Story in Russian
Russian Level B2, Level C1
The story revolves around the author's personal journey and experiences, starting with his parents' decision to leave the Soviet Union in 1981 when the author was only six years old. This pivotal moment had a profound impact on his life, as they relocated to Boston, Massachusetts. Throughout the narrative, the author reflects on the lasting connection his parents maintained with Russian culture, intricately woven with countless ties. However, the author acknowledges that his parents couldn't shield him from American society, and subsequently, he quickly assimilated into his new surroundings and became a typical American child.
The author emphasizes the significance of the age at which he immigrated, highlighting that being six years old served as an intermediate stage for assimilation. He recalls that if one were much younger, say two or three years old, the likelihood of retaining the Russian language would be minimal, resulting in becoming "a little Yankee." On the other hand, if someone were a few years older, around nine or ten, the accent would likely remain, and he or she would forever be perceived as Russian by those around them. However, being six years old proved to be a unique age, allowing the author to retain memories of his native language while speaking English without an accent.
The knowledge of the Russian language holds immense value for the author, enabling him to travel extensively throughout the former Soviet Union and appreciate the cultural aspects cherished by his parents. He mentions enjoying Soviet songs, novels from the 1970s, the poetry of Joseph Brodsky, and films by Gaidai, all made accessible through his command of the Russian language. Nevertheless, the author acknowledges that his ties with Russia have gradually weakened over time. He confesses that he doesn't possess the same level of proficiency in Russian as his parents, for the majority of his life has been lived in English as an American.
However, the Russian language resurfaces in the author's life with the arrival of his marriage and the birth of his son. The author fondly recalls the early moments of speaking Russian with his child, relishing the feeling of having their own language between them. He delights in the multitude of endearing expressions that Russian offers, demonstrating the language's remarkable richness in terms of endearment. Incorporating Russian children's books into their nighttime reading routine with his son became a cherished tradition.
As the author continued speaking Russian with his son, even in the presence of his American spouse, he witnessed moments of understanding and connection. Beginning with simple animal sounds, the author would prompt his son with questions like "How does the cow say?" in Russian, and his son would respond correctly. This small achievement felt like a miracle to the author, a realization that he was passing on the Russian language to his child. Encouraged by the positive reactions from those around him, who expressed admiration for his efforts to teach his son Russian, the author decided to persevere with the language experiment. He wonders if teaching his son Spanish might offer greater opportunities for communication in New York and with people from various parts of the world. Italian, Greek, French, or even Mandarin or Cantonese Chinese dialects could also be beneficial for future career prospects. Yet, the author confronts the obstacle of his own limited language skills, possessing only Russian and not even speaking it proficiently. He ponders whether it is appropriate to teach his child languages he doesn't need or doesn't have a passion for, drawing a parallel to a talented programmer who wouldn't teach his children programming languages they don't require or dislike.
The author acknowledges the value of Russia and the Russian language, but wonders if their American son will find them interesting or relevant. Additionally, he faces personal challenges with their own grasp of Russian. He admits to frequently forgetting or not knowing the names of common objects. Grammar also poses a challenge for the author, as his proficiency is marred by frequent mistakes.
In contrast, the author mentions friends who moved to the United States around the same time but chose to raise their children exclusively in English. Sometimes, he feels sympathy for his friends, while other times, a twinge of envy surfaces. These friends seem to effortlessly express themselves and navigate the linguistic intricacies of everyday life. They always know how to say "scooter," "goat," and "sheep."
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