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so I don't know how old you are. Okay? Okay. We're beginning. Recording now at my home in Sebastopol, 800 Ferguson Road. You all have been here and I came from Latvia and that was 50 years ago and I was born in 1924 which makes me 83

00:00:22.930 - 00:00:42.740

years old at the moment. And they lived in that year until I was a teenager. My first years 25 Because my father was working on the Russian border. He was taking care of Russian off the border guards. He was in the army. He was in the

00:00:42.740 - 00:00:59.020

Latvian army. But for a few years he was worked on the border. And I and my my my four brothers and sisters really don't. If I do, you want to show us where that areas I can show you. What that means is if you stop, it

00:00:59.030 - 00:01:22.210

may be no zoom in talk about the bodies I am born in. I was born in that we had tiny both countries this year and we had access to Baltic Sea. That's why our country was always desired by other countries. Because other countries like Russia didn't

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have out to the Baltic Sea and be good. Vikings came in the trades long, long ago. A long day. So it was a very nice country. Murtagh. It looks like you have a beach. Did you ever go down to the beach like we do down to

00:01:40.620 - 00:01:56.080

the shore? When you were a little girl? Yeah, The beach was 200 miles. So when we went to Riga to the capital, Where My uncle and aunt. Then? Of course. You went and stand in the Baltic Sea. And? And what did you do that when you

00:01:56.080 - 00:02:13.840

went to the Baltic Sea? We collected shelves and we just like to jump in the waves. And we ate herring. Another fish. That was fish there. That was our holidays, OK? And did you do this every year? Yeah, we did it about a year. Was your

00:02:13.850 - 00:02:31.480

mother and father with you? No, we're Children. We went on train. It was 200 miles and we went there toe ankle tonight and they took us to operate and took us to circus because and if I didn't have such luxuries that was leading up and this

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uncle and at where they, your mother's family or your father's. They were my mother's mother's brother and his family. Yeah, he was a lawyer, and in Communist times he was. He was tortured. I had to go to the prison and identify him. And he had had

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crosses burned in his chest and he skin was store enough. So but I still recognized him. So who did this to him? That was That was the Russians Russians, Russians occupied last year. They were brutal, brutal. They took in one year. They took 40,000 people to

00:03:11.270 - 00:03:30.310

Siberia. They made wagons with little windows that were closed. And I was wondering, we saw They will take our cattle away. Maybe toe, you know, plundered our country. But no, they took people. They took all the people who who made something who would like important basis

00:03:30.310 - 00:03:52.150

and lawyers, teachers and, you know, people in government. Well, let's go back to when, like maybe how your mother and father met or about your farm. My father was working and he waas fighting in world where one WASI world would you see a lot older than

00:03:52.150 - 00:04:12.240

your mother. He was older than my mother and he he him he was such a brave soldier that you got the Big Gordon founder. And for that, he got his fired because he was He was very Herick who did the farm belong to? That great big

00:04:12.250 - 00:04:35.900

states that the prime were had bean, a German baron estate. Okay, Germans Gillette was occupied by German Barron's. You know, they they brought the Christian religion in 18 11. And that Waas No. 11 11 1011. And there excuse was to bring Christian religion. But actually they

00:04:35.910 - 00:04:55.580

wanted the land. And then they had landlord er, landlords. They're all Germans. And when what became free, then the Germans fled in the country and the land was divided. Toe prison. This is after World War actor. Well, yeah. And where did your father live before he

00:04:55.590 - 00:05:12.110

got the farm before. But where his mother lived, he was, He was and he was an officer that he wasn't let me and me and he for Germans, he port Russians. He thought everything until the country was free and then in the country but independent in

00:05:12.120 - 00:05:31.580

1918 October 18. Then then they gave the land to people who were heroic or did some good good fighting for flattery. That's like God, I think. And he wasn't married when he got the phone. He was married already. He met his wife, Pinter, in during the

00:05:31.580 - 00:05:52.460

World War one because he was in that part where she lived and they met and they married. And she was willing to leave the rest and proactive flattery A and came to these Healy 2200 miles away. And then the Children came and she tell me, Tell

00:05:52.460 - 00:06:10.840

me when the Children came. Your brother was how much older than you one here when you brothers and sisters year apart told me. But I my mother's brother and my sister was she was six months old when my mother was killed in a car. Let's go

00:06:10.840 - 00:06:39.660

back. You were born in 1924 1924 September. And really don't find my father waas working a national border. He was he waas. He was in charge of that soldier. God's going on the board of gods in my mother's fat and believe you must have had a

00:06:39.660 - 00:06:54.220

hired man or something to help if your father was gone because your Children were all small. Yeah, we had to work in the fields too. But the way couldn't no match for weights. We learn how to pull me. What did you What did you have on

00:06:54.220 - 00:07:16.910

your farm? We had It was apple orchard. It was all with 1000 apple trees. Go to It was it was a center off German estate. I think in some of the male big parents were on our property. Inherited the huge bands and the land. Did you

00:07:16.910 - 00:07:36.010

live in a house that the German had built? Yeah, it was a house. It wasin it. Waas one proactive about. Built like it wasn't part of this castle or anything. All the cancer was destroyed, but But the barns were saying land was see, So we stayed

00:07:36.020 - 00:07:53.440

there. And, uh, what could you tell me about the animals You have? Yeah, well, we had all kinds of cows and horses. They couldn't have too many cows and horses because it was apple orchard and they had to eat between the trees Hot because we've not

00:07:53.480 - 00:08:15.240

had only a couple few fields. Did your cows eat apples? They ate everything. Yes, but yeah. And and way cheaper. They're in love with Tried the little little colds we took in the kitchen and they started coming in the kitchen every good. Yeah, they were like

00:08:15.250 - 00:08:31.410

pets and they grew bigger and they couldn't get more than they stopped coming. Big East came to visit us. Well, how could you ever eat them apart with them if they were your friends? My grandma always said They said that would be said to everything. Otherwise,

00:08:31.410 - 00:08:50.580

you wouldn t know is Joni. It's J Key's Johnny. Whatever they say. No, no, none of those. It's It's a It's a strange strange. Otherwise you wouldn't have eaten them. And did you? As you got older, Did you help with the milking and things? Yeah, I

00:08:50.590 - 00:09:06.740

had to be off the cows. How many and they had for but made my Fanta. And 20 and sometimes meant for workers were there are sick. I had to go in and milk 20 cows. Now you did those twice a day. That was early in the

00:09:06.740 - 00:09:24.480

morning. And yet in late that night, the homeless Tri City. You were busy, girl. Yes. And that's right. A Get my strengths. Yes, my fingers and my must, because it must have been very cold sometimes. Yes, and I could I knew also how toe toe plow

00:09:24.490 - 00:09:43.220

and out. Does the man get that work? Yes. Did you grow hey or anything for the animals? Yes, we We got we got a You have been brought to be field report from a tow. Hey, for winter time, corn or animals, it was time for make

00:09:43.230 - 00:10:04.780

mostly was apple trees because that was the biggest income Apples? Yes. Yes. Well, what are some of your early memories when you and your brother what were your small? We were with Chris most at night in summertime went full time. We had to guard the orchard.

00:10:05.250 - 00:10:21.830

It's let in a little tent because some people who were pull the game install the apple. Three Children stayed in there in the water. Yeah, we had a big gun, and we had to stay in the little little you and your brother. I had my brother.

00:10:22.270 - 00:10:39.290

Yeah, we're guarding. And we're two apart because if one of us leave the other work workers up, you know? And one night somebody came and we were asleep. We had a gun too, But we didn't wake up. And all our apple trees apples were desert by

00:10:39.300 - 00:11:02.310

their little tent, and they pulled old huge apple boxes away. Storm. Oh, you were sleeping because they did. You get into trouble? Yeah. Daddy spanked. See how badly he was there at the moment. So he spanked us. But that was with one big board. But we

00:11:02.310 - 00:11:20.440

said right. And then we learned not to fall asleep. Yeah, and we also gave some apples away, some bigger escaping sandy samples we gave them does He was he was trying to keep for the winter for us. So there was another spanking for not believing every

00:11:20.440 - 00:11:38.950

stranger who wants something from us. Isn't it a coincidence? You live in an apple orchard now? Yes. That's why I liked. I said, Oh, it's like my like. My father let you rolling hills. And when they heard that I like So how so much and property.

00:11:39.140 - 00:11:57.130

They raised the price for $2000 truth, and my husband said, Why did you Why did you say you should have waited instead of getting so excited? But we paid the whole price. He couldn't spank, you know? Well, let's go back to when you were you and

00:11:57.130 - 00:12:19.050

your brother, but yeah, but we didn't have any toys. And well, during Christmastime Uncle from town brought us, um, box of Candies, Little Candies. It was a little like a basket of Candies in the bowl. My brother and I was curious type. I said. My present

00:12:19.940 - 00:12:37.630

cut to see what's in the bowl way opened the bowl with a ball. It was a big rubber ball and we cut it open, and then there was nothing in it. So we have to tie hide it, and we hit it on the big big store

00:12:37.640 - 00:12:59.440

where we work with dried apples. Because we tried, lots of apples and pears were wintertime. And then when the I prevented Bastos hat, the ball started burning in the los to smell turkey, and they discovered what we did. It wasn't a little spanking for our curiosity,

00:13:00.440 - 00:13:24.020

and otherwise we were always. You were busy watching chicken, watching turkeys they want always wanted to go and our vegetable patch and doing so we act, which and we had to watch chicken in turkey so they don't do that image when they're a little bigger than

00:13:24.030 - 00:13:41.570

we had. Toe will have to work and see that there are no weeds. Weeds. Did you help with the cooking at all? A little bit. Yes. Tell us. Tell us about your mother. My mother was a teacher when she knew she was staging school and she

00:13:41.570 - 00:14:00.660

played by lead very nicely. And that's what she took when she married my husband. My father? She Oh, she didn't take much more, but she took the railing along and she played to us. What was your name? She Her name was Olga. Oh, what was her

00:14:00.660 - 00:14:23.840

maiden name? Jiggers. Accuse. Then she became sh neighbors. Because my father's name Bush, neighbors and my name neighbors means Snow Mountain It when Brendan, when Germans gave the names toe lightly in presents, left Ian presents for servants and they had only first names. German decided to

00:14:23.850 - 00:14:46.520

give them last names too. And of course, they gave the German names into my grandfather. They engage neighbors Snow Mountain and that way, had had until I married name. And what do you remember of your mother? She was very kind and very nice. We had some.

