Navigating Midlife Relocation: Insights by Toronto Immigrant Physician

Emily Bron: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the second season of the Age of Reinvention. Redefine your freedom lifestyle and purpose in midlife. Podcast dedicated to exploring the journey and insights of those who have embraced major transformations later in life. Today we are thrilled to have Dr. Helena Chekina with us, a Toronto physician with many years of professional medical experience known for her dedication to lifelong learning and ability to adapt across cultures and languages.

Dr. Chekina has a wealth of experience helping individuals navigate significant health issues. Life issues and personal changes today, she will share her insights on the personal qualities that hopefully will bring some light to examine our goals in lives and careers and examine the impact of the possible relocation change for people after 50.

Let’s dive into this enriching conversation with Dr. Chekina. Thank you very much for being my guest today in my studio. And I’m sure our conversation will help many people to reconsider or to think about um, impact of relocation and other changes in life.

As I mentioned to you in my podcast, I’m giving the voice to to show us the personal stories of many immigrants and expats. You are the immigrant who graduated from Lviv University in 1973 and came to Canada many years ago in 1976. You become a medical doctor with two specialties, including psychiatry.

You worked in several hospitals, but you always kept your private practice. Is there any reason why you always kept your private practice?

Elena Chekina: Thank you, Emilia, for such a nice introduction. I think it’s very important that you said that I’m an immigrant and I came to Canada with a medical degree.

But as most immigrants who come to Canada with a medical degree, their degrees are recognizable, but you don’t have a license. And it’s very difficult to understand when you come from different countries. Especially It was extremely difficult in 70s and 80s because information was very limited. Today information is available and people can reach.

Information to find it. And I think this is important because this type of podcast and information can be given to people who need to relocate. Because for relocation it’s very important to have as many as possible, not as many as information sources of information. Yes. And a lot of sources are not reliable.

And a lot of sources would not bring you to the point where you understand what new countries expect of you. Each country has specific requirements. And when you think about relocation, you have to understand the environment. to which you will relocate it, maybe will be helpful to you, or maybe will not.

But it’s very difficult to find information which would be helpful to understand. So hopefully we will be able today to answer some of these concerns, or concerns, even very superficially, because we have time limits from what I understand, and of course I don’t know a lot of questions and answers.

I can only share my own personal experience.

Emily Bron: Which is, I think, very interesting and valueable because you went through the many stages of adaptation, including relocation as well. But the question, why you kept your private practice?

Elena Chekina: And I think it’s related to being immigrant. Huh. And I think it’s also related to your family background.

I also come from a family of immigrants. Even though I was born in the Soviet Union, my father was an immigrant. In the Soviet Union. My father was born in Poland and became a Soviet citizen in 1941. So this is a generation which had

a lot of experience as an immigrant and how to settle in former Soviet Union. So this, people were able to teach their children about resilience and being patient, and be also able to learn as many languages as you needed. When you’re a child, you don’t understand why your parents insist that you learn an extra language.

You don’t understand why your parents insist that you learn special skills, for example, music, or reading in a different language. But, And you don’t really value their experience, as later on you start to understand that it is very important to teach your children as many languages as you have and explain them different culture and expose them to different stresses in their lives.

You all try to protect our children. So private practice, it’s protection for me. Private practice, I find it as any private business. It’s protection for person who tries to relocate it.

Emily Bron: Interesting. Thank you. I’ve never thought of it this way. But probably it’s your personal

Elena Chekina: It’s my personal experience.

It’s not a point of view. I’m trying to explain my own personal experience when I came to this country. And a lot of immigrants have to, maybe they don’t want it, but they have to open their private businesses. So people, when they relocate, they start to need to understand that if you were, for example, a dancer in a big theater in the former Soviet Union.

You’re not going to be a dancer here in Canada. Your age maybe is fine, but it’s a different, totally, environment and you have different tools of training. You have different understanding of relationship in the business. So the easiest way to find it, for example, ballet school.

Emily Bron: Yeah. And we have several ballet schools actually competing. Russian speaking, ballet schools which are providing classes for children of, by the way, the big community in Toronto areas, multicultural.

Elena Chekina: And I’m sure that people will just think about this. They don’t really question why people would open private poly school, or why people would open private open some small factory.

Or maybe why in the case of the market when I came, it was so many immigrants who were working in small shops. who came after the war and were able to provide this for their family. Stability, money, education. And they were working in small owned businesses. Because when you’re an immigrant, it’s more easy

to have your private business

Emily Bron: so if you can survive, but look it’s a very challenging Situation to have your a small business when you’re starting from you know Some starting capital in new country with new system local people sometimes hardly can

Elena Chekina: Yes, but your expectation as an immigrant compared to the expectation of a local person is different, which is advantageous.

In some ways it’s a big advantage, because you understand that you need patience, and you do understand that Even small amount of money which you can make it is important because it provides your stability and stability for your family. You cannot be fired. You cannot right away be told that you don’t have any more jobs.

So you do have this possibility to work. For example, when you work in a big hospital, you’re always under the scrutiny of the big corporations. So to work with corporations totally, you need totally different skills, especially language. And immigrants don’t have such a great language skills. Even you finish in the school, in your country, you still limit by the expressions, by the jobs, by the cultural understanding.

