Bridal Shower??? English classes???

[Chris M 1]

As the topic says... Did any of you do a bridal shower? Tanya knows a lot of my friends and family through email and webcam, and I thought it might be a good way for her to meet them all and to get her feet wet with American traditions. Of course I would rather she not be an American girl, ha ha, but at least I could have something small for her. I'm sure she would love it, but I was curious if any of you did this. Any other ideas, or just get married, as I am sure many of your answers will be.

Also what about English classes? Tanya speaks English very well, but as any person coming to a new country to call home, she is a little apprehensive about her English skills. I told her there are English as a Second Language classes that begin 2 weeks after she arrives here. these classes could really work, so to put her mind at ease a little I am thinking we will attend this class. I know it will not be the real-world experience as living and breathing amongst the people here in Pittsburgh with the crazy dialect, but if it helps to put her mind at ease, I am all for this.

Just wanted to see what you all thought.

[Inky 1,111]

If she would have fun doing it, I would say do it! A bridal shower or party wont "make her american" but it might be something fun for her to experiance specially since most women only do it ONCE!

[baron555 934]

Alla and little Leonid arrived here last December. Our first priority was to get him into preschool. Then we got married at the county courthouse; he was the only witness. She met my sister and her husband since they live very close and some work friends but no big shower or meet-the-new wife party. Then spring came and we both focused on yardwork and flowers since she had never done that and was totally involved. Then summer came and we hit the camping and canoeing circuit. For English she has been taking online classes but the local ones are a good idea. Just this past Sunday, partly since my mother was in town for Christmas, we held an "open house" and invited all the local relatives. Everyone came, maybe around 35 people. Finally all got to meet each other for the first time and everyone had a great time. She was fully welcomed as part of the family Nd never felt uneasy.

Don't make it out to be this big deal, she is just a person and any nice welcoming family will do the same. She was treated a little like a celebrity and of course having the cute adorable kid running around helped.

Edited December 28, 2010 by baron555

[patient2010 93]

I say go for the shower if you like nothing wrong with that and that truly will not make her an American girl.....Maybe you can have a family member do the party (female) so they can have a bridal shower feel not sure a man can throw a bridal shower lol......and nothing wrong with the english classes....good luck

[Luckywife2007 6]

As the topic says... Did any of you do a bridal shower? Tanya knows a lot of my friends and family through email and webcam, and I thought it might be a good way for her to meet them all and to get her feet wet with American traditions. Of course I would rather she not be an American girl, ha ha, but at least I could have something small for her. I'm sure she would love it, but I was curious if any of you did this. Any other ideas, or just get married, as I am sure many of your answers will be.

Also what about English classes? Tanya speaks English very well, but as any person coming to a new country to call home, she is a little apprehensive about her English skills. I told her there are English as a Second Language classes that begin 2 weeks after she arrives here. these classes could really work, so to put her mind at ease a little I am thinking we will attend this class. I know it will not be the real-world experience as living and breathing amongst the people here in Pittsburgh with the crazy dialect, but if it helps to put her mind at ease, I am all for this.

Just wanted to see what you all thought.

May I ask...

What is wrong with "American Girls"? Just asking!

[baron555 934]

May I ask...

What is wrong with "American Girls"? Just asking!

They're not young Russian hottie MOBs!

[patient2010 93]

May I ask...

What is wrong with "American Girls"? Just asking!

[Chris M 1]

Nothing at all wrong with American girls. I met Tanya in Rome by accident, so it was a nice surprise. I went out with girls here, and have tons of friends in Europe, and I noticed a difference, through my eyes of course. I know there are some great girls here in the US as well, but I had a hard time finding one, but I could not be happier with Tanya.

As for classes. I also have the Rosetta Stone English courses as well. this will most def help her since I am using Russian, and they have helped me. Although I know I learn better when in a class. not to mention we may meet some great people in class, or it might be 3 of us in there too, the teacher, Tanya and I. ha ah.

I do have a younger sister who has already asked me about this, so I thought it would be nice. does not have to be huge or anything, but it would be nice for her.

Thanks all.

[Brad and Vika 129]

As for classes. I also have the Rosetta Stone English courses as well. this will most def help her since I am using Russian, and they have helped me. Although I know I learn better when in a class. not to mention we may meet some great people in class, or it might be 3 of us in there too, the teacher, Tanya and I. ha ah.

Thanks all.

Vika took a couple of semesters of ESL at a local community college, and has now registered for US History I and Psychology with American students, just to see if she can follow. I am positive she will have no problems, other than being shocked at the slow pace and the lack of attention paid by her classmates My point is that she says the classes and conversing in the classroom helped her develop vocabulary and get comfortable with lots of expressions she already knew, as her English was fluent when she got here.

Edited December 28, 2010 by Brad and Vika

[Chris M 1]

Vika took a couple of semesters of ESL at a local community college, and has now registered for US History I and Psychology with American students, just to see if she can follow. I am positive she will have no problems, other than being shocked at the slow pace and the lack of attention paid by her classmates My point is that she says the classes and conversing in the classroom helped her develop vocabulary and get comfortable with lots of expressions she already knew, as her English was fluent when she got here.

That's an idea too. Anything can help her feel more comfortable, maybe meet some people and learn something about US history, among other things. Probably help with that citizenship exam later down the road.