00:14:46.880 - 00:15:04.090

We had some whole people. So next our property and they came for milk and we had to give the milk and then unscented. Saturday she baked bread and she made gave bread in something she gave such half a love to each. Then there was not enough

00:15:04.100 - 00:15:20.270

for us, and we went to Grandma's house, makes doors, and we said she gave to the Biggers all the old bread. And then Grandma came and gave her a big lesson not to be so generous and not to forget her Children, but the people from the

00:15:20.280 - 00:15:39.220

from the old people's house. They came here every Saturday for merit and milk, and she was very good at the whole Neighbor could knew that she and she was pretty too. So then she died. All the neighbors came and they didn't know respects and said, Would

00:15:39.220 - 00:15:58.200

you like to say a little bit about about how that happened? Yeah, my father, That market that time for a few years he was supervising the guards on the border guards Russian border, and she went to visit him every winter time when there was nothing much

00:15:58.200 - 00:16:19.270

to go on outside. She went to visit him, and they later that my father called and said Mama was killed in a car accident. It was slippery roads in the car Went against the telephone post, hit her and she waas you know she went head was

00:16:19.280 - 00:16:41.990

hit. How was she? Remember she waas about 30 years old And the Children were from 1 to 5 to six. Hole was the youngest was just the youngest by my little sister belt. Who is in lightly still now six months old. Yeah. And so what? Your

00:16:42.000 - 00:16:57.700

grandma taking care of in the grandmother and moved to our far And okay She was living with her daughter before my hand in the other But now she lived with us And when they brought her mother home when they told me Mother holds she was she

00:16:57.700 - 00:17:15.210

waas She was in the coffee laying dead in Howard on our farm in the big living room and I waas so nobody at that time when she left I waas saying I want to go with you I don't want to stay behind And now I grabbed

00:17:15.220 - 00:17:34.050

her hand and said, Mom, I will be Hey, please just wake up. Wake up and I will be the best bill I have never been became again convincing people came pacified me and and then I started stopped crying. I stopped being historical hysteric. And how old

00:17:34.060 - 00:17:53.450

were you when I was four years old? And then after that, if you have memories of living with your grandmother Yeah, Grandmother was a reservation at first our end partisan. But the fan wasn't that big. We had to sleep on the floors and it wasn't fun.

00:17:54.040 - 00:18:17.860

And she made this also, you know, then the chicken. And and then go and think how cousteau? We had to be shepherds. And it was called in wintertime Waas Summertime. Many trained, No nothing. Bare feet. You know how we wouldn't want our feet. We stood in

00:18:17.860 - 00:18:36.150

a cow down. It was still worms And how we kept our You were barefooted. Barefooted? Yeah, Get shows were too expensive. I don't know. But when your mother died, it was winter time. It was It was September Horsfall. Yeah, And then? And then, you know, we're

00:18:36.210 - 00:18:53.670

part of Violet is on hand. Attend my grandma so that we were exploited. They're not like so went then. She moved in our house and we lived with for a few years. Just do you have other married again? Did you have a grandfather to know. Grandfather

00:18:53.680 - 00:19:14.130

was killed in World War One that when the Russians came in and he had Russian hat on and the Germans Germans came in and German soldier shot him because he sought is the Russians It was during world Where one? No. So So what? Your father after

00:19:14.130 - 00:19:30.600

a while. Metal metal woman? Yeah, that was after World War the war Waas almost over and the world were born One. Well, let's go back to where your mother died. And you lived with your grandmother at your house. You're on the farm? Yes. And then your

00:19:30.600 - 00:19:50.880

father remarried after your mother had died. So must have been around 1925 26? Yes, I think so. And I waas Yeah, I waas the Yeah, in great school. And then when he married second time, I was in high school. Okay, so the first the first lady

00:19:50.920 - 00:20:09.020

came to take care of you so your grandma wouldn't have. My father met the first lady who wasn't lived in the town of Russian border. And he married her because a little girl was only six months old. And, you know, he wanted somebody to take care

00:20:09.030 - 00:20:27.890

like your little sister. My little sister? Yeah, she She went into Russian border there when my father was. And this matter, the she didn't want the others. So your little sister went to the Russian border where your father was and the lady took care of her

00:20:28.410 - 00:20:48.510

in the stepmother care. Yes, but then she died with born tuberculosis. But what they was she with a married very long at all before she died. On the five years she had, she had two Children. Yeah, and she had she ever live on the farm with

00:20:48.520 - 00:21:04.320

you with your grandmother? She never lived on a farm. So you really didn't live with her? She was teaching school on the Russian border, Latin in school. She was a teacher. That's what my father met. Were married in. The little girl went there, but she didn't

00:21:04.320 - 00:21:25.210

want the other two. So the other Children stayed on the fire and grandmother took care of us that Yeah. So? So that's where my early childhood do it. And so then you were with your grandmother on the far most all that time I thought about 10

00:21:25.210 - 00:21:46.240

years and then my father, when he got human back to the army dog. Oh, pills. It was a town, but it was a big Russian journal. It was let in Army Bush Pretty And he waas. He was an officer. He was a captain, left me. And

00:21:46.240 - 00:22:05.400

now he may elected border work and went as a went in in town. And then in wintertime, we could go to school in town. Do you live with your fuck? Did you live with your father on your Yeah. Yeah, he got our officers. Got the apartments

00:22:05.410 - 00:22:22.460

on believed in India. 04 of your Children. Yeah. All photo from the grammar and no good and stayed under fire. And Granma, you're am. I took care of the fire, so we didn't. Grant was there year around. But we came every spring back to the fire

00:22:22.600 - 00:22:45.250

because probably fired workers at work. And by that time, we're already great schoolers, high school kids, and we could work. I could do all the jobs that man could during the word time. Russian refugees. It's helpers. Otherwise, there other higher work that we had summer or

00:22:45.260 - 00:23:02.090

winter. Let's think about living in town for a while. That must have been different for you after being a country girl. Yeah. Wait. Is it like way went that was lightly and fortress and we had to go through the gate out and we had to have

00:23:02.130 - 00:23:22.570

our cards because it was Army Post were relieved in the in the school waas two miles away. Appeals. And we had to go every day to school. Our army camped in school and we worked around. It was a very beautiful road by our biggest tree. But

00:23:22.580 - 00:23:40.310

Latvia, I'm gonna change. Uh, what about when you lived on the farm and went to school? You moved to the city or the town. What was it like? We had a country school, but my father didn't like the country school. He said he wanted us to

00:23:40.320 - 00:23:59.990

go to the city school and it was a school for teacher. It was teachers, college and great school attached to it. And the teacher that students who wanted to become teachers came and in practice practice with us. So it waas It was an interesting school and

00:24:00.000 - 00:24:16.020

I finished grade school there I my Borat balls and after a great school, Then we went to high school and there was no high school in the country where we were. So we went toe gain to the city, the same town, saying down I went to

00:24:16.020 - 00:24:33.910

the same school where teachers were running after we finished the great school, seven grades. Then that it was high school in high school was also indulge hope in the same town. And now I rented the room with my friend. Now I didn't have to work. But

00:24:33.920 - 00:24:47.770

when basic member in great school, they had to work five miles there and back every morning and evening and wintertime, it was stuff. Now, is this in the country or not at the city? This is when you lived on the farm. This is when we lived

00:24:47.770 - 00:25:04.480

under fire. When you went to the school, your dad didn't like that. Especially. Yeah, he didn't like the country. School hits wanted us to go to the city schools, but it meant working five miles there in five miles back. There were no school buses, language. So

00:25:04.480 - 00:25:19.070

you you walk five miles to the city school. Yeah, right. Miles we stopped. Stand right in the morning so it would be you didn't have a horse to write on. Sometimes when we when the milk was brought to them. Then we went with the whole bit

00:25:19.070 - 00:25:34.370

back. We had to work always. I can't imagine going in snow how hard it must have been. And it was stuff because the snow was deep, sometimes two or three feet on the roads. And sometimes you know that there was no traffic at all, not clean,

00:25:34.380 - 00:25:53.240

you know? So it's all we had to dig through and yeah, it was five miles five miles back and I froze my face. People who went by said girly your faces right? And they touched knows waas I couldn't was like Icicle. They went to school and

00:25:53.250 - 00:26:09.170

then they rubbed my face with snow for an hour before it came back to life. That's why my nose is still a red. It's natural drinking. But it was it was frozen. So it's always and when they get skiing now my cheeks turn blue And no

00:26:09.170 - 00:26:27.740

is also blue from the cold. But it was actually frozen when I was little. Uh huh. But luckily you have a still I still have. So what? You're so tough. What other things do you remember when you live with your father now, Did he? He remarried.

00:26:27.740 - 00:26:47.700

And you lived in that town? Yeah. Now that mother first step mother died already when she he wasn't Russian border. And when the mother that mother died and two kids, the Children were taken by my step mother's family, they race them and they went back to

00:26:47.710 - 00:27:07.200

the fire. And then? And then your little sister came back to the farm. They seriously that wasn't 80 okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Then my grandma took care of her. Yes. So then your dad must have met another lady A and then And then just now he

00:27:07.210 - 00:27:29.180

had six Children. Yeah. Yeah. Then it was forward. Now it's six. And and he married somebody who met in Riga and the and she didn't want so many Children. So? So we ended the opposition, like the older ones between the door still stayed with relatives. So

00:27:29.180 - 00:27:47.460

you never really had the stepmother's to see every day they weren't living with you. The first step, mother. Only for a while, but became for Christmas is to visit. And then we went back to the yes, and when she died, the movement and then my father

00:27:47.470 - 00:28:06.000

started, changed a job, became an officer in the army. And then? And then we lived in Dhaka. Pills in the fortress for our army. How long did that go on? That was why we were in high school for about 56 years. So all four of you?