Yeah but when you have your private practice, you’re free to be providing services and build your practice as you really think you can be helpful. And also you will be able to understand that you can have great pleasure from your own private practice because it’s your personality, it’s your skills, your interest you bring to your private practice.

The same to your business, you bring your heart to your business. Yes, you would like to bring your heart and your specificity and your personality to corporate business, but corporate business is totally different. And you need to be able to adapt to them. And when you’re immigrant, it’s not so easy because you don’t understand some of them specific of language.

For example, the recently received message. From one of my colleagues, which says that she’s going to celebrate life for her husband on such a date. I still don’t understand what this means. I went to my son and said to him, tell me something. Celebrate life of somebody, it means that somebody died?

Emily Bron: No.

Elena Chekina: Yes, it is.

Oh, okay, sorry. Okay. I didn’t understand that. But I remember that friend of mine said me something saying that one of our friends. Pass away, and it’s going to be celebration of this life. You learn every day.

Emily Bron: We have different word and actually whole ceremony, I would say, for this event.

But we never say it this way. Even we think this way.

Elena Chekina: Even we spend in this country 50 years, and we speak this language 30 years, 20 years, 50 years. It doesn’t matter. Somehow, you still do not quite well adapted in language skills in country which became your homeland. I see Canada as my homeland, but it’s still.

It’s almost like most of immigrants, we are trees which were taken by our roots. And brought us to different place. Some of us survived and brought beautiful flowers. Branches. Branches. And some of us were less fortunate. And I think it depends on, it’s my own thoughts. It’s not anybody. I never have been read.

I never was able to research or find it. Why some people successfully, from our point of view adapted to new country. And some people, we think, from outside point, they did not adapt it. But in their point, they adapted. And the other people we think are very successful. And they never felt they were able to stay in this country.

And they’re always trying to move to the other country.

Emily Bron: Okay, it’s a whole different topic that probably we should devote some other time. I think today I’m trying to concentrate on your perception and your advice today. For people after 50 because this is the category which is close to my and your heart category of people and please summarize is the age and essential factor for adjustment during the locations of different cultures.

Elena Chekina: I think it’s very good question, and it’s very important question because each of us have to understand that different age requires different needs. For example, when you’re 20, you need to go to school, you need to go to university. When you’re 30, you need to get married, and you need partner, and you need to look for your children the ability to survive in different culture.

But after 50 It’s a different, game. Most of us in 70s immigrated with our parents to, from former Soviet Union to Canada, for example. My mother was 50. And I think her relocation to Canada compared to mine was depend on us being together.

Emily Bron: As many parents, probably, of immigrants family.

Elena Chekina: Yes, but I think a lot of children do not realize that when they come here, the parents get their particular responsibilities. So it’s not only parents have to adopt to this role of being dependent on the children, dependent for language reason which is very different in fifties compared to the thirties.

50s you already limited physically somewhat, but not only this, you have been already established in different countries. You already have some understanding of yourself as being successful or not successful. Some people are not successful and they come to this country. And this is a possibility for them to be successful.

And I think it’s very helpful because you’re seeing yourself not to be a burden to your children or a burden to society. You’re seeing it as a possibility for you as a human being to develop.

Emily Bron: You actually invent new personality or new Yes. Chapter in your life.

Elena Chekina: Yes. For example, as my personal, as I know, and I face this, my mother and her, some of her, the same age women, were able to come to Canada, to Toronto, and they have to change their work habits.

They have to change their work places. Status. Totally. And people who were able to expect, accepted their different status. For example, you were a teacher there, or you were a musician there, and suddenly you start to be PSW. PSW. Or you start to work in a factory. I was talking about my own personal experience when two different age groups One who was established back in Soviet Union, comes to a new country, has no language, has skills which are not transferable to this country.

And you have a younger person who does have skills which can be transferable, but was told by immigration office that those skills are not needed in Canada. It’s a very hard situation. So it’s very disappointing for this person to understand that. When you are told that you’re not going to be a doctor.

So you’re limited. So it’s your personal story. It’s my personal story. I was told in Austria when I applied for immigration to Canada. And in my papers was written the name PSW.

And so in your pretty young age, you were defined to be not higher than this level.

And I also was told that I will rely on my mother. Which is not what was expected from the new life. I was not expecting that I would rely on my mother who was 50. And not only this, before paper was written that she is a cook. And in reality, my mother was not a cook. She was manager of the facility.

Emily Bron: But, yeah, To get paper correct, to get to the country, you need to show

Elena Chekina: And how paper translated very often. It’s become very disappointing for newcomers. So people need to understand. And they need to be able to have their personal goals. So when I came to Canada, my personal goal was to become a physician.

I always wanted to be a doctor. I was really hard working to become a doctor in the former Soviet Union. I used to be a nurse. And after being a nurse for four years, I was able to enter medical school. So I always challenged, and I always was proud of being a doctor. So I never saw my life being somebody else.

I always wanted to be a physician. So I understood very clearly that for, to become a physician in a different country, you need to be able to be patient, learn new rules, learn new language. And also learn what you need and not to be disappointed by the so many answers of telling you that it’s impossible.

For example, I wanted to go back to medical school and I was told that I have license. My medical school is recognized, my diploma is recognized, but, and I was told this in two countries, not only in Canada, but I cannot work. Why? Because I didn’t have license and I didn’t understand this. In one of the countries, I did not understand it.

