- Elena Brandt grew up in Moscow and moved to Florida in 2018 together with her husband.
- She obtained her PhD at Florida State College and now works as a startup founder.
- Brandt discovered the States’ restricted maternity go away and willingness to apologize shocking.
This as-told-to essay is predicated on a dialog with Elena Brandt, the Russian-born founding father of Besample, about her transfer to the USA. It has been edited for size and readability.
In 2017, I labored as a communications supervisor for Yandex, a tech firm in Moscow, the place I had lived since beginning. I wasn’t excited in regards to the path of Russia’s political regime, so I utilized for an O-1 visa to the U.S.
O-1 visas are for folks with extraordinary expertise to quickly reside within the US and pursue that talent.
Whereas ready for my visa, I met my future husband. He was a Russian economist instructing at Florida State College who had returned to Moscow for trip.
Our relationship progressed rapidly; in 2018, I obtained my visa and moved to Florida. We obtained married the identical yr, my husband adopted my two-year-old daughter, and we had two extra kids, one in 2019 and one other in 2021.
I obtained right into a PhD program at Florida State College, however my O-1 visa meant I could not train to get my tuition waived. I spent my financial savings on tuition and utilized for residency via marriage.
In grad college, I based a sci-tech firm ‘Besample’ aimed toward bringing international variety to U.S. behavioral analysis.
Within the 5 years since transferring to Florida, I’ve began a enterprise, had two kids, and labored via grad college. I’ve encountered many amusing and bewildering tradition shocks, however these have been probably the most distinguished.
Possession tradition in America
I bear in mind ordering a muffin at a neighborhood espresso store and the barista stated, “Sorry, I haven’t got a muffin, how a few scone?”
I might by no means heard this phrase from a Russian server. They might say, “There may be no muffin,” full cease.
The barista spoke as if he owned the place. He even tried to upsell. I later realized this was capitalism’s possession tradition.
Simply over a century in the past, the Soviet authorities nationalized land and companies, abolishing personal property. Russians do not converse like they personal their land, crops, or stuff. When folks do not personal the place they work, or what they do, they do not care about work.
There is a well-known anecdote a few Soviet chief Nikita Khruschev visiting a corn farm in Iowa. Khrushchev was shocked {that a} farmer and his three sons have been working your entire farm. In the united states, he stated it could take 400 folks to do the identical quantity of labor. Possession is essential to staying motivated and dealing onerous. The Soviet land had been nationalized, so employees did not care.
In America, individuals are inspired to take possession of their work and lots of begin their very own firms. An everyday barista acts like an proprietor as a result of someday he could possibly be.
For the reason that Nineteen Nineties, you can begin a enterprise in Russia, however the authorities will at all times chunk off a bit. So in a means, folks nonetheless do not personal what they’re engaged on. They don’t seem to be in management and so they do not care, stuff simply occurs: there’s no muffin.
Individuals admit once they’re incorrect
Admitting a mistake is mostly seen as a weak point in Russia; folks not often apologize. Residing in America, I realized admitting errors is an indication of self-confidence, not weak point.
My statistics professor was explaining an equation on the board, when he all of a sudden took a pause and stated, “I do know why you guys do not get it: it is as a result of I am instructing you incorrect!” I used to be shocked. “Is he not afraid of shedding his standing?” I assumed.
Nonetheless, the other occurred. His good-natured self-deprecation made him look much more assured. The category appeared to understand the trainer acknowledging his faults and correcting them.
That is regular in America, whereas in Russia sustaining your standing is crucial.
As soon as I obtained used to Individuals saying “I am sorry,” even once they weren’t incorrect, I began adopting the identical observe.
Troubleshooting conflicts is so much simpler whenever you’re able to admit your wrongs slightly than develop into defensive. I want extra Russians knew it.
Russia has a significantly better deal for working moms
Russia presents working moms extra help than within the U.S.
In America, gender equality is extensively mentioned, however the authorities has performed little to handle how an absence of maternity go away is holding girls again. Ladies within the States can take six weeks of maternity go away – at their employer’s discretion.
Russia is taken into account extra patriarchal than the US, however Russian moms can take 140 days of paid go away. Additionally, a lady’s employer should hold her place accessible if she chooses to return.
Some US moms haven’t any break from work throughout sleepless nights and postpartum restoration as a result of there isn’t a nationwide backed go away.
Ladies are pressured to decide on between kids and their careers.
When my third child was born in 2021 in Florida, I used to be working part-time and instructing at a college. I may solely take unpaid go away for 2 weeks. My husband and I couldn’t afford to take an extended break from having two sources of revenue.
I used to be typing emails with one hand and breastfeeding my child with the opposite, for eight hours a day.
Fortunately, each my commitments have been distant on account of COVID-19, so I may spend bodily time with my child. For American mothers at common 9-to-5 jobs, this have to be a nightmare.
After I had my first little one in Russia, I could have been a single mother wanting sources, however I had probably the most treasured useful resource on the earth: time with my new child. American girls deserve it, too.
Russia additionally has free early childcare. Within the US, it is crazily costly with few reasonably priced options.
Individuals are extra financially educated
I observed retirees in America appeared a lot happier and more healthy than the aged in Russia as a result of they’d deliberate for retirement.
In my lifetime, Russia’s skilled two financial upheavals the place the nationwide forex was devalued. It would not make sense to speculate long-term as a result of you may’t make sure you get a return on funding.
Most Russians reside like there is no tomorrow, spending slightly than saving cash. Out of my all mates in Russia, I solely know a handful of people that ever saved for retirement.
In Russia, you are outlined by what you may exhibit. Most individuals will purchase costly garments and devices earlier than investing in schooling or their future. The one exception is actual property as a result of the market is comparatively secure.
Individuals are nice savers in distinction. Folks have private IRAs and financial savings accounts as a result of they belief their retirement system.
Folks even take into consideration their revenue in another way. Russians would not know what their annual salaries are as a result of they take into account their wage in months.
After transferring to the States, I obtained a retirement account, began considering of my wages in yearly phrases, and pictured my life 30 years forward for the primary time.
Faculty zoning within the States is a classist system
Once we have been shopping for a home in Florida, I used to be shocked by how a lot actual property costs are tied to highschool zones.
If you would like your children to go to a very good public college, you will have to have the ability to afford home costs in that district. In our expertise, housing costs tripled between districts with good and not-so-good colleges.
We obtained fortunate with pre-COVID mortgage charges and dwelling in Florida. I can not think about how this might work in additional aggressive areas like New York.
In America, the standard of your kid’s schooling performs an enormous function of their future. The expertise confirmed me college zoning is the place a lot of American inequality stems from. In Russia, you may ship your kids wherever for varsity, based on the Structure.
Within the U.S., schooling alternative is severely restricted to the place kids reside, which, in flip, is decided by their dad and mom’ wealth. I noticed a baby’s college zone is the true inherited American privilege.
With the ability to talk about points is well worth the loopy cultural variations
Transferring to Florida has been stuffed with cultural variations. Many have been fascinating, and a few have been appalling, however the perfect factor about America is that we will freely speak about what must be mounted.
In Russia, you may’t converse freely, particularly lately. The nation has a variety of issues, however folks should say they’re pleased with the regime in the event that they wish to retain their jobs – and even their security.
You may be jailed in Russia for expressing anti-war in Ukraine sentiments. I personally know individuals who have been arrested for stepping up for the peace.
I am pleased to be in a rustic the place you will have freedom of speech.