00:28:06.180 - 00:28:36.830

Yes. Yeah. And then and then Yeah, on. Uh, then when you see? Yeah. And then then the occupation. Russian occupation came was what? And things changed in 1930 and 40. Yes. What? Telling about the Russian occupation? Russian? Their reason waas Russians with our president. They had

00:28:36.830 - 00:28:53.660

an agreement that they were left in the last two years. And they occupied only one city when spills, which is a big four, so they can get access to Baltic Sea. And they said they let me They let it be. As it is, the government between

00:28:53.670 - 00:29:17.610

the came in 19 41st thing. They arrested the president and the whole government everybody Waas arrested. And then a few months later, they took over and they started making collective firearms and people were taken away Old money and income And what you tell us about your

00:29:17.620 - 00:29:40.840

farm, what they find they didn't they leave us, Let us live there because they didn't ready to do collective farms. The collective farms started a year later when the second occupation came. Okay, The first occupation lasted about 1942 41 game. Now the world where one started

00:29:41.180 - 00:30:02.980

injured, what worked? What will work? No World War Two? Yes, World toe now German started fighting this Communists and Russians had occupied Baltic states and were occupied. A little bit of Poland, East Germany to. And now Germans decided to fight back in the car and the

00:30:02.990 - 00:30:24.640

forearm came back again. Now Communists were retreating from Germany. From are all the other Baltic countries train here and now they were in flattery. And now again, burns and working more us because the front was right in front was in fact yeah, and they they and

00:30:24.770 - 00:30:45.800

it went and then latterly and collecting and joint. There was one when the Germans started coming in. Latvians made in your battalion and they were fighting by letting you know my father. So So the Latvians during the Germans like the Russians because the Russians had deceived

00:30:45.810 - 00:31:06.040

them. The Russians, the Russians were just, you know they didn't do anything, just came and took the land. Yeah, and so your father was in Leningrad? Yeah, my father was near. Sanski was Let me man. He was He was a captain and he had his group.

00:31:06.060 - 00:31:28.850

There was a Latina battalion and they fought by leaning. And so that was in probably 1942 or three? Yes. And that he was wounded Russian Russian. Mine came and his leg was cut off when she died there in front of Spoleto poisoning. Let's let's talk about

00:31:28.860 - 00:31:48.320

your brother first. Because because your brother was with your father when he died. How do I get there? And my brother, my brother, he waas so high school. And you know, what was your brother's name? Actus at this rockets That this 80 I s at essence,

00:31:48.330 - 00:32:12.130

but And and he he is He he was a few of his, stopped his college, his high school and went toe. Yeah, So he graduated from high school and he went toe are we? He could go and saw the Labour three. They were training soldiers when

00:32:12.130 - 00:32:32.700

it doesn't tear over until Interior Army Group. Because when the Russians started coming back he didn't want to see crashing occupation again. No. So? So he went and she had finished some army school and he asked permission toe go toe to visit his father. He around

00:32:32.710 - 00:32:50.580

their father Waas wounded that day. He still could talk to the father and father Waas angry that he volunteered, You know, Internet. Betty said he wanted toe be on the side of his father and fight really patriotic. So he got to see his father. You've got

00:32:50.590 - 00:33:10.310

to see his father and his wrote a letter to me that father died. Father is buried. Invoke. Oh, yeah. We could never find his grave because when Russians Russians retreat that they destroyed it all across the separating the cemetery. Never. So So you were living still

00:33:10.320 - 00:33:25.810

on the farmer. Were you living in town? Go house now I waas through high school and they lived on the fire and words and there was a substitute teacher. But I was planning to become a teacher, so they let me while I took summer courses. They

00:33:25.820 - 00:33:41.690

let me teach in a dog school in the little country school in the country school where I didn't go myself. Yeah, I was a teacher like your mother had been? Yeah. Yeah. My mother has been a teacher. My stepmother had been a teacher and I was

00:33:42.160 - 00:33:59.760

Yeah, I was planning maybe to go to agricultural college. But I didn't manage what was hard because they were probably needed on the phone because there was nobody on the fire now. Good. And I was sold and she was just leaving, going the other. But she

00:33:59.770 - 00:34:13.670

had the room sort our own. You know, when you were on your farm or your your brother and a younger brother and younger sister, Were they with you with you? Did you take care of them? Yes, they were. They were now still students. And you were

00:34:13.670 - 00:34:33.070

like their mother then? Yes, Yes. I had to take care of them because my second stepmother didn't like these youngsters. So they actually the two step Children. They were still the same. And they never lived with you. Did you know? Did you ever know your I

00:34:33.090 - 00:34:55.890

will be visited our father than the old Christmastime? We all were together. The whole eight? Yes, eight your other than we were four from seconds from first Stepmother to more it was six in the second step myself. It's also okay because my father believed that mother

00:34:55.900 - 00:35:13.360

should have to live it. She would be happy only, but she will have a very wise, very wise. But she was She was She was not too bad, but she was in charge of the whole apartment, you know? Then my father was officer. She didn't. She

00:35:13.370 - 00:35:31.140

lived on the fire on the during the summertime. But we all have to live to be entertained because we were still students. And so I had to take care of the apartment and see that she always wrote down and said here that didn't clean the through.

00:35:31.210 - 00:35:50.180

The that was not done. And that was disorder. My father was supposed to spank us, that he usually gave us only a lecture. And we have to work hard. So she wasn't really great my matter. Because when Toronto Children came, she said, Oh, my Children would

00:35:50.190 - 00:36:16.050

have that shortage of anything if they wouldn't. You with bandits. Four of you. And I said, you know I can't kill myself. We are here. We can't help it. So she was mean that way. Yeah. Gave you love. The only love God was my grandmother. She

00:36:16.060 - 00:36:34.250

was always there, you know. She she she lived there on the fire because it can be left alone. You know, very few animals left just two cows because two horses, so that you know we could find. And then as soon So it became back and Bill

00:36:34.260 - 00:36:57.610

had to read the new and plow and do everything. And I could do everything. I was the best sober. When I put right in our order, greet Crane. It was perfect. Even I did better than the German. No German attraction for Russian, for noticed. Russian, Russian

00:36:58.430 - 00:37:18.550

army, Russian. Whatever. They called refugees. Not refugees. No prisoners. Personal. Your injury. German presents no national prisoners. I know, But the Germans have taken tournaments, game with depression and prisoners stayed behind so we could have Russian prison. There's during German occupation. Toe. I think we have

00:37:18.560 - 00:37:39.540

direction Prisoners for about 80 years. And did they end up staying? In my view, the prisoners becoming denting they were sent back to Russia didn't keep them. That became well, let's go back to when the Germans were occupying, they chased the Russians out of after about

00:37:39.580 - 00:37:55.880

from 1940 to 40 when the Russians were there? Yes. Then the Germans came in and you were on the front. And how was it living under German occupation or Germans? Germans wanted that. They went in the food. We were farmers. So we had to give so

00:37:55.880 - 00:38:18.870

much, so much, right in so much grain and so much apples. What they were producing to bring vegetables to bring toe the army, threaten you or steal, or where they worse than the Russians are better. They occupied our house, didn't? Yeah, because they need the headquarters.

00:38:19.300 - 00:38:34.620

Yeah. So what did you go and then basically went toe with my hand and stayed with the end because there was no room for us. I just said we need the German said we need This will be our headquarters. So that lasted. How long in that

00:38:34.630 - 00:38:55.170

lasted anteria Until communists came again. That lasted The Communist came around 1943 years before. Yeah, And then I left my book. Yeah, they came back in 44. Yes. Coming. This came back and forth because Stadio 40 Because the world Yes, the Germans were losing the war.

00:38:55.170 - 00:39:20.790

Weren't the Germans bedroom, Germans very treating and and, uh so and that Europe was divided. Now, mostly, the Russians will Baltic states where Russians and Germany, East Germany was, was going to be divided. Yeah, but when the Russians came, what did they do? The Russian. So

00:39:20.790 - 00:39:38.900

this was in 44 the Russians, Flynn. But the prisoners were left behind. No, no. But when when the Germans left, when the Germans went back to Germany, Germany, the nationals came in right. And they know, uh, what about when you lived on the farm and went

00:39:38.910 - 00:39:55.570

to school? You moved to the city with what was it like? We had a country school, but my father didn't like the country school. He said he wanted us to go to the city school and it was a school for teacher. It was teachers, college and

00:39:55.580 - 00:40:15.900

great school attached to it. And the teacher that students who wanted to become teachers came and in the practice practice with us. So it waas It was an interesting school and I finished grade school there I my bratty balls and after a great school, Then we

00:40:15.900 - 00:40:30.190

went to high school and there was no high school in the country where we were. So we went toe gain to the city that the same town as they say down I went to the same school where teachers were running after we finished the great school

00:40:30.190 - 00:40:47.500

seven grades then that it was high school in high school was also indulge hope in the same town. And now I rented the room with my friend. Now I didn't have to work. But remember, in grade school they had to work five miles there and back

00:40:47.730 - 00:41:01.370

every morning and evening and wintertime it was stuff. Now, is this in the country or not in the city? This is when you lived on the farm. This is when we lived under fire. When you went to the school, your dad didn't like that. Especially. Yeah,

00:41:01.380 - 00:41:18.570

he didn't like the country. School hits wanted us to go to the city schools, but it meant working five miles there in five miles back. There were no school buses, So you you walk five miles to the city school? Well, yeah, right miles we stopped start

00:41:18.970 - 00:41:33.350

fighting the morning so they would be You didn't have a horse to write on. Sometimes when being when the milk was brought to them. Then we went with the horse back. We had to work always. I can't imagine going in snow how hard it must have

00:41:33.350 - 00:41:50.370

been. And it was stuff because the snow was deep, sometimes two or three feet on the roads. And sometimes you know that there was no traffic at all, not clean, you know. So So we had to dig through and yeah, it was five miles five miles

00:41:50.380 - 00:42:08.410

back and I froze my face. People who buy said girly your faces, right? And they touched knows Waas. I couldn't was like icicles. They went to school and then they rubbed my face with snow for an hour before it came back to life. That's why my

00:42:08.420 - 00:42:24.990

nose is still a red. It's natural drinking. But it was it was frozen. So it's always and when they get skiing now my cheeks turn blue And no is also blue from the cold. But it was actually frozen when I was little. But luckily you have

00:42:24.990 - 00:42:46.340

a still I still have. So what? You're so tough. What other things do you remember when you live with your father? Nodded. He he remarried And you lived in that town? Yeah. Now that mother first step mother died already when she he wasn't Russian border. And

00:42:46.340 - 00:43:06.280

when the mother that mother died and kids, the two Children were taken by my step mother's family, they race them and we went back to the fire. And then and then your little sister came back to the farm. They just letting. That wasn't 80 okay. Yeah,

00:43:06.530 - 00:43:25.100

yeah, yeah. Then my grandma took care of her. Yes. So then your dad must have met another lady A and then And then just now he had six Children. Yeah. Yeah. Then it was forward. Now it's six. And and he married somebody who met in Riga.