Emily Bron: So many doctors, I believe, going through such a trouble even till now. So you came what, 40, 50 years ago, almost? And the process is still the same for the newcomers. Yes. Doctors and other professionals with licensing,

Elena Chekina: And there is not a lot of information or a lot of help in the medical establishment which would be able to navigate you through this very Challenging and best of my experience.

So a lot of people become very disappointed.

So you have to be able to have your own kind of strengths to understand that disappointment is part of life. And especially when you move from one place to the other, disappointment is not only for immigrants. It is a point for everybody. Because sometimes you’re Canadian and you lose your job. It’s a huge disappointment.

Children grow up in Canada where they couldn’t find a job right away. They’re extremely disappointed. An immigrant

Emily Bron: Even they know your stories. It doesn’t matter. Even they know about stories of fathers, immigrants, and locals.

Elena Chekina: And I think it’s important for parents to explain that children That disappointments is a part of life, that you’re told at home that you are smart and capable.

It doesn’t matter that outside you’re going to be told that you’re smart and capable. And as immigrants it’s the worst, because you don’t understand the cultural difference of what is smart and gorgeous. And what’s smart, and what’s smart you need to be. So it’s the experience. And take patience. So after 50, it’s more pronounced, because after 50, you’re not so resilient.

Emily Bron: Really? Yes. So with all the experience, like personal experience of disappointment, and sometimes struggles that you overcome, you’re still less resilient?

Elena Chekina: Of course. Because you have your past experience. But it’s an advantage sometimes, it’s what,

if you learn the lessons. Yes. If you learn the lesson, and if you decided that you cannot look back and constantly think about that.

You cannot think about future, you can, you have to think about today, what you can do today. My mother told me, once, At night when I came from the night call and I was sitting in the kitchen and was very sad. She came three o’clock in the morning and told me, what are you doing here? I said, you’re not on call.

I said, no. She says, so you need to sleep? I said, yeah, but I can’t. She said, why? You think the bank will give you a better loan? If you not sleep through the night, I think tomorrow, today, you have to sleep, and in the morning, decision will be made. So you always have to see perspective, but you cannot look in the future.

Oh my God, because in Canada, I was asked what I’m going to do in five years.

Emily Bron: It’s a question on each interview. What are your professional goals in five and ten years? And expectation are that if you’re thinking about your goals and strategies, how to achieve, you better prepare for the market or for this particular role.

Elena Chekina: But if you really consider and you start to think, somebody will ask me what you think when you will be 80. Yes. Everybody around me will tell me that in 80, I will be old, that I will be

Emily Bron: Maybe people mean again you never, you think about your future. You have some plans, maybe not, carved stone, but some plans that people know that like at this age, we retire.

Even you are working, you are above retirement, like officially retirement age, when you Many colleagues are already retired, or at this stage of life, I will be in this position. Doesn’t matter if it does not work in reality, but people have this tendency.

Elena Chekina: Yeah, but you can. Can you see how disappointing it can be?

Yes, agree. Because suddenly you were told to retire. Yes. And you’re not ready for retirement. But because by 65 in the country you have to retire, suddenly you become somebody who feels you don’t need it anymore. So you have to have some idea that it doesn’t matter what you will be told. You have your own plans, you have your own idea, and you don’t feel that you don’t need it.

You feel always needed by yourself. You need to feel that I have my own roles, I have my own needs, and it doesn’t matter what you tell me in this big corporation.

Emily Bron: Or even your neighbors or somebody. So from a certain age, we should not put attention, I would say politely, to the opinions of somebody else if you still have your ideas, goals, desires. Am I correct?

Elena Chekina: Yes. I’ll give you an example of one of my colleagues, which I greatly regarded, highly regarded. I used to work with him, and he was already almost in his late 80s. He was professor before in Sunnybrook Hospital, it’s a big establishment in Canada. He was one of the great researchers.

Suddenly, at age 65, he was told that he cannot be any more professor in this establishment, and he cannot do what he used to do. But he was very curious, was very interested in a lot of things. So what he did, he started to fight with establishment about age. So I learned later on that he wins the case and age was not anymore an institution applied as time of his have to leave.

Emily Bron: So that’s why your private practice and practice of many other schools. Yes. Actually planned and developed the strategy of backup plan again is what is very important.

Elena Chekina: And so this man became finally at age almost 80. He became a psychotherapist. Psychotherapist psychiatrist. I saw him on many conferences.

But not only this, he has a great interest in classic music. So he would travel, for example, to conferences in London, and he would have tickets to go to Salzburg, in winter for Salzburg Festival. He was, we came together to one of the conference in Budapest. So he stay, he always stay in the hotel which was, like, very close to the conference venue.

We were staying in Budapest, and he was, for him it was very difficult to move. He was already limited by his back problem and all of that. By physical. But he was very good. Emotionally and mentally capable to ask so many questions. Learned such a new totally subject for him. And was working long hours.

Like he would work long hours. And travel constantly for long hours. His wife was not able to work anymore. And she needed great support. But it didn’t limit him. And his grandchildren told him. On his celebrity, that he was always bringing some kind of new issue to their lives. So you need to be able to create for yourself.

Some personality challenges, but some personality growth. Prior practice, this is your possibility to work long hours, as you decided, and long, and work many years, as you’re capable to do it.

But I think people also have to understand, even they are not, even the engineers, Or even the teachers or something.

If they like the profession, if they have interest in the profession, they always can find something in their profession. What they can develop or they can look at for their own interest. For example, if you always were interested in working with different group of people for some reason, for example, to help interlocated.

So you start to develop slowly your business or your kind of hobby business interest in this area.

Emily Bron: It’s what I’m doing, as all right. And developing it from different aspects. They’re trying actually to help people to prepare mentally and from immigration point of view And it’s especially interesting for me that you’re coming from the medical professional aside Actually follow to the same Advices for the people so try to create as far as I understand from your hobbies From your interest something that you’re passionate about try to make a business.

Obviously, it’s not easy Because if you don’t have experience of being self employed business owner, and in today’s world with, online and many different options the rules of the game change. And when you have licensing that, like professional like that. Doctors, engineers, architects, it’s clear what it’s about, yes?

And in these days, what I notice, being like in online space and speaking, With other new business owners, new, coaching, consulting type of services created like as mushrooms as we say, sometimes popping up trying to tackle some issues of even medical profession, even, psychology from different perspective.

And by the way, I was. Always amazed and sometimes amused, but they found the client who, for example, cannot prefer this type of coaching other to go to psychologist.

Elena Chekina: I think when you are developing any business, I think people need to understand that when you develop business, it’s the same as you are trying to develop for example your own bakery. What’s the difference?

Emily Bron: The topic of different type of services. There is the services and there is, produce that you are doing. Obviously you have challenges, some common challenges, but some specific to what you are trying to develop.

Elena Chekina: No, but you have always the same story. You have a product, and this product you need to bring to attention of the other people.

So if you have a product, Which you think wonderful, because you think it’s product which is unique. It’s wonderful, but you have to be able to bring this to the other people. And convince them that this is whatever they need. So it’s your own personality which will show, which will bring this. It’s not product who comes and become the famous.

It’s your skills as a human being who create this can win. So it doesn’t matter that transfer from one country to the other. Your rules have changed because maybe you wanted to have this bacon, but maybe you don’t want to have bacon. But maybe what you wanted to use the same, and you start to say, okay, I need this product.

I don’t want to make this product, but I want this product. How I can find this product? So you have to go from this side now. Okay, before I was selling this product, but now I need to look at how to find this product. So this is the same process, but it’s opposite. Yes.

And it’s very challenging.

Emily Bron: It’s very challenging. That’s why I’m thinking now coming back to your professional hat, I would say. What are your point of view or would be helpful to relieve the stress or other issues coming from the challenges of relocation or reinvention, your new business being after 50, as you pointed out, the resilience level less than I was expecting.

Elena Chekina: I think the most important things in information, I think information which you can get it find it, I think this is the most important. Because when you have information, if you can find a person who can help you with this information, I think this makes your life easier.

Journey is easier because this person can help you with different kind of process. And you can explore with this person, this different part Places where you can go. For example we were able to go to Mexico and we were looking for different kind of living options. Yes, like almost like you’re on the road to discover what is available for you or what is available for your family.

Other categories as well. So from this journey you start to understand that maybe it’s not your time to do this. And it can be very self, like very quick, it’s not like you have so many years after 50 to start to say, okay, fine, in in next five years, I can again, to start to look for this.

Maybe after 50 you need to be able to understand that your life needs can change very quickly. But not only your life. It’s life with people who are you very have strong kind of ties. Like your family, your spouse, your parents. We always think that we will live forever, but nobody lives forever.

Emily Bron: Some people have very, limited even I think they will, they try to achieve something in a hurry even. Because they afraid of the, it will be time in a life when they will be less capable physically, mentally. So they have this urge of preparing, of doing something in advance.

Elena Chekina: But you cannot prepare.

This is reality and this is the truth about life. That only two dates is known, not known to you. You don’t know when you were born, and you’re not going to know when you’re going to die. So it’s two dates when you

Emily Bron: And it’s mystery of life, which actually makes our life, I would say, interesting, exciting, whatever with all downturns we have along the way, right?

Elena Chekina: But the story should not disappoint you. You should be able to say, yes, it is, Something very negative in my life, but from this negative experience, suddenly something comes positive and you cannot predict it. But instead of being disappointed, you have to understand that in this moment, it’s not your place.

But it does not matter because maybe something else will come from this and your experience will allow you to have some different experiences. And I think this is very important for our own kind of mental health, that we don’t get such a negative about Oh, I’m going there, I saw this, it’s wonderful, but so bad, I cannot do this anymore.

But instead of this, you have to think, okay, I cannot do this way, but I can do this different way. You have to always have this expectations.

Emily Bron: You need to adjust to the place, or you expect the place will adjust to your needs. No, but places are going to adjust.

Elena Chekina: Not work, not your family, not your spouse, not your health, they’re not going to adjust.

You have to adjust. So this is also important about your health, and about health of your relatives, because they’re not going to adjust to your needs or your expectations. You broke the leg, you have to adjust it to broken leg. You cannot just sit down and say, Now, from this moment, I’m invalid. I cannot do anything.

So you have to start to understand, what can you do? And what you can think. You will be able to integrate it to your travel. Yes, you broke a leg, yes, you have a pain, you cannot, maybe, to move such a Yes, but you still can travel. You still can relocate it. You can still spend winter, maybe, in country which is warm, But you have to start to understand that it’s today.

Yeah, six months, it’s today. It’s six months you think tomorrow. Oh, I will just make decision in six months. Forget it. Six months is different time.

