Interview with Alexander Dovganetskiy
For my Immigration Stories project I got the privilege of interviewing Alex Dovganetskiy, who is my friend’s father. Alex is from a small town in Russia and migrated to the U.S when he was just twelve years old. I, for one, really enjoyed interviewing with Alex, as his daughter was the first person I met of Russian descent. I found this interview especially interesting because Alex has both, memories from being a child in Russia as well as memories from being a child in America, so it was certainly fascinating to have the opportunity to hear the cultural differences he recalls in his adolescence experience of being raised in Russia and the United States.
I was honored to have had the opportunity to get to understand Russian culture a little bit more but, more importantly, I gained a better understanding of how the immigration process was fulfilled from there to here following the dissolution of the USSR. As we have learned, the process through which immigration occurs has varied greatly through the course of history, often dependent upon present geo-political relationships, military conflicts, and social-cultural trends.
Alex came to the United States with his mother, father, and siblings. His parents came here because they saw it as the “land of opportunity” and Alex’s uncle had already paved the way for them to come over. Although Alex cannot recall much about the process that his uncle went through when he came to the United States, he did say that his family would all agree that his uncle’s presence in the states made their transition here much easier. Upon arrival, they already had a place to stay, a little knowledge of Sacramento, and even some groceries to get them started. When Alex and his family first landed on U.S soil he claims it to have been a very overwhelming but exciting moment in his life. The airports were a little much but he just could not believe how amazing the sights were. Something I found really interesting was how he brought up how amazing the palm trees were in California. Something that I would not think to be that fascinating because I grew up seeing them everywhere in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Alex explained that his family chose to start their American lives in Sacramento, California because they had some background knowledge about how helpful their programs were with helping refugees. his family was also able to find a Russian church in Sacramento, so that made their transition even better for them because they were able to bring their culture along with them. When thinking back to his first couple hours arriving at the house where his family had been waiting for them arrival, he says that they were all pretty confused about why everyone had pumpkins and skeletons and creepy things everywhere; that being because they came over in late October. Of course Halloween is a U.S. ‘Holiday’ so he and his family had no idea what they were seeing. I find that really interesting because that is not something we really think about being odd to other people because we are used to growing up with it and some even looking forward to it.
Although he had family members here when they arrived that had already migrated, he said there were also some family members that were left behind in Russia. His mothers little brother (his uncle) stayed back in Russia, as well has his fathers sisters because in order to come over they require to have proof of both faith and work relations. I actually did not know about having to prove your faith in order to leave. I found that very interesting because I did not quite understand how you would show that you are Christian but Alex was able to explain to me that his family had to get documentation and a letter from the church stating that they were in fact in good standing with the Lord and would continue their faith beyond that. I would say that has a lot to do with the time they were coming over because I am not sure that is still the case but that is very interesting because 1987 was not even that long ago!
When thinking about the trip itself, Alex said that what he remembers the most is all of the time they spent waiting around wither for the train or for their next flight or even just in general to get to where they needed to be. Having only been 12 years old I can imagine how boring that must have been, however, he explained how he was filled with so much excitement that it was not even that annoying that they were just waiting around. Also being that this was his first time ever really traveling like that it was even more exciting so his energy levels were definitely making up for that lost time. His biggest memory of being in and out of so many airports was the use of the escalator. He claims he had never had any prior experience with one so he found that especially astonishing. He even said there were times where he would go the wrong way on them but I am sure we have all tried to do that a time or two, at least I know I have.
After settling in Alex says his family was able to adapt to the U.S. very quickly. Especially with the help of his uncle who had already been here for some time. The main hardships he remembers facing was bullies in high school. Of course, it was already difficult not knowing English but surprisingly he explains how the biggest bullies were actually the other Russian students, believe it or not. He says that they were so mean to him and were just full of judgement. Of course, that gave him thicker skin in the end and as you can hear in the interview his English is amazing!
Once Alex became a bit older in his high school career he met his wife who also happens to be an immigrant from Ukraine. They eventually had two wonderful children together. I actually got to talk with his daughter, Alina after the interview and she told me that she really enjoyed hearing all about his memories from Russia because some of them were things he had never really talked about before. Even Alex himself claimed that there were some great memories brought up from this interview that he may have never really thought back on otherwise.