00:43:25.800 - 00:43:47.070

And and she didn't want so many Children. So? So we ended the opposite chic like the older ones. But you're still stayed with relatives. So you never really had the stepmother's to see every day. They weren't living with you. The first step, mother. Only for a

00:43:47.070 - 00:44:06.190

while, but became for Christmas is to visit. And then we went back to the yes, and when she died, then and then my father started changed a job, became an officer in the army. And then? And then we lived in in Dhaka. Pills in the fortress

00:44:06.190 - 00:44:31.620

for Army Army. How long did that go on? That was why we were in high school for about 56 years. So all four of you? Yes. Yeah. And then and then Yeah. And, uh, then when you see Yeah. And then then the occupation. Russian occupation. Came

00:44:31.630 - 00:44:53.870

was what? And things changed in 1930 and 40. Yes. What I'm telling you about the Russian occupation. Russian Their reason waas Russians with our president. They had an agreement that they were let in Inglaterra. And they occupy only one city when spills, which is a big

00:44:53.870 - 00:45:15.300

four, so they can get access to Baltic Sea. And they said they let me They let it be. As it is, the government between They came in 19 41st thing They arrested the President and the whole government everybody Waas arrested. And then a few months later,

00:45:16.180 - 00:45:37.580

they took over and they started making collective farms and people were taken away All the money and income And what you tell us about your farm? What they find They didn't they leave us, Let us live there because they didn't ready to do collective farms. The

00:45:37.580 - 00:46:00.850

collective farms they started a year later when the second occupation came. Okay, the first occupation lasted about 1942 41. Okay, Now the world where one started enjoy what worked. What will work? No. World War Two? Yes, World toe now German started fighting this Communists and Russians

00:46:00.860 - 00:46:21.920

had occupied Baltic states and were occupied. A little bit of Poland, East Germany to and now Germans decided to fight back in the car and the forearm came back again. Now Communists, where retreating from Germany from are all the other Baltic countries train here and now

00:46:21.920 - 00:46:42.310

they were in flattery. And now again, bombs and working more us because the front was right in Latvia, the front was intellect. Yeah, and they they and it went and then latterly and electric and joint. There was one when the Germans started coming in. Latvians made

00:46:42.310 - 00:47:04.610

in the battalion and they were fighting by letting you know my so so The Latvians during the Germans like the Russians because the Russians had deceived them. You're Russians. Russians were just, you know, they didn't do anything, just came and took the land. And so your

00:47:04.610 - 00:47:25.810

father was in Leningrad? Yeah. My father was here since he was let me man. He was He was a captain, and he had his group. There was a Latina battalion and they fought by leaning. And so that was in probably 1942 or three? Yes. And that

00:47:25.820 - 00:47:44.930

he was wounded Russian Russian. Mine came and his leg was cut off when he died there in front of Spoleto poisoning. Let's let's talk about your brother first. Because because your brother was with your father when he died. How do I get there? And my brother,

00:47:44.940 - 00:48:08.580

my brother, he waas so high school in, you know, what was your brother's name at this Hot? This markets that this 80. I s at USCIS. And and he he is he he was a few of his. Stopped his college, his high school and went toe.

00:48:09.770 - 00:48:31.020

Yeah. So he graduated from high school and he went toe are we? He could go. And so Tabor three, they were training soldiers when it doesn't tear over until Interior Army Group. Because when the Russians started coming back, he didn't want to see crashing occupation again.

00:48:31.030 - 00:48:50.150

No, So? So he went and she had finished some army school and he asked permission toe go toe to visit his father and he around their father. Waas wounded that day. He still could talk to the father and father was angry that he volunteered, you know,

00:48:50.160 - 00:49:08.060

Internet. But he said he wanted toe be on the side of his father and fight really patriotic. So he got to see his father. You got to see his father and his daughter letter to me. That father died. Father is buried in. We could never find

00:49:08.070 - 00:49:26.080

his grave because when Russians Russians retreat that they destroyed it all across the separating The secretary? Never. So So you were living still on the farmer. Were you living in town? Go house now. I was through high school and they lived on a farm and were

00:49:26.080 - 00:49:42.900

there. And there was a substitute teacher. But for you I was planning to become a teacher. So they let me while I took summer courses. They let me teach. They taught school in the little country school in the country school where I didn't go myself. Yeah,

00:49:42.910 - 00:50:00.830

I was a teacher like your mother had been Yeah, Yeah. My mother has been a teacher. My stepmother had been a teacher and I was Yeah, I was planning maybe to go to agricultural college. But e didn't manage. So what was hard? Because they were probably

00:50:00.830 - 00:50:15.090

needed on the phone because there was nobody on the fire now. Good. And I was sold and she was just leaving, going the other. But she had the room. So our own. You know, when you were on your farm or your your your brother and little

00:50:15.100 - 00:50:31.010

younger brother and younger sister, where they with you? With you? Did you take care of them? Yes, they were. They were still students. And you were like their mother then? Yes, Yes, I had to take care of them because my second stepmother didn't like these youngsters.

00:50:31.860 - 00:50:50.770

So they actually the two step Children day, but still the same. And they never lived with you. Did you know? Did you ever know your I will be visited our father than the old Christmastime? We all were to get a whole eight. Yes, eight your other

00:50:50.780 - 00:51:13.050

than we were four from seconds from first stepmother to more. It was six. And now second step myself. It's also okay because my father believed that matter should have Children. She would be happy only, but she will have a very wise, very wise. But she was.

00:51:13.050 - 00:51:29.000

She was She was not too bad. But she was in charge of the whole apartment, you know? Then my father was officer. She didn't. She lived on the fire on the during the summertime. But we all had to leave to entertain because we were still students.

00:51:29.810 - 00:51:49.170

And so I had to take care of the apartment, say that she always wrote down and said here that didn't clean the room. And that was not done. And that was disorder. My father was supposed to spank us, that he usually gave us only a lecture.

00:51:49.430 - 00:52:12.780

And we have to work hard. So she wasn't really great my matter. Because when her young Children came, she said, Oh, my Children would have not shortage of anything if they want to use the bandits for a few. And I said, You know I can't kill

00:52:12.790 - 00:52:34.300

myself. We are here. We can't help it. So she was mean that way. Yeah. Gave you love. The only love. God, what's my grandmother? she was always there, you know, she she she lived there on the fire because it can be left alone. Very few animals

00:52:34.310 - 00:52:52.430

left just two cows because two horses so that you know we could find. And then it's soon. So it became back and Bill had to read the new and plow and do everything. And I could do everything that I was the best sober. When I put

00:52:52.440 - 00:53:18.140

right in our quarter greet crane, it was perfect. Even I did better than the German. No, the German attraction for Russian foreign, largest Russian, Russian army, Russian, whatever. They called refugees, not refugees. No prisoners person. Yes, your injury. German prisoners. No national prisoners. I know. But

00:53:18.150 - 00:53:36.070

the Germans have taken tournaments, game with depression and prisoners stayed behind so we could have Russian prison. There's during German occupation. Toe. I think we had a Russian prisoner sport about 80 years. And did they end up staying? In my view, the prisoners becoming didn't think

00:53:36.080 - 00:53:54.090

they were sent back to Russia didn't keep them. That became well, let's go back to when the Germans were occupying, they chased the Russians out of after about from 1940 to 41. The Russians were there? Yes. Then the Germans came in and you were on the

00:53:54.100 - 00:54:14.020

front. And how was it living under German occupation or Germans? Germans wanted that. They went in the food. We were farmers. So we had to give so much. So much dry, so much grain and so much apples. What they were producing had to bring vegetables to

00:54:14.020 - 00:54:35.140

bring toe the army, threaten you or steal, or where they worse than the Russians Are they occupied? Our house did that? Yeah, because they need the headquarters. Yeah. So what did you go? And then way went toe with my hand and stayed with the end because

00:54:35.140 - 00:54:53.690

there was no room for us. I just said we need the German said we need This will be our get waters. So that lasted how long that lasted. Anterior. The Communists came again that lasted The Communist came around 1943 before. Yeah, And then I left my

00:54:53.690 - 00:55:15.590

book. Yeah, they came back in 44. Yes. Coming. This came back and forth because they dio 40 because the world we use the Germans were losing the war. Weren't the German bedroom Germans very treating and and, uh so and Europe was divided. Now, mostly, the Russians

00:55:15.820 - 00:55:36.780

will Baltic states where Russians and Germany, East Germany was, was going to be divided. Yeah, but when the Russians came, what did they do? The Russians? So this was in 44 the Russians, Flynn. But the prisoners were left behind. No, no. But when when the Germans

00:55:36.780 - 00:56:00.330

left, when the Germans went back to Germany, Germany, the nationals came in right and Dana cooking for them. OK, now we're recording E. I am in the girl's camp in your area looking part of Bavaria. It's close to Munich more. Yeah, between Albert in Munich, and,

00:56:00.340 - 00:56:15.700

uh, every day people go to farms. But I am a cook now, and I'm a good cook so I can keep my job. And at night we sleep in a barracks a bit. Oh, Hamburg was so close that they were rates every night and it was

00:56:15.710 - 00:56:32.430

English from England. They found us and we had to stay in barracks and up to the knees in our water in the three o'clock four o'clock attended. So remember 12 to 4, we didn't sleep with standing water and then they go back to our bear up

00:56:32.440 - 00:56:49.100

between Osborne in Munich. Oh, and, uh, every day people go to farms. But I am a cook now, and I'm a good cook so I can keep my job. And at night we sleep in a barracks a bit. Oh, Hamburg was so close that they were

00:56:49.100 - 00:57:05.680

rates every night and it was English from England. They found us and we had to stay in barracks and up to the knees in our water in the three o'clock four o'clock attended. So from about 12 to 4, we didn't sleep with standing water. And then

00:57:05.690 - 00:57:23.680

you go back to our barracks and two double beds, and the boards keep coming out and they keep lying girls down, up from up down to the lower girl. And so it was never peaceful. But luckily, the war is ending soon because they're already deciding which

00:57:23.680 - 00:57:44.060

part which country will keep. Which part part in the part where we where they were, decided to give it to Americans. So we were very happy because we could choose English zone, American zone are Russians and Russian got the biggest part up to Berlin. That's how

00:57:44.070 - 00:58:02.240

divided the country so you could choose which No way. Really. We didn't know who were coming. Will Russians come with Germans Come or what will happen? And now, suddenly the savior of the world is coming closer and closer to the front. And they say it would

00:58:02.250 - 00:58:22.020

be Russians that are coming but didn't know Americans got the western zone to the American's got and so waited what to do. And it happened that that was derided. I was lucky. It was it was English zone where I ended up. And then from what? Is