Emily Bron: Many people actually plan this way when they come to 50s. And I’m speaking with different personalities. Some of them, they say, OK, we have a plan. We are still preparing for relocation or for our retirement.

For some people it’s coming together, they understand the necessity of change, like financial or other means. They develop such a strategy like every year we will go to visit some place, some country. And I fully support them in this decision, even I’m always saying, but you will be still tourist, or it’s good to be familiar with those place.

It’s good to have your own feeling, but try more to look at the life you need to spend, I would say, at least three months in the one place. to be rooted maybe having trips here and there to feel how you are matching to this lifestyle or how you can adapt if it’s your place to feel comfortable.

Because at the end of the day, people are relocating or people deciding to change in order to feel comfortable, maybe financially, and nobody knows how it’s going to be, but people are trying and people have this strategy. What you would say?

Elena Chekina: I think it’s great to have a strategy because all of us dreamers And all of us planners.

And the older you get, the more planner you would like to be, and the more dreams you would like to execute it, to be a reality. So it’s great. I think it’s great to dream. I think it’s great to plan. But I think the most important thing is that lives happen, and all your dreams and your plan can be just disappear, because something happened, something very not important happened.

Emily Bron: Okay, so here we can speak about flexibility, the changes. And opportunities to adapt or at least to try this muscle or the adaptation which you need anyway for the changes to come even in your own kind of environment.

Elena Chekina: It doesn’t matter where you are. It doesn’t matter if you relocate or not.

This will be something what you will need to right way to understand. Oh my god, it’s so disappointing. I wanted to be right now in this winter in Florida. Or I rather would be right now in Portugal. Everything’s terrific, but unfortunately, financially health wise family wise, It’s impossible.

Emily Bron: It’s what actually I am speaking with people about trying to remind or put the focus on this very important factors of life. And for some people it works. Even the same strategy might work for people when they’re determined, when they have special skills. Obviously, financial part is important but they navigate it, I would say, easier than others.

What you would say, what kind of, characteristics, personal features can determine, I would say, success of adaptation at this age range for people coming from the Western world taking this cultural preparation.

Elena Chekina: I think you have to have some goals, which you would see. As achievable.

Realistic. Yeah, realistic. And I think you need to understand that this goal is for today. This goal needs to be for today, but maybe you have to be able to understand that this goal will still exist tomorrow. But maybe it will have different color. And you will be different a little bit. You’re right.

Your goal is different. You’re, because you’re different. It’s not because goal different. Because you’re different. Because today you’re, for example, 65. You just left the job. You’re very happy. Your family is, your wife is and you’re well. Everything terrific. So now you start to think, okay, great. I don’t need to work, I don’t need to do anything, I just need to spend winter in some place.

So I’m going for three months, for example, to Brazil. You have no language, you have no family.

Emily Bron: That’s why I’m coming here to explain it. And sometimes I think that for people above 50 it’s being clear Should have been, but not always. But now, I came, sorry to interrupt you.

That’s fine. Speaking about languages. And I know that you speak four languages. English, Russian, Ukrainian and Polish and use this ability and fluency in speaking in different languages actually provide you experience working in diverse cultures. environment, which also suggests the adaptability.

How do you think is adaptability to individuals which are looking for reinvention or relocation? important for reaching the goals and how languages are working. Because, it’s a serious concern for me, for others. For me, yes. Coming say to the Spanish speaking country, even we have some other languages, we know, but we understand limitation of the age, memory and other process.

And we understand how important to be speaking in the local language for adaptation and how to, balance this.

Elena Chekina: And I think this is the most important things which we forget, that if you have a dream that you’re going to relocate it, for example, in a year or two. So instead of thinking as a dream, you have to start to understand that what your limits.

Like, when you immigrate, you have not such a especially when you immigrate, in my time, when I immigrated from former Soviet Union, it’s a different immigration, it’s a different relationship. You were actually a refugee. You’re right. So it’s not a straight forward immigration. It’s totally different.

Now you’re, for example, 65, you’re free, you decided, oh great, now I can go, and in Brazil spent three months. Terrific. It’s fine you don’t speak Portuguese, it’s fine.

Emily Bron: There are cities, by the way, there are cities in Brazil where a lot of expats are living and you can manage with English or other languages.

Actually, it’s this specific expat community’s places which I am following and researching in the world. And here’s a question, do you want to live in such community which will give you comfort at the beginning? Because you, language wise, and even mentally, probably, you would be close to these people who already adjusted somehow.

Or, you would like to be immersed in some local city, a community, in order to learn language quickly.

Elena Chekina: It’s a good, it’s a good example. And it’s a good question, because it’s, everybody who thinks about relocation would be advised to think in such a way. Where I want to be. Do I want to be in a local community?

Or I would rather prefer to stay with the expats. Because in both ways, you need information. Yes. In both ways, it looks like people would be advised to go to people like you to find more close information and more advice. Yes. Because friends can you tell you, Yes, do you know I live in this community, I would do fine.

Yes, and maybe they’re very happy in this community. But it doesn’t mean, but maybe you’re not very happy in this community. Because, You as a person have been more independent, more, more doing your own stuff, and maybe you expect you’ll be able to do this stuff, continue. For example, maybe you expect to work, you’re lucky if you have distant work.

It’s perfectly fine to be in community where you are have expats. But you need to have an expert who can help you.