Something that really stood out to me in his interview was his fascination with certain fast food chains, like Taco Bell. I found that interesting because I feel like it is something we as Americans take for granted time to time. Of course their are plenty of other developed countries that share fast food chains but there is also a bundle of countries that do not. Alex even tried getting a job at Taco Bell because he liked their food so much. Unfortunately, they did not have any positions available at the time, however, he able to get a job working at McDonalds, which we all know and love. While working at McDonalds, he was able to learn a lot about the workforce and how operations such as workforce management, finances, and customer relations are implicitly described in the U.S. economy and he eventually work his way up to a manager position. He said that even in Russia, since he was very young he had done his fair share of manual labor, virtually doing everything “except the lemonade stand,” in order to get spending money. Even before growing into his teenage years, while in California he remembers doing a lot of lawn care including mowing and general yard clean up for people, but nothing like the corporate job he had at McDonalds. The idea of hard work is a universally accepted message, a principle that Alex has cherished from a young age. He noted that when he arrived in the United States he found it to be “a lot easier to live here,” because he found that hard work was better rewarded than in his home country.
Speaking of food, something that made me giggle a little bit during this interview was when Alex had never had pizza until coming here. Pizza is by far one of my favorite foods and I cannot imagine a life without it honestly. Alex would say it is most definitely one of his favorites as well, so I think it is safe to say he is a true American at heart.
In legality terms I was able to talk with Alex about the process by which he got his citizenship in the U.S. Since he was only twelve when he first came over, he did not understand much at first when they were first arriving and getting green cards and all that. Now, everyone in his family except his father is a U.S. citizen. None of them have a dual citizenship, however, his father still holds his green card and continues to renew that rather than getting his citizenship. He explained that his father is the one that is most in touch with Russia in terms of communicating back there. It seems like most of his family has pretty much moved on from that part of their life but it looks like their father still has some fond memories and ties back home.
Some of the main things Alex remembers from Russia was how much snow was covered everywhere. He says that he remembers how roads would stay unplowed for weeks at a time and that would not stop anyone from going about their daily lives because that was so natural to them. That is very different here because I can remember from being in public school and even having snow on the radar pretty much shut down schools because of busses not being able to drive in the “snow”, which really ended up being slush most of the time anyway. However, he said that he remembered the busses just throwing some chains on the tires and nothing stopped them from going anywhere. A really funny memory he shared was when the busses would drive by in the snow and a bunch of kids would hold on to the back of the bus and slide to school on the snow and ice.
Although Alex explained his journey to the U.S. as pretty smooth and easy-going, he also explained how there were definitely some times where it was very difficult to thrive because of things like language barriers and cultural differences. When he began school in the U.S., he entered school in the seventh grade, despite previously being in the third grade prior to his family’s migration. It was certainly a tough transition language-wise, but also in regards to the curriculum that he was provided. Despite many of the obstacles encountered in his transition, Alex was able to meet some great people that were able to help him and his family along the way which gave him more opportunities and the ability to consider himself a true American.
Tiana 0:04
All right. So I guess if you want to start, you can just tell us a little bit about yourself, your name, where you’re from and stuff like that.
Alex 0:13
Sure. My name is Alex Dovganetskiy. I currently live in Harrisonburg, Virginia. And I’ve been here since 1997. And I am married had two kids. I’m sorry.
So you are originally from Russia?
Tiana 0:37
Perfect. All righty. Um, so where in Russia? were you born?
Alex 0:45
It is a city called mytop. It’s not far from Krasnodar. Um, so it’s, it’s, it’s on the map I checked, but it’s not very popular. So.
Tiana 0:57
Okay. And is that, um, also where you like, grew up? Like, is that what you would consider your home?
Alex 1:05
Um, I grew up here. I’ve lived here most of my life. But over there. I’ve been there the whole time before I moved to United States.
Tiana 1:11
Okay. Awesome. Um, so I guess an interesting question would be like, did you ever move within your own country? I know, you were pretty young when you came here. But I guess while you were still there for those 12 years? Did you ever did your family ever? Like move within the country? Or did you guys pretty much stay in the same house?
Alex 1:33
No, we stayed in the same place in the same house? Pretty much. Yeah. The whole time?
Tiana 1:40
And, um, did your family like, of course, immediate family? But did extended family kind of in the same area within Russia too?
Or was it kind of like, scattered?
Alex 1:50
There was my mom’s side? Yes, they lived in the same area, my dad’s side lived by the Black Sea. The city called to upset. So we would go there a lot to the Black Sea. So that’s where they that’s where he’s from. Very cool.
Tiana 2:08
Um, all right. So going into a little bit more about like, why you left your country? Um, of course, you said you’re 12. So of course, it wasn’t like your decision necessarily. But why, like your parents decided to leave.
