– Where did you live before?
Alexey: When we were going here, many people who didn’t know us very much said: “Where are you going at such an elderly age!”, “You are going somewhere, changing the country,” “You are changing your life.” We replied: “We have always led a nomadic life all our lives.” We have 15 years of work abroad in general.
I gave 25 years of my life to TASS. I had two business trips to New York. We lived there for seven years – this was in the late 1960s – to the early 1970s. Two years – Africa, in Uganda in 1983-85. At the very equator. After that, five years in Australia, in its capital, Canberra.
Irina: The most beautiful period in our life is Australia. The most fabulous and beautiful country. And there really run kangaroos through the streets.Irina: The most beautiful period in our life is Australia. The most fabulous and beautiful country. And there really run kangaroos through the streets.
Aleksey: In Canberra, I worked as a TASS correspondent, and Irina did a lot of things, but mostly she was a teletaper with me. A teletype is such an electromechanical typewriter used to transfer text data between two subscribers over a pair of wires. Now, these are practically not used anymore, but at that time, it was the only way to communicate.
In 1987, I got my first computer, by the way. Dell, on 8-inch floppy disks and with a small screen.
Irina: In addition to helping Alexey, while still in New York, I began to be interested in all sewing techniques, mainly from pieces of fabric – patchwork. In Canberra, I was even invited to participate in an exhibition. I was walking down the street in a vest with Australian animals; a woman called me and asked where I bought such a vest. To which I modestly answered that I sewed it myself. The woman was amazed and said: you should immediately come to our city exhibition. I never thought that I could participate in such an exhibition.
– How did you end up in Austin?
Alexey: We moved to Round Rock in 2014. For the last 15 years, we have lived in Zelenograd, Moscow. Long before we moved to Austin, we had the idea to move, so to speak, to the New World. We already knew how America works. Our daughter was born in New York. And the organization of the move was not difficult. We chose not quite Austin, but one might say its suburb, Round Rock. We chose this place because it is a very dynamically developing area and, most importantly, the climate. We are tired of winters. Moreover, we had a great life in Africa and Australia without snow, and we liked it.
Irina: Health was also important for choosing a place. My daughter developed a rare type of allergy to frost, and her husband Andrei began to develop a terrible allergy to birch blossoms.
Alexey: We chose Round Rock because at our age, and we are already 75 years old, we didn’t want to live in megacities.
– Tell us about your work, what do you do, and how do you participate in the life of the Russian-speaking commune?– Tell us about your work, what do you do, and how do you participate in the life of the Russian-speaking commune?
Irina: Now I am sewing costumes for the Russian Theatre. There is an amazing director Irina. She is a wonderful person. She feels literature very subtly. Now a play based on Chekhov’s stories is being prepared. It is a pleasure to work and communicate with Irina. In Moscow, I mostly made Russian folk or fairy costumes, even sheathed the whole Moscow Children’s Variety Theater, and now we are preparing costumes for the play – this is a new area for me, and Irina prompts and helps me.
Alexei: In 1991, after 25 years in TASS, I left there. Then I began to work as a full-time freelance translator. When we moved here, I thought there would be a great demand for Russian-English translations. But since relations between countries do not add up, there is not much demand, but sometimes opportunities arise. For example, once my children needed to have an American document certified at the Russian consulate in Houston. I translated the document for them. The young man who accepted documents from them was delighted with the translation and asked my daughter who was translating. The daughter replied: my dad. I have a principle in the translation of quality and accuracy and that it be formatted as in the original document – with the same font and formatting: if there should be a table, then there will be a table and not just text. Like a copy, just in a different language.
The consulate really liked it. They invited me to a meeting. As a result, I am now one of the certified translators at the consulate.
– What do you like most about Austin?
There are very friendly people here. Very good environment. Lots of greenery and space.
– What event in the life of the commune in recent years do you like the most?
Irina: A year ago, we went to a children’s performance in the Russian theater. I honestly sat with my mouth open. I never thought that amateur theater could be at such a high level. New Year’s performances for both children and adults are fantastic. There are a lot of talented people in the theater.
Aleksey: And we often go to a Russian store, where dumplings are delicious. When it first opened, we perked up. American food is very peculiar, and sometimes you want something you used to eat before.
– How can the Russian-speaking of Austin support you?
Irina: They already support us. I visited a Russian school and showed my products. I hear so many good and kind words. For me, it is very important. They tell me: it’s good that you are here, and you show us your product. Sometimes they buy it as a gift for their relatives. And everyone is happy. It makes me feel very good.
– What would you like Americans to know about Russian culture, traditions, and holidays?
Irina: We not only want but also to introduce our American friends to Russian cuisine and culture, talking about our holidays and traditions.
Contact information:
Voronin family Alexey and Irina
Tel. (512) 363-0656
Email: avv450@gmail.com
Interviewed by: Olga Kravchenko
Editor: Svetlana Banks
Publisher: Russian Cultural Center in Austin