Buy:grundle
04-03-12, 11:47 PM
This is the kind of person that makes the United States the greatest country in the world. We need a lot more people like him. While I have bolded some of my favorite parts, I recommending read all of it:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_789313.html
Native of Uzbekistan finds 'paradise' in United States
By Jill King Greenwood
April 1, 2012
Mahmood Subhankulov left the only country he'd ever known and a successful career as an obstetrician to travel more than 6,000 miles for a crack at the American dream.
Subhankulov, who goes by "Max," arrived in Pittsburgh from the Republic of Uzbekistan in the spring of 2005 with the ability to speak Uzbek and Russian, but no English. Within six months, he taught himself the language by reading the newspaper and translating the words using a dictionary.
"I love America. I love Pittsburgh," said Subhankulov, 38, a lab technician at UPMC logging 12-hour shifts.
"My Dad always told me that the place you are born and raised will always be your motherland, but this is my home now. I'm living my dream."
Growing up in the former Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic as the oldest of three sons, Subhankulov said he was isolated from much of the Western world. The socialist government preached a message of atheism and controlled the media, he said.
He read anything he could get his hands on, taught himself Russian and several Uzbek dialects. The Soviet government collapsed in 1991, and Uzbekistan became an independent republic. Subhankulov said that changed his life.
"Suddenly, we had access to the entire world, and I couldn't get enough of it," he said. "We suddenly had a voice."
He continued studying and went to medical school in Uzbekistan. For 10 years, Subhankulov worked as an obstetrician, delivering 3,000 babies a year, he estimated. He had three sons with his ex-wife.
But he wanted more. He researched for hours about medicine in America, and was impressed with clinical research happening in Pittsburgh. He knew one former Uzbecki who was living here, so he packed up and moved, working in the friend's West Mifflin convenience store until mastering English.
"I set a goal for myself because I knew that in order to achieve what I wanted to here, I needed to start with the language," Subhankulov said. "I knew that being able to communicate would make my life so much easier."
He spends his days doing phlebotomy and lab work at UPMC Presbyterian and Montefiore hospitals, then goes home to West Mifflin to run 7 miles. He doesn't own a television and says he rarely socializes, choosing instead to photograph Pittsburgh neighborhoods and study until midnight every day with the goal of taking the medical licensing board exam to work as a physician.
"In this country, if you use your brain, study hard and work hard, you can do anything," Subhankulov said. "I don't know anywhere else in the world that is like that. The U.S. is paradise to me."
Carol Milligan is the unit director of the UPMC Resource Department and Subhankulov's boss. She said she's continually impressed with his knowledge and work ethic.
"I like to say that I have the pleasure of working with Max," Milligan said. "He is a pleasure to lead. He's willing to do whatever you ask of him and he's a wealth of knowledge. He loves to talk about world events. He's a great asset to us."
Subhankulov texts and Skypes daily with his sons, ages 15, 13 and 11, and his mother and brothers in Uzbekistan. His father is deceased. He's a permanent resident here, and tries to visit Uzbekistan every year.
And he's still discovering new things to love about Pittsburgh.
"I came to the North Side. I've never been over to the North Side before," he said last week. "I guess I don't cross bridges anymore. I'm a true Pittsburgher now."
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_789313.html
Native of Uzbekistan finds 'paradise' in United States
By Jill King Greenwood
April 1, 2012
Mahmood Subhankulov left the only country he'd ever known and a successful career as an obstetrician to travel more than 6,000 miles for a crack at the American dream.
Subhankulov, who goes by "Max," arrived in Pittsburgh from the Republic of Uzbekistan in the spring of 2005 with the ability to speak Uzbek and Russian, but no English. Within six months, he taught himself the language by reading the newspaper and translating the words using a dictionary.
"I love America. I love Pittsburgh," said Subhankulov, 38, a lab technician at UPMC logging 12-hour shifts.
"My Dad always told me that the place you are born and raised will always be your motherland, but this is my home now. I'm living my dream."
Growing up in the former Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic as the oldest of three sons, Subhankulov said he was isolated from much of the Western world. The socialist government preached a message of atheism and controlled the media, he said.
He read anything he could get his hands on, taught himself Russian and several Uzbek dialects. The Soviet government collapsed in 1991, and Uzbekistan became an independent republic. Subhankulov said that changed his life.
"Suddenly, we had access to the entire world, and I couldn't get enough of it," he said. "We suddenly had a voice."
He continued studying and went to medical school in Uzbekistan. For 10 years, Subhankulov worked as an obstetrician, delivering 3,000 babies a year, he estimated. He had three sons with his ex-wife.
But he wanted more. He researched for hours about medicine in America, and was impressed with clinical research happening in Pittsburgh. He knew one former Uzbecki who was living here, so he packed up and moved, working in the friend's West Mifflin convenience store until mastering English.
"I set a goal for myself because I knew that in order to achieve what I wanted to here, I needed to start with the language," Subhankulov said. "I knew that being able to communicate would make my life so much easier."
He spends his days doing phlebotomy and lab work at UPMC Presbyterian and Montefiore hospitals, then goes home to West Mifflin to run 7 miles. He doesn't own a television and says he rarely socializes, choosing instead to photograph Pittsburgh neighborhoods and study until midnight every day with the goal of taking the medical licensing board exam to work as a physician.
"In this country, if you use your brain, study hard and work hard, you can do anything," Subhankulov said. "I don't know anywhere else in the world that is like that. The U.S. is paradise to me."
Carol Milligan is the unit director of the UPMC Resource Department and Subhankulov's boss. She said she's continually impressed with his knowledge and work ethic.
"I like to say that I have the pleasure of working with Max," Milligan said. "He is a pleasure to lead. He's willing to do whatever you ask of him and he's a wealth of knowledge. He loves to talk about world events. He's a great asset to us."
Subhankulov texts and Skypes daily with his sons, ages 15, 13 and 11, and his mother and brothers in Uzbekistan. His father is deceased. He's a permanent resident here, and tries to visit Uzbekistan every year.
And he's still discovering new things to love about Pittsburgh.
"I came to the North Side. I've never been over to the North Side before," he said last week. "I guess I don't cross bridges anymore. I'm a true Pittsburgher now."