Soviet Woman, 30 November 1979: 'Meetings, Contacts, Cooperation' (seabad Kartini di Moskow)

=== [PDF page 1] === perhaps go to the Far East. I was born and lived there for two years, but of course don't remember a thing. My relatives, who live on Sakhalin Island, invite me to come to them. Life around us is so interest ing that every day I feel anew how much unknown there is in it." Tatyana Krasulina, a worker: "All our fam ily are working at the Automobile Plant: Dad, Mum and I. When I finished school, I thought I'd work for a while and then enter a technical school but now I like to work at the plant. We assemble and pack automobile parts to be deliv ered to the north, to the country's agricultural regions, and abroad. Here at the plant I understood what satisfaction it is to realize that your work brings benefit to people. At school studied Vladimir Mayakovsky's poetry. Remember the lines from his poem 'Good': 'I rejoice that my work adds to the work of my republic.' "Now these lines come to me in a new light. I too add my, altnough still modest, share to the effort of my people. Our work, my work in cluded, adds to the work of not only our republic, it helps to build a new life for the peoples of such countries as the young Republic of Afghanis tan. I take pride in this. "If I decide to stay at the plant, in time I'll be able to take the post of a set assembler. This work demands greater qualification. We have a close-knit collective in our shop where there's a lot of young people. Practically all of them study either at a school for young workers or at the plant's evening technical school. For the fifth year I've been studying singing at the House of Culture of Schoolchildren. I went to Leningrad and Baku with our chorus. We per form at the concert halls of our city. Beginning next year, I'll transfer to the Academic Chorus of our plant's House of Culture. Studies w ill be quite serious there and we'll go on tour. Who knows? I'm afraid to make plans, but a lot of professional sing ers in our country made their start in amateur groups." Elena Gorshkova, a student at the agricultural institute: "I can say about myself that for me there is no other institute except the agricultural. My elder sister Val entina and I study at the same place and in the same faculty—zoology. Valentina studies by correspon dence, combining work with studies, while I attend daytime sessions. Our collective farm sent me to study at the institute. It pays me a stipend 15% higher than that of the state which my friends get at the institute. Nearly every collective farm has its own scholarship students today—■ at agricultural, technical, medical and pedagogical institutes. After graduating from the higher schools they must return to work at their farms. I don't want anything better for myself. I dream of living and working in my native village of Nikulino in the Rassvet (Dawn) Col lective Farm. My parents live there. My Dad is a powerman and my Mum—a field-crop worker. We have a house of our own and there are boundless fields all around. This year after the institute's practicals I'll go to the farm. At the village when you come home after work it seems that it's the end. You're dead tired. But when you take a shower and dress up you feel the tiredness ebb away. You are ready for an evening fling. It's so wonderful in the village in the summer. "A t the beginning I found it dif ficult to study at the institute, there nevemseemed enough time. I even had some poor marks at first. But gradually I got used to the pace and even found time for other things. Back at school I took up reciting. At the institute we have a theatrical studio. I'll join it beginning with my second year. I'm lucky with girl friends. We are a close-knit crowd at the dorm itory which is a comforta ble one. We also have a reading room and the institute's main build ing is right across the street. "I would like the youth of the whole world to live just as happily, so that no reprisals threaten youths and girls anywhere on our planet so that there is no young blood