When Pushkin met D’Anthès

My family is Russian, which means Polina is half-Russian. This year, my daughter has been taking an online class in Russian history. Recently, the teacher talked about Alexander Pushkin, considered the greatest writer in Russia.

The impact Pushkin had on Russia cannot be understated. You cannot pass through Russia without passing through Pushkin in one form or another. It is not uncommon for a portrait of Pushkin to hang on a Russian family’s wall. He is the first person most Russians think of when thinking about writers. In fact, in Russia, his name is almost synonymous with writing.

Pushkin’s birthday is coming up June 6. That day is now a celebration of the Russian language.

The teacher explained the circumstances of Pushkin’s premature death at age 37, at the hands of his nemesis, D’Anthès. This is a great tragedy, because how much more would he have written had he lived. The following is an exchange I overheard between the teacher and the class. (The exchange was in Russian, so I translated it.)

Teacher: They met in a duel. Children, ask me what is a duel. Do you all know what is a duel? Kolya knows. Polina, do you know?

Polina: Is it a dance?

Teacher: No, it’s not a dance. They didn’t meet to dance.

And I thought, cleaning the house as I was listening to the class, how the history of Russia would have changed if Pushkin had met D’Anthès to dance.

Our New School

Old school parking lot.

Like a thief in the night, my daughter’s Russian school moved.  We knew a move was coming, but except for a street name, the new location was not revealed.  Then over the weekend, the director of the school sent an email with the new address effective that Monday

People were still going to the old location. More

Gloominess on a Sunny Day

Today was a beautiful sunny day in what is normally a dreary period in the Pacific Northwest.  My 5 y.o. daughter didn’t see it that way initially.  Maybe because she wasn’t tall enough to see out the window.

“I’m tired of getting dressed.  I’m just so sick of everything,” she said in the bathroom this morning as I was getting myself ready.

“The day hasn’t started yet.  What are you so angry about?”

“Why do you say good morning?” More