BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/06/2005

Belarus woman in Dover discusses cultural changes

By Norah Dykema

Half of Iryna Miller's heart is in Vitebsk, Belarus, while the other half lives in Dover, Arkansas. Iryna, 31, and her son Gleb, 8, moved to Dover a year and a half ago. Iryna Malchykau met Shelby Miller, her future husband, through a mutual friend , Elena, who lives in England.

Iryna, who was divorced, learned that Shelby had been grieving and was lonely over the death of his first wife from a car accident. Elena set them up through e-mail and soon they began talking by phone. They spoke for two months. Iryna grew fond of Shelby and wanted to meet him, while he desired to see her beautiful country. After a two-week visit in Vitebsk, they decided to continue their relationship.

Vitebsk, a city of over 500,000 people, is situated in North Belarus (between Russia and Poland) and is banked by three rivers: the Zapadnaya Dvina, the Vitba and the Luchsa. Iryna had "a good job" working for "Radio Vitebsk," preparing stories on local culture, economics, news, politics and culture. She holds a college degree in economics from the Vitebsk Technological University. Leading a very busy life, Iryna traveled for her job to Moscow, Warsaw and Latvia, noting, "I never had time to relax or take a nap."

For entertainment Iryna loved to go to museums and to the theatre. "My city is very developed, there are many exhibitions from other towns for people to see." She also enjoyed the lakes, camping and attending services at her Eastern Orthodox Church.

Iryna longs for her church and misses celebrating religious holidays in Vitebsk. She has lovely photographs of her church and her son, Gleb, is named after an Eastern Orthodox saint. She has found a Yugoslavian Eastern Orthodox Church in Hot Springs where she celebrated her Christmas, which falls on the seventh of January.

When Iryna is asked about the differences between Vitebsk and Arkansas, she shared, "When my son has a fever, I just call and the doctor comes to my apartment." The medical system in Belarus is set on socialist standards and all medical services are free. "I can go to any doctor anytime I want to and pay nothing for it," Iryna explains. "At nighttime ambulances come with a doctor, even if you are only coughing." All one has to do is call and relate the symptoms over the phone and doctors pack the appropriate medicines and show up to treat patients. If patients need to go to the hospital, the ambulance takes them and there are still no charges.

Iryna loves to talk about Belarusan food. Potatoes are the most popular vegetable because they are grown there. Zrazy, a dish Iryna loves to prepare and eat, is simply peeled and shredded potatoes that are squeezed until the liquid is drained. Then hamburger and onion are added and the mixed is formed into balls. They can be boiled or fried. Iryna says that Belarusans love vegetables and don't eat much meat. "Everybody loves crepes," says Iryna.

Iryna's first holiday in America was Thanksgiving. She exclaims, "I never thought of eating a turkey!" She was surprised that people ate turkeys, but she thinks they are delicious. Iryna has learned to appreciate a good steak and baked potato. Gleb has taken a liking to macaroni and cheese.

Iryna has learned to drive after living in Dover for a year. She realized if she wanted a life beyond the home, she would need to learn to drive. She did not need to drive in Belarus because of the public transportation and "cheap taxis." In Belarus it is unusual for women to drive and it is considered a "man's job," according to Iryna.

Currently, Iryna is attending the Adult Education Center in Russellville and taking a course in English as a Second Language. Although she speaks with a heavy accent, she is easy to understand. Iryna is clearly outgoing, friendly, and smiles easily. It is no surprise that she has made many friends through her husband, while attending class and in her Dover neighborhood.

Eventually, Iryna would like to attend ATU and take courses to acquire an "American education," so she can work. She and Gleb left June 8 for a two-month- long visit to Vitebsk.

Unfortunately, it is her father's sickness that has caused her to leave, but she is also excited to see her friends, sister and nephew, who was only six-months-old last time she saw him. He is now two. She feels that Gleb is losing his language and culture and she really wants him to reconnect with both so he can have strong memories of life in Belarus.

Source:

http://www.atkinschronicle.com/6-15doverareana.htm