Alex 2:24
They wanted more opportunities for us kids, they also wanted to see what the United States looked like, because it was always the land of opportunities. It was the dream. I mean, anywhere you look on TV advertisements, the United States was the place to live in a world. So they just want to see what it felt like.
Tiana 2:43
Yeah. So um, do you think that if, like, if they didn’t have children that they were trying to bring here for the opportunities you think they still want to move? Or do you think they would have just stayed there for the rest of their lives?
Alex 2:57
Potentially, because my mom’s brother moved here. And, and they’re really close. So potentially, I think they were still moved.
Tiana 3:06
Okay. Very cool. Um, Alrighty. So, let’s see, what were some of your feelings when you left? I know, you’d already mentioned like, you, of course, you were excited. Um, I know, it’s being so young. It’s probably like a little bit scary, a little bit exciting, a little bit out of the emotions. But if you just wanted to talk a little bit about that, maybe from your perspective, and then also maybe from your parents perspective.
Alex 3:33
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it’s really exciting. When we left I, we flew here. So, I mean, when we came here, I mean, it was awesome. I mean, I came to California, Sacramento, some people come to different areas, the United States, I came to one of the best places you can come other than Florida. I think Florida Bar would have been cool. Because it’s different from anywhere else in the United States. In my opinion, you see palm trees, you see the beach. I mean, it’s just it looks more city like versus somebody coming over to Harrisonburg, Virginia, like, oh, cool, right. So it’s a little different. I felt I believe I experienced United States more than my wife did because she came to Harrisburg United States. So different experience I mean, just the people how they dress different the cars, the area I mean, it was it was very city like so it was like a dream come true. did not feel bad about leaving Russia. I mean, there was just so much so many emotions. I was just over filled with excitement. So yeah, positive.
Tiana 4:43
Um, again, I know you were young so you might not be able to answer this but do you by chance know how your parents decided on Sacramento?
Alex 4:53
Yes, that’s where majority of people come From Russia as they come to Sacramento or California in general, because California has programs for refugees, where they will support you for a couple months before you can find a job, and you would live off those benefits, and then helps you get stabilized.
Tiana 5:16
Oh, very interesting. I did not know that actually. Very cool. Um, so when you arrived there, did you meet like, a lot of other people that were from Russia? Or I guess just immigrants in general?
Alex 5:27
Yeah. Yeah, there was a lot of people we also went to Russian church to I mean, there were some American people there, but it was a mix. But it was a primarily Russian church. So yeah, absolutely.
Tiana 5:37
That’s very cool. Um, let’s see. Did you and your family leave any family members behind? I know, you had hinted that on, some of them came before you. But I’m sure there was probably some that may still be there. Is that the case?
Alex 5:54
Yes, when we left the night to my mom’s little brothers stayed behind. They didn’t came over eventually, about a year or two later. My dad side his sister, and my two cousins stayed there. They never came over. So that’s about it.
Tiana 6:11
Was there any reason that they didn’t come? Or did they just like where they were and decided, like, Oh, we don’t feel like moving? Or they’re like complications? I’m not sure.
Alex 6:21
I’m not sure. I know that. You have to be called. How do I say it you have to be somebody has to do a lot of work on on the United States and to bring the to get people to come over here. You couldn’t just come over there to I don’t know what it’s like now. But you couldn’t just fly over here you have to be there’s about a year to process you have to go through. So there’s a lot of a lot of paperwork, a lot of justification. And you have to be people of faith to and they were not people of faith. I mean, they will just bring anybody here. So yeah. It had to be with you in the group of people of faith.
Tiana 7:03
And was there a way that you had to, like prove that or did they just like take your word for it?
Alex 7:10
Yes, we had to provide a letter from the church.
Tiana 7:12
Wow. Okay. Very cool. So would you say that on the people that came over before you kind of like paved the way to make that easier? Do you think that it still would have been just like an easy process your parents like getting you all over here?
Alex 7:27
Oh, absolutely. I mean, they made a lot easier when we come over here. We had an apartment ready? They had some food for us. So they prepared place for us there. Were there a lot of work up front? Yeah, that’s, that was a lot easier.
Tiana 7:41
Yeah. Um, did you and your family have to leave anything behind that you like you couldn’t bring over? Maybe not necessarily physical things, but just like in general, physical or non physical?
Alex 7:58
No, that really, I mean, just some waste anything can bring everything with you. Yeah. But that’s about it. Maybe bicycles. Other than those the furniture everything was sold was sold the house, so we just had our bags. That was it.
Tiana 8:15
Wow. So I guess yeah, you’ve been difficult. Did your family like tell you Okay, like each like only have one bag fit where you can in this bag? Or? How did that like work out?
Alex 8:29
Yeah, you just brought some memories back. Exactly. That’s exactly how it went. You had to bring Exactly. It was a need versus a want what you have to bring.
Tiana 8:39
For sure.
So I guess you had to like really go through those toys at the time and say like, Oh, no, I can do without this one. That’s funny.
Alex 8:49
Yeah, but toys in Russia. 92. Nowhere near compared to what the toys r America. So
Tiana 8:56
first? Um, yeah. So do you remember anything special about the trip itself, like maybe the flight or the airports or anything like that.
Alex 9:10
It was a long flight. That was the longest flight I’ve ever had in my life up until then. I don’t honestly, I don’t even remember flying before that on this. I don’t even remember flying before that. I think that was my first time it was a long flight over the ocean. So um, a lot of time at the airport. back and forward because we flew into la then we have to get on the smaller plane and then fly to Sacramento. So just a lot of flight. A lot of jet lag. So, but it was awesome. It was a good experience.
Tiana 9:46
Yeah, for sure. Um, would you say that once you I guess like as as a child was was the airport like super super overwhelming when you got off and it was like hectic. People everywhere kind of thing, or was it more just like, Oh my gosh, I’m so excited, like landed in a new country.
Alex 10:08
It was well, it was both I mean, it was overcrowded was a lot of people and my parents always told us stay together stay together. So we always had to, you know, not some some parts of the airport hold hands because it was really crowded. I mean, it showed the shoulder and we had to stay together because he was afraid to get lost. I mean, what are we gonna do? So, the stay together, but it was, it was, it was fun, exciting. It’s my first time on escalator. I’ve never rode escalator. And then, so I haven’t, I think I even tried to go against it a couple times. I was still there beat it. But it was, well, it wasn’t easy. And people look at me all weird, but I was excited.
Tiana 10:46
I think we’ve all gone opposite ways on an escalator at time or doing or even now, honestly, so kind of, um, let’s see, where did you or your family I guess more so like your family in general have any complications with the journey here? Or like arrival either or? I guess like, before trying to get here or maybe the process of getting or even like after you arrived? Do you remember anything like that?
Alex 11:17
No, I really don’t. I don’t remember them talking. There was a lot of wait time, but there was no complications. I mean, everything was really smooth. It was a really blessed trip. No issues.
Tiana 11:26
Do you remember the process of waiting time? Yeah. Um, do you remember that?
Alex 11:32
From from the point from the point where we’re left with landed knighted states,
Tiana 11:39
huh?
Alex 11:42
Yeah, yeah, we took the train to go from my city to Moscow. And then Moscow’s Well, we’ve got that was the big airport that had the big plane, which, that’s how we got the United States to LA. And we stayed there for about a day or two. And they will take the smaller plane to fly into Sacramento. And that’s when I wrote those met us. And I take us to their place. And then we eventually went to our apartments.
Tiana 12:10
All right, very cool. Um, so what were I know, you’d already said, like, excited and everything? What were some of your like, could you pick up on any of your family’s feelings when they arrived? I’m sure. Like, of course, the airport we talked about was hectic. But aside from being excited, are there any other feelings you could think about? for you and your family upon arrival?
Alex 12:38
Um, other than being excited, our eyes were huge. I mean, everything was new. Everything was in English. So you felt a little bit lost it because if you go go somewhere, you wouldn’t be able to speak up or explain yourself. to anybody, I mean, unless you would find somebody that speaks Russian. Because all the signs everything was in English. I mean, actually, a couple years ago, went on a trip to Greece, and Elena got locked in the bathroom. So she can tell you a story about that. And I was trying to talk to the people that my daughter’s locked in the bathroom, right? And they were agreed they wouldn’t understand what we’re saying. So as bas, same thing, it’s kind of crazy that you would think that everybody speaks English, you know, eventually got her out. I mean, we use creativity. But it’s sort of like when you’re in a different country, you’d expect somebody to speak your language in Greece with the speak Russian or English both, but they just wouldn’t decide. We do not understand it. I keep telling English, I could tell that they’re not understanding us. I was like, well, this sucks, you know? So yeah, it was just you come there. There’s signs everything’s in English. It was the letters look cool. Buddy, just got a little bit lost. So
Tiana 13:58
yeah, that’s really interesting that you have like that other perspective. Of course, like, you have the perspective of coming here not knowing English and being like, oh, gosh, I feel lost. And then also that perspective of Oh, gosh, I’m in another country and they don’t understand me now. It’s like, you’re kind of on the other side of the fence. That’s really cool.
Um,
What do you remember about your first couple of days in the United States? Like, I guess what was your like, itinerary like,
Alex 14:27
huh? Well, we spent a couple days with our relatives. And then we got to our apartment, got groceries, just gonna drive around the area. I mean, it was, it was a great center. We came around Halloween. So it was a little bit different than what we’ve seen. We used to, but right after that, it was Christmas decorations. So I think we came into perfect timing because we’re able to capture you know, I mean, people start decorating right after things get really bad, the Christmas kind of creeping in. So but still I mean, it was it was just fantasy for first couple months or even years really just drive around areas chicken place out and just absorbing everything.
Tiana 15:13
That’s really interesting on that you came around Halloween. I guess that was like a whole new experience for you.
Alex 15:20
Yeah, we’ve never seen the login.
Tiana 15:24
That’s very funny. Did you? Like Have you known about Halloween before? Was that something you didn’t even like you hadn’t even heard of?
Alex 15:32
Never heard of.
Tiana 15:34
Wow, that’s gotta be interesting to come around and see like, pumpkin scarves everywhere and like crows skeletons like what Laurel? That’s really yeah.
Alex 15:44
Yeah, spider spider webs. Yeah, skeletons. Yeah, we like what?
Tiana 15:49
What’s happening?
Alex 15:50
But yeah,
Tiana 15:54
yeah, that’s really interesting. Um, so I know you had said that you and your family like the first few days had been like driving around. Did you guys like purchase a car quickly? Or did you bring one over with you? or How did that work?
Alex 16:09
We were able to withdraw some money with us because we sold our house. So my dad bought a car at auction. He fixed it up. And we were both I think it was a Hyundai. 1987 Hyundai. Ah, so yeah, that was our first car. Wow. So yeah, yeah, he was able to purchase it. It was racked, he fixed it up. And yeah, it was I can’t remember how fast we got it. But it wasn’t didn’t take as long.
Tiana 16:34
That’s kind of a cool memory to have, I guess, like watching your dad fix up this car? Yeah. Um, what is one of the hardest things that you and your family have had to face? Since coming to the US? I assume a language barrier. Since you’ve hinted on that a lot would be a big thing.
Alex 16:54
Yeah, that’s, that’s probably the biggest one was the language barrier. Because anywhere you only had to explain you have to talk to somebody. And the other one was just finding a job. have to be able to find a job you had to majority time you had to speak unless, well, my mom clean house, so you really don’t need to know much English there. And my dad would be he would haul cars not on the semi but just on the pickup truck. So don’t say that I just find it a job. Yeah, to provide because we didn’t want to stay on welfare for a long time. I mean, it just wasn’t my parents.
Tiana 17:34
Yeah. Um, so how about telling us a little bit about like, your experience with the language barrier within like the school system, because I guess you were so young, you would have been, I guess, middle school about that time when you came.
Alex 17:50
I came, went to seventh grade. I never actually went to fourth, fifth or sixth grades in my life. I was in third grade there. And I came nice days and went straight to seventh grade. So yeah, it was it was challenging, because you have, I was in some regular classes and stuff and trying to learn English and adapt and make friends because I’m an extrovert. Um, it was challenging, but I think it worked out to my advantage. That’s,
Tiana 18:20
I assume the like, curriculum was probably way different than what you had been learning, especially without having like, that three year advantage that everyone else had.
Alex 18:32
Yeah, yeah. I mean, I’ve never learned fractions. I’ve never learned a lot of things that you learn in fourth, fifth or sixth grade. So yeah, it wasn’t easy. But I mean, there were multiple choice. We never had that in Russia. I mean, you have to come up with an answer. Here with multiple choice there in front of you. So as long as you know the answer, you can somehow pinpointed there it is.
Tiana 18:54
Yeah, for sure. We’re, um, we’re like teachers and and like, I guess just school staff in general, pretty, like accommodating knowing that you, like hadn’t gone through those few years? Or is it kind of like, nope, you got to figure this out? Yeah.
Alex 19:10
Yeah, they were really accommodating. Teachers were great. That’s good. It’s the rush of immigrants that were special, but the teachers were awesome.
Tiana 19:22
So there were many other Russian immigrants in your same school system.
Alex 19:28
Yeah, yeah. Those were the bullies for me.
Tiana 19:30
Oh, no, that’s that seems backwards.
Alex 19:33
Yeah.
No, no. All right.
Tiana 19:38
Um, so who was your first American friend? And how did you like meet this person?
