So good to be home and to have my own computer. I’ve only got a few minutes to get this letter out to you and then I’ve got to go to Kinko’s to get color xeroxes and mail this package, & Dima needs the negs ASAP! I don’t know how fluent your TV Russian is, but I was shocked when I saw the headlines as I landed at JFK Dec. 17. As we watched the news, Valera said it was bad, very bad, but I didn’t understand the broader implications of the Ukraine’s vote for indepedence, nor did I ‘t realize the USSR was to dissolve Jan 1 and now Yeltsyn has taken over the Kremlin and Minsk is the capital of the Soviet Commonwealth. Ah well, I guess you’ve heard that news. Happy Solstice!
Well, officially we’re in a recession, and I have no work, the school I worked at last year doesn’t want to hire Marsha or me back next year due to a lack of funds, so it looks pretty bleak for me at the moment. But our woes seem minor by comparision to the problems you face right now. The mood in P’burg for the past two weeks has been very black, more violence, etc. My friend, Valentin Yemelin (tel. 310-9816) from Leningrad Center for Soviet-American Initiatives said he’d never seen so many people trying to sell their belongings at the Ploshad Mira station than in the past two weeks. We had to fight our way across the metro exit.
Marsha, my friend invited me over for dinner last night, and as she lit the candles and sung the Hebrew prayer, I was struck by the similarity of customs between Judiasm & Orthodoxy. Bad news at Video Project—Peter Epstein has left, they’ve done absolutely nothing with the film, nor the article. They never even read it as far as I can deduce, let alone send it out. Good news—Julie Finn is now on staff part time. She’s doing fundraising for VP and promises to look at the piece, and is interested in additions with our “interview” with Semiyon. So if you have any burning suggestions to make on the piece, do so now, and send it back with your kids, or whatever.
Well, officially we’re in a recession, and I have no work, the school I worked at last year doesn’t want to hire Marsha or me back next year due to a lack of funds, so it looks pretty bleak for me at the moment. But our woes seem minor by comparision to the problems you face right now. The mood in P’burg for the past two weeks has been very black, more violence, etc. My friend, Valentin Yemelin (tel. 310-9816) from Leningrad Center for Soviet-American Initiatives said he’d never seen so many people trying to sell their belongings at the Ploshad Mira station than in the past two weeks. We had to fight our way across the metro exit.
Marsha, my friend invited me over for dinner last night, and as she lit the candles and sung the Hebrew prayer, I was struck by the similarity of customs between Judiasm & Orthodoxy. Bad news at Video Project—Peter Epstein has left, they’ve done absolutely nothing with the film, nor the article. They never even read it as far as I can deduce, let alone send it out. Good news—Julie Finn is now on staff part time. She’s doing fundraising for VP and promises to look at the piece, and is interested in additions with our “interview” with Semiyon. So if you have any burning suggestions to make on the piece, do so now, and send it back with your kids, or whatever.
Your parents say Artie will be going to LA for the games, your mom won’t be going, she says your dad’s feeling better (because she’s not going?), they send their love. All’s ok on that front. We had a wild, dyslexic conversation, and they invited me to stay any time. “You have a home with us.” They had all kinds of Q’s about anti-Semetism. I didn’t have time to go into detail, I said yes, I’d go into more detail later. I called Tree, but she won’t in til Thurs. Left message with Sam. Sharon’s not at home. Marion not home either. Left messages to call. Roomate Nelda says she’s your friend—wants to know more info too. Later.
Leaving Russia wasn’t easy. By the time I checked in—it was a zoo—the plane was due to leave and I had major problems with the (Finnish/not Russian) Finnair manager in P’Burg, he wouldn’t let me take my carry-on bag, said it was too big. (My bag has been to Russia 3 x, and fits under the seat just fine.) I took out my camera bag, and tried to carry it that way, he wouldn’t let me do that either. We screamed at each other, he ripped off my baggage tags, and threw my ticket at me. I unpacked everything and I barely got on the plane, carrying everything in small parcels, which was totally a paradox, because we were only supposed to have one bag to begin with. Others had several bags, the women, huge purses and their carry-ons.
Leaving Russia wasn’t easy. By the time I checked in—it was a zoo—the plane was due to leave and I had major problems with the (Finnish/not Russian) Finnair manager in P’Burg, he wouldn’t let me take my carry-on bag, said it was too big. (My bag has been to Russia 3 x, and fits under the seat just fine.) I took out my camera bag, and tried to carry it that way, he wouldn’t let me do that either. We screamed at each other, he ripped off my baggage tags, and threw my ticket at me. I unpacked everything and I barely got on the plane, carrying everything in small parcels, which was totally a paradox, because we were only supposed to have one bag to begin with. Others had several bags, the women, huge purses and their carry-ons.
The stewardesses even said my carry-on bag was fine. I was ranting all the way to the plane, and lost all my posters and calenders—including Akhmatova—which were all my Christmas gifts. I kept demanding the manager’s name all the way through Russian customs—The militia just waved me on through—I think they didn’t want to deal with me. (This Americanka’s crazy). By the time I boarded, the crew knew all about me.
My screaming paid off—I got his name, but it was so humiliating, I cried all the way to Helsinki. Needless to say , I registered a major complaint. The captain kept apologizing to the passengers for being late, but no one apologized to me. I’m tired of being treated like swine. I thought that was strictly for Soviets and was enraged when a Finn resorted to such behavior. Maybe I was already at wit’s end, that’s why I blew, but I think I would’ve had a fit under any circumstances. Got through customs without problems, $ and all. I was worried about all the letters I was carrying too. By the time I mailed all the letters I was handed upon leaving the USSR (35) I had over $15 in postage. It gets expensive.
Anyway, lots of love to you, kiddo. I almost want to come back on the next plane. Maybe I’ll need a business letter of invite from you or Dima though. Left all my biographical data with Valera. P’burg OVIR put him on the waiting list and gave him an appointment for Mar 10, 92 to make an appointment to make a letter of invitation for me—if you get my meaning, they want an 800 r bribe for an earlier date. Meanwhile, I’m still trying to figure out a way to do a Visa K for him here, but need the original notarized copy of his wife’s marriage and death certificates, and his birth certificate, if possible. A xerox of his passport won’t hurt. Business centers at the Astoria (62 cents) or Pribaltiskaya (32 cents) have xeroxes. I asked Dima Kapoustin to ask him again. Could you ask him too? He says he doesn’t know where the papers are. Tell him to call his mother in Grozney & find out ASAP. Maybe your kids could bring the documents with them. Or someone else?
Anyway, lots of love to you, kiddo. I almost want to come back on the next plane. Maybe I’ll need a business letter of invite from you or Dima though. Left all my biographical data with Valera. P’burg OVIR put him on the waiting list and gave him an appointment for Mar 10, 92 to make an appointment to make a letter of invitation for me—if you get my meaning, they want an 800 r bribe for an earlier date. Meanwhile, I’m still trying to figure out a way to do a Visa K for him here, but need the original notarized copy of his wife’s marriage and death certificates, and his birth certificate, if possible. A xerox of his passport won’t hurt. Business centers at the Astoria (62 cents) or Pribaltiskaya (32 cents) have xeroxes. I asked Dima Kapoustin to ask him again. Could you ask him too? He says he doesn’t know where the papers are. Tell him to call his mother in Grozney & find out ASAP. Maybe your kids could bring the documents with them. Or someone else?
If the political shit hits the fan, we’ll all need a back door out! Tell Valera my fax got through. We had doubts. Remember to visit Valentin Yemelin (310-91-86)—he’s got good connections: E-mail, fax, Aeroflot tix, travel, etc. Maybe some leads on work for you. His wife Alyona’s a psychologist. You might want to visit his friend, Nikolai Bogomolov, the painter, first (122-52-25). Bye, sweetie. I love you. Maureen
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