shed as was the case when South African racists shot schoolchildren in Sow eto and as happens today in North ern Ireland and in other parts of the world. "This year has brought me much joy and perhaps, future happiness. Here at the institute I met a good friend. He studies in the same facul ty as me. I think it's grand when people who are near have the same interests. I am only too glad at such a perspective." Tatyana Arjadeyeva, a medical school student: "I dreamt of becoming a doctor from childhood. My favourite aunt works in the Chuvash Autonomous SSR. During my school holidays I went to her and helped a bit in her work. She took me on her visits to patients and I boiled syringes for her. It seemed that everything had been decided for me. But all of a sudden after graduating school my girl friend talked me into entering a geodesic school. I studied well but after the first practicals I realized that it w asn't my line at all. I just couldn't picture my life w ithout medicine. At the medical school-l was admitted to the-second year. I r^cid \ to enter an obstetric departm ent,' because there you stand right at life's origin. I study avidly. Of course. I'll try and enter a medical institute but even if I never become a doctor, I have achieved the main thing: I'm a medical worker. Besides medicine I like sport. I have a good rating in basketball and am a fair skier. Once I began learning to play the accordion but dropped it. Now I'm sorry. I like music, especially classical. My other work takes up a lot of time. When at school I was a member o.f the Komsomol Committee and of the Regional Komsomol HQ. At the medical school I was elected to the trade union committee. I answer for the students' everyday life and rest. I distribute holiday vouchers and or ganize recreation evenings. Al though I have much to do, it is not a burden. I have an offerto work in the summer at a Young Pioneer camp as a leader. As for my personal life... What can I say... I have four friends. They are all fine fellows, working at a factory. But we are just friends so far. Of course, I think about mar riage. What girl doesn't?" Zoya Mishina, a student of the polytechnical institute: "From my childhood I've been crazy about little children. I wanted to become a kindergarten teacher. Later on I became interested in mathematics and dropped the idea so I entered the Polytechnic and study at the faculty of electronics and cybernetics. They told me that it was very difficult to study in this faculty but so far I w ouldn't say so. Everything's fine so far. I'll be a designer of radio apparatus or a specialist in cybernetics. It'll be my profession. But I'm still busy with children. First I helped bring up my younger sister Lena who is a thirdgrader. Now we have two-year-old Sasha. He's a darling. I like to do housework. My mother is good at sewing, knitting and embroidering and passed her skills to me. As for cooking, I had my first taste of it when I was thirteen and we moved to a new flat. We have a lot of relatives. My mother has four sisters and brothers and they all have two to three children each so we have frequent guests. I cook for everyone and hope they like it. "In the summer we go to the village to my granny where we go mushrooming, berry picking, cook jam, pickle and dry mushrooms and potter about in the garden plot. I like it in the village. "There's much that attracts me in life: I like to dance, go in for sports and collect photographs of actors. My friends present me with special albums for them. However, I like books most of all. In poetry Pushkin is my favourite. What else? I'm in love with life and cherish every day of it but sometimes I'm alarmed: what if a new war shatters our peaceful life? The SALT-2 Treaty signed recently between the govern ments of our country and the United States dispels anxiety and strengthens confidence in peace. Yes, life is wonderful. It would be still more wonderful if another three hours were added to the 24 hours of the day..." From the editorial office: Dear Pervin! Five girls from the city