Emily Bron: Even social circle, I would say, like expert at the beginning to navigate or to ask the correct question, yeah, in correct times, I would say, and provide responses.

And after then, because we are going to the point that, okay, you arrived, but your journey just started. Okay, you finish some part of your relocation process, which I say before, And after it’s what I name personally lending and this process of lending, meaning adaptation, adjustment, finding social circle and some of us really needed some others might be less.

And, it might take time, years. So you need to be prepared for it.

Elena Chekina: Yes, but preparation is one thing, but at least And language wise. You’re right. So you need to understand that if you decide to go to a country where you don’t speak language, it’s going to be very difficult challenges. And you will need to be in an environment which can provide language support, which you speak.

Even like I speak Polish and Ukrainian, it’s very similar languages, but it’s very different countries. When I was in Ukraine and going to university and it was Education was Russian or Ukrainian at this time? It was mixed. Huh. Back in the war, it was interesting. Because some people determined not determined, they were it was essential to speak and learn Ukrainian.

And in some courses You didn’t need it. Of course, your Russian was perfect because Russian was a prevalent language in that time.

Emily Bron: Oh, you keep your Polish.

Elena Chekina: But Polish is from my home. So when I went to Poland for some training in medical school, my Polish was very useful because it was a totally different language and it was a totally different relationship with the people.

which was very interesting. So even closed languages, it’s not the same languages because they have their own specifics. Yeah, specific and like different applications in different cultures.

Emily Bron: Oh, I’m afraid now that we will try to know for the potential people who think in a relocation. But again, speaking, and obviously, and I’m speaking about it and telling myself start to learn Spanish in advance start to learn about culture, about, even movies, about music.

Feel, try to feel this way as new people, like people in a new country will be. But with limitation or speed of learning new language. What would you suggest to people, to me?

Elena Chekina: I’m witnessing right now I’m witnessing right now adaptation of Ukrainian speaking ladies in my own home. I do know, and this, these two ladies do not speak English at all. One lives with me, as you know already. And she is forced to learn English. I say, after 50 years? Yes.

She is 56, I think. And I practically told her that she has to go to school. She is going to school. And she found it very interesting. It’s very long, it’s very slow process. It’s very difficult process, but it’s still helpful because she found that she can go to store and ask simple question, which makes her more comfortable and not so scared.

And she feel proud of herself. You’re right. She can communicate. You’re right. So it doesn’t matter. Do you speak or not, but you have to try. You have to at least start to, if you decided that you wanted to go to Mexico, you have, or you to Portugal, or you wanted to go somewhere, Yes, in Portugal, when you’re tourist, you don’t need it.

English, you don’t need it. Portuguese in Mexico, when you are tourist, you don’t need the Spanish. But if you decided to stay there, I think you need to understand that it’s whatever you do, at least learn some basic. And when you’re in the country, try to learn as much as you can. Not to just say to yourself, okay, fine, I have English, I’m okay.

Even if you live in expatriate community, you still, if you really want to live in the country, you need to be able and need to be interested. And you need to be feeling resilient about this to learn some basic language. Because this will make your life and your relocation is more kind of pleasurable.

And for many years you will feel good about yourself. But it’s first things which I think people need to address. It’s not where they’re going to live. It’s not where they’re going to Sure, but they need to address it. Are we doing want to learn the language? Do I want to learn something? What would make my life in this particular place interesting?

Emily Bron: All these questions and many more, I actually included in my questionnaire, know yourself before people come into the consultation about the language, about environment, about cultural specifics about the climate because it’s important for the well being and sometimes people don’t consider it at least for the, future.

So you are absolutely correct. And it’s a lot of changes and adaptation from the kind of physical, mental, emotional expectation. Level and yes, it might be stressful. It would be stressful as every change is. But what is the, positive outcomes? Do you see in this and what kind of skills you believe people need again to work on in order to not only survive, but at the end to became stronger and actually enjoy the life at the end?

Elena Chekina: I think, and it’s very difficult because it’s all this advice which I give to myself, but it’s not always works. And it’s, enjoy whatever is on your plate. If it’s Italian kitchen, enjoy it. If it’s some kind of food which you never saw in your life, explore it. Don’t say right away, no, I don’t want to taste it.

Emily Bron: Oh, I remember you tried cockroach. Just eat it!

I was not so adventurous, doctor. I was just amazed. And I remember this picture of you trying the cockroach. So you’re much younger than me in this picture. No, it’s not that young.

Elena Chekina: You’re my point of view. Whatever is in your plate, try it. Because maybe you will like it, maybe you will not.

But at least your experience will tell you, Okay, now this is what I can take it, and it’s perfect. But this I don’t like it, so maybe I can avoid it in the future. But if you don’t have this experience, if you don’t, if you limit your life to only, Plate with, I don’t know, fish and chips. Yeah do you know your life is going to be filled only with fish and chips.

Do you want a life of fish and chips? Have it. But if you wanted cockroaches, you have to experience them and maybe try them. But it’s my own kind of experience. And I think this is what wonderful when I found that you, because Two of us were able to go and have this experience, and also we have been traveling from different places and different, looking for something what specifically I was trying to do.

Emily Bron: And for me it was interesting actually to observe some things because we are in a different age category and obviously different people, even country. Yeah. Even culturally, a little bit different, even we have a lot in common. So how people of your age, as I told myself, your type, would accept this and other things.

