From 1880 to 1920, millions of immigrants from Eastern Europe and Russia moved to the USA. For many of them, the rural landscape and lifestyle of the American Midwest resembled their homeland. A new wave of immigration from the Soviet Union began from 1970 to 1990.

The Russian-speaking community in Milwaukee is well-established: Russian-language publications are issued here, the Association of Russian-speaking Jews is actively working, and medical services are provided by specialists who speak Russian. The Slavic Languages Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is considered one of the leading in the country. The younger generation of Russian-speaking residents in Milwaukee, who graduated from American schools and universities, is widely represented among the city's doctors, lawyers, engineers, and businesspeople.

Here is what Russians who have worked in Wisconsin say.

Sergey Karpukhin from Irkutsk notes: "The difference in living conditions compared to Russia is significant. For example, in the American service sector, customer issues are resolved efficiently, and one does not have to face 'resistance from the environment.' This applies to banks, restaurants, hospitals, post offices, and obtaining driver's licenses."

IT specialist Valentin Ponomarenko shares his impressions of life in Wisconsin: "The main expenses are related to food and rent. We buy basic groceries for the week and then restock as needed. The average bill is $100-150. We cook at home not only to save money but also because restaurant food contains a lot of carbohydrates and is very filling. Therefore, we cook at home, and on weekends we go out to eat. A client from the company introduced us to some guys from Ternopil, and they introduced us to the Ukrainian community in Wisconsin. The locals are friendly: during a walk, they may greet you and talk about your child. We have not encountered any negative attitudes. Of course, not knowing the language or having an accent creates difficulties. My wife found friends faster with poor English than I did with good. If you are open, people will be responsive."