of Gorky have answered your question at our request. We hope they have given you some notion about the life of girls of your age in the Soviet Union. If you have any more questions, w e 'll be glad to answer them. 35 === [PDF page 2] === Meetings, Contacts, Cooperation A Beneficial Discussion A m erican participants on Red Square and in the Palace o f Young Pioneers in M oscow ■yo u n g 4 ^ For five days the Viru H otel in T allin n w as the ve n u e fo r th e S o v ie t-A m e ric a n yo u th s e m in a r on p ro b lem s of peace, m u tu al u nd erstan d in g and cessation of th e arm s race. S tate flag s of the U SSR and th e U S A w e re raised on fla g p o le s and the h otel's co m fo rta b le halls filled w ith bustle and lau g h ter, Russian, English and Estonian speech. H eated discussions w e re heard in the co n ference halls w h e re th e s e m in a r's w o rkin g co m m is sio n s held th e ir sessions. T he A m e ric a n yo u th at this s e m in a r w e re represen ted by th e Y o u n g M e n 's C hristian A s sociation (Y M C A ) and th e S o viet— by th e C o m m itte e of Y o u th O rg an iza tio n s (CYO). Jo h n Fisher, w h o w a s the head of the A m e ric a n d e le g a tio n, th o u g h t th a t th e se m in ar w as p a rtic u la rly im p o rta n t since it w as held on th e eve of th e m e e tin g of th e heads o f the S o viet U n io n and th e U n ited States in V ien n a. This d ia lo g u e of th e leaders o f th e tw o co u ntries w o u ld u n d o u b te d ly resu lt in co n stru ctive ch an g es in w o rld politics and w e th in k, said John Fisher, th a t th e S A L T -2 T re a ty is a step fu rth e r to co n clud ing S A L T -3 and to d e e p e n in g th e process Photographs by, Buteyev h orrible R ussian." H ere is a n o th e r im p ressio n o f C lem N a g e l: "I re m e m b e r o u r visit to th e P iskarevskoye C e m e t e ry in L e n in g rad. Y o u r c o u n try lived th ro u g h a te rrib le w a r. I cried w h e n o u r g u id e read the d ia ry of a little L en in g rad girl w h ich she kept d u rin g th e siege. A ll her relatives d ied. A t the c e m e te ry I s a w an old w o m a n w h o w e n t to one o f th e g raves w ith a little g irl, p ro b a b ly, her g ra n d d a u g h te r. T h e y b ro u g h t flo w e rs. Perhaps h er h usband w a s b u ried th e re o r so m e o f her re latives, or perh ap s, th e y s im p ly c a m e to pay h o m a g e to th o s e w h o p erished d u rin g th e w a r. I th o u g h t o f th e m isfo rtu n es th e w a r w o u ld have b ro u g h t m y p arents an d fa m ily and realized w h y y o u r p eo p le h ate w a r, realized h o w im p o rta n t it is.to fig h t fo r p eace." For A n n C linto n it w a s her firs t trip to the S o v ie t U n io n. "R ig h t up to th e v e ry last m o m e n t I c o u ld n 't b elie ve th a t I w o u ld arriv e in th e S o viet U n io n. I'm h a p p y," she said, "th a t I ca m e here. I like m a n y th in g s here: b eau tifu l and busy M o s c o w, T a llin n and e s p e cially y o u r h o sp itab le p e o p le." As fo r J u lie B enn ie she had alre a d y been to th e S o v ie t U n io n b efo re: "W h e n I w a s ten I m a d e a v o w th a t I w o u ld one d a y co m e here and see e v e ry th in g w ith m y o w n eyes. T w o years ag o m y d re a m ca m e tru e and to d a y I'm here fo r th e second tim e." O u r guests b eca m e ac q u a in ted w ith th e life of o u r c o u n try an d its p eo p le so as to u nd erstan d us b e tte r and to relate th e ir ex p e rien ce s back h o m e. M e a n w h ile th e y had to do a b it o f "w o rk " h ere: p rac tic ally e v e ry d a y th e y w e re s o u g h t by jo u rn a lis ts o f S o v ie t n e w sp ap ers and radio. It w a s th e sa m e at th e In te rn a tio n a l S e a m e n 's C lub, visited by th e d e le g a tio n on th e first e v e n in g o f th e ir stay in T a llin n. A t th e club a n y o n e can take a book h o m e as a m e m e n to. N o w h o m e lib raries o f s e m in a r p articip an ts w ill co n tain books a b o u t th e S o v ie t