Interview with Irina Melekhina, March 9, 2019

Partial Transcript: --dental school after that. I have a lot of friends in the dental school...

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina shares that she attended first to third grade in Simferopol, Crimea where she was born. She later moved with her family to Kiev, Ukraine after her father changed jobs. Both her mother and her father worked as medical doctors in the Soviet Union which allowed them to have luxuries compared to other citizens.

Keywords: Family life; Kiev (Ukraine); Medical doctors; Parents; Professors; Republic of Crimea; Russia; Simferopol; Soviet Union; Ukraine; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Employment; Families.; Kiev (Ukraine : Oblast); Occupations; Physicians; Simferopolʹ (Ukraine)

Partial Transcript: And then, uh, uh, you--when you went to school, you wanted to become a dentist, is that correct?

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina remembers living in Kiev, Ukraine between the ages of 10 - 17. After finishing her schooling, her parents encouraged her to become a doctor, so she decided to attend dentistry school in Kiev but finished it in Crimea. Right after graduating from dental school, she immigrated to the United States. Despite her dentistry degree, Melekhina confesses that she had always wanted to be a dancer and dreamed of dancing her entire adolescent life. She describes the folk dancing that she enjoyed preforming.

Keywords: Ballet; Dentists; Folk dancing; Hungarian dance; International dance; Medical schools; Russia; Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Employment; Families.; Kiev (Ukraine : Oblast); Occupations; Physicians

Partial Transcript: So can you tell me about, um, when you say "we," was that with your parents?

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina’s father died at age 43, which led her and her husband to return to Crimea where her mother lived. She met her husband, Aleksandr, at dental school, and then had a daughter, Alisa, in 1991. The family obtained refugee status through her husband's Jewish ethnicity, which he had to suppress in the Soviet Union. He changed his last name to hide his Jewish identity in order to attend dentistry school. On the day they were supposed to immigrate, the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt began. Melekhina recollects living in the Communist Soviet Union where she had to use coupons instead of money to acquire food rations and says that she was very hungry during her pregnancy.

Keywords: 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt; Adult immigrant education; Communists; Food rations; Immigration journey; Jewish; Jews; Moscow, Russia; New York; Refugees; Revolutions; Russia; Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); United States; United States Embassy in Moscow

Subjects: Communism; Dentists; Education; Emigration and immigration.; Employment; Families.; Immigrants; Moscow (Russia); Occupations; Physicians

Partial Transcript: So then you arrive in New York City. What do you remember about your arrival?

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina reminisces on arriving in New York City for the first time and seeing the bright lights and fluorescent colors, despite being exhausted from their harrowing exit from the Soviet Union. They lived with her husband's extended family for a short period of time before obtaining aid from the Jewish community and settling in Brooklyn, New York. Melekhina's husband then attended New York University's College of Dentistry to retrain as a dentist. After he graduated in 1994, the Melekhina family relocated to Philadelphia to corner the Russian dentistry market, as it was too competitive to be a Russian dentist in New York City, as there were 200 Russians training at the same dental school. Living in Brooklyn felt like living in Russia because there were so many Russian immigrants in their neighborhood.

Keywords: Brooklyn (N.Y.); Brooklyn, New York City (N.Y.); Brooklyn, New York City, New York; Dental schools; Jewish Federation; John F. Kennedy Airport; New York City (N.Y.); New York University College of Dentistry; Refugee status

Subjects: Dentists; Education; Emigration and immigration.; Employment; Families.; Immigrants; New York (N.Y.); Occupations; Philadelphia (Pa.); Physicians

Partial Transcript: And, uh, you said Alisa, your daughter--

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina tells how her husband was able to find a job right away due to his experience in dentistry in Russia right after resettling in Philadelphia. She liked Philadelphia because it was smaller and quieter than New York City; they lived in the Haldeman area of Northeast Philadelphia. At first, Melekhina stayed home with her young daughter but eventually she decided to attend the Community College of Philadelphia to become a dental hygienist. Melekhina's second daughter, Caroline, was born in Philadelphia.

Keywords: Community College of Philadelphia; Dental hygienists; Dentistry; Haldeman (Philadelphia neighborhood)

Subjects: Dentists; Education; Emigration and immigration.; Employment; Families.; Immigrants; Occupations; Philadelphia (Pa.); Physicians

Partial Transcript: What did you think of her education opportunities?

