The authors represent two generations of a family that had moved to the US from Russia in 1993. Both arrived speaking no English and have firsthand experience dealing with the many problems faced by recent immigrants. Having successfully adjusted to their new home, they want to share their experiences and observations to help make the transition less stressful for other immigrants.

Vitaliy Demin is the Principal Hardware Engineer for Franklin Fueling Systems, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of electronic measurement devices for the petroleum and power utility industries. He holds a B.S. and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Novosibirsk Technical University.

Olga Demin Lambert holds a B.A. in French and Psychology from Bates College, an M.A. in Language and Linguistics from the University of New Hampshire, and a doctorate in Language and Literacy from Harvard University. She is teaching at the university in Chicago area.