Tanya has a degree in economics and accounting, so we are both hoping this will transfer over here for her. I forgot to ask about this as well. How does something like this transfer into a degree here in the US. I am just curious for things like writing a resume. In the jobs I have had I have not had to show proof of my Bachelor's or Master's, but I am curious to know how that would translate, no pun intended, here. I am thinking she will be OK, but have any of you dealt with foreign education degrees for working here in the US?

[SMR 368]

As the topic says... Did any of you do a bridal shower? Tanya knows a lot of my friends and family through email and webcam, and I thought it might be a good way for her to meet them all and to get her feet wet with American traditions. Of course I would rather she not be an American girl, ha ha, but at least I could have something small for her. I'm sure she would love it, but I was curious if any of you did this. Any other ideas, or just get married, as I am sure many of your answers will be.

Also what about English classes? Tanya speaks English very well, but as any person coming to a new country to call home, she is a little apprehensive about her English skills. I told her there are English as a Second Language classes that begin 2 weeks after she arrives here. these classes could really work, so to put her mind at ease a little I am thinking we will attend this class. I know it will not be the real-world experience as living and breathing amongst the people here in Pittsburgh with the crazy dialect, but if it helps to put her mind at ease, I am all for this.

Just wanted to see what you all thought.

As far as English classes, I definitely recommend them. It was a good experience for Marina. We found some at a local community college.

For a bridal shower, I think it's a fine idea provided you have people to organize and attend it. That is, usually I think a bridal shower is attended pretty much just by women and put on by them. So if your sisters, mother, female friends, grandmothers, etc. want to do something like this, I think it's a great idea. But my opinion is that it isn't something you should be too closely involved in personally beyond perhaps getting some people on board to run it. If you don't think that it can happen without your intimate participation, then it's probably not meant to be.

[LvivLovers 39]

I can't comment much on a bridal shower as we got married in Ukraine with her family and friends (and some of my family), but sounds like a good idea as long as she isn't freaked out about it.

As far as English classes go, I'd highly recommend it. My wife had times where she was depressed during about the first year here because she wasn't doing much. I thought I was giving her time to adjust to everything, get a driver's license etc. What she was really needing was to be out around lots of people and doing something.

She enrolled in an Intensive English Program at a nearby university. Basically, it was a 5 level program where each level required a semester of study with the idea that once all 5 levels were completed, the student was basically at a college level. Luckily, and to my wife's surprise, she tested at level 5 and only needed 1 semester. It was pretty challenging, but she did great. Once she completed that she was able to get accepted as a regular student in the university and has been at it ever since. She's really happy now and feels at home in the USA. Her progress has been pretty astounding to me. When she started, it took her a whole day and lots of tutoring to get through just 2 pages of basic college level material. Now, she can read more than 50 pages of extremely difficult material in a day...she actually just got an A+ in Biology 1, Calculus 1, and Physics 2!

I think back just 2 years ago, and we were trying to figure out if she should even go to college or not. It was definately the right move for us. So if you are thinking about ESL or something else, I'd say go for it. It's probably going to help her mood as well as it will her English and may lead to something else.

[Brad and Vika 129]

That's an idea too. Anything can help her feel more comfortable, maybe meet some people and learn something about US history, among other things. Probably help with that citizenship exam later down the road.

Tanya has a degree in economics and accounting, so we are both hoping this will transfer over here for her. I forgot to ask about this as well. How does something like this transfer into a degree here in the US. I am just curious for things like writing a resume. In the jobs I have had I have not had to show proof of my Bachelor's or Master's, but I am curious to know how that would translate, no pun intended, here. I am thinking she will be OK, but have any of you dealt with foreign education degrees for working here in the US?

There is an evaluation service, where her transcripts (with apostile) can be translated and compared to American curricula. Vika has the equivalent of a M.A in accounting, according to the eval. Any college can give you the service they want you to use (I think there are several).

[Chris M 1]

As far as English classes go, I'd highly recommend it. My wife had times where she was depressed during about the first year here because she wasn't doing much. I thought I was giving her time to adjust to everything, get a driver's license etc. What she was really needing was to be out around lots of people and doing something.

I think back just 2 years ago, and we were trying to figure out if she should even go to college or not. It was definately the right move for us. So if you are thinking about ESL or something else, I'd say go for it. It's probably going to help her mood as well as it will her English and may lead to something else.

That's great about the A+'s too. those are classes I would not have taken too. I'm lucky I can spell Calculus and Trig-o-nom.... ha ha.

Yeah we are definitely going to do the ESL classes. It seems as though this is a one-time class, but as you said it may lead to something bigger and better, or at least something else to help her get more confident with English and job-seeking. I think just getting out of the house would be great. so this is a definite thing we need to do. I am excited, but more so excited for her.

[Chris M 1]

There is an evaluation service, where her transcripts (with apostile) can be translated and compared to American curricula. Vika has the equivalent of a M.A in accounting, according to the eval. Any college can give you the service they want you to use (I think there are several).

Do they have a website or something for this? I have a list of things (that keeps getting bigger and bigger) we need to do before, after and when Tanya arrives, and this definitely makes the list. I imagine she should bring her transcripts and diplomas to have this done as well. And of course they charge a fee I imagine.