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina describes the educational opportunities her two daughters Alisa and Caroline had in Philadelphia. They both attended the Philadelphia Public School System, including Woodrow Wilson Middle School. Alisa home schooled for a period, because she was a world class competitive chess champion. She then attended Drexel University with a philosophy major and then earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She now lives in New York where she continues both her law and competitive chess careers. Caroline now attends Temple University as a psychology major and hopes to go to graduate school to become a neurosurgeon.

Keywords: 2nd generation immigrants; Daughters; Drexel University; Education; Home schooling; Lawyers; Opportunity; Second generation immigrants; Temple University; University of Pennsylvania Law School; Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Philadelphia, Pa.); World Chess Champion

Subjects: Education; Emigration and immigration.; Employment; Families.; Immigrants; Occupations; Philadelphia (Pa.)

Partial Transcript: Um, you speak very good English now. Did you have to learn?

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina recalls expanding her knowledge of the English language through her college classes and American TV shows. Her oldest daughter can speak Russian, but her younger daughter could not, so this meant that Irina and Alexandr needed to learn to speak English at home. She also discusses becoming a U.S. citizen and the freedoms she now has in the United States compared to those in the Soviet Union. This includes both freedom of speech, voting, and the choice to wear whatever clothing she chooses. She describes the dress code enforced in the Soviet Union and her first time voting in the United States.

Keywords: Children; Citizenship; English as a Second Language (ESL); Freedom; Language acquisition; Russia; Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); United States Citizenship Test; United States citizens; Voting

Subjects: Communism; Education; Emigration and immigration.; Families.; Immigrants; Philadelphia (Pa.)

Partial Transcript: Um, I know here in Philadelphia there is a growing, um, community of Russians.

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina reveals how her family connects to the Russian community in Philadelphia through their dental practice. This includes Russian immigrants seeking out the Melekhinas’ practice specifically due to their shared heritage and language. They also have many friends that they knew in their home country who now live in the United States which they are able to keep in touch with. Melekhina reveals how her family has stopped practicing all of the Russian traditions but have adopted Christmas for their two daughters.

Keywords: Assimilation; Christmas; Community life; Dental practices; Friends; Holidays; Russian community; Traditions

Subjects: Dentists; Emigration and immigration.; Employment; Families.; Immigrants; Occupations; Physicians

Partial Transcript: Does your, uh, husband still identify as Jewish?

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina recalls that in the Soviet Union her husband had to cover his Jewish identity in order to go about his everyday life, including changing his last name in order to attend dental school and stating his ethnicity on his passport. This made Melekhina's husband feel as if he was a lesser member of the Russian community because of his Jewish heritage despite not actively practicing the religion.

Keywords: Jewish; Nationality; Religious persecution; Russia; Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Subjects: Communism; Dentists; Education; Emigration and immigration.; Employment; Families.; Immigrants; Jews--Identity.; Occupations; Physicians; Religion

Partial Transcript: How has Philadelphia changed in the years since you've--I guess, you've been in--

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina talks about how her family has lived in Philadelphia since 1994, and that the city has experienced significant changes. During that time, they have bought a home from which they run their dental practice. Melekhina's mother has also obtained a United States Green Card so she is able to visit often and spend time with her family.

Keywords: Green Cards; Home ownership; Northeast Philadelphia; Northeast Regional Branch Library; Permanent residency

Subjects: Dentists; Emigration and immigration.; Employment; Families.; Immigrants; Occupations; Physicians

Partial Transcript: Have you been back to Russia since you--

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina recollects visiting Crimea and realizing how much she did not like it anymore. Melekhina describes the turmoil Crimea has experienced as the territory has switched back and forth between Russia and the Ukraine. She describes how she cannot switch back to the culture she used to once live in after adapting to the culture of the United States. Melekhina recalls having to learn new practices like shopping in a supermarket when she first immigrated, but that she embraced these differences as she wanted to start a new life.

Keywords: Americana; Capitalism; Communism; Culture; Jewish Federation; Republic of Crimea; Returning home; Russia; Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Subjects: Communism; Emigration and immigration.; Families.; Immigrants

Partial Transcript: You mentioned that your options at that time would've been to, uh, immigrate to either the United States or Israel.

