a snowy wasteland. Now that was ignorant and based on conjecture, hearsay, and propaganda. The conceptions that I have now, of what Ivanovo is now, are based on my own real, looking out the window right now, experiences. Stories about the past, obviously come from my fiancé's family, my friends, professors, and acquaintances, who lived through that past.

Z

[shikarnov 7]

^^ That's all very true. I've also heard a joke about how Russians love to complain, but would beat a foreigner who agrees with them. Fortunately, my Ira and her family are far more insulted by a phony smile and a polite evasion of their questions. They've asked me for my truthful opinion many a time, and early on it was hard for me to give, but now I guess they've broken me of my "don't complain to your host" habit.

Their favorite expression is "Это Россия."

Z

[JVKn'CVO 11]

So here I am asking you all this: Is there any way to get Mom and Brother into the US for visits? If it can be done before Ira finishes going through the 10-year citizenship process (if she decides to go through it), so much the better...

Thanks in advance for your thoughts,

Z

Just thought I'd mention the spouse of a US citizen is eligeable for naturalization after 3 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the United States for trips of 6 months or longer

Saludos,

Caro

[shikarnov 7]

Their favorite expression is "Это Россия."

I can't tell you how happy it makes me that I can not only read that, but I know what it means. Baby steps...baby steps...

Well, if you want some lessons, Penguin puts out an excellent self-teaching course that's available from Amazon -- and my Russian professor (who is currently in China on a teaching exchange program) will be available for lessons via internet/telephone by the summer. She's a specialist in teaching Russian to foreigners and is currently working on her doctorate. She usually charges me about $10/hour when I'm stateside (although in person lessons are less because there's no overhead besides tea bags). When she returns to Ivanovo I can put you in touch with her if you like.

Z

[Satellite 1]

What happened with the baby?

The bay is now 3 years of age, doing just fine, and had the surgery at six month. Lucky for everyone the surgery was successful with no known side effects. But what would have been a simple and quick procedure in the US turned into a an unnecessary panic and risk. By the way, the Russian doctors did know of the procedure performed the US, but could only suggest going there because it was not available in Tomsk, Siberia. Not exactly a possible proposition for someone who makes a few hundred dollars a month and on such short notice.

[shikarnov 7]

The bay is now 3 years of age, doing just fine, and had the surgery at six month. Lucky for everyone the surgery was successful with no known side effects. But what would have been a simple and quick procedure in the US turned into a an unnecessary panic and risk. By the way, the Russian doctors did know of the procedure performed the US, but could only suggest going there because it was not available in Tomsk, Siberia. Not exactly a possible proposition for someone who makes a few hundred dollars a month and on such short notice.

Wow. I'm really glad everything turned out alright for the baby and your family... Let's hope all this oil money entering Russia will help improve conditions in the next few years...

[slim 1,533]

Wow. I'm really glad everything turned out alright for the baby and your family... Let's hope all this oil money entering Russia will help improve conditions in the next few years...

I'm going to go ahead and guess the "oil money" in Russia will improve conditions for them about as much as the "oil money" here in the U.S. has improved conditions for us.

[shikarnov 7]

Wow. I'm really glad everything turned out alright for the baby and your family... Let's hope all this oil money entering Russia will help improve conditions in the next few years...

I'm going to go ahead and guess the "oil money" in Russia will improve conditions for them about as much as the "oil money" here in the U.S. has improved conditions for us.

I almost got drawn into another major rant. God, I'm way to in love with politics

Z

[NYGirl 0]

Fair enough, sorry for dragging the discussion from your main point.

It's all good. Sometimes a good rant helps vent some stress anyway.

As for getting family over here, I think it's important that your spouse and her family know that their chances of getting a Visa are pretty weak. Definitely try, but don't give them too much hope. If they get the Visa, it will be a pleasant surprise.

That's what I've heard -- it's a real bummer though. In addition to making Ira happy, I'd really like to have her mom around for a while too. She's a great woman, who I'm only now really getting to know (learning Russian is really really hard).

Z

With your name and your last name ( if it's real) I could of sworn that you are Russian 100%.......which probably you are but came here as a little baby?

[shikarnov 7]

With your name and your last name ( if it's real) I could of sworn that you are Russian 100%.......which probably you are but came here as a little baby?

Shikarnov comes from the adjective, "шикарный" (Russian for "smart" -- as in "Smart A s s"). Zhenya, is my American name translated into Russian. It started as a nickname that Ira's family gave me since Gene didn't inflect and change in a way they preferred.

Z

Edited December 21, 2007 by shikarnov

[slim 1,533]

That's a much cooler story than how I got my knickname.

[NYGirl 0]

With your name and your last name ( if it's real) I could of sworn that you are Russian 100%.......which probably you are but came here as a little baby?

Shikarnov comes from the adjective, "шикарный" (Russian for "smart" -- as in "Smart A s s"). Zhenya, is my American name translated into Russian. It started as a nickname that Ira's family gave me since Gene didn't inflect and change in a way they preferred.

Z

Gene is as russian name as it can be. It is called Gena or full name Genadiy.

So you are not russian at all?

[shikarnov 7]

With your name and your last name ( if it's real) I could of sworn that you are Russian 100%.......which probably you are but came here as a little baby?

Shikarnov comes from the adjective, "шикарный" (Russian for "smart" -- as in "Smart A s s"). Zhenya, is my American name translated into Russian. It started as a nickname that Ira's family gave me since Gene didn't inflect and change in a way they preferred.

Z

Gene is as russian name as it can be. It is called Gena or full name Genadiy.

So you are not russian at all?

Gene is short for Eugene, which is the English version of Yevgeniy. Zhenya is the short/tender form of Yevgeniy.

I'm 50% Greek, 25% Hungarian, 25% European mongrel. I suppose there might be a smidgen of Russian in my mix if I consult the family tree far enough back.

Z

Edited December 22, 2007 by shikarnov