Essay III: Interview
The
City of His Dreams
by Tamara Rutman
"You know, I cannot remember a fall in Russia because I was born here and never was in Russia. Sometimes I am wondering about that country."
"I can tell you. I am from Russia." I told him about my favorite season in my lovely homeland. When I finished, I looked at his face. There were tears in his eyes. And he began to tell me his story.
His family came to the US in 1917. He was born in New York City. "Have you been there?" Actually, I had not because I only saw New York from the window of a car. My friend had showed me this city the night I came to America. He smiled, "I want to tell you about my favorite city because I want to thank you for my trip through the Russian autumn"
"My parents and I lived in this city about twenty years. We changed apartments very often because of the rising cost, but all of them were in Brooklyn in some neighborhood where many Russians had been living for many years. I remember always trying to help my parents. Our family had many things to worry about; we always needed a job. My parents used to speak in Russian at home, but I only remember just a few words. I have in my memory the picture of my mother and father speaking in Russian, trying to keep some secrets from me."
Then there was silence. I know that it is not easy to speak about the most loved people in the world, about parents, now if you are a father and grandfather yourself....His whole life passed through his mind in that moment.
"You know, the New York of my childhood and New York now are so different!... Or, maybe, it just seems that way because I am an old man now? I remember my life in New York after I got married. My wife was from Rochester. My family moved here in the thirties, but in my happiest time I decided to show my wife my city. We spent several weeks in New York visiting many famous places. First I showed her where I had lived, played with other children and gone to school. There were streets in Brooklyn where I grew up, finding out what life was through a child's eyes. At the same time we were so interested in seeing buildings, places in Manhattan and on Broadway about which I had dreamed for many years. This was about fifty years ago. You see how old I am? At that time we liked to walk in the parks: Central Park, Battery Park, Prospect Park in Brooklyn. We felt like we were in heaven, walking along Broadway south of Houston Street through Little Italy and Chinatown, the neighborhoods famed for their restaurants. How we loved the varieties of pasta dishes and other Italian delicacies!"
"Did you visit museums, art galleries too?" I asked very cautiously. "It was the first time that I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. I was so glad to see the pictures, sculptures, and graphic arts of the twentieth century. Do you know that in that time America was the leader of the art movement, abstract expressionism? I had not been familiar with this phase of modern art, but I loved it at first sight. It was something special and different from what I had known. This style of painting grew out of the work of artists who were cubists, surrealists, and futurists in Europe. Some of these paintings expressed different feelings such as fear, hate, joy or calm. I have liked them since this time and have collected many reproductions. I have a not too bad collection at home.
Seeing the movies was an exciting experience for me and my wife. There were so many movie theaters in the Broadway area. After the movies we used to go to a dancing club. We were too young and full of energy. For my wife it was the loveliest thing to do; she could dance all night. Of course, these were happy years!! Oh, there were some ups and downs, but in spite of it all, I was truly happy in that time."
I asked him again, "Can you tell me what is so special about this city?""I have been in many cities in the world, but New York is so different from all of them. It is the greatest cultural and intellectual center. There are so many places to see - there are entertainment, recreational and sports centers. For me it is always a remembrance of my family, my history. You never feel alone there. I lived in many cities, but I always returned to the city of my dreams, New York. And I have a little suggestion for you - you must go there to feel part of the spirit of that amazing city." His eyes were smiling." I have to go now. I had a great time with you today. You know, young people do not like to speak with old people, but you are different. Thank you!"
He turned away and was gone. I stayed, looking at him walk away, and thought that I would never forget this day and this old man who is still dreaming about his city, New York.
Tamara Rutman was a teacher of Russian language in Russia.
Panagiotis
by Theofanis Pantazis
He was born in Kastoria, Greece, in 1935, the youngest of five children. One of the worst times that he had to confront when he was young was the death of his mother and then his father, George, giving him up for adoption to a couple who could not have children. "From 1930 to 1960, Greece had gone through two world wars, and the adversities of the wars led a lot of families to do everything possible to earn their living. That's why my father decided to give me up." Only at fourteen did Panagiotis discover that he had been adopted. This was one of the hardest things he had to deal with as a child. He did not want to believe that this was true. He still remembers, "I was the only child in the village that didn't have biological parents. The other kids used to make fun of me and of course, for a kid, it really hurt."
At the age of twenty-three Panagiotis married Diamanto. Now as he started his family, there was the problem of a job. He was trying to find a way which would make him more successful. "The first big decision that I had to make was whether or not to go to Germany. It would be difficult - a foreign language, a new society, a different life style. But we had to go and work and make money so we could come to America."
He moved to Germany in 1960 with his wife just after they had their first child, Kirk. They had to leave him behind in Greece with his grandparents and this was difficult for them. Their baby Kirk was constantly in their minds. However, "America for me meant money and educated kids. With money I could send my kids to school." For almost every Greek here in America, a better life means owning their own business and educating their kids.
They had their second child, Anna, in 1965 and in 1966 came to America. Everything was hard at the beginning, but he never gave up. He worked very hard, trying three different jobs until he found his present occupation. "In my first job, I rode a bike to go to work; I was never so scared in all my life." He explained that the conditions were so dangerous as this was the time of the race riots of the mid sixties.
Now approaching retirement, after thirty years in America, he feels a sense of satisfaction and happiness with his wife and three children. His children are well-educated and successful too. His eight grandchildren make him feel like the luckiest person in the world. He is a successful Greek immigrant with a good business and a good income.
"Life is life and we have it only for one time. We have to try and work at any challenge that we see in front of us. Everyone should meet the challenge that is brought before them. Challenges in the future make the present more interesting." This is Panagiotis's philosophy.
Theofanis Pantazis is planning to become a physical therapist