“My ancestors were coachmen. Born in Astrakhan Oblast. My older brother was a teacher. He worked for a year in a school, then was sent off to the front, where he died. Four of us were hauled off to Siberia: grandma, brother, Mama, and me. Took us to Omsk and we landed in the village of Semyonovo. They treated us so badly that when we cut our hair, there was a black pile of lice and nits on the snow. Father exchanged his sheepskin coat for a 300-ruble loaf of bread and divided it up into tiny pieces. We gathered berries. Then they sent us to Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug, to do fish-processing.”
Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.
Russian Life 73 Main Street, Suite 402 Montpelier VT 05602
802-223-4955
[email protected]