With all understanding that we’re all unique, situations are different, we are different, but there are some kind of common things and requirements that people in our age need. And now we’ll be coming back to you. So I understand that even we are both now still in Toronto and speaking from my home studio, you’re still considering or you are considering possibility of relocation for you later on.

You’re not planning now as per situation and per your life philosophy, but how are you preparing yourself and what do you think about all this?

Elena Chekina: Oh, do you know, I think when you were from a family of immigrants And from my background, I think very often you start to understand you never know what life is bringing you.

And you have to be prepared for every change that’s going to happen.

Emily Bron: Doctor, we again came to the very interesting point of your personal experience. possible journey as mine speaking, actually planning for relocation. So as far as I understand I knew your plans before, and I know that some circumstances stopped you in your way of thinking and planning.

You are not planning now, but you’re still considering relocation. Even you’re working still as a doctor, like in your private practice. So how your immigration way being part of your life in every age?

Elena Chekina: It’s interesting question. Because this question, I asked myself all my entire journey. Like, when I was almost six, my family was planning to leave Soviet Union, but we were not able to do it.

So when in 1972, it was a possibility, my father left right away, with expectations that we will fall. And we were able only to follow 1975, but family was changed, so rules were changed, interests were changed, game was different. So you have to always remember that in such a short time, what you expected, this can be changed.

And you have to be able to still follow what you thought. Some people sit back and wait for the next 10 years. And some people decided and didn’t change the plan for Georgia. It’s full of understanding that it’s, now it’s different. Kind of story, but you have to be able to understand that doesn’t matter story change, but your wish your interest is not change.

For example, yes, right now, I am, as you already know, I’m 78. So today I have one plan and I think journey to Mexico was very helpful because I thought about totally different. And in a very short time, those possibilities here disappeared. But they still live in Mexico. And I was trying to explain to people that it exists, but people don’t see them in that kind of life.

But they now challenge different things. I also challenge different things because my family changed, my interests changed, but it’s not my interests. My interests are the same. My goals are the same. I didn’t change them. But what changed is circumstances which I need to address to be able to somehow to continue to have the same interests and some possibility which I have today.

I found that this language is a really important part. Because you need to communicate not only with Your community for expat. With bureaucracy, with medical professional. Who

are not speaking not supposed to speak English. But apparently a lot of countries do have specialists who speak English. Actually in Mexico there are not. In the cities. It’s not only in Mexico, in the other countries.

But we don’t know that. Information is the most important, I think, tool, which each of us require. And we need to use this information for all our advantages. And don’t see that some kind of things where we think, Oh my God, it’s disadvantage, I don’t speak this language. Yes, you don’t speak this language.

But if you definitely decide that you wanted to be in this environment, You can find a way how to find this environment. Maybe not in this country, maybe in the other country. But you have to have information. You have to understand what is important for you. So for me, language is important because it creates some kind of success for a location.

For the other people, maybe it doesn’t. Whether, maybe possibility to live in different culture. So people have to see what they wanted to do, and what limitations they have, and what, how they can how to, how they can make this. limitations to advance through themselves Yes, I totally

agree with you.

Emily Bron: Thank you very much for the answers.

And I know we can speak a long time and I would like just to tell the listeners, followers that we spent we actually had experience of traveling with Dr. Chekina in Mexico and different Mexican states in the search of the assisted living communities local and I brought Dr. Chekina to evaluate.

State of this I would say facilities and medical level and some of them we were very impressed and some of them were quite different from what we used. Or you used to know in Canada, United States or other European countries. And I can tell you that I am still following as a project and I I’m looking even to the more projects which might be really good information, practical information for expats who are relocating to Mexico.

Again, Mexico is a big country with different climate, with different even cultural specifics, cost of living. And it’s not so easy to navigate. And I don’t know from my experience speaking with experts in Mexico, they are relocating. Some people live in, say, Riviera Maya for 10 15 years.

Now when they get older and they’re looking for different type of facilities or something change in their family circumstances. So these expats are relocating or looking for a location in the same country. Or even for traveling. When they’re traveling, they find something that they like or are attracted to more.

And to be fair, Mexican developers, entrepreneurs, and I don’t, I cannot say that it’s a program for Mexican government, but they absolutely understand the needs. Canadians, Americans, and others. And they’re working on creating special projects, I would say, which are targeting or providing services for expats, English speaking people, expats from Canada.

Of the, this age after 50 and, I introduced to you and I am I have some business partners who are working in this direction. It all takes time longer than we might want, but there are some dynamic positive dynamic. I would say in this direction because first of all, there are already several millions, at least three millions of people.

Americans and Canadians, baby boomers, or, Generation Xers, 50 plus, or even younger, who are relocated to Mexico, build their life, or in process of doing it. They understand that the people would need some additional services, including medical, and, facilities and so on. And by the way, in my next interviews, I will introduce several expats one from the Netherlands and one from Canada living in Mexico for the years.

But coming back to our conversation I think I will listen again. Sometimes, rewinding the questions and answers. And I’m very grateful for your time, and I believe we will continue because it’s very important question and answers and discussions that probably not so many people who preparing relocation can have, partners with.

And in this case, you’re providing your personal story experience, your personal adaptation. Through the cultures and, age ranges, and I’m going to commend you and your spirit of, being strong and wise enough to continue your personal and actually journey and actually be open to location or to other type of changes, which, again, we are living in a time of changes.

I’m speaking about Age of Reinvention, and I’m Emily Bron, and thanks a lot to Dr. Helena Chekina.

Thank

Elena Chekina: you for inviting me to your podcast. It was a pleasure.

Emily Bron: We have been speaking with Dr. Helena Chekina, whose stories and invaluable advice have illuminated the path for anyone looking to make profound changes in their later years. Dr. Chekina’s experiences remind us that age is still a number, and with the right mental preparation, and qualities like flexibility, resilience, and curiosity.

Reinvention can be a thrilling chapter in one’s life story. Thank you, Dr. Chekina, for sharing your wisdom and insights today. To our listeners, I hope today’s discussion motivates you to explore new possibilities. Be realistic about possible challenges. Nurture your growth and start your second spring.

Remember to tune in next time for more stories and tips on transforming your life after 50. Until then, keep thriving and keep reinventing.

Helena Chekina

Dr. Elena Chekina is a distinguished physician based in Toronto with decades of professional medical experience. Renowned for her dedication to lifelong learning, Dr. Chekina possesses a unique ability to adapt across cultures and languages. Her multifaceted background includes specializations in both psychiatry and general medicine. As an immigrant who graduated from Lviv University in 1973 and relocated to Canada in 1976, she has firsthand experience navigating the complexities of professional and personal adaptation in a new country. Dr. Chekina has worked in several hospitals while maintaining a private practice, which she considers a pivotal component of her professional stability and personal resilience. Her insights into the challenges and rewards of relocation, particularly for individuals over 50, offer invaluable guidance on how to thrive amidst change. Multilingual and culturally adept, Dr. Chekina’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of flexibility and curiosity in redefining one’s life at any stage.

Welcome back to the Age of Reinvention podcast. In this space, we delve into the transformative journeys of individuals who have embraced significant changes later in life. Today, we’re thrilled to feature Dr. Helena Chekina, a Toronto-based physician renowned for her dedication to lifelong learning and cultural adaptability. With many years of professional medical experience, Dr. Chekina offers a profound look into the qualities that help navigate personal and professional transformations, particularly after age 50.

Embracing Life’s Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. Chekina’s journey from Lviv University in the Soviet Union to becoming a specialized medical doctor in Canada is a testament to resilience and adaptability. Her ability to maintain a private practice alongside her hospital work highlights a strategic approach to professional stability and personal fulfillment. This duality in her career allowed her to integrate her skills and passions, creating a fulfilling blend of service and self-reliance.

The Immigrant Experience: A Lesson in Resilience

Moving from the Soviet Union to Canada in the mid-70s presented numerous challenges, mainly when information was scarce. Dr. Chekina shares how immigrants, especially those with professional degrees, often need help with the reality of non-recognized credentials. This necessitates profound adaptability and patience, both a burden and a blessing. With limited language skills and cultural misunderstandings, navigating a new country’s professional landscape demands a robust personal goal-setting strategy and an ability to adapt on the go.

Private Practice: A Pillar of Stability

Dr. Chekina sees her private practice as a professional endeavour and a personal refuge — a business that provides economic and emotional stability. She emphasizes that private business ownership offers immigrants a shield against the unpredictability of corporate employment, thereby granting them a sense of control over their professional lives. This stability is crucial, especially in a new and often unpredictable environment.

Lifelong Learning and Cultural Adaptation

Fluency in multiple languages and a keen interest in cultural diversity have been instrumental in Dr. Chekina’s ability to adapt. These skills are beneficial and essential when moving to a new country. Her experiences underscore the importance of language learning and cultural immersion as critical components of successful adaptation. When exercised regularly, this adaptability is a muscle that can make all the difference in achieving a sense of belonging and professional fulfillment in a new homeland.

Reflections on Midlife Relocation

One of the most poignant parts of the conversation addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of relocating after 50. Dr. Chekina provides invaluable insights into how age affects adaptability. She reflects on her own experience and emphasizes that while younger immigrants might find it easier to learn new languages and integrate into new cultures, older adults bring a wealth of life experience that can be leveraged into successful adaptation if approached correctly.

For many, relocating at this stage in life can feel like uprooting a tree and hoping it will flourish in new soil. Dr. Chekina advises setting realistic, short-term goals while keeping an open mind to the fluid nature of life’s journey.

Mental Health and Positive Outlook

Maintaining a positive outlook amidst the challenges of relocation and reinvention is crucial. Dr. Chekina encourages viewing life’s setbacks as lessons and opportunities for personal growth. She believes that flexibility, mental resilience, and the willingness to learn continuously can turn potential disappointments into new possibilities, profoundly enriching one’s life. Her words of encouragement and hope can inspire a positive outlook in all of us.

Planning for the Future

Dr. Chekina concludes by reiterating the importance of having a clear, though flexible, plan when contemplating relocation or significant life changes after 50. She emphasizes the need for information, language skills, and a robust personal support system. Individuals can navigate their midlife transformations with grace and purpose by focusing on what can be achieved today rather than getting lost in the uncertainties of the future.

Her journey serves as a compelling reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent oneself and that the qualities of resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning can lead to a fulfilling and rewarding second half of life.

We hope this enriching conversation with Dr. Chekina inspires those facing midlife transitions to embrace change with an open heart and a curious mind.