Who I Am Matters

  • Describe where you come from
I was born and raised in the Siberia, Russia. Back during the Soviet regime, government prisons, gulags, were located in Siberia described by its severe climate with low temperatures. Hence, I often joke with my friends that my hometown is a gulag for me, when I go there during the winter times and experience the -40 F temperatures. 
  • Tell me where you're going
I am here now on a student visa and I want to gain permanent citizenship to work and stay in the U.S. in the future. 
  • Tell me how you plan to get there
The plan is to acquire a work visa, H1B, through a work in New York City and then turn it into the coveted Green Card. 
  • How are you LIKE your parents
The first idea that comes to mind is my inheritance of certain character features from both of my parents. And those very character features that I am thinking about are quite similar to the ones that are usually put in the astrological description of Leo and Capricorn.
  • How are you UNLIKE your parents
Although my parents have travelled extensively through their lives, they did not get a chance to live outside of Russia for extended periods of time. For me, it has been more than five and a half years in the U.S. exploring and navigating my own journey.
  • Have you developed your own expectations for yourself, or if you were honest, would you say you're operating under someone else's expectations?
Being born to a family with deep Asian ethnical background, I have felt that it is not usual to go against family expectations. However, in the past few years, I have also been working to shape my own expectations.
  • Who serves as a model for you of someone who lives life with great passion and personal responsibility?
It is quite likely that parents are the models for many. I would not completely agree with the same statement because the early lives of either of my parents do not compare to my journey. Of course we have had some similar experiences growing up, but, on the other hand, college careers turned out to be completely different. 
  • Connecting with the ANIMAL WORLD: What wild animal do you feel a special connection with, and why?
Dolphins are gracious creatures that amaze me with their need for interaction with other dolphins, when they all swim together. This need seems to resemble the social needs of many people, who tend to stick in bunch and adore social interactions. 
  • Connecting with the NATURE KINGDOMS: Describe a significant childhood encounter with a tree or plant.
In Russia there is a common belief that for a man to be a man, one needs to raise a son, plant a tree and build a house. When I was 10 years old, my family went on a quick summer trip to our lake house. The house construction had just been completed a few months before that and, thus, there was only a house and a large, but empty backyard. My father then brought me out to plant a spruce just like in the common belief. Back then it seemed a small and, perhaps, an irrelevant task. But now, 12 years later, every time I visit the lake house during the summer, I get dazzled by that one special tree in our backyard.

Comments

  1. Raghav KumarJanuary 13, 2018 at 10:03 AM

    Hey Bulat, I find it fascinating that you're from Siberia - I've never met anyone from that region before. Would love to learn more about the place and culture. Hope you get your green card so you don't have to deal with such harsh weather conditions anymore!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ankit ShahJanuary 13, 2018 at 2:35 PM

    Hey Bulat, Ankit here. Awesome to hear that you are traveling more around the world than your parents! I know for most people they only travel with their parents when they go abroad! That makes one commonality between us!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brett EmershadJanuary 14, 2018 at 10:54 AM

    Bulat, the tradition of planting a tree with your father is something new to me and it seems like a great bonding moment for families in your culture. Your dedication to achieving your green card is admirable and it appears you have a strong plan for garnering success in America. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to learning more about you and the rest of our class.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sarah ShawJanuary 14, 2018 at 3:06 PM

    Hey Bulat! I also chose dolphins as my animal. I think it's interesting that you chose them because of the nature of their social interactions. Do you have any special memories with dolphins?

    ReplyDelete
  5. GenevieveJanuary 14, 2018 at 6:57 PM

    Hi Bulat! Being from LA I can't even begin to fathom what a temperature of -40 would feel like! I loved learning more about your background and I hope you are able to get a Green Card one day!

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownJanuary 15, 2018 at 12:17 AM

    Hey Bulat, I know how tough it is to try get the coveted green card as an international student as I am similarly here in the US on a student visa. However, I wish you all the best and hope you can get one soon after you graduate so you can escape the harsh colds of Siberia and enjoy the great weather here in SoCal!

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownJanuary 16, 2018 at 12:43 PM

    Hey Bulat, do you ever see yourself returning to Russia for work?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 16, 2018 at 12:45 PM

      I understand wanting to get out of the cold. Check out this article I just found: https://www.boredpanda.com/worlds-coldest-village-oymyakon-siberia/?utm_content=inf_4_2558_2&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=socialedge&tse_id=INF_05edab20fac611e781c71b876dfcb7a1

      Delete
  8. Amirteymour MoazamiJanuary 17, 2018 at 1:03 PM

    Hi Bulat! Recently, I travelled to St. Moritz, Switzerland to go skiing and the temperature there was -20 degrees farenheit, which was too cold for me. Just a friendly FYI, a lot of Russian natives like to go to St. Moritz to go skiing in the winter! I noticed that you want to obtain an H1B visa through a work sponsorship. What type of work are you interested in pursuing in NYC? I really admire the fact that you got out of your comfort zone and left your country and your family to travel to the United States and pursue your academic endeavours. This is an admirable act on your behalf because it enables you to define your own path and purpose in life. Additionally, I was unaware that in Russian culture in order to be a man one must raise a son, plant a tree and build a house.

    ReplyDelete

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