U n io n, its history and policy, w o rk s o f c o n te m p o ra ry S o v ie t w ri ters tra n s la te d into English. D u rin g th e fiv e -d a y stay in th e city th e A m e ric a n s visited th e In te rn a tio n a l C lub of th e T a llin n Polytechn ical Institu te, an in te rn atio n al y o u th ca m p, th e A R S a rt e n te rp ris e and w e re invited to th e h o m es o f T a llin n artists and architects. A n im p o rta n t p art o f th e p ro g ra m w a s th e recep tio n s at th e S u p re m e S o v ie t o f th e Estonian S SR, a t th e C entral C o m m itte e of the L en in ist K o m s o m o l of Estonia and a t th e City S o v ie t of P eo p le 's D e p u ties o f T a llin n. A t th e m a y o ra lty each A m e ric a n d ele g a te h an ded E d uard Pragi, V ic e -C h a irm a n o f th e City Execu tiv e C o m m itte e, a letter fro m th e m a y o rs o f th e ir resp ective cities alo ng w ith s y m b o lic keys. O u r g uests' e v e ry h o u r w a s full and if th e re h ap p e n e d to be fre e m in u te s e v e ry o n e h urried to th e O ld City. T h is p a rt o f T a llin n in its ce n tre is p res erved as it w a s several centu ries ag o. Here o n e can b u y so u ve n irs in a shop b u ilt in th e 16th ce n tu ry, have a cup o f co ffee in a " m e d ie v a l" bar or listen to an o rg an m ass in a R o m a n -C ath o lic C hurch. In J u n e, d u rin g w h ite nights, th e city is es p ecially b eau tifu l in th e ev e n in g. " N o o n e w ill b e lie v e m e w h e n I tell th e m th a t it w a s so lig h t in th e stree t at m id n ig h t th a t you could read a b o o k," said C lem N agel. O n th e last d a y of th e s e m in a r e v e ry o n e could p articip ate at th e s e m in a r's final session. M a r y A n n W e tta c h: "W e h ave discussed p ro b le m s v ita lly im p o rta n t fo r th e w h o le of m a n k in d. T ru e, it is m u ch m o re d iffic u lt to realize th e m, but th e s e m in a r and th e fu lfilm e n t o f its decisions w ill o b lig e us to do m u c h." C raig S te p h e n s o n: "I c o u ld n 't even hope th at e v e ry th in g w o u ld be so successful. W e g o t to the core w h ich lies at th e basis of a n y c o o p e ra tion-—co n fid en ce. I d id n 't h ave to hide m y th o u g h ts b eh in d flo w e ry and v a g u e phrases. I m e t th e sa m e ap p ro ach on th e p art o f m y S o v ie t c o lle ag u e s." Lori Korleski: b ro u g h t a lo n g nine n otebo o ks, b u t n o w at th e end I fo u n d th a t I had fille d o n ly tw o o f th e m. So m a n y th in g s m a d e such an im p res sio n on m e th a t I d id n 't h ave to record th e m. I'll re m e m b e r this trip fo r th e rest of m y life. I realized th a t th e S o v ie t p eo p le w a n t peace and th a t is th e m a in th in g." A n ita J o se p h: " N o w it seem s fu n n y to m e, but m y frien d s did not a p p ro v e m y decisio n to vis it y o u r co u n try. T h e y tried to co n vince m e it w a s n 't safe, all th e m o re since I’m Black. I ca m e here w ith a certain a m o u n t of p reju d ice and n eve r exp ected th a t w e w o u ld be w e lc o m e d here so w a rm ly. O f co u rse, m y n o tio n s a b o u t the S o v ie t U n io n have ch an g ed im m e n s e ly. O ur se m in ars are th e b eg in n in g of a m o v e m e n t w ith no en d, a m o v e m e n t to w is e r re la tio n s b etw ee n o u r c o u n trie s..." of m u tu al u n d e rs ta n d in g b e tw e e n o u r tw o p eo ples. It is q u ite o b v io u s th a tfrie n d s h ip s im p ly does not o rig in a te o v e rn ig h t. It is a long and c o m p li cated process but w e m u st p ro m o te it. M o s t of th e A m e ric a n s are ag ain st w a r and th e Y M C A o pp o ses th e ag g res sive in te n tio n s of certain circles. O u r co u n trie s h ave d iffe re n t social system s but th e A m e ric a n and S o v ie t yo u th have m a n y c o m m o n p ro b le m s th e ch ief of w h ich is to d efen d peace. A le x a n d e r Peslyak, head of the S o viet d e le g a tio n, also spoke a b o u t th is: "T h e v ita lly im