00:58:22.020 - 00:58:39.850

that? Because you were in the camp that was divided? Yeah, for the injury in our camp was supposed to be in in in Russian zone, so we were permitted to flee from their debt. Many girls didn't believe they stayed in the camp because their parents well

00:58:40.080 - 00:59:04.300

east in the Russian zone, and those girls were all molested. Some of them committed suicide because they couldn't face it back to know that they But I ended up in English zone. And then somebody where was then you left this Oxford yak area and went toward

00:59:04.440 - 00:59:22.950

West Yeah, house. And where did you end up there and then Now we ended up between Osborne in Munich. Oh, and, uh, every day people go to farms. But I am a cook now, and I'm a good cook so I can keep my job. And at

00:59:22.960 - 00:59:39.440

night we sleep in a barracks a bit. Oh, Hamburg was so close that they were rates every night and it was English from England. They found us and we had to stay in barracks and up to the knees in our water in the three o'clock four

00:59:39.440 - 00:59:55.900

o'clock attended. So remember, 12 to 4, we didn't sleep with standing water. And then you go back to our barracks in two double beds and the boards keep coming out and they keep lying girls down, up from up down to the lower bill. And so it

00:59:55.910 - 01:00:16.680

was never peaceful. But luckily, the war is ending soon because they're already deciding which part which country will keep. Which part part in the part where we where they were, decided to give it to Americans. So we were very happy because we could choose English zone,

01:00:16.690 - 01:00:37.280

American zone are Russians and Russian got the biggest part up to Berlin. That's how divided the country. So you could choose which No way. Really. We didn't know who were coming with Russians. Come with Germans, come or what will happen. And now, suddenly the savior of

01:00:37.290 - 01:00:55.550

the world is coming closer and closer to the front. And they say it would be Russians that are coming but didn't know Americans got the western zone to the American's got and so waited what to do. And it happened that that was derided. I was lucky.

01:00:55.550 - 01:01:14.020

It was it was English zone where I ended up. And then from what? Is that? Because you were in a camp that was divided? Yeah, for the injury our camp was supposed to be in in in Russian zone. So we were permitted to flee from their

01:01:14.030 - 01:01:35.430

debt. Many girls didn't flee. They stayed in the camp because their parents were in the east in the Russian zone. And those girls were all molested. Some of them committed suicide because they couldn't face it back to know that they But I ended up in English

01:01:35.430 - 01:01:57.590

zone. And then somebody where was then You left this Oxford Yaak area and you went toward West Yeah, house. And where did you end up and then Now we ended in two double beds and the boards keep coming out and we keep lying girls down, up

01:01:57.600 - 01:02:16.770

from up down to the lower girl. And so it was never peaceful. But luckily, the war is ending soon because they're already deciding which part which country will keep Which part part in the part where we where they were, decided to give it to Americans. So

01:02:16.780 - 01:02:37.440

we were very happy because we could choose English zone, American zone. Are Russians on Russian? Got the biggest part up to Berlin? That's how divided the country. So you could choose which No way, really. We didn't know who were coming with Russians come with Germans come

01:02:37.700 - 01:02:55.780

or what will happen. And now suddenly they say, Yeah, the world is coming closer and closer to the front and they say it would be Russians that are coming but didn't know Americans got the western zone to the American's got and so waited what to do.

01:02:55.790 - 01:03:14.200

And it happened that that was derided. I was lucky. It was it was English zone where I ended up. And then from what is that Because you were in the camp was divided. Yeah, for the injury. And our camp was supposed to be in in in

01:03:14.200 - 01:03:33.850

Russian zone. So we were permitted to flee from their debt. Many girls didn't flee. They stayed in the camp because their parents were in the east, in the Russian zone. And those girls were all molested. Some of them committed suicide because they couldn't trace it back

01:03:33.860 - 01:03:56.610

to know that they But I ended up in English zone. And then somebody Where was then You left this Oxford yak area and you went toward West? Yeah, house. And where did you end up there And then now we ended up in Alberta. But that came

01:03:56.610 - 01:04:17.790

towards north, more Northwest Marine. But now I ended up because English Army said they will take us best because that part will be Russians in people who didn't want to stay on the Russians. Refugees can leave. So we left, left his big trucks and then we

01:04:17.800 - 01:04:32.720

waited and thought, Maybe they're taking still to Russians. I was ready to jump out of the track with no people who knew said no. We are going west to being so. So I ended up in English zone and from English stone I was looking for any

01:04:32.720 - 01:04:51.080

kind of relative whom I could find, you know, I knew I have a stepmother there and her two Children. And so I ended up for him English song, Toe, American Zone, and people said that an American zone will be fed better. And so I ended up

01:04:51.080 - 01:05:12.610

in American Zone because our rations were better. It was always pea soup for lunch and eggs for breakfast. Powdered eggs. We ate like crazy at first, and later on they said, No, no, don't pose. Pour so much. We have enough have enough. And then I went

01:05:12.620 - 01:05:33.340

to look for we got also lists of different refugees from different countries. And I found my my stepmother. She was she was another camp, but she stayed there. A nice tape stayed in sudden partof judge How did you find her? This from these lists? Yeah, we

01:05:33.340 - 01:05:51.250

got this least where we were put in this place. Person camps, Americans put us in this place person camps. And I was very pleased, Privileged. I was permitted toe across the camps because English Stone was English and I was American zone. And I heard Americans are

01:05:51.260 - 01:06:08.960

the best people the biggest country, the nicest. So And I had to see one of the generals and he said, Yeah, I elect. You're staying in the American zone. And how did you got a list That you I got the least She wasin northern part, But

01:06:08.960 - 01:06:25.120

still it Wasit was English part and so big they could We had to stay in our camps. They couldn't choose. We couldn't travel. I just was lucky. I got from 1 June to the other, and my stepmother had two Children and her two Children and she

01:06:25.120 - 01:06:39.770

stayed in another camp and I was in our sport. So did you stay with your stepmother? No, No, she wasn't different camp tonight. But you got to see her. So Yeah, I got yeah, she could travel and visit. We couldn't change locations. Was she happy to

01:06:39.770 - 01:06:55.400

see you? She was happy to see me. She was because she didn't know when I When a left Riga she had left. She left country with her two Children in our step Children in the lower left behind. None of us she didn't. You think it's too

01:06:55.400 - 01:07:12.030

much bother? So she took her two Children and she also German ship. She went to Germany when I went to Riga and found out she's gone. Then I listed I said, I want to escape. Communists are coming again. I don't want to stay under Communist. So

01:07:12.030 - 01:07:29.660

I was in another ship, so we got separate. I don't know what They didn't know where my brother was for a year or so. Do I found her, OK, no, you're You left the work camp for the American zone. Now you're with refugees in the American

01:07:29.660 - 01:07:49.820

zone. Yes. What? What happened then? In an American zone? We were for a year or more and then displaced persons had to be sent to Germany. Couldn't. Couldn't help some keep so many refugees. They were just so a power with millions of refugees. So we could

01:07:49.820 - 01:08:06.790

choose countries where we would like to go. And I was young, so I had a chance to go to any country I wanted. But I chose the United States and, uh you had you made friends in this camp? Yeah. I have begin in the camp. Even

01:08:06.810 - 01:08:26.720

schools and bright We were waiting. What? What will happen for 23 years? We were in this place person games. How did you spend your time? I became a teacher. They need the teachers. And I was teaching great school. Oh, yeah. And learning English to myself. Also,

01:08:26.730 - 01:08:43.710

it was glasses for doubts. But I was teaching little second grader. Does you have materials? They provide you with books and paper and pencils. Usually you were stuff to get in order to get pencils and papers. We made the play and teachers played in play in.

01:08:43.720 - 01:09:00.310

Of course it was well received because everybody wanted to see peach tea. Her teacher is a clown. I waas one toe in the later in the top. The Children were fighting. My teacher was better actress. My teacher was better fighting. They had to separate them and

01:09:00.310 - 01:09:17.600

said no. All of us were good. Of course. So and then and then And then they came. The movement began, began toe Germany can't keep us all. We have to choose which country we want to goto and uh And then they showed us films and short.

01:09:17.610 - 01:09:33.000

But life is like in United States looked the best country Was were there a lot of people who wanted to go to the United States Yeah. Most people wanted to go to the United States, but they didn't. They favor stricter your TV. You were not Chelsea.

01:09:33.010 - 01:09:51.010

Then you had to. Some other country. Yeah. They checked us our house and also have been soldiers. United States didn't want any soldiers. Those people went to Australia, New Zealand or England. But even if they didn't take any right, a German so did they. No, no,

01:09:51.140 - 01:10:08.590

no. Yeah. It was the only refugees. And so And meanwhile said family came to visit us because they were born. Not that they were not born with their parents were from Germany. And I visited us and we could speak German. So they said We will help

01:10:08.590 - 01:10:30.070

you to get over to United States. Will bills to pay for your shipment. No, there were these from a church. These people were they from affiliated with Dayna? We will be there sponsored So Lutheran Church, Even gentle. Richard sponsored because you were Lutheranism? Yes. Were they

01:10:30.080 - 01:10:46.560

said who's Lutheran and we'll sponsor you? Yes. And And they They just said you wanted to meet us and so we could speak enough English. So they said we want to sponsor you and can you work? And I said I can work anything. You know, you

01:10:46.760 - 01:11:04.200

can work, even drive a tractor we take had never give into Vera. Anybody who went to the United States had to have sponsor would pay. Yeah, And once we didn't hear sponsors, I get, you know, most of them had had to save Spencer's. Least we had

01:11:04.200 - 01:11:22.640

sponsored a relative or a group. Yeah, more somebody and any volunteer toe work in a fire. Farmers wanted help on farms, so they were sent to different farms. But in my case, when you met those people, you know, what would you describe the group and how

01:11:22.640 - 01:11:44.080

you got to the United States? Yeah, we were. We were were Pinto Bremen happen and waited there in the port until we were shipped on the ship and, uh, where the ship was cool and it rented to New York. How many in your group? Maybe 6

01:11:44.080 - 01:11:59.610

700 people. The ones who were going to the center. New York. Yeah. The one school who were permitted to come. United States were already ended in the happy New York. But the little Nuestra group that you were with how many were there with them. You know,

01:11:59.620 - 01:12:19.330

we were separate again. Only be I happened responses by Lutheran group because these people were utterance And they said, Well, pay for your ship stuck together. Oh, it Wasit waas We were all say sick. We didn't visit match, but it was very rapid waas It was

