Krista Adamovich
When I was a child, my family and I would make the trek to my Grandparents'
house in Yonkers to celebrate mass with them once a month. I remember
always dreading sitting in that uncomfortable pew listening to a priest
speak the Russian language that I knew so little of. I never told my friends
where I was on those Sunday mornings because I was embarrassed I was different
from them. Their ancestors had immigrated from Western Europe so long
ago that their cultural bonds had all blended into one big mass of confused
nationalities. I, on the other hand, was Russian, and the only one out
of my friends whose grandparents spoke poor English and celebrated different
holidays.
It wasn't until my Grandfather passed away that I first
became aware of the importance of my heritage. The belongings he left
me were all from Russia, and all told a story. For the first time in my
life I was ready to listen.
Writing this piece for GWRIT 102D was a way to prove that
I was no longer ashamed of my nationality. Retelling the tale of my Grandmother's
life came easily because it is now a part of me. While writing this essay
I incorporated my Grandmother's experiences into the historical events
that were taking place simultaneously during the Russian Revolution. Hearing
someone who lived through a historical event share their experiences gives
a different perspective then is traditionally found in textbooks. The
goal of this piece was to convey the emotions of my grandmother in a story
that illustrates Russian history from her perspective. My Russian heritage
has taught me a lot, not only about the people my relatives really are,
but also about the history of the country that they used to call home.