Alex 19:48
Oh, my goodness. Back to the memory lane. I don’t know if I remember that. He was probably Well, the first thing for us was black people. Cuz we have never seen him before. I mean, that was awesome. I mean, he actually saw black folks because we never saw him until we came here. I might have seen him an airport. But that’s not some that just that you see. So I think my first friend was a was a black boy, because he was just so nice to me. And I don’t know how connected I think it was. I’m pretty sure. I’m pretty sure because it was awesome. I mean, honestly, I’ve never seen him now that I think about it. There’s just not a rush. I mean, that back now YouTube’s different now. Yeah. But I think it was. Yeah, I think it was a black boy. And I just like how he dressed. He had this nice shoes, you know? I mean, I would dress that addressed. So. Yeah,
Tiana 20:43
yeah, for sure. And I assume you probably met him like going to school?
Alex 20:50
Huh? Yeah. Because I was. I mean, I guess it was exciting for him to talk to me, because I was I was rushing, maybe? I’m sure he’s talked to some, but maybe there’s something different about me? I don’t know.
Tiana 21:04
Um, so in what ways are the you? Or would you say at least, the US is similar or different from what you expected?
Alex 21:15
It was nicer than what we expected. It’s not, it’s a lot easier to live here. If you work hard, you get rewarded for it. So it’s, anyway looked as opportunities. So it’s a lot easier to live in United States a lot easier.
Tiana 21:33
So I guess I’m so
sorry. Going off that, um, you said that. It’s a lot easier, like work hard to get rewarded. Is that not something that you can remember from Russia? Like, no matter how hard you’re working, you might not even get a reward at the end of the day?
Alex 21:52
Well, there’s some, some areas you can but here, I guess what I’m saying is, there’s just way more opportunities to do that.
And
I’m still looking to make sure you’re recording this webinar, more opportunities to do that. And there’s just, it’s, you have the ability to actually get rewarded for your hard work over there, the more times you take advantage of. Yeah, it’s possible. It’s just more difficult.
Tiana 22:25
Um, so I know earlier, you talked about how one of the complications was finding a job. So could you tell us a little bit about what maybe your first job was? And what that kind of the process kind of looked like?
Alex 22:38
Sure, well, I didn’t have a foot My first job was when I was 16. With McDonald’s, but I’ve done stuff before that. I’ve goodness, I’ve cut grass. I’ve helped landscapers rake leaves. I’ve done all kinds of stuff on the side, when I was 13 1415. I didn’t couldn’t sell lemonade, but I’ve done all the other stuff to make money outside, but my first legal job was at McDonald’s.
Tiana 23:05
Okay, and um, how did you like come about this job.
Alex 23:12
I was just applying online and I really wanted to work at Taco Bell because I really liked their feedback then. Yeah, and I really wanted to work there. And but I really looked at it as like a prestige faster restaurant. Didn’t have chick fil a back then. So but I ended up at McDonald’s. But it was okay. It was flipping quarter pounders, you know, it was working really washing dishes. So I couldn’t work. I’ve quickly found out that I could not work at a faster restaurant where everybody in the area is having fun hanging out and I’m over there work and I had to be somewhere where everybody’s working. So that was the deal for me.
Tiana 23:53
For sure. So I guess kind of talking about food. Um, what are were there some foods that you like maybe didn’t know about? And you were like, Whoa, this is really good. Or like some of your favorite foods that you never had or would not have had if you hadn’t left Russia that you can like really? that really stood out to you maybe?
Alex 24:13
Was I don’t know if there’s some that I wouldn’t have. But uh, certainly I’ve never had pizza. That’s one of my favorite foods. I would say pizza that was huge. I mean, we had a lot of pizza. And then bananas were awesome. Because there were something new to us. Um, that was the that would be the one is the pizza. I was it was really good. was my favorite.
Tiana 24:38
That’s definitely herring pizza.
Alex 24:40
I will try to rush her eventually.
Tiana 24:42
Yeah, spoken like it. Yeah,
Alex 24:44
I love food. Yeah.
Tiana 24:51
Already so um, if anything, I know you were young so there could be nothing but I’m just out of curiosity. Like is that there anything that you miss from your homeland? Or like maybe that you’ve heard your mom or dad talk about that they
miss from their homeland?
Alex 25:08
No, nothing.
Tiana 25:11
Okay. Oh,
Alex 25:14
my dad was a couple things every now and then. But he really doesn’t I mean, he just my mom says no, nothing at all. And my dad might have a little bit of history there, but he’s never been back. So he doesn’t know.
