October 13, 2026
We get along just fine with the neighbors; our relations with them are perfectly cordial, and when we left our jobs, I honestly told them where we were going and why. They saw us off with tears, gave us a gift, asked us to write and tell them about our life in Russia, and wished us every success in our new home. One Turkish colleague did suspect, though, that Putin had clearly told us something and that was why we were leaving, so as an honest person I simply had to warn my colleagues too. I promised that as soon as Putin called me personally and shared his plans regarding Germany, I’d call him right back 😂.
We had it all: our children were born in this country, and I got my education here, one degree entirely at the state's expense. I also met good people, both Germans and Poles, as well as people of all kinds of nationalities. I sincerely want to take just that with me and remember it with gratitude. I’m trying to keep that in mind and persuade my husband to do the same, but unfortunately I can’t deny that not everything was wonderful.
The children don’t even want to think about school, and, to be honest, I don’t want to think about their school either. At times, both the children and I encountered outright Nazism, and often something more like a spirit of rivalry. This all intensified, sadly, especially after 2022, and despite all my goodwill, I can’t deny that fact.
We now live in Kaliningrad.
The author's spelling and punctuation have been preserved.
Publication date: April 8, 2026