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I've never been touched by the envious sighs of some of our acquaintances about western wealth. My husband is also very much attached to this country, so we've never considered going to live elsewhere, though many of our friends have left. My friend Truda Zolotaryova and her husband worked at the plant of radial units. Her husband was deputy director there. When they decided to move to the USA, they were subject to terrible obstruction at the plant. He was expelled from the party and persecuted. Since they failed to move to the US at once, they moved to Vilnius and lived in Lithuania for some time. My husband and I visited them there. From Lithuania they moved to America and live near San Francisco. We correspond.
I was happy about perestroika [27]. My husband and I were fans of Gorbachev [28]. We still think highly of him. In my opinion, perestroika succeeded and failed at the same time. Many people's lives were destroyed by the circumstances they couldn't overcome. I remember the example of my neighbor Sasha, who was a driver at a cinema studio in the Soviet era. He went on business trips, earned well and supported his wife and daughter. As a result of perestroika, Odessa studios decayed and the majority of its employees, including Sasha, were fired. He tried to find a job as a driver for some time, but he failed. He became miserably poor. His wife left him and now, at the age of 64 he is a degraded man who has lost any interest in life. There are many like Sasha.
Here is my point of view: the processes were positive, but regretfully, there is too much negative to this positive. My husband and I voted for separation of Ukraine, because we thought this would be the natural outcome for all former Soviet republics.
My whole life is tied to the conservatory. I've been manager of the students' scientific creative association for many years. My pupils are teachers now: Natasha Alexandrova, she's now a professor at the Conservatory, Maya Rzhevskaya is now pro-rector for scientific work of the Kiev Music Academy.
In 1995 my book 'Musical Odessa' was published. My work has been the main focus of my life, just as it was for my parents. I continue to teach at the Conservatory and I'm writing another book and this helps me to keep cheerful and interested in people.
I was happy about perestroika [27]. My husband and I were fans of Gorbachev [28]. We still think highly of him. In my opinion, perestroika succeeded and failed at the same time. Many people's lives were destroyed by the circumstances they couldn't overcome. I remember the example of my neighbor Sasha, who was a driver at a cinema studio in the Soviet era. He went on business trips, earned well and supported his wife and daughter. As a result of perestroika, Odessa studios decayed and the majority of its employees, including Sasha, were fired. He tried to find a job as a driver for some time, but he failed. He became miserably poor. His wife left him and now, at the age of 64 he is a degraded man who has lost any interest in life. There are many like Sasha.
Here is my point of view: the processes were positive, but regretfully, there is too much negative to this positive. My husband and I voted for separation of Ukraine, because we thought this would be the natural outcome for all former Soviet republics.
My whole life is tied to the conservatory. I've been manager of the students' scientific creative association for many years. My pupils are teachers now: Natasha Alexandrova, she's now a professor at the Conservatory, Maya Rzhevskaya is now pro-rector for scientific work of the Kiev Music Academy.
In 1995 my book 'Musical Odessa' was published. My work has been the main focus of my life, just as it was for my parents. I continue to teach at the Conservatory and I'm writing another book and this helps me to keep cheerful and interested in people.
Location
Ukraine
Interview
rimma rozenberg