[morzh]

As far as off-topics go, unlike many people, I don't mind them, as long as they do not totally take over and we lose track of what we have been discussing, which usually we don't.



My profession is not exactly what I learned in University.

I was given my radio kit as a birthday present when I turned 8. I remember being sick in bed, and my dad came, gave me a kiss, showed me the kit and promised to sit down with me and create the "singing" thing, which was a 2-transistor multi-vibrator with an earphone "ТА-56М" (still remember the model; those that were used in tanks' radios were ТА-4) and a beautiful potentiometer with a blue dial and white pointer knob. I calibrated notes on it and played some simple melodies.
The kit called "Радиоконструктор" - "Radio-constructor" was pretty versatile. It had a plastic board with hole field, holes in both directions every 1cm, and the parts were mounted on panels with M3 screws for leads; it had 3 Ge transistors MP41, a detector type diode D2E, a relay RES-10, an RF transformer for reflex radio circuit, nice phosphor bronze chrome-plated sockets for connectors, true ferrite antenna, also mount and a photo-resistor. Way better looking thing than ELENCO.
After that we immediately assembled a photo-relay and used it as a railroad barrier for the German railroad I had, to allow or to stop the train.

So, at 8, in 1st grade, I knew what profession I wanted.

I largely taught myself electronics, as an amateur. There was a good state support for amateur community; the "Radio" magazine was, and still is (could be bought or found in libraries; I kept getting it from 1980 and to the day we decided to leave, 8 years worth) an excellent source of knowledge. Plus some books; I got my hands on Horowitz-Hill which somehow, translated in Russian, ended up in the bookstore where mom's friend was the manager.

I wanted to go for EE degree, but our college that had all engineering lacked the military department, which meant I'd have to be drafted as a private in the Army after I graduate, which was not something I wanted.
The University did have the department, which meant I would become a lieutenant after graduation and then might or might not be drafted for 2 years (I wasn't, we had about 30 volunteers and then filled the quota). And the University had a Physics department, which was the closest thing to what I wanted.

After I graduated I joined a factory as a NC tools repairman. So, my pro activity was in electronics anyway. I was 21.