p o rta n t task fo r m a n k in d and fo r the yo u th is to curb th e arm s race and to stren g th en peace. T his task d e m a n d s a p ers isten t e ffo rt on th e p art of all fo rces, o rg an iza tio n s and in d iv id u als. T h e a rm s race, e s p e cially in a n u clear age, presents a tre m e n d o u s th re a t to peace and d eten te. M o re o v e r, it d iv erts huge resources w h ich are n eed ed to satisfy p eo p les ' re q u ire m e n ts." T h e s e m in a r's th re e co m m is s io n s discussed the p ro b lem s of th e cessation o f th e a rm s race and d is a rm a m e n t and th e role of p ub lic o rg a n izations in th e a c h ie v e m e n t of th ese aim s. T h e p articip an ts in th e s e m in a r ad o p te d an ap p eal to th e S u p re m e S o v ie t o f the U S S R and the US S e n a te to ra tify th e S A L T -2 T re a ty. T h e y d re w up a p ro g ram fo r fu rth e r co o p e ra tio n of the Y M C A and CYO. Since m o s t of th e S o viet d eleg ate s spoke English th e re w as p ractically no need fo r in terp rete rs. This fac ilitate d closer and d irec t contact. T h e A m e ric a n s to ld of th e ir im p ressio ns o f th e S o v ie t U n io n. T h e ir trip beg an a w e e k b efo re in M o s c o w w h e re th e y visited th e K re m lin, Red S q u a re, th e Y o u n g P ion eer Palace, th e S o viet Peace C o m m itte e and th e C o m m itte e fo r th e Russian O rth o d o x C hurch A ffairs. T h e d e le g ation arrived in T allin n by tra in fro m Len in g rad. "F or a tim e I fe lt I w as living in h istory," recalled Lori Korleski. "I e s p e cially liked the W in te r Palace. All th e p eo p le w e re cordial and kind to m e and even tried to u n d erstan d m y The delegates parted with the hope to meet again. A. KALASHNIKOV === [PDF page 3] === W * \ie { m f * 1 | I f 1 1 J II 1n - r J 11 |? j p JB T h e N a tio n al T h e a tre fo r C h ild ren Les Pissenlits (D a n d elio n s) is th e n a m e of the th e a tre c o m p a n y fro m C anada w h ich m a d e a successful th re e -w e e k to u r o f M o s c o w, Tbilisi and O dessa. Its art d irec to r and fo u n d e r is Je a n -Y v e s G au d re au lt. T h e tro u p e is sm all and a m a zin g ly w e llc o o rd in a te d. It is liv ely and fle x ib le and th e n am e suits it fin e. T h e c o m p a n y to u rs e x te n s iv e ly in C anada and q u ite b e fittin g ly represen ts C ana d ian th eatrical art ab ro ad. By w a y o f in tro d u ctio n to little S o v ie t th e a tre goers th e C an ad ian s chose Pierre Fortin's play G u lliv e r. T his is a fre e th eatric al in te rp reta tio n of th e fa m o u s novel G u lliv e r 's T ra v e ls o f the w rite r-s a tiris t J o n a th a n S w ift. B rin g in g th e play up to d ate th e p layers have ca re fu lly re p ro d u ce d th e m a in th o u g h ts o f th e a u th o r: happiness ca n n o t be fo u n d in fo reig n parts, it lies a m o n g th o s e w h o v a lu e and love yo u; h on esty, kin d ness, co rd iality— G u lliv e r co n ten ds, are m a n 's g rea tes t w e a lth. A fte r th e p re m ie re in M o s c o w, w h e re th e C an ad ian s p layed in th e T h e a tre of Y o u n g S p ec ta to rs, J e an -Y ve s G a u d re a u lt spoke of th eatric al art and shared his im p ressio ns o f the S o v ie t tour. "In o u r w o rk w e rely upon love to w a rd s the little spectators and o u r faith in th e m. It helps us o v e rc o m e th e d ifficu lties w e face. W h a t I h ave in m in d is th a t o u r tro u p e still has no th e a tre o f its o w n and d ep en d s on th e co m p an ies fin a n c in g us. I a d m it, this at tim e s is u psetting b u t th e th o u g h t th a t ch ild ren need us su p po rts and inspires us. T h e situ atio n is q u ite d iffe re n t in y o u r co u n try w h e re th e S tate sh o w s concern fo r th e a tre w o rke rs. T his, ab o ve all, relates to th ose w h o create fo r ch ild ren. I w as co n vinced o f this w h e n I visited th e S o viet U n ion in 1975. T h a t is w h y yo u h ave so m a n y ch ild ren's th eatres. T