01:12:19.340 - 01:12:42.720

march and reckless Iwas raffle off season. Yeah. Was this whole ship Mr. Jeez all she Nobody else. Only only refugees. Yeah, And there were many Jewish people who stayed in New York. They had friends in New York and many just put in different, you know, camps,

01:12:42.720 - 01:12:59.710

I suppose. And then they were I don't know. Since we had sponsors, we went straight to their house in the quarter. They big five months. They had no, You landed in New York. And did you have to go through Ellis Island? Bring No. We had sponsors

01:12:59.710 - 01:13:14.820

and they let us go. Okay? Yeah, we saw the asylum, but they didn't put us there. Many people, I guess, the rest Where? We didn't have sponsors say they were put in asylum and they don't know how they were screened. And they know. So the paperwork

01:13:14.830 - 01:13:34.700

wasn't very much. Did that. Yeah. Since you came like friends, it wasn't bad, you know? So these sponsors had I had found a place for you a farm for years ago. David had a connection. My sponsors was very big farmers from the quarter. And they could

01:13:34.700 - 01:13:53.100

come to Germany to visit their relatives and find farm workers union in. Probably find fire workers and labor interested come to come to refugee camps. And, you know, they could speak German because being Jordan and we could speak enough English. So they said, we like you

01:13:53.430 - 01:14:10.590

and they take you can have your stronger Yeah. No, I ended up as a best worker. My cousin was a minister. He waas on the we were together with the same shipment. Your cousin? My cousin, who was a minister? Yeah, I met him in the camp

01:14:10.930 - 01:14:33.810

because because he was your cousin on your father's side of your mother signs he was causing off my for other side. Yeah, and be made already in Germany. This place, person games. We decided to stick together. Yeah, I forgot. That little episode was he must have

01:14:33.810 - 01:14:50.970

been older if he was a minister. He was a minister. He was middle aged and all of us. I put the work on fire, and the first job was to make fences on her weight. But your what about when you arrived in was Minnesota. This was

01:14:50.970 - 01:15:08.070

in the quarter first. Okay, tell us. Tell us about the day you arrived in the United States. The day I write the United States was was in New York. Okay? And then you came to start the Dakota? Yeah. And saying And then we came toe north

01:15:08.080 - 01:15:26.670

south 1/4. Because is this family met us? And they liked us in this pants in this not only me, but also the minister. And how made his family in the municipal to spike toe sense and himself started five of us. So we spent two days. Somebody

01:15:26.680 - 01:15:41.300

took us around New York. What about? Okay. Oh, you saw you saw these over yourself. Enough of New York. Even so, the first TV in her life they even show That's on TV, You know, so and then And then we took the big train trip to

01:15:41.300 - 01:16:02.510

south. The quarter took us two days, and it was interesting to see the whole United States from the train and it was beautiful hills and mountains. And then it was less trees, less less everything. My cousin started crying. It will be deserved. It will be dessert.

01:16:02.510 - 01:16:17.940

It will be desert. We will die here. We were pacified for and we arrived there. No. There were two trees in the small card house. They put us in a little hunting house. It waas for present hunting in your cat cottage. Relieved in that other leg.

01:16:18.390 - 01:16:35.880

It was It was a little band. Yes, with his family, his wife and two Children. But the people wanted to keep me because I was such a good worker. I did the friend work and clean their houses. I had a city home in Huron and country

01:16:35.880 - 01:16:53.910

home and I did everything and I said no. I had to stay because I owed him $200. They paid $200 for each person to come from Germany to the United States and said they only told me Yes, so and the minister came up in the church

01:16:53.910 - 01:17:13.470

there and he said, You know that Goodbye. But I am. I can't go because I don't have the $200 to pay my shipment. Keep e. And then the people gave the money, gave the money to him, and it was more than $200 the fireman was paid

01:17:13.550 - 01:17:29.680

and I would leave. The farmer was very angry at me because after now he paid me 50 cents an hour and he figured it would be a few years before I will be free to go. So we all left for Minnesota. The minister family and I

01:17:29.680 - 01:17:48.730

left toe and we arrived not too far from it. Was. So it was. It was Minnesota. It was a little bit north of Minneapolis. No, no, no. How did you get there through another church group? That because your uncle got the job? Yeah, he got the

01:17:48.740 - 01:18:05.450

job. His English was good. He had finished university in England and he could speak preach in English. That's why he was preaching there, too. And he saved my life. He see, he talked, you know, to the people and said, you know that go because she wants

01:18:05.450 - 01:18:24.280

to start school like I had finished high school and I wanted to go to college, and this town wasn't part for Minneapolis now I can't remember what it wasa at the moment. You'll probably Yeah, yeah, I don't remember. And so I applied the new Earth human

01:18:24.280 - 01:18:40.950

shorter, and I accepted me, So I became a student. Did you have your test? Did you have to pass any kind of? I had to pass your exams and the poorest I was in English. And then they said, How come your English is so poor? So

01:18:40.950 - 01:18:58.860

I said, because I don't speak it from another country. So they put me in a special beginning. English for high school students could poor poorly in English. So I had the grammar, but the grammar I knew I only couldn't speak because we were told grammar and

01:18:58.910 - 01:19:17.670

how to read it. But that was about it. And so and we had very poor teachers who were not or not. Americans are English. They were just people who studied in Russia in the accent was Russian. They said, I am going to say desk Yes, that's

01:19:17.670 - 01:19:34.060

how I spoke. That's that's when you learned in left. Yeah. That's what they learned that when I lived under English, someone for a while. They said what kind of thing go. She's this. You could hardly understand you. And I said, It's likely an English, but and

01:19:34.060 - 01:19:55.720

I still have the accent. Same DHS again for the nose. So no, I was accepted to the university and I didn't know, didn't have money and didn't know where to live with. The separation has had relatives in Minneapolis, and they gave me room and for the

01:19:55.730 - 01:20:11.050

room. I had to take care of their Children and clean the house. And I did that promise to do that so I could go to school at night. And what they were classes early in the morning or late at night, and they went for them. You

01:20:11.060 - 01:20:31.010

didn't have many clothes, did you? I didn't know I had. You know that skirt, one blouse. And then somebody gave me another school, so I said I had skirt and blouse is in the end the girls at schools that how come you don't change clothes? I

01:20:31.010 - 01:20:50.930

said. But I washed them every night, they said, but no, just the same blouse in the same skirt. I said, because that's all I have. They just left. They said, it's unbelievable, and, uh, but this this opportunity to have a room and a job came to

01:20:50.930 - 01:21:12.710

you from these Latvian members off the your cousins. No, this was this was all American church he got. He got three churches. He went, preached in it in small minute minutes. Minnesota churches Also, These were a mirror and Z spare America. And they took pity on

01:21:12.710 - 01:21:30.830

you. Yeah. Yeah. And they heard that I want to go to school. I don't just want to work on. I did everything I painted. Now I know how poorly I did it. They let me paint their whole doors and Boylston and then expanded out that I

01:21:30.840 - 01:21:47.350

want to go to school and and I entered. And yeah, if the room was free, the board was free because I worked for it, you know? And I had my skirt and blouse. Isn't that lasted for a year? And then some girls gave me the travel

01:21:47.350 - 01:22:07.800

waas that I waas told in big that they're all the small girls were smaller. But I did get some you know, it must have cost you something to get into school, to buy books, all that. Where did you get money for that? People. About people gave

01:22:07.800 - 01:22:25.650

me. They were helping at the church people the truth. People make sure that I need and they gave anything I had enough money for very buy books, room and board, head and books. I bought intuition, intuition being the game Free Aceh. A foreign student. I got

01:22:25.660 - 01:22:47.790

no no inauguration if it was $60 service semester, but I didn't have to pay the $60. Then it was cheaper to now. I think it's sexy. So and, uh so then my college they started. I found out that I could I could get special credits and

01:22:47.790 - 01:23:09.030

I knew these languages. So I got five years of Germans, five years, oppression, two years, a range in the beginning, a beginning, algebra and beginning geometry. Jammeh trees. And so I had credits enough for two years, and I had to go only one year, and I

01:23:09.040 - 01:23:29.050

got my master's degree in library science. So I finished college and 2.5 years with the Masters with a master's in library science. Then and then they This wasn't I live in Minneapolis now, and they call the university if there's anybody who speaks Russian and they wanted

01:23:29.060 - 01:23:45.340

to give a job. And I got the job as a librarian in Minneapolis Public Library. And I didn't have a degree yet, but they said no. They are so there. So many Ukrainians and Russians, and nobody knows how to order the books in those languages. So

01:23:45.340 - 01:24:01.800

I got the job. I work part time in the library, part time finished my master's degree. So school I finished in three years and the second year already was working part time and study. So languages help me out. Yeah. Yes, Yeah. When I had to study

01:24:01.800 - 01:24:16.760

them and I didn't appreciate it, But when it came, you know, I could make money that way. I was very happy. So you became independent when you had a job? Yes. Yes. And did you still live with the family? I still live in this. Same came.

01:24:16.770 - 01:24:34.670

Yes. Yes, but then But then when they put sat working in the library and guy came in and he said, You speak Russian in my mind, my Hungarian annual little bitty is a hole in my mother s come very in in my positive slow, like I

01:24:34.670 - 01:24:52.680

said ended her slow after he started dating me and Then he said, I want to marry you But he came in the library and he said he wanted books in French and I was intrigued. People. He wanted books and French and in German and his friend.

01:24:52.680 - 01:25:10.140

She wanted my person and I said, No, that's a naughty books shouldn't use such He says no, no, I am old enough. And then he has started asking me to dates, toe restaurants and have dated any other boys. No, in in the court. I had some

01:25:10.140 - 01:25:26.750

boys. Yeah, they're event. It is a special student was for a while in high schools so I could learn to catch up in English. And I had the boy. I liked him, but he said, I want to treat you too hard Jobs And I said, Dog's

01:25:26.750 - 01:25:44.360

got No, no, I'm not going with you. I wouldn't eat the dog. No. No way. That was my first date. So they thought I was fun. You know, before they made jokes with me. I always misinterpreted it Here. This was in Minneapolis. Somebody came to the

01:25:44.360 - 01:26:04.450

reference desk and said that I can be head No. I asked my fellow with librarian what they teach me. She said she wants to marry you. But I said I already have a husband. I just had married. He didn't see the rain. I guess so. Next

01:26:04.450 - 01:26:22.120

day he came in. Have you thought that can be still had I said No, thank you. Know that gentleman never came back again. Now tell us about but how you got married. And did you go with him very long and did all of the little details

01:26:22.120 - 01:26:42.430

that your grandchildren wanting? Oh, yeah. My husband bilion ballasts. He wanted to marry me soon. And I said, How soon can get married? And I saw it. I said no. When you speak Latin me and get married he said But that will take forever. I said

01:26:42.440 - 01:26:57.930

no. I write. I write this grammar and lessons you will teach And I can see you every day and check you. You took a year and he after a year she could speak And I said now I can marry. Then how did you plan your wedding?

