A Diary of Nicholas Adyoshena* (A Russian boy's perspective on the breakup of communism)
by Brenda Moss Grades 7th and 8th
The inscription on the first page reads:
Nicholas Adyoshena age 10
New Year's Day 1986
Flipping through the pages, the entries read as follows:
January 2, 1986
What a wonderful day we had! Sophia and her husband and my cousins came for the party. Ivan was home from college. Then there was Mama and Papa, my dearest Babushka, and little Katerina. We may not have had much, but our fir tree was the best one yet. Gospodin and Gospozha Komar and my best friend, Dmitri, came to spend New Year's Day with us, too. Grandfather Frost brought all us kids presents. My favorite, besides the sukharay (or sweet bread), is my journal. Babushka says I can now write all my thoughts down so I can remember them when I grow up. I think that's a good idea.
October 5, 1986
I am doing well in school. It seems, though, that all the teachers are talking about is Gorbachev and his ideas of perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness). Many people say it will not work- leave well enough alone. These are scary times. People are angry and uncertain. I do not know what is going to happen next, but you can almost taste something in the air. It's like a bad storm brewing over the horizon. You can't see it, but you know it's coming.
April 30, 1990
Our country is falling apart. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have all left the USSR and declared independence. What will be next?
June 13, 1991
We just had our first popular election. Boris Yeltsin was elected president. It seems things may start getting better now that we, the people, have decided who our leader will be.
August 19, 1991
I can't think of a worse time than now. The reforms have failed. A coup has moved into the White House. Moscow's streets are filled with tanks and soldiers and people, people everywhere! We cannot find out what is happening, because the television stations have been cut off. All we can do is wait.
August 20, 1991
Dmitri came by today to ask me if I wanted to join him and some of the other boys from school. They were going to Moscow to show the coup that we support our government. Everyone else in the house was asleep. I could not just sit idle any longer. Once we got there, it was such chaos! Too many people and guns! I left soon after we got there. Dmitri was so intense. I am afraid for him.
August 21, 1991
I cannot believe what they tell me. How can such a thing happen? It could have been me. The soldiers started shooting and now they tell me Dmitri is dead. Things have not changed as much as they say.
March 15, 1992
Mama and Papa were arguing today. Babushka told me not to worry and to finish my homework, but I could not help overhearing. It seems Papa lost his job. With all the changes and everything being so unstable, the factory Papa worked in had to close. The factory was not producing enough for it to stay open. Now what will we do?
June 3, 1992
Mama was crying today. She looks so tired. I wish I could help. She tries not to let me see, but I can tell she is exhausted. How can she not be when she has to work two jobs and do the housework, too? Babushka tries to help, but she is not well. Besides she is not as young as she used to be. It seems all of Papa's time and energy is spent on his vodka bottles. He is so used to having work, that he has no wish to look for a new one. When I am seventeen, I can leave school and find a job. Then I can help Mama.
November 9, 1992
Babushka spent so long in line today for groceries. She said she thought things would get better. I guess not. She said everyone is buying all they can before the high price increase. The shelves of the stores are almost completely empty. We may not be able to get fresh food for a while.
February 28, 1993
Today was Papa's funeral. It seems I am the new man of the house. Ivan has gone off to college to not come back. How am I to help my family? I still have more school. Little Katerina is not well, and though the doctors are well-trained, there is no medicine to help her. Before with communism, we always lived in fear- fear of the government. Now we live in fear of the unknown. It is easier to fight against something you can see rather than something you cannot see. We used to be a people with a purpose. We must now think for ourselves and find meaning for our own lives. How can this happen when all thought has been pushed down for so long? We have been taught the government will care for us, all we have to do is agree with them and do what they say. Now we have to decide what is right and what is wrong.
May 21, 1993
We have always been a poor people. Many have died under the rule of communism- restructuring of society, forced industrialization, collective agriculture, labor camps, starvation, war. Now that communism has fallen, we still have many problems to face. Babushka said, "Under communism we were able to make a living; now we are only able to live." Where can we turn for help? Prices have increased, we can hardly afford food to eat. Crime is high, it is unsafe to walk the streets alone. Before, a job was guaranteed, but now I wonder if I will be able to get a job. Mama wants me to continue at a university, but I hate to leave her, Babushka, and little Katerina alone. Who will protect them?
September 15, 1993
I met a man today. He said he comes from America. He seemed friendly enough. He offered me a book to read. I almost didn't take it. What could I give him for it? He didn't want anything in return. He just asked me to read it. When I brought it home, Babushka wept. She said she's prayed that one day she would be able to hold this book in her hands and read it with her own eyes. She says this book talks about a man who can give us hope. If such a man exists, I want to learn more about him! Many of our people have no hope. They feel things were better under communism. They do not like the change. Can this man save us?
* Read this story as if it were an actual diary. The author of the diary is fictitious, but the events are based on the actual happenings when Communism fell in Russia. Dmitir Komar was an actual victim of the coup attempt to take over. Other actual events include perestroika, glasnost, the break up of the Soviet Union, anger, violence, and unrest. The openness to religion and the Gospel is also true. The freedom of religion has been oppressed for many years and now the Russian people hunger to know more about the God that many Americans take for granted. Alcoholism and the resistance to change are also a part of Russia today. The youth of Russia do feel hopeful, but times have not seen much improvement in the areas of living and working. As time goes on, the economy will change and the people will be cared for once again.
Diary of Nicholas Adyoshena
by Brenda Moss
- Describe who is telling the story.
- Based on clues in our story, what do you think Nicholas's Papa may have died from?
- What do you think Nicholas's babushka meant when she said, "Under communism we were able to make a living; now we are only able to live"?
- What big event happened in August 1991 and what are three effects this had on Russia?
- After Dmitri dies, why do you think Nicholas says that things have not changed?
- What book do you think Nicholas might have brought home? Why would it mean so much to his grandmother?
Props: journal/ diary ushanki (fur hat)
jeans, wool sweater scarf
Outline
Nicholas Adyoshena, reading journal
Jan. 2, 1986- celebrate New Year's w/ family and friends
1986- Gorbechev, perestroika and glasnost
1990- declared independence of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia
1991- first popular election, Boris Yelstin president
Aug. 19-21, 1991- failure of reform, coup attempt, fall of communism, violence, death of Dmitri Komar
1992- loss of jobs, price increases, alcoholism
1993- change in gov't, effects from communism to new gov't and open market, need for salvation and hope
Answers to Questions
- Nicholas Adyoshena, age 10-17, a Russian boy
- Alcoholism, sad spirit, brokenhearted, no motivation
- Communism supplied food, jobs, money, then the prices were lower
- Fall of communism- loss of purpose/ direction, riots, unemployment, shut down of factories, free market, uncertainty, high prices, poor economy
- Under communism, had to follow instructions or go to jail/ be shot
- Bible, religion was forbidden and now Scripture was available
Bibliography
David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies. Culturgrams: The Nations Around Us. Vol. 1. Brigham Young University, 1994. 2 Vols.
Halsey, Dr. Joseph. Cedarville College Chapel Speaker. October 24, 1996.
Johnstone, Patrick. Operation World. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1993.
Loory, Stuart H. and Ann Imse. CNN Reports: Seven Days That Shook the World (The collapse of Soviet Communism). Atlanta, Georgia: Turner Publishing, 1991.