European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 31, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse E a with the a Himons by Norm Zeigler travel outdoor writer we sat around the living room table drinking Tea and eating homemade Jam with tiny spoons. It did t matter that seven of us were squeezed Between a baby grand piano a Wall hanging min gym and the television. What the apartment lacked in luxury our hosts made up for with hospitality. We were spending the afternoon at the Home of the Bozhinov family. The invitation had come from 23-year-old Ivan a student we met at Leningrad University. His Mother Inna 58, is a retired pianist and music teacher. His father Victor 65, is a sculptor whose works Are in several City Parks though it was a saturday he was at work in his studio. Other guests were Ivan s Girlfriend Victoria Golubeva our i tourist bus Driver Alexander Gordon and Gordon s wife Irina an architect. The Baz Hanovs live in a government owned apartment building on the East Side of Leningrad. It is a neighbourhood of Gray nondescript apartment blocks each one much like the next. The heating pipes in the Corner of the stairwell Are wrapped with rags in a makeshift attempt at insulation. The building exudes an air of decrepitude and neglect. Housing costs Are Low in the soviet Union averaging about 3 percent of income. But the Down Side is that despite massive construction projects there is a chronic shortage. Apartments Are often passed Down through the generations. In this apartment Inna Bozhinov watched her grandmother die of starvation during the world War ii siege of Leningrad. It has been in her family since the 1930s. With two bedrooms living room bathroom and Kitchen the apartment is average by soviet standards by american standards it is tiny and cramped. The hallway is about 7 feet wide the living room about 10 by 12 feet. Ivan s bedroom is 7 by 12 feet. A Couch that folds out into a bed a Cabinet and his stereo leave very Little room to walk. Family apartments in Leningrad Are rented for 14 Kopek a month per Square meter. This Means the Baz Hanovs pay about 4.20 rubles a month about $25 at the special tourist Exchange rate in rent for approximately 30 Square meters. The phone costs 2.50 rubles a month. Gas is 50 Kopek per person per month. The biggest expense is electricity which usually costs from 10 to 15 rubles a month. Golubeva said because her family has three to sets the electric Bills Are around 40 rubles a month. Inna Bozhinov welcomed photographer Ken George and me into her Home As if we were Long lost relatives. Ivan had told us that at first she had not wanted us to visit but not because of even a Trace of unfriendliness. She was afraid their modest Home would look like a mess to two americans. Next year or the year after the family expects to have a new place. They have already paid 5,000 rubles Down on a 17,000-Ruble apartment that is being built in a new Coop apartment building. Like Many soviets we met mrs. Bozhinov has a fondness for americans. They Are open hearted. They remind me of us because we have the same character she said. And what about the anti american propaganda during the cold War i never believed americans Are our enemies she said. During the War Wii they helped when the siege began she was 9 years old. She recalls singing a song about a heroic american Soldier and eating bread made from american wheat which was very yellow and very Only once during the nearly three years of the siege did her family eat meat. It was canned meat from the United states. She had an Uncle in new York. During the War he sent a package. But that was during Stalin s reign of terror when any mail from abroad could mean a one Way trip to the gulag. Her father wrote to the Uncle asking him not to communicate with the family again. She would like to find that Uncle now or his son. She still has a letter from him but it is in yiddish and she cannot read it. But maybe now he is dead she said tears Welling up in her eyes. We leafed through the family photo album a collection of sepia toned images from the past cavalry officers with Handlebar mustaