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During the period of famine in 1933 16 we saw swollen dying people in the streets. Many villagers moved to town hoping to survive. We had a housemaid, mother hired her when I went to school. She was a Ukrainian girl that lived with us and helped mother about the house. She brought her nephews and nieces to our apartment during this period and they lived with us, We played together. The children stayed in the living room. I remember that my brothers and I stood in long lines to get some bread.
There were few children from military families in our class. They were behind other children in their studies. One of such families where the father was a general lived in our house. They were wealthier than civilians. Once deputy director of our school called me and offered to give private classes to the general’s daughter who was in the 5th form, I was 15. I thought it was my pioneer duty to help this girl. I went there in the evening and said ‘Petr Mironovich asked me to assist your daughter with her studies’. The general said ‘Yes, he recommended you to me. What are your terms and how much do you charge? I had two classes per week with the girl and at the end of the month the general invited me to his office and paid me 3 rubles per each class. I didn’t want to take the money, but he said ‘Please take it. You work and need to be paid for work’. This was my first earning and afterward I always had private pupils. My younger brother Boris also earned money by giving private classes and we always had our own money and didn’t have to ask our parents about allowances we bought books and sweets and went to the cinema. It was a lot of money that we got for that time when a ticket to the cinema cost 30 kopek, an ice cream cost 10 kopek, a rather expensive book cost 1 ruble and a very expensive book cost 2 rubles.
In senior classes I joined the Komsomol 17. It was a mere formality at that time. We were not eager to become Komsomol members – I found reading and spending time with friends more interesting. We were just practical about our future possibilities with getting a higher education. As a part of public activities we collected steel scrap, but I was more involved in the issuance of the school wallpaper, political information classes that took part twice a week in the morning before school classes began. The one who prepared this information briefed the class on international events. It goes without saying that this information was based on newspaper publications. I was responsible for scheduling such briefings. We went to parades on 1 May and 7 November 18. We got together near our school and then marched along Kreschatik Street with the column of marchers. We didn’t celebrate 1 May or 7 November with the family. When we studied in senior classes we got together to celebrate Soviet holidays and to party. My parents didn’t mind having such parties at our home. My mother even preferred that we stayed at our home. She made cookies and pies and we had great parties turning our apartment upside down enjoying ourselves.
There were few children from military families in our class. They were behind other children in their studies. One of such families where the father was a general lived in our house. They were wealthier than civilians. Once deputy director of our school called me and offered to give private classes to the general’s daughter who was in the 5th form, I was 15. I thought it was my pioneer duty to help this girl. I went there in the evening and said ‘Petr Mironovich asked me to assist your daughter with her studies’. The general said ‘Yes, he recommended you to me. What are your terms and how much do you charge? I had two classes per week with the girl and at the end of the month the general invited me to his office and paid me 3 rubles per each class. I didn’t want to take the money, but he said ‘Please take it. You work and need to be paid for work’. This was my first earning and afterward I always had private pupils. My younger brother Boris also earned money by giving private classes and we always had our own money and didn’t have to ask our parents about allowances we bought books and sweets and went to the cinema. It was a lot of money that we got for that time when a ticket to the cinema cost 30 kopek, an ice cream cost 10 kopek, a rather expensive book cost 1 ruble and a very expensive book cost 2 rubles.
In senior classes I joined the Komsomol 17. It was a mere formality at that time. We were not eager to become Komsomol members – I found reading and spending time with friends more interesting. We were just practical about our future possibilities with getting a higher education. As a part of public activities we collected steel scrap, but I was more involved in the issuance of the school wallpaper, political information classes that took part twice a week in the morning before school classes began. The one who prepared this information briefed the class on international events. It goes without saying that this information was based on newspaper publications. I was responsible for scheduling such briefings. We went to parades on 1 May and 7 November 18. We got together near our school and then marched along Kreschatik Street with the column of marchers. We didn’t celebrate 1 May or 7 November with the family. When we studied in senior classes we got together to celebrate Soviet holidays and to party. My parents didn’t mind having such parties at our home. My mother even preferred that we stayed at our home. She made cookies and pies and we had great parties turning our apartment upside down enjoying ourselves.
Location
Ukraine
Interview
Frida Khatset