European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 25, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday tuesday december 25/26. 1989 the stars and stripes Page i �. Pedestrians Cross an icy Street in san Antonio framed by icicles hanging on an adjacent building. Frigid cold and As much As 12 inches of Snow burst into the South threatening the Region s valuable very Cool and the gang fruit and vegetable crops shutting airports and forcing Many utilities to resort to selective Power outages to Cope with surging Power demand. A Long Finger of Arctic air extending South from Canada was keeping most of the United states East of the Rockies shivering under record Low temperatures. At least 73 deaths in 26 states bad been blamed on the frigid snap. Soviets switch to american schools diplomats children Experiment with glasnost new York not in the Bronx glasnost trans lates into Michael Kirsanov biting into his first Ham Burger and Nadya Barabanov watching soap operas like Days of our lives and Santa  Michael and Nadya arc children of soviet Diplomat based in new York City. In the new Era of openness ushered in by their nation s Leader Mikhail s. Gorbachev they arc joining the children of other soviet diplomats in venturing beyond their compounds to attend american schools in cities across the nation. In new York 70 Sovie children attend three schools in the Well to do Riverdale Section of the Bronx where officials attached to the United nations delegation live with their families in a High Rise apart ment building. Two arc Public schools . 81, which Michael at tends and Junior High school 141. The Riverdale country school where Nadya is a student is private. In the past All soviet parents sent their youngsters to the 300-Studenl school at their Riverdale com the typical stereotype. Was a Kab agent who would Send you to Siberia sixth grader Pound. Now some have chosen to use american schools where the children can improve their English and make new friends. The International Exchange has been pronounced delightful by All involved. Among the american children stereotypes about soviet people have been shattered. The typical stereotype of a russian was a Kab agent who would Send you to  said Michael Frazer an 11-Ycar-old sixth grader at . 81, where 62soviet children arc enrolled this year. Now when i see something about the soviet Union on television i think of the kids at  6 cubans rescued near key Largo Miami a a freighter picked up six cuban refugees floating Southeast of key Largo then handed them Over to the coast guard a coast guard spokes Man said. The Santa Paula a 500-foot West German freighter in route to Venezuela came upon the six men late in the morning according to senior chief Petty officer Lou Parris. The freighter changed course at the coast guard s request and handed the cubans Over to a coast guard vessel at the Miami Harbor sea buoy late in the Day Parris said. The cubans were taken to the coast guard s Miami Beach base where they were interviewed by immigration and naturalization service officials. All six appeared to be suffering from exposure after the Chilly crossing but otherwise were in Good health Parris said. The spokesman did not know what sort of Craft the cubans were aboard when found or How far they were from key Largo when the freighter found them. Key Largo the northernmost of the Florida keys is about 60 Miles South of Miami. When i first came they were a Little uncomfortable Michael s classmate Maria Solovick said of the americans. Maria. 12, Speaks almost flawless English. The first few Days no one talked to  now Maria says she has Many american friends and feels at Home in the Bronx. She said she likes to watch television and listen to the radio to improve her English. More than anything the soviet children say they want to blend in and just be Good students. I was worried that people would not accept us being russian and All said Julie gue Basseva a 14 year old ninth grader at Riverdale country  twin sister Stacy is also a student there. Years ago relations Between the soviet Union and America were not so Good Julie said. "1 thought peo ple would look at us out of the Comer of their Eye and wonder what we re doing  that has not happened she said even though she said she sometimes receives questions about life in the soviet Union that she considers annoying. The first question was is it cold there " she  Don t know much about our  the soviet students said some courses have been difficult but their teachers have been supportive. In addition to their classes Julie is a member of the swim team and Nadya is on the fencing team. School officials said the soviet students Are performing Well academically and even the very Young children who speak Little English arc catching on quickly. Medea Kirsanov whose sons Serge and Michael Are attending american schools said we thought behave to give them an Opportunity to learn the language from the  we feel that what we re doing Here is great said the principal of . 81, David Parker. Who knows where the relationships started Here will Lead the Way the children get along is a great lesson for All