Can American Children Adjust to Life in Russia?
Apparently, they can adjust to it pretty well...
When we relocated to Russia with our eight children, some people worried about whether American children could become well adjusted to life in Russia. Six years later, I would have to say the answer is a resounding "Yes". Just take a look at the above video.
Our home-schooled children have never seen the inside of a classroom. My 19-year-old daughter Kimberly wrote this speech herself, in Russian, a language she didn't speak prior to moving, and then she delivered it with great poise to a conference this October with important representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church present.
It contains more wisdom and common sense about how to build a meaningful life than what most adults could muster.
Please watch this video. You'll be thankful you did.
At the end of speech, she sings a traditional Russian Christian song with some of her siblings.
Her speech was one of the most popular at the conference.
A full English transcript of this video is available, as well as a full Russian transcript.
If you come to Russia with your family, and you make it a priority to learn the language, will your children be able to fit in and adjust to life in Russia?
Absolutely.
This is encouraging. I've noticed our two eldest children are rapidly learning the language. They can mostly read now, though language limited being beginners, but picking up words quite rapidly. I've noticed that I've started picking up the language more rapidly also, and reading is getting more fluent. From slow to fast. I truly believe that if we keep focus on learning and not get lazy that we will succeed in the language. The challenge for us is we are limited on exposure due to living in the west. Though we do have some interaction with other Russians that are local.
Though we make a decent income in the west, this is not worth staying for as we want the freedom to worship God without fear of having kids taken away. We've already experienced persecution and we continue to see the west overall get darker each year. The western boycotting of Russia with visa etc limits God-fearing westerners from making the move which I think is on purpose. Some could see assets and income cut off just because they wish to live a peaceful and quiet life without interference.
God Bless the Russian Church!