h e C h ild re n 's M u sical T h e a tre, directed by N atalia Sats, is one o f th e m. W e re ce n tly w e lc o m e d it in C anada w h e re its p e rfo rm a n c e s en jo y ed g rea t success. T h e M o s c o w P u p p et T h e a tre, headed by th a t g re a t th e a tre m a ste r and su b tle artist S erg e i O b raztso v, has a special ap p eal fo r m e. I w a n t to g et a clo ser k n o w le d g e o f O braztso v's crea tiv e w o rk. " W e w e re m o v e d by th e h o s p itality and c o rd ia lity of th e S o v ie t p ublic— both big and sm a ll— as w e ll as by all th o s e w h o m a d e o u r to u r so p le a s a n t an d m e m o ra b le. O ne interesting an d, I th in k, m o v in g d etail: so m e o f th e y o u n g s ters c a m e to see G u lliv e r tw o o r th re e tim e s so as to re m e m b e r its characters an d th e ir a p p e a r ances b etter. T h e y m a d e sketches sh o w in g a tru e m a ste rsh ip and o rig in a lity and presen ted th e m to us. It w a s o n e o f th e m o st to u c h in g m o m e n ts o f o u r stay h ere. I h op e o u r m e e tin g w ith th e ch ild re n 's au d ie n c e o f y o u r c o u n try w ill be re p e ate d an d th e contacts b e tw e e n o u r tw o co u ntries in th e fie ld of cu ltu re and art w ill be fu rth e r e x p a n d e d." Yes, it w a s because of th e "lo v e to w a rd the little sp ec tato rs " th a t th e th e a tre beg an its ex isten ce 12 ye a rs ago. It is this love th a t gave s u p p o rt to G a u d re a u lt w h e n a y e a r later the g ro u p d is b a n d ed since th e re w a s no o n e to fin a n c e it. A fte r receivin g a S tate stip en d he w e n t to P o land, R o m a n ia, C zechoslovakia an d Y u g o slavia to s tu d y th e ac tiv ity o f ch ild re n 's th eatres. R e tu rn in g to C anada tw o years later, he o rg a n ized th e g ro u p a n e w, revised old plays and th o u g h t up n ew ones. O nce ag ain th e Les P issenlits T h e a tre received a n e w lease o f life. S o o n th e C ongress o f th e C anadian w o rke rs of cu ltu re, a fte r seein g its w o rk, reco gn ized it as the b est a m o n g s o m e o th e r 20 th eatrical co m p an ies. T o d a y it is o n e o f th e m o s t p o p u la r ch ild re n 's co m p a n ie s. It has 3,0 0 0 p erfo rm an ce s to its credit. But let's re tu rn to G u lliv e r once ag ain. W h e n yo u look at th is p lay you n e v e r fo r a m o m e n t stop re jo icin g on h o w th e actors id e n tify w ith the child au d ie n c e. T h e v e ry firs t m o m e n t G u lliv er a p p ea rs on th e sta g e— a sad and fu n n y c lo w n — he m akes th e yo u n g ste rs p articip ate in all his w o n d e rfu l capers and ad ve n tu re s in the co u n try of lilipu ts, giants and horses. So as to h ave u n im p e d e d co n tact w ith th e ch ild ren he learn ed all his m o n o lo g u e s, rem arks and songs in Russian. A c to r Rene L im ie u x w h o plays G u lliv e r m a g n ific e n tly, said he did th is "e sp ecia l ly fo r S o v ie t c h ild re n." He ca p tiv ated th e children by his to u c h in g ap p e a ra n c e, lively m a n n e r and m isch ief, w h ich m a d e him look like o n e of C h arlie C h ap lin 's heroes. A s soon as he w a v e d his hand th e y re ad ily a n sw e red his q uestion or jo in e d him in a song. N o one in th e hall re m a in ed in d iffe re n t to G u lliv e r's quick ch an g es w h ich are im p o s sib le to retell b u t w h ich th e d irec to r and e n tire cast coped w ith ex ce llen tly. T h e m usic, co stu m e s and stage tec h n iq u e len t th e p lay a p a rtic u la rly m o d e rn to u c h. A w h o le set of th eatrical m e th o d s ^ c lo w n e ry, p a n to m im e, farce and p u p p e try have been m a s te rfu lly used to bring o u t th e sm iles and la u g h te r in ch ild ren. But th e m a in asset is th a t th e re isn 't a false note in G u lliv er, e ith e r in sep a ra te d etail, or in th e key idea, o r in th e w a y th e y are expressed. It w a s a w o n d e rfu l in n o v a to ry p la y in w h ich h u m o u r, w a rm th and co rd iality, te n d e rn e s s and h u m a n e ness m e rg e into o n e: th in g s th a t sp ectato rs— big and sm a ll— need rhost o f all. G u lliv er's last song ca m e to an en d. The actors w e re s h o w e re d w ith flo w e rs. Lots of flo w e rs. A p p la u s e kept rin gin g th ro u g h o u t the hall. C h ild ren ap p la u d e d th e C anadian actors and th e y in return ap p la u d ed th e m, th e ir new,, w e ll-w is h in g sp ectato rs w h o m th e y fo u n d in the S o v ie t U n io n. T h e to u r of th e N a tio n al T h e a tre fo r C h ild ren Les Pissenlits w a s o rg an ized in the S o v ie t U n io n in acco rd an ce w ith th e cultural exch an g e p ro g ram b e tw e e n th e U SSR and C anada. Y. Z h ig u lsky, ch ief d ire c to r o f th e M o s c o w T h e a tre of Y o u n g S p ec ta to rs, said in his w o rd s o f greetings "It is v e ry g oo d th a t c o o p e ra tio n b etw ee n o u r tw o co u ntries stren g th en s w ith e v e ry y e a r... You p e rfo rm e d in o u r c o u n try a t a sig n ifican t tim e — th e In te rn a tio n a l Y e a r of th e Child. This e v e n t is a m o v in g o n e fo r ail th o s e w h o create fo r c h ild re n. Let's alw a y s w o rk fo r th e m to th e best o f o u r ab ilities, give o u r best creatio n s to th e m." ELENA S UVO R O VA 37 === [PDF page 4] === F irs t L es so n s Moscow teacher Tatyana Tsyganova last year | taught mathematics in secondary school at the Ethiopian town of Nazareth. This is what she told our correspondent. "I had a long-standing wish to work in an African school. At last my wish came true—I was sent to Ethiopia. I had read much about this country, inhabited by beautiful, courageous and proud people. I followed anxiously the revolu tionary events in Ethiopia which paved the way for progressive social transformations. I knew that illiteracy was widespread in the country and teachers were in great demand. I went there with a great desire to work and the year I spent in Ethiopia brought me no end of satisfaction." "Please tell us about your first impressions and your first lessons." "Nazareth, a small holiday resort town 90 km. from Addis Ababa, is situated in a picturesque valley-—a huge green bowl encircled by m oun tains. "The school turned out to be unexpectedly big—with a student body of 5,000. I was im mediately loaded with work—more than 30 hours' teaching a week. "Of course,- the first lessons are the most difficult. At this time 'bridges are spanned' between the teacher and students. In all the classes youngsters showered me w ith ques tions: 'How do Soviet schoolchildren live?' 'Where can one find employment after school?' 'Who are accepted into the institutes?' 'How is the system of education organized?' 'And what about medical help?' "I was asked in detail about life in the early years after the 1917 October Revolution, about the transformations which took place in the cities and villages of form er backward Russia. "Mutual understanding developed during these talks, lively and sincere. My tim idity vanished. Relations were established between us of people who were doing the same important job and were equally interested in the work of teaching and learning. "In every class dozens of eager eyes looked at me with a desire to understand study materials as thoroughly as possible. Youngsters studied conscientiously and with zeal. Many of them were quite capable in mathematics. I recall with pleasure a very serious girl, Sofi, from the 12th grade. She did not restrict herself to the syllabus but tackled most difficult mathematical prob lems. She ardently wished to continue her studies in Moscow where her elder sister was studying. There were quite a few among my pupils who knew much about the Soviet Union from what their brothers and sisters—students of Moscow institutes— had told them. I was oh very friendly terms with my colleagues. I recall Ato-Bata, a teacher of physics, with special feeling. He was a very experienced and know ledgeable teacher. Very often we would turn to I him for advice, especially in the first days of our work there. Ato-Bata took part in evolving new syllabuses for Ethiopean schools. We also par! ticipated in this work which was of great importance for the country's public education. Together we discussed most intricate prob lems." "Did you meet your pupils only at lessons?" "No, of course not. Very often we organized a showing of Soviet films. Mostly they were - documentaries about Moscow, Leningrad and Siberia which we commented. The film devoted j to the 60th anniversary of Soviet power enjoyed 1great success. The shots taken in old Russia and in the first years after the Revolution alternate with those taken in our days. "A storm of applause broke out in the auditorium every time Vladimir Lenin appeared on the screen. "Schoolchildren took a lively interest in the life of Lenin, asking me about his childhood and school years. We helped the youngsters to set up a 'Lenin room ' with Lenin's works, as well as books and photographs about him. "A t the children's request I conducted a Russian language circle after school at which about 50 pupils zealously learned to speak and read Russian. "Did you restrict your activities only to school?" "I met many local folk. People from various enterprises came to school and asked us to demonstrate Soviet films. Wherever we showed film s—at a sugar refinery, a bank, at a kebel (a local administrative body)—a lively talk ensued about the past and present of the Soviet Union. I told people about the life of Soviet women, about motherhood protection and concern for children. "Once we went to the Assela Province, where we saw well-developed wheat fields. You could see they were tilled by industrious people. We met them at the stadium, where our film s were shown. Thousands of work-worn hands unanim ously applauded Soviet achievements and the country which was the first to take the path of socialism." Recorded by EDWARD ALESIN Photograph by the author 1 0 0 Y e a rs A g o A t Moscow Friendship House Indonesian and Soviet women marked the birth centenary of Indonesian public figure R. A. Kartini. Among them were the wives of Embassy workers of the Republic of Indonesia in the USSR, members of the women's commission of the USSR-Indonesia Society, scholar-Orientalists. Professor Alexander Belenky, D.Sc.(Hist.), the author of many research works on the demo cratic movement in Indonesia, told the gathering about the role of Kartini as the founder of the wom en's national movement, about her struggle for the liberation and dignity of women. "This wonderful woman lived in a small town and with no formal education managed to acquire profound knowledge in economics, poli tics and history. In my books The National Revival o f Indonesia, and Kartini, the Daughter of Indonesia I wanted to express respect for the ideas and the selfless life of Kartini." Ludmila Pakhomova, Cand.Sc.(Econ.), chair man of the women's commission of the USSRIndonesia Society, spoke about Soviet women and how the state shows concern for children. Zinaida Glazkova, member of the women's commission (and wife of Hero of the Soviet Union, cosmonaut, Yuri Glazkov, vice-president of the USSR-Indonesia Society, who was also present), warm ly wished Indonesian women success in the struggle for the consolidation of those lofty principles and ideals to which Kartini devoted her life. Mrs. Panggabean, the wife of the adviserenvoy, thanked the USSR-Indonesia Society for marking Kartini Day, their national heroine. "For us, Indonesian wom en," said Mrs. Pang gabean, "it is like an historic landmark. We look back upon our experience and then look forward at the tasks facing us. Great is the role of the woman in strengthening independence which has been won and especially in educating the growing generation. The main and the very important thing that unites us with Soviet women is our striving for a stable peace. On this basis we can successfully develop our friendship and cooperation." L. VOLOKHONSKAYA In the presidium. ■* Mrs. Panggabean and Ludm ila Pakhomova Photographs by A. Buteyev Meetings, Contacts, Cooperation