dreams

Dreaming big but doing small

/ russianladyabroad / Leave a comment

There are two reasons why people get disappointed with their own dreams not coming true: those dreams are too large and ambitious or too far away to reach. Some people say, one should reduce his expectations to become happier. I strongly disagree with that opinion. In order to achieve a big dream, one should see it not as a light at the end of the road but as a puzzle spread across the road from many smaller dreams. Each time you do a step, you make a small dream come true, which motivates you to go further and inspires to seek new big dreams. You want to start a new life abroad? There are the dreams about passing the English test, getting your papers done on time, getting an invitation, getting a visa…so many small things to celebrate and be happy about each day!

Let the most important dreams in your life be a road, not a destination!

Kindly yours,

Russianladyabroad

Thought for the day

/ russianladyabroad / Leave a comment

Today I have an interesting idea to share…Everything in life comes not in cycles, but in waves. Every wave is a bit higher than the previous one. Sometimes we can catch the wave, and sometimes we just get wet and can’t see it, but this does not change how things are working.

Some years ago, I had a difficulty to get an unpaid internship for my Diploma thesis in Russia. This is not in our culture to get somebody running around and disturbing other employers for free. Therefore, I got a small job as an interpreter and agreed with the employer that he will sign the Diploma thesis papers. We went to Munich for a large construction fair, he liked my translation work and asked to stay as a Financial Manager in his company. I denied and went abroad.

After 5 years, I was standing in the very same hall as a speaker talking about complex project structures and high-level IT issues. This is the same spot, just a much higher wave.

This life will give you a change to return and look back – not for a revenge, but for a moment to spend thinking, how much you have done. Do not waste this moment – it is there for you to plan the future, not to regret or to judge your past.

Always yours,

Russianladyabroad

One-language career: where can you build an international career in English only?

/ russianladyabroad / Leave a comment

For this article, I will concentrate my attention on such countries as China, Germany, Denmark, Spain and, yes, Russia. I work with many expats from different countries from  all levels and many industries, therefore I understand the consequences of coming to another country without knowing the local language. Can one come to a country with a 0 to A2 level of the local language and feel comfortable at work? In the everyday life? Let us have a look at it.

Continue reading →

TOEFL iBT vs. IELTS: one simple difference

/ russianladyabroad / Leave a comment

I read plenty of articles before making my decision, which exam to take for a European Master program. Some of my colleagues with a high English proficiency told me that the TOEFL iBT required in Europe proportionally higher scores than IELTS, as TOEFL iBT is an American exam. Furthermore, TOEFL iBT would be more helpful if one decides to study in the USA.

You know what? My English was really bad when I decided to take the exam. Probably, it was a Pre-Intermediate level – and I needed scores for at least an Upper-Intermediate level. As I was preparing myself for an international Master from the Erasmus Mundus pool, which requires less English knowledge as it was created for students from the third countries, the minimum passing scores for programs were TOEFL iBT 80 for Environmental Science and TOEFL iBT 90 for very simple programs in Economics. There was, however, a program about Mathematical Modeling, which required only TOEFL iBT 75…

Continue reading →