Saturday, April 5, 2014

так счастлива за мир - So Happy for Peace




так счастлива за мир - So Happy for Peace

Inside a Mongol yurt, at the top of a Siberian ski slope, these words were proclaimed with a double fist pump to the air.  They came from a 70ish year old woman, there for tea with her grandson, who overheard us speaking English.  She inquired about where we were from and was thrilled her guess was correct--we were Americans!

She wanted to know why we came.  We answered we were teachers.  Her face lit up all the more, as she gestured to her 6 or 7 year old grandson, and beamed and shook her head back and forth, "I am so happy our peoples are at peace."

I saw a wisdom in her eyes and sensed in her voice that she was finally able to express opposition to the expectation placed upon her and us to live as adversaries for decades.

Grabbing her hands in mine, I smiled, and nodded to agree. We left, without a photo, without exchanging names. It's better that way. She and we represent all the peoples of Russia and the US that wish the best for each other, not the worst.  I am so grateful that IREX has given us this opportunity to show each other how we are more alike than different.




2 comments:

  1. This post is powerful and so very moving. Thank you for sharing this lovely encounter.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree with Jen. I almost had to wipe a tear when I read this. Not only is it a powerful commentary, but it certainly rings true for us over here in Michurinsk, as well. Thanks for this.

    ReplyDelete