Date: Fri 22-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

schools-Russian-Ryzhik

Full Text:

GENNEWS

with cut: Russian Family Explores A New Culture In Newtown

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Yulia Ryzhik awoke one morning recently to see falling snow outside her

window. For Yulia, it was a common sight since she spent the first 12 years of

her life growing up in Moscow.

But unlike when she lived in Russia, Yulia got to stay home from school that

day; classes in Newtown were canceled.

"There are no snow days in Russia, so when they told me there was no school, I

didn't believe them," explained the 12-year-old, a seventh grader at Newtown

Middle School, who speaks fluent English.

Yulia and her family arrived in the United States two months ago, ready to

start a new life nearly 10,000 miles away from their family, friends and

homeland. This will be a Christmas Yulia will never forget.

The Ryzhik family is currently staying with Harry and Linda Rosvalley of 7

Taunton Hill Road until they get settled. Boris and Szeta Ryzhik's dream of

living a life of freedom came true when they won green cards in a lottery in

Russia.

In October, the family boarded a plane in Moscow and made the 11-hour trip to

New York, its first trip ever to the United States.

"They literally got on a plane in Moscow and came over here, noted principal

Nancy Onarato of Head O'Meadow School, where Yulia's younger sister, Inna, 5«,

attends kindergarten.

According to Mr Ryzhik, though his family had heard many great things about

the United States, it never could have dreamed of what he discovered once he

arrived.

"It was our dream to come to America, especially in recent years," he

explained in broken English. "It is better seeing one time in person than

hearing about it seven times."

Not surprisingly, the transition to life in the United States has not been

easy for Boris and his family.

"It's always difficult for any one to change countries," he explained. "Not

only must we deal with the language barrier, but the changed lifestyle as

well."

Both Mr Ryzhik, 39, and Mrs Ryzhik, 37, still have parents in Moscow and,

while they communicate occasionally by email, it may be a long time before

they see them again.

Yulia, mature for her age, had mixed emotions about leaving her homeland, but

believes the difficult process will pay off in the long run.

"At first, I didn't understand what I felt. How could I leave without home, my

friends, my grandparents? But the day before we left, I was excited," she

recalled.

Mr Ryzhik, a computer programmer, and his wife knew the experience would be

trying, but they wanted to provide the best possible future for Yulia and

Innia, and felt they could get it in America.

"We didn't want our kids to live the life that we had," he said.

The opportunity may not have been possible without the help of the Rosvalleys.

Mr Rosvalley, a physics teacher at Somers High School in New York State,

befriended the Russian family two years ago when he lived with the Ryzhiks

during a visit to Moscow with high school students from Brookfield, Danbury

and Bethel.

"They treated me like I was a member of their family. Boris would always be

out in front of their house waiting for me when I came home," the Newtown

resident recalled.

Now providing a temporary home for his friends, Mr Rosvalley said he's happy

to return the favor.

Ironically, Mr Rosvalley, aware of the family's wish to come to America, sent

the Ryzhiks four tourist visas just two days prior to their winning the

lottery.

Since arriving on American soil October 21, the Ryzhiks have been pleasantly

surprised at how friendly people have been here in Newtown, and Yulia is

amazed at all the big houses and how everyone smiles.

"Even the policemen smile," she said with a grin of her own.

Due to the economic collapse in Russia, the selection of food and material

goods is limited. In fact, some of Moscow's finer shops are off limits to its

citizens, open only to diplomats and tourists, according to Mr Ryzhik. Yulia

and Inna were accustomed to the sight of bare shelves at the local Moscow

grocery stores. Now in Newtown, the two girls stare in wild wonder during

shopping trips to the Grand Union and become awe struck on visits to Stew

Leonard's and the Danbury Fair Mall.

"Everything is new to them,'' said Mrs Rosvalley, who held a surprise birthday

party for Szeta last month. "Everything is totally different."

The family is especially proud of Inna, who started school two years earlier

than she would have in Russia, where youngsters don't start school until the

age of seven.

"I like to go to school here and I really like my teachers," said Inna through

her father's translation.

Mrs Onarato said Inna has been able to adjust well to her new school despite

knowing little English. She currently works with English as a second language

teacher Kathy Smedberg.

The Ryzhiks lived in an apartment in Moscow and owned a small house in the

suburbs.

Since the fall of Communism and the Soviet Union, the Russian government has

become more open with its citizens, providing a more democratic society.

However, freedom remains a foreign word to the people, according to Mr Ryzhik.

"There is more freedom in Russia now, it is true, but the people are the same.

Their image of freedom is not so advanced as here. They need to learn to live

with this freedom," he said.

Mr Ryzhik said many Russians are afraid they might still lose their new found

freedoms.

"They can not see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "They can not

be sure that the government and the freedom will remain in tact."

For years, the Soviet government withheld information from its citizens,

instead feeding them with lies and propaganda, Mr Ryzhik said.

"Most did not believe it, though," he said. "The government lied to the

people."

The Russian family is hoping to move into an apartment of its own this month

as Mr Ryzhik continues his search for a job.

Mrs Ryzhik said she is happy to be in America, but realizes many hurdles lie

ahead.

"By getting here, we have solved only the first thing," she said through her

husband's translation. "Much still lies ahead."