NORTHGATE

ence, so we all help each
other."
Dr. Goldvecht, who can't
practice medicine in
America until she's prop-
erly licensed, said much of
the stress goes away when
family members find work.
"It's so important not to
be isolated," Dr. Goldvecht
said. "When you're in a
bad mood and depressed,
you can turn to a neighbor
and talk about it. You can
even learn to joke about it.
If you don't have that kind
of network, you can go
through depression and be
controlled by the fear of
something new."

The Goldvechts, who left
the former Soviet Union
during the failed coup,
came away with less than
they would have under
normal circumstances.
"We couldn't take out
any money or get any
money for our apartment,"
said Mr. Goldvecht, a pro-
fessional oboist. "When we
got here we felt as the blind
and deaf. But we had
relatives and support from
friends in Northgate.
"Staying at a place like
Northgate is helpful for
newcomers," he said.
"Here I don't shame as a
Jew. I didn't shame in

Russia, but I wasn't pro-
ud."
Last week, the
Goldvechts celebrated

"I want to
assimilate into the
English-speaking
community."

Eugene Mondrusov

their first Passover with
relatives in West Bloom-
field.
"I cried when I heard the
Hebrew words and saw the
beautiful table," Dr.
Goldvecht said.
"We hope to have our

own house one day," she
added, "but in the mean-
time, we feel it's necessary
to live in the Northgate
environment."
Vlad Naday moved last
year from an apartment in
Northgate to a house in
West Bloomfield. He lived
in Northgate for three
years.
Mr. Naday, from
Tsonglin, used to live with
six other families in a
communal apartment in
the Soviet Union. Each
family lived in one room
and everyone shared the
kitchen. There was no hot
water and no shower stall.

"When we came to Nor-
thgate, we were shocked at
how much was prepared for
us," Mr. Naday said.
Resettlement workers
stock every apartment
before immigrants move
in. Refrigerators are filled,
tables are set.
"A lot of people think of
Northgate as a Russian
neighborhood, but it's very
good that there is such a
place," Mr. Naday said.
"For some this is the best
and easiest way to survive.
Every new immigrant goes
through this stage. When
you're ready, you can
always leave." ❑