Mike P. LifeStory

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Mike P.'s lifestory

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Birth
When: 1975
Where: UKRAINE
I was born in a small resort town on the coast of the Black Sea.


Relocation
When: from 1983 to 1984
Where: Orlovka, KYRGYZSTAN
When I was almost seven years old my mother took me to her parents who used to live in Orlovka (Kyrgyzstan). My borther was born there in a short while. At that time children could enter elementary school once they are 7 years old so I started the first grade of the elementary school there.


Relocation
When: from 1984 to 1988
Where: Aqtobe, KAZAKHSTAN
After finishing the first grade I moved to Aktjubinsk (now Aktobe) where my family received two-bedroom apartment (in US standards it would be 1-bedroom condo). At that time people in the USSR could get an apartment to live at no charge. Downside was a long queue to receive that kind of living place. In depends on the location and profession and, in some cases, people waited decades to receive the free condo. My parents worked in a house construction industry and that helped them to get the flat within three years.


Injury
When: 1988
Where: Aqtobe, KAZAKHSTAN
I was playing tennis and suffered a spinal contusion during contact game with my opponent. After few days I felt paralysis symptoms and it took more then a month to fully recover.


Relocation
When: from 1989 to 1990
Where: Alushta, UKRAINE
My parents decided to help restoring Armenia after devastating Earthquake (1988 Spitak Earthquake). They were also planning to earn some money for saving. In Armenia they were staying at temporary living places in poor conditions so I went to Alushta to be by my grandparents and continued education (8 grade) there.


Memorable purchase
When: August 1989
Where: Alushta, UKRAINE
In 1989 lots of kids on the former USSR territory were collecting different items : stamps, bubblegum wrapper inserts, vine and perfume bottle cups, candy wrappers. I was into Turbo bubble gum wrapper inserts : I traded them and competed with my friends. Every time we discovered new car on the wrapper insert, we were all excited. And one day I bought the Turbo bubble gum , unwrapped it and found the insert of the car that nobody from my neighborhood ever seen - that car was Lamborghini Countach. I was so excited and happy that day I was most likely the happiest kid on the planet.


High school years
When: from 1990 to 1993
Where: UKRAINE
Upon relocation to Simferopol I continued getting education in a High School nearby and I liked my new class from day one. Students were very friendly, no bullying of any kind (and that was not typical at that time). I successfully graduated from High School in 1993. I was fortunate to get a honor graduation (so called silver medal) and it helped me to get enrolled to Kharkov Aviation Institute (student who had honors did not have to take and pass all the required exams)


Furhter education
When: from 01 September 1993 to 25 February 1999
Where: Kharkov, UKRAINE
Since 1993 till 1999 I studied in the Kharkov Aviation Institute (renamed to State AeroSpace University) that was most famous for its KVN team. I lived in dormitory # 11 - a central part of the long 9 stares building stands on the hill. That building was named Great Wall of China by KHAI students. I managed to get so called red diploma which means I graduated with honor.


First job
When: from May 1999 to October 1999
Where: Kharkov, UKRAINE
I was told that I would get a job in a big factory where I worked as an intern before graduation but it took two months for them to bring me on board. The factory name was "Zavod imeni Shevchenko". That factory used to design and produce high-tech goods for USSR Department Of Defense and after USSR collapse they tried to shift the production focus so they were trying different projects to enter private sector. I was assigned to work on the project to automate small heaters for home owners. Since I knew English language I was "awarded" a monthly salary bonus in the amount of 10 HRN (hrivnya) - equivalent to less then 3 US dollars :) No wonder I continued to look for another job.


Carreer change
When: from October 1999 to April 2004
Where: Simferopol, UKRAINE
I was lucky to get the next job in Krymenergo - exclusive provider of the power energy to suppliers within Crimean peninsula. I had to relocate to Simferopol where I finished the high school and moved to live with my parents because living alone is something I could not afford (lots of young people and even young families practice living with older generation due to financial reasons). The job seemed very tough at first but colleagues were very friendly and supportive so I think I was able to fit in very quickly. In 2001 I my duties were shifted towards SAP - our company bought SAP product and I became SAP Basis administrator . By 2004 I matured in this position and applied for a work in the USA through Global Consulting Group (quite "famous" company amongst Russian immigrants). I got H1B in early 2004 and got a ticket to fly over to the USA where I was supposed to stay in the company guest house until the company finds my a client.


First steps in America
When: from 28 April 2004 to 06 June 2004
Where: Ohio, UNITED STATES
On arrival to Cincinnati I was given a bed in small 1 bedroom apartment with the living room functioning as kitchen for all people stayed in the guest house (there were around 15 of us). I shared the bedroom with two other my colleagues happened to be "on the bench" at the same time. Upstairs, in the attic, we had a computer room where there was access to the Internet for us to update resume and search for a job. We also had phones over there for the phone screening and interviews . It may seem like a very bad place or conditions to live, but I always feel nostalgic recalling the moments of my (the first & the last) "bench" time. One of my interviews was a success and I headed to sunny California on June 6, 2004


Memorable purchase
When: July 2004
Where: San Jose, California, UNITED STATES
I bought my first car - Chevy Malibu 1998 LS (mileage: 41 K) . I probably overpaid but , despite scary reviews from other owners, my Chevy did really good, no major repairs during the 1st two years of ownership (I know it's a small step for Corolla, but for Chevy it was a giant leap :) ).

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