Interviewing Seniors from Former Soviet Union

One day, I had no school,

So I decided to

Go do some interviews

At L’Chaim Wellness Center.

It is part of JFCS.

It is located in SF’s Sunset,

And provides essentials and entertainment

 for seniors from the Former Soviet Union.

I meet two nice seniors.

Both came from the former Soviet Union.

One more recently,

And the other more than thirty years ago.

First one came three years ago.

She escaped the bombings of Ukraine

Just a day before the borders closed,

Thanks to help from her friend.

Back in Ukraine, she lived alone.

She did have an apartment,

And a very nice neighbor,

Who helped her get essentials.

Two months into the war,

Ukraine’s borders were going to close.

That’s when her friend offered

To pick her up in Germany.

The night before they closed,

She took a flight to Germany.

When she arrived at night,

Her friend picked her up.

She didn’t plan on staying in Germany.

She had family in the Bay Area,

So her friend helped her with booking

A flight to San Francisco and getting a visa.

And it was successful.

The second lady I interviewed

Emigrated from Ukraine more than thirty years ago.

She worked as a nurse, back in Ukraine

And In San Francisco’s Veterans Hospital.

Working in America was not easy for her.

She did not speak English,

Or understand the customs well.

However, she still the best she could.

She had some people

Translate for her from English to Russian.

She said that the other staff were very patient.

She retired more than a decade ago,

But unfortunately, seven years ago,

She lost her husband.

That’s when she found L’Chaim Wellness Center,

After feeling alone without him. 

I wish I could have heard more stories,

But I had to leave early.

However, these two stories felt

Really meaningful to hear.