01:26:58.250 - 01:27:20.460

Did you get married in the church? Yeah, off course. This minister had his own church. Yeah, And, uh, could you tell us about that? Yeah, and, uh, and it was in English because a lot of them. But it was an American. Yes, but it was in

01:27:20.460 - 01:27:40.680

the church and the Latvian singer. And but that time I knew some Latin means. So we had had reception in church and then it home. It was Latvians, Soto. And by that he was He was working in Minneapolis. He was an engineer, electrical engineer. Honeywell and

01:27:40.680 - 01:28:02.100

I put the library in a sabbatical library. And before I married you were you were a library in Minneapolis. Minneapolis Library? Yes. And then be looked for an apartment. We found one. Now where was his mother? Worked there in a political mother. Was in New York.

01:28:02.110 - 01:28:21.850

His brother and mother. Very New York. Suze. Whole family. His relatives were in New York. You met them? Yes, Commissioner. She took me there on my vacation. We went there on his vacation. He introduced me on. How is that? And that was interesting. Yes, I could

01:28:21.850 - 01:28:41.680

speak some slow work. So they accepted me right away because almost like slower. It was more Russians and slower. But they understood Russian too, because those languages are related. And did they speak They didn't speak English in the home. They they spoke between themselves since la

01:28:41.680 - 01:29:00.350

back. And they had even the street where they lived in in New York. It waas it waas Slovak section. And that was Polish section. So they and they spoke enough to both shop and everything for the Lutherans. No, they were They were Catholics. Yes. How would

01:29:00.360 - 01:29:22.210

they think of their Some Very in a nice little girl. Yeah, but they didn't mind it. They like me. They saw that he was okay. And, uh So, uh, now you know I want the Children. My husband said, Oh, I didn't know you. You married me

01:29:22.220 - 01:29:40.150

because of the Children. I said that was one of the reasons, But we got a girl. Yeah, and was born two years later. And then Did you travel around your 1st 2 years of marriage when you didn't have Children? Yeah. We traveled. Were mostly went to

01:29:40.160 - 01:30:01.640

the east, cause first toe, visit the relatives in your comment Florida. And then we went to Canada and our honeymoon waas in Quebec, Canada. I had never seen our big falls Niagara Niagara Falls. So he said, Where do you want to go in. I'm gonna false.

01:30:01.640 - 01:30:21.720

I have seen pictures. So we went to Niagara Falls and then took her back and then home. You must have had fun together. Yes, he was. He was He was friend. He lets the and he was musical. He took, He took billboards, went to concerts only

01:30:21.720 - 01:30:41.210

toe up acidity was to go in Minneapolis. Came with spy poppers guest apparatus so that he let me go toe uppers myself. You love that season. Cater's had classical concepts both together and And he read a lot. Yeah, he had read every single mystery every single

01:30:41.210 - 01:31:03.100

science fiction that library head. That's how we met through books. And I get writing him books. He sounds like a very intelligent man. Yeah, he waas he had finished but in, uh, at private school up. I can think of it. His university? No, in Boston Investment

01:31:03.170 - 01:31:33.340

says, I can't remember no before me. My, my, my iwas. Yes, and he worked in Honeywell and processes for special projects for always for inventions. That's why he got his cancer. He was not careful enough doing doing cancer for I think, you know, toe to invent

01:31:33.340 - 01:31:52.390

something and he got his chance poison. And he got cancer. We got paid us charity something like that. Yeah, it was. He was one of his project. Was this right to see at night? He came one day and he said, or our project is Britain. You

01:31:52.390 - 01:32:07.840

put this grass is, um you see at night for army, it will be good. He was one of those also, and he says, But don't tell anybody. It is a secret few days later that they don t v new inventions. These glasses you see, at night

01:32:08.230 - 01:32:25.630

I was so mad a team I didn't tell anybody. And there it waas that the secret was no So and so he were there. And until I think he got laid off because the Honeywell had some difficulties or what not? And then we went to the

01:32:25.630 - 01:32:45.070

men remove, remove toe California here It took about half a year to sell the house. And then he came here and he said Now see what I have found And we looked around here everywhere and I and then he said, Sevastopol is a nice hysteria. Let's

01:32:45.070 - 01:33:03.530

go and look there. And we went on Ferguson Road and there was a house for sale and I said, Oh, there is Apple Orchard Heels exactly like my house in, lad. I'd have to get this house. I had to give the South and the people's listen

01:33:03.540 - 01:33:17.400

to me and said, Yeah, yeah, you can have but it will be 2000 more since you like it so well, my husband said, Why couldn't you wait until we get into the car and then rave about the house? But it was too late, but that he

01:33:17.400 - 01:33:35.090

was willing to pay that it was 7000 now it was 72,000 and he said, Yeah, it's like toe before the house. Now let's go back toe, do your Children. Your husband was living in California working for optical coating, and you have the two Children back in

01:33:35.100 - 01:33:52.370

Minneapolis. What was happening? Where they in school? They were in school. Yes, both of what would they like? This kids they'd like to hear about it. Yeah. Oh, did you work with that time? I worked in the beginning, but not the last year when I had

01:33:52.370 - 01:34:09.920

2nd 2nd when they had the boys and my husband said toe to Children's in after than I stayed at all. But I worked while I had the only one child. But were they your Children with a good babies? Yes, they were smart, very smart. My son

01:34:09.930 - 01:34:28.280

was very good in mass negate or special tests. And he was always the best. He came home very proud, showing to me and my daughter Waas ambitious. She she just wanted to make much money. No, no. Even as a little girl. Yeah, even as a kid.

01:34:28.290 - 01:34:47.160

Yeah. She said I will be not engineer. I will be lawyer. I will be something but I can make money. But she changed her mind when she when she heard rap sheet. My son will it wanted to be a fireman, so I had to geniuses. But

01:34:47.170 - 01:35:10.780

they are nice. Children were happy, Happy folks. However, they when When you relocated to Sebastian Paul they were my daughter was high school And my son Waas Mr Great. Yeah, last Do you remember the year? No, I don't remember Should I figured it out? Which is

01:35:10.780 - 01:35:33.780

50 years ago over 50 years ago. But they don't know you. And then they both finished our high school suggestible high school. But then my daughter went toe two different universities. So the University of Southern California, she got her degree there and then she started working

01:35:33.780 - 01:35:55.120

as a sales person for form for computers. Didn't like to be a saleswoman. And then she went to graduate school toe carbon. Finish that. Then it's his business or law. Yeah, it was business. And, uh and then she that married soon enough stopped working. So and

01:35:55.120 - 01:36:22.620

my son went toe here toe California University. Now tell us when you when you got to California, tell us your impressions of living here. It's so different from Minneapolis. Yes, Minneapolis. We had snow. I was so tired. 40 feet of snow, nowhere to put it. You

01:36:22.620 - 01:36:41.580

know, we had a garage was covered with snow. Driver was covered up and it was called. And I was very happy when I moved here because no winters, no snow, no ice. It was heaven. In Minneapolis, he went to work. Sometimes you couldn't get get home

01:36:41.590 - 01:37:00.870

because it wrote where I see it usually rain and then it froze and it was solid eyes the roads and go to the library was 23 miles and it Waas Not easy, so I enjoyed being here. Did you work in the apple orchard? Yes. And I

01:37:00.880 - 01:37:19.250

proved myself one year we couldn't get anybody to prune. And I prevent all the apple trees. What did you used to do with all these apples? How many acres do have we have four acres and we had a neighbor who bought the apples. He plowed, pruned

01:37:19.260 - 01:37:35.200

and did everything. And we got a portion of the money because couple $1000. But it was clear income. We could pay taxes for it. So it was nice until the last few years when there was no apple market. And now especially, you know, you can't sell

01:37:35.200 - 01:37:53.370

apples. What did you decide to go to work? Tell us about going to work the life? Yeah, Going toe work. My husband, he worked at optical importing labs and he was hired to do some research. And then they said, Oh, there is no money for research.

01:37:53.370 - 01:38:14.120

You just have to be a regular engineer. And he said I'm not interested. I want to research. And he stopped working. Then he worked. He worked. He went open to San Francisco and he was consultant to different companies who needed some research in science. So he

01:38:14.120 - 01:38:29.240

was very happy. She only had to travel to San Francisco and back, which he didn't like. But I refused to you move from here. Just Did you do this every day? A couple times a week. You're hearing. So it wasn't every day, but she still didn't

01:38:29.250 - 01:38:50.140

like traveling. Yeah, and, uh, so meanwhile, my Children and finished high school here and started universities. And how about your your job? The library When you start? Yeah. When my husband lost his job two and didn't have a, you know, definite incomes. And I started working

01:38:50.150 - 01:39:09.590

in our system. Sanoma County Library. 1st 1 was it center library. And I was selecting books for for people who lived part outside. And they got shipments. I don't know if they have it today, but they had great bookmobile ST books to them by mail, you

01:39:09.590 - 01:39:25.690

know, and I just had to select. There were there were 10 families and they decided they wrote to list what they want to read science fiction or whatever. And I provided the books. That was my first job. And then I was in charge of foreign languages.

01:39:25.700 - 01:39:47.050

Whenever you know, I ordered everything that was important. Languages, same in Minneapolis, and, uh, you can ask. And then I worked until I was 50. Retired, but 50 years old, 50 years old? Yes. How long were you down here? But it was a total of 15

01:39:47.050 - 01:40:07.250

years in our system, But they changed me to different branches. I was in Petaluma, and then they put me in charge of sabbatical. Library branch librarian. 10 years about until I retired. So you must have been about 35 or so when you move to Sebastian Apple.

