When I just came to the States and settled in NYC,
I found very low paying job as a packing & shipping
clerk in Midtown, Manhattan.
I had to eat and pay rent, so my dreams of getting an engineering job
were put on the backburner.
But after 2 month I was depressed and completely fed up with with it.
I went to Jewish Federation on Park Ave South,
and asked them if they have anything.(They normally have requests from
different employers to fill positions).
Indeed there was one job offer for electronics
system designer. Jewish Federation called the company (Jerome Menell Co)
and they invited me for interview. It was rather successful.
I was asked when I could start. I was ready to scream: "Immediatly!!"
but curbed myself and stated I need 2 weeks to give a notice to my
current employer.
I went back to my job next day and gave them 2 weeks notice.
I was working for 2 weeks in my old place in the mood of joy and victory -
I will start my proffessional
carreer in America very soon!
On April 1st, 1981 at 8:30 am I was standing in the lobby of
Jerome Menell Co in 3-piece suit broadly smiling to the receptionist.
I announced myself and she paged the owner, mr. Menell.
He came down, well dressed and well mannered man who
interviewd me 2 weeks ago. He asked me how he can help me.
I told him it was my starting date with his company as a designer.
He politely said that he does not have any need for any kind of designer,
and it is some kind misunderstanding.
I reminded him about our interview 2 weeks ago but he shrugged his shoulders.
I turned around and began walking to the door thinking of not having any job
at that given moment.. suddenly Mr. Menell called me just at the time
I was openning the door to leave and said it was
April 1st., The Fool's Day and he was playing tricks that day on everyone in his
office. This is how I started my Engineering carreer in America.



How I got my money back (True Story)
Posted by Hank on August 04, 1997

Kogda-to (4 goda nazad), Ja zhil v Staten Island,
v duplexe (polu-prisojedinennii dom)
Sosediami bila pozhilaja para iz Kieva.
Ja s nimi dogovorilsia ob ustanovke zabora mezhdu nami,
s oplatoi po 50% s kazhdoi storoni.
Kogda kontractor zakonchil rabotu i prishel za den'gami,
to Kievliane otkazalis' platit' svoi 50% pod predlogom,
chto im vdrug zabor ne ochen'-to nuzhnim okazalsia.
("Eto vi - Uzbeki, privikli zhit' za duvalom!")
Prishlos' mne samomu rasschitat'sia.
Na sledujushii den' na rabote, ja rasskazal, chto sluchilos'
svojemu drugu-sotrudniku (Gregu), kotorii bil chernii.
On predlozhil mne priglasit' ego na BBQ vmeste so vsei ego
sem'ei, roditeliami-starikami i det'mi.
Ja dolzhen bil pokazat' emu dom i dvor pod predlogom, chto on potenzial'nii
pokupatel'.
Tak i sdelali - ko mne v subbotu javilas' semeika
Grega v sostave 12 chelovek na 3 mashinah iz Newarka and from Philly.
Ja pokazival Gregu dom i dvor (mi vkliuchili rap music na polnuju katushku),
a ego deti i plemiashki raznosili moi russko-ital'janskii
neighbourhood na chasti. Stariki-zhe mirno poedali
svinnije rebrishki priamo s ognia.
Kievliane s uzhasom nabludali za vsem etim so svoei verandi.
Nakonetz oni ne viderzhali i sprosili, chto eto
takoje, a ja otvetil, chto liudi interesujutsia pokupkoi doma i ja ih reshil ugostit'
Prodaju po prichine, chto sosedi ko mne beschestno otneslis', i ja
ne zhelaju s nimi riadom zhit'.
Na sledujushii den' u menia v pochtov. jashike lezhal chek na $450...