Segment Synopsis: After obtaining refugee status, Melekhina remembers how her family had three options for immigration: Israel, South Africa, and the United States. They chose to immigrate to the United States due to their relatives and they have been residing in the country ever since. Once they arrived in the U.S., Melekhina had a hard time remembering that they could openly talk with one another and loved the freedoms she had. She describes going to a supermarket as being a “kid in a candy store” due to all the choices. She also recalls feeling sad when she heard that the Soviet Union collapsed and crying as a result. She describes how shocked she was when she learned about aspects of Soviet history that had been suppressed until after its collapse, including the mass imprisonment of citizens. Today, Melekhina claims that she does not follow the news of Russia as much as she used to when she first immigrated.

Keywords: American food; Collapse of Soviet Union; Economy; Freedom of speech; Israel; Jewish immigration; Mikhail Gorbachev; Propaganda; Refugee status; Russia; South Africa; Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); United States; Vladimir Lenin; Vladimir Putin

Subjects: Communism; Emigration and immigration.; Families.; Immigrants

Partial Transcript: Um, can you tell me about this?

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina shows off a medallion that she purchased at a Russian store in the United States. She bought the medallion to remember that period of her life and to help teach her daughters what the Soviet Union was like. Her daughters have expressed interest in learning about this history.

Keywords: Medallions; Russia; Soviet Union; State Emblem of the Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); United Soviet Socialist Republic

Subjects: Communism; Emigration and immigration.; Families.; Immigrants

Partial Transcript: And this one here, like we have to do like a military, uh, you know, like classes all the time in high school.

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina remembers participating in mandatory military trainings throughout her schooling in the Soviet Union. These trainings included learning how to march, learning the army commands, and learning how to use a rifle. Melekhina recalls the feeling of impending attack from Western countries that she continually felt throughout her childhood. This sort of propaganda was preached to the citizens of the Soviet Union and was not necessarily truthful. She shows a photograph of her as a high school student dressed in military uniform.

Keywords: Brainwashing; Cold War; Communism; Education; High schools; Mandatory; Military classes; Military training; Nuclear war; Propaganda; Required military; Rifles; Russia; Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Vladimir Lenin

Subjects: Childhood; Communism; Education; Military education.; Military training camps

Partial Transcript: And this one right here?

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina talks about how the dance studios worked in Russia. She began dancing at 5 years old, where she trained in Ukrainian dance at her grandmother’s encouragement. She loved performing. Melekhina danced all throughout her time in the Soviet Union including medical school.

Keywords: Ballerinas; Ballet; Dance studios; Folk dance; International dance; Russia; Soviet Union; Traditional dance; Ukrainian dance; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Subjects: Childhood; Dance; Education; Families.

Partial Transcript: And this is my like--the school, you know, like uniform.

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina explains how she had to wear a red tie as a part of her school uniform, symbolizing that she was a Young Pioneer. She shares that as children grew, they advanced in a hierarchy from Young Pioneer to Komsomol to Communist. Her father was a mandatory member of the Communist Party because he was a professional, otherwise he would not be able to have a job. When her father died when she was age 19, the family lost some of the privileges obtained from him being a party member.

Keywords: Black Sea; Communists; Komsomol; Red ties; Russia; School uniforms; Semi-Island; Simferopolʹ (Ukraine); Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Young Pioneers

Subjects: Childhood; Communism; Education; Employment; Families.; Occupations; Physicians

Partial Transcript: What else? Like, I don't know, like I brought some stuff.

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina shows traditional Russian objects that her friends sent her from their home country in order to remember where she comes from, including nesting dolls and small painted wooden objects. She now considers herself an American, not a Russian. She also recalls how hard her immigration journey was, especially because there are fewer Russians in Philadelphia than there are in New York. As a new mother she had a harder time adjusting than her husband who was in school with many other Russians.

Keywords: American identity; Americanization; Assimilation; Culture; Education; Folklore; Immigration journey; Language acquisition; Parenthood; Russian identity; Russian nesting dolls; Traditional

Subjects: Emigration and immigration.; Families.; Immigrants

Partial Transcript: Have they traveled back with you as adults?

Segment Synopsis: Melekhina discusses how there is a completely different environment in the United States compared to Russia. She also remembers returning to her home country where she felt judged by her friends for leaving Russia because they believed Melekhina betrayed her country. However, Melekhina's family understands that the country was unlivable during the time of the Soviet Union and that ultimately immigrating was the best decision.

Keywords: Betrayal; Green Cards; Permanent residents; Russia; Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Visiting Russia

Subjects: Communism; Emigration and immigration.; Families.; Immigrants