01:40:07.370 - 01:40:26.930

Yes, probably. That was about right. Yeah. I was 30 when they came over and then a married 32 rush my Children. And I saw that, you know, he didn't want to wait and have Children. That was an agreement. They managed that. And I have been happy

01:40:26.940 - 01:40:49.220

ever since. Oh, I would like to go back and have you talk because I would be interested in your early days on the farm and Latvia and some of the things that you have been remembering after we've started talking about this. Um, I'm curious. Did you

01:40:49.220 - 01:41:12.530

have running water. You know, we had the well, and we had to pull the water up by by pale and the outhouse was outside. There was no insight facilities about washing, baby when we had the big, big, big whatever you call it the top of your

01:41:12.540 - 01:41:30.410

big time. And that was brought in the kitchen on the weekends Saturdays and everybody took their turn. You needed the water up? Yes. Children went first. And then the Children usually and then people. He was the same. Unless somebody wanted toe have their own waters. And

01:41:30.410 - 01:41:48.930

it has to be what heated again. And that poured out. It was it was great work. It wasn't. Nothing was simple. But did you have electricity? And only the last year? Because my brother finished the technical school and he learned how to do his own mortar.

01:41:49.060 - 01:42:06.950

He build a generator? Yes. And we built He put it on the roof. And we had enough electricity. Yes, speedy. A big, big, big wing spilling. Yes. And then there was where hickey, He could collect it totally whatever it was. And so we had the head

01:42:06.950 - 01:42:24.900

last couple of years. So when your mother and You were just a very young girl. You did not have electricity, so there was nothing. There was on Lee called stoves, you know would stows for light for light lamps. We had Paris kerosene lamps. That was it

01:42:25.390 - 01:42:46.400

for candles. Yeah. So your mother really? It was much more difficult for you. Women knows about you. Remember? You have a surgeon and my mother especially had a hard time because our 1st 1st sister, she was she would have seen the old that she was the

01:42:46.400 - 01:43:05.030

oldest. But she didn't leave along because she was born without her brain worth damaged. Because when she were my mother Waas pregnant, she went to see the father who was in the preserve Big prison because communists just hate it in person reason. And he he was

01:43:05.040 - 01:43:26.140

many others during the 1919 or five revolution in my mother went to visit him in the in the result, she got so upset that she took the first her first child. The daughter was I was born with. She has brain damage. She couldn't talk and she

01:43:26.150 - 01:43:44.720

couldn't use work, arms or legs. And she couldn't even feed herself. And my mother took care of her And she was taken to Germany office doctors. But they said If you have no brain damage, you can can't can't be helped. And she lived here about thing.

01:43:45.700 - 01:44:05.480

And but she understood all the languages he had in Russian Russian workers in other nationality secret that she could understand all the languages. She just about her head. But she couldn't speak. She was very intelligent. So my short. But when my mother died, then there was

01:44:05.490 - 01:44:22.700

nobody to take care of her for her while she was with a stepmother. But the stepmother didn't like toe take care of her. So she was sent back to Grandma in. Our grandmother was saved soul from all kinds of misfortunes. She even boding to our farm

01:44:23.090 - 01:44:42.200

and took care of us can. She hired workers in the everything. But when I waas already begin after I test At first I made everybody We'd the lots of all kinds of vegetables and fruit trees and they made a week. So I was the one the

01:44:42.200 - 01:44:58.320

strict one. They tell me now but I had a switch. They if they just said that I didn't feel I spanked their legs so they had to jump up and down and start working. So I learned how to plough and how to break and have to

01:44:58.330 - 01:45:17.490

do all fine works. Everything. Because we had a worker. But I like toe so that I can do it better. So that was my use. Working on a firearm. Simple conditions, but surviving. So now you live in Sebastian. Paul, You're happy? Yeah. And I am happy.

01:45:17.490 - 01:45:34.610

And I will live here as long as they can move. And as long as they can live. And I am very happy. The only one who escaped, you were the only one to escape. Yeah, my grandma refuge. My grandmother. Then Communists came in second time. My

01:45:34.620 - 01:45:52.830

grandmother, she refuses to leave because she said she's not going to leave all the animals. So she stayed, and I was. Then I was a refugee. And when Germans came in in the world was almost Was it again? The world was almost ending. Germans were treating,

01:45:52.940 - 01:46:09.740

and they said people who don't want to stay this Communists will help them shipment to Germany. Okay. No, no. We've kind of gone over this, but But when you were in this country did your relatives and let you know that you were in this country? Yeah,

01:46:10.160 - 01:46:27.490

my relatives let we knew that I am planning to go escape. Goto Germany. Yes, that's all the end. And I couldn't Ready I didn't write idea on a shipment was so quick. I didn't try to them. And they they thought they knew that I will be

01:46:27.500 - 01:46:43.810

going with the ship. But then that ship that I wrote to them Now I remember I wrote to him and I said, I am going with General House. Brooke, in this this ship will take me to Germany where that ship sank. But they didn't know that

01:46:43.820 - 01:46:59.190

that they knew that you were on that. Yeah, that's all the time on that ship. And they thought, OK, Muse's dead. That's it. But meanwhile, we were We were put on another ship. Not that ship. That ship was full with Germans or what? They were soldiers.

01:46:59.270 - 01:47:19.170

So I went to Germany and I get sending letters. They didn't didn't receive any letters from United States again. I say keep sending letters. I am alive. I don't know. They were getting and I didn't know, but I didn't, didn't didn't get any answers. And then

01:47:19.170 - 01:47:34.940

you where I'm writing the letter should have received there. So for 20 years I didn't know that. You know, they didn't know that I am alive And after 20 years later got through and they see the time alive. And they were so happy they didn't know

01:47:34.950 - 01:47:50.920

what to do, you know, from happiness. And then I tried toe come toe. You know that last stallion was at that time. I think the roller and I asked for permission. And the answer is always No. You have no reason to go toe. You know, since

01:47:50.920 - 01:48:06.530

you don't live there, there is no reason for you to go to. But then after a couple of years, trying and trying again, they said Yes, you can come. And that Waas Did your husband go? No, I went alone. I went alone. He liked me. How

01:48:06.530 - 01:48:24.120

was it when you went back? I they were very happy to see me. But your sister was Yeah, my sister and my My brother didn't have sister because my stepmother left. So don't you elect us behind and beer. Wasn't she in the United States? Your stepmother

01:48:24.120 - 01:48:42.180

and stuff. Yeah, she was in Minneapolis. Tool. They know. Yeah, I knew I helped her toe. Yeah, And she was in the United States. I helped her to go from the quarter toe Minneapolis, and my mother moved me motors. I lived in my stepmother for a

01:48:42.190 - 01:48:59.130

couple of years together. Did you do with George? I got. And with her? Yes. Yeah. So but go back to laugh. You know, your first time there saw your sister. How was that? I wanted to go to my farm and see how it is. I said

01:48:59.140 - 01:49:18.670

no. Nobody lives there. Your grandmother is dead and your uncle and enter debt to they were sent to Siberia. They perished. So I didn't have anybody that said no. Okay, you can go. But secretly, somebody took me with the car and we did go and it

01:49:18.670 - 01:49:39.880

waas It was kind of it wasn't the same. And the by that time it was divided in little strips for Russians who fast forwards Russians who lived in the collective. It wasn't even my land. They said I could have huge ban and that I said OK,

01:49:39.880 - 01:49:58.020

I will take that in my mind. They got some money for that was all about $500 for the building. That was it. What about the upward? The apple orchard? The people who it was measured? Tow them. And they I think they leave their now toe been

01:49:58.020 - 01:50:16.290

able second time now when they were 10 years ago. They were very scared that we want the land away. But nobody wants to live there. I don't want my Children to Russian now. No, it's likely back last year. Yes, but since since many people lived there

01:50:16.290 - 01:50:33.220

already, it's it's you know, they have lived there for 50 years since it it's no way decided. Nobody wants to be apartment there. My sister and brother who live in Riga Western Zone. They said they don't want to be fired. Merson. They just life. Yeah, they

01:50:33.230 - 01:50:53.720

decide in. It's only Russians there. It's because of the collective farmers federal Russians brought in from Russia. They said It's like a Russian now. You know. It's not very Yeah, I think been eating well, though You took your daughter and granddaughter not too long ago and

01:50:53.770 - 01:51:12.100

then you and your son went back to Yeah, I am taking it all my grandchildren when they have to be a least 10 years old, so they appreciate it. Whoever reaches 10 my oldest granddaughter, went. She only regret the tour. English is good with Latvian, isn't

01:51:12.690 - 01:51:29.050

but those Those kids knew enough so they tried toe. They worked at night, and we went through the dictionaries and find family words in English passport. So they get along fine. And if nothing else, a about rolling go where the hell playing. And she said she

01:51:29.050 - 01:51:45.310

wants to go back again and my daughter said she will send Come back and my son loud toe my son. He had, I had told him, because my husband, I thought husband let me in so I could speak to my Children in Latin and he remembered

01:51:45.320 - 01:52:01.670

the first days post of them. They said, Oh, they language was so rusty. On the second day, they say we remember it. You don't have to translators, and they are planning to go back to see the relatives, their cousins and uncles, uncle, uncle, aunt and cousins.

01:52:02.150 - 01:52:18.160

So one of these days we'll go when I save enough money. I'll take the next grandchild in the next grandchild and you said you met with all of your brothers and sisters and had a trip. Miss it a trip on a ship? Yes, I was that.

01:52:18.170 - 01:52:33.620

Yeah, that it was. It was a year later, my brother who is well, say enough. He gave he paid for all our trips. Those is your brother. That's my half brother who is in Los Angeles. Okay? And he said he and he went along too. But

01:52:33.620 - 01:52:51.820

he said he wants me to go along because he feels more like stranger sees. No. Well, it is. But it wasn't. It was very weren't meeting. And we stayed a week in that way. And then we went to Norway. He paid for everybody to go to

01:52:51.820 - 01:53:08.820

inordinate region fjords with a beautiful trip in the main thing. They were all of us together. All the living brothers and sisters. It was great. Yeah. We all appreciate that. Your father would have been so happy to know you're together. Yes. Keep probably looks from heaven

01:53:08.820 - 01:53:30.690

and sees it. Yes. Yeah, that that's my brother still sends my relatives in that money because, like is there hard? All of them are retired their early sixties and seventies, and their their money is $40 a year. And for $40 they have to pay pay the

01:53:30.700 - 01:53:49.390

room food, electricity in Communist Day said For the government, it was, you know, you paying the dollar something. It's completely they have to use to the real economy. People live in other countries, you know. Nothing is free. So me, my wealthy brother, sends him a few

01:53:49.390 - 01:54:09.070

1000 couple times a year, and they divided equally. So that is a sub supplying that you know enough for some luxuries. Now you are now 83 years old, right? I 83 full. Yes, Yes. And doing so. Well, Thank you. I hope so. Okay.