1992 (settling down)

16 August 1992. I (Max) arrived to the States. As far as I remember, I flew from Moscow via Frankfurt (Germany) and Dallas, TX (USA) to Phoenix. The whole trip took a little over 24 hours and was really exhausting.

Upon my arrival to Sky Harbor airport (Phoenix), I was picked up by my good old friend Alik Demkov and his magnificent wife Julia.  Here I would like to say a BIG thanks to Alik and Julia for their huge help and guidance. They really helped me a lot.

My first dwelling in Tempe was in Terrace Road Apartments (on the right). On the top-right is one of the first photos of me taken at that time.

Until March 1993 I shared a 2-bedroom apartment with Dmitry Rekesh and Sean Healy (too bad, I don't have any pictures of him).

So, soon after my arrival I started studying in Science and Engineering of Materials Ph.D. Program at ASU. Here, I need to mention Yolanda Ruitz who also helped me a LOT over the years.

At the same time I started working as a graduate research assistant in the Center for Solid State Science. That's how American system works: one half of the time you study and the other half you work. Here I need to mention 3 persons with whom I worked during my years as a Ph.D. student.

David Wright

Mike McKelvy

Bill Glaunsinger

1993 (waiting for the rest of the family)

In 1993 I wasn't doing much except for studying and doing research within SEM (Science and Engineering of Materials) Ph.D. Program and working on the research part of my Ph.D. thesis.

Don't remember exactly how and when I met Arkady Gerasenko. We were close friends up until he left back to Russia in early 1995. Nice guy.

Somewhere in April 1993 I moved to another apartment: Roosevelt Manor since Alla and Anna were about to come.

On November 18, 1993 (Anna's birthday) they (Alla and Anna) finally arrived.

Not much happened until the end of the year.

Go to next chapter: 1994