Tiana 25:28
Um, so how about
telling us a little bit about like, your family’s membership here? Does everyone have their citizenship or green card? And like how maybe that process worked? When you got here? How long it took? Maybe?
Alex 25:43
Yes, yeah, all of us are citizens, but except our dad, he’s still hold the green card. Yeah.
Tiana 25:50
Okay. Is there a reason for that? Or he just doesn’t want it?
Alex 25:56
I think he doesn’t like the challenge. I mean, you have to study the questions, you have to be prepared. I think that, for him is more of a want than a need. And he’s just not this doesn’t think it’s a priority. And for us, it felt it was different, because we want to have the full rights that Americans do. The boat, you know, and everything else that comes into because we I mean, we want to be saved. We don’t want to be bastard child. We want to be citizens in the country. They live. That’s what we believe in. So and I don’t have dual citizenship. It’s 100%. The United States so it just meant for us more than him, I guess. I don’t know. Ask them the other day. If he is. Keep asking to make sure he renews his green card. Lisa suggests and get citizenship but hasn’t happened yet.
Tiana 26:46
Um, excuse me. Um, so do you? How old were you when you got your citizenship? Do you remember? Like what that process was like?
Alex 26:58
Yeah, I think it was 2008. So I was by 28. I want to say 28. Yeah. I think it was about 28. And I had to go to Arlington, Virginia, I think was on within somewhere that area, and studied a lot and prepared for it, and then went out there and passed it. It was a good experience. Yes, yes.
Tiana 27:28
All right. Let’s see.
So, um,
could you tell us a little bit about maybe like, what you can remember from when you were in Russia? Like what maybe was different from what like you? Kind of were experiencing once you got here with those, like similar age years, I guess, if that makes sense.
Alex 27:52
Sure. There’s a lot more snow, for sure. Most of the time, there’s snow in the road for weeks and weeks. They don’t just plow. We just kind of patted down cars, and we just drive on it. There’s no plowing over there. Yeah. So what else we would always catch onto the buses in the back and we would just kind of skin on our feet and just kind of you know, have fun.
Tiana 28:21
Yeah, so the buses.
Alex 28:26
Oh, yeah. Wow. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Had chains. Yeah. Yeah. No, it’s like,
Tiana 28:34
the tiniest little rainfall or like, even if snows on the forecast, they would immediately close down they’d be like, no, can’t take those risks. So that’s very different. That’s very interesting.
Alex 28:46
Yeah, well, I walked to school there for a second and third grade while I was there, and I some cases, well, there was snow taller than me. But you just kind of go down the path and you get to school eventually. Yeah, my parents never drove us then we just had to walk first, second, third grade all the way through. It was about five miles I think three or four miles in 35 miles something like that.
Tiana 29:09
Wow, that must be interesting.
Alex 29:15
Yeah, yeah, I go the mountains in California. Hmm.
Tiana 29:20
We got some just the other day.
Alex 29:25
Yeah.
Tiana 29:29
Let’s see.
Do you happen to know if your family maybe ever considered living somewhere else? Um, like one aside from the United States that they were considering any other countries and then maybe like, Was there some if you remember this by chance, like if there was any other like cities when they were deciding between Sacramento or whatnot, and then also if you could tell us like a little bit about why like why Harrisonburg? Like, what, what made you go from California all the way to Virginia, and then Within Virginia, Brandon Harrisonburg.
Alex 30:06
Sure, yeah, my my mom and dad they never plan on living anywhere else. This was United States was it? The reason we moved to Harrisburg cuz my dad’s oldest sister lived here. Harrisonburg, Virginia. She moves She came here all the way from Russia. That little sister I was talking about stayed back there. his oldest sister is the one that live in Harrisonburg, Virginia. So it was due to work. I mean, my dad had work and it just felt like Virginia is gonna be more quieter, better place for us while boys in it. He felt like those a good move.
Tiana 30:42
Do you remember a lot of when you’re in California, I assume most of your time obviously isn’t in Virginia. But are this comparable at all? Like what the differences there were being on like different?
Alex 30:53
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I remember, there’s a lot of memories. in California. A lot of good memories. We went back in 2005 to visit our family. So yeah, California is a good state. I wouldn’t live there. Now. If I had to choose if I’m in North Carolina for me, especially Charlotte area. But uh, yeah, California was good. I mean, have a lot of good times over there. So,
Tiana 31:19
yeah, I actually have never been to California, but everyone else in my family has, so I definitely need to make that trip eventually. Hmm.
Let’s see. Um,
so I guess this is kind of like a super, super vague question. But, um, if you had not immigrated here, what do you think your life would look like today?
Alex 31:44
That’s a good question. Very good question. I would have went to army for sure. Because you don’t have a choice in Russia. You have to go to army. I don’t know if it’s two, three years. But, and then I’ve actually connected with my friend. My childhood friend, he’s h vac technician. That’s what he’s doing. hasn’t really don’t know what I would do. I always wanted to own business and some look of my uncle’s own businesses. Maybe I would have done something like that. But I can’t stand school. I don’t like studying. So when I’m going to anything was school. It just did not work out for me. Um, but good question. Maybe perhaps haven’t had my own business problem?
Tiana 32:32
Yeah. Um, so since you brought up the army was your did that? Did your dad go into the army when he was in Russia?
Alex 32:42
Yeah, he was a Navy.
Tiana 32:43
Okay, how long did he do that for?
Alex 32:47
A minimum of a two to three years. Okay.
Tiana 32:51
Yeah. Do Was that
Alex 32:53
your drafted period? You don’t have?
What’s that?
Tiana 32:58
Was that like, since you were born?
Alex 33:04
Yeah, yeah. When dad had me, my mom had me my parents had been 25. And they’re about. So by then he was at an army. So yeah, I was the first one. So I’m the oldest one. So he was already done with army you go to army at 18.
Tiana 33:22
Wow. So that’s just kind of like no matter what, as soon as you turn 18 that’s just a given. It’s not necessarily about like, yeah, good are gonna be drafted is that you will be
Alex 33:35
Yeah, there’s no there’s no. Bad back then. I’m not like Why not? Back then there’s only I think two ways out, don’t quote me. One is that you had to be sick. This had to be something maybe maybe copper one, it had to be sick. Something had to be wrong with you like your stomach or I know. Other ones been mental health. And I think third one, if you are gay, you wouldn’t get in either. I believe those are the three that I heard my parents my relatives talk about. So there might be more but unless if you were normal, or you know, you didn’t have anything wrong with you or your were you weren’t gay yet. There was no choice you had to go in. I think some of them even said that. They said they wouldn’t have to go I mean, it’s a Wow, I’ve heard stories. I don’t know. Yeah.
Tiana 34:27
And then sort of wrapping up. So how what are like the major changes of that have changed in your life since you’ve come here.
Alex 34:38
major changes
learnenglish that’s one and I really like speaking it’s actually easier to speak English is Russian. Another one is when my wife in nine states. So I think See, I was so little if I would have came from when I was 20, or 25. There’s a lot more things you could talk about, because you kind of live the life over there. But I really haven’t lived. I mean, it was just a teenager. And most of my life has been here. So, just learn a new language. I would say that I got married. I had kids. I mean, I don’t know what kind of person that would have been over there. I really don’t know. I like to I am here. I went through a lot to get to our man. So but yeah, kind of hard to answer that one. So yeah, for sure.
Tiana 35:39
Um, so what do you like personally think about Russia? Like, I guess, if somebody were to say like, Oh, I’m thinking about like moving dress or even visiting like, what are some things you would tell them?
Alex 35:52
Oh, visit for sure. I would go to visit I’d like to visit and we will visit St. Petersburg. I’d like to go to Moscow. Not for a quick airport trip like I had. I’d like to go out and visit places. I’ve heard a lot of good work over there. So yeah, visit definitely living depends on what you want. Depends on what you’re looking for. I don’t keep up with that economy. I don’t keep up with their politics. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t suggest a live they’re not. Okay. So I love capitalism. That’s me. I don’t know this capitalism in Russia. It is in America. Hmm.
Tiana 36:27
All right. Well, you answered a lot of questions. Thank you. Is there anything that you think that is important to like note for people to hear about or like something maybe I didn’t ask that you think is important?
Alex 36:41
Yeah, just in the note is that I will say in live your life instead of accepting your life. I would say that’s really important for every human being, and what is one of the saddest things that can happen to people I believe, is a wasted talent. So it might sound cliche, but everybody is good at something. So find that one thing or two things that you’re good at and do that for a living for whatever you choose to do. So that’s really important.
Tiana 37:11
Yeah, I really like that. Well, if you don’t have anything else to add that I think that kind of covers it. Thank you for your time. I really enjoyed it.
Alex 37:20
My pleasure. My pleasure. I enjoyed it too. Thank you for taking it back to memory lane.
Tiana 37:26
Anytime, and I guess I will be in touch with you and Alina very
soon.
Alex 37:32
Sounds good. Sounds good. I’ll talk to you later.
Tiana 37:35
All righty. Have a good night.
Alex 37:38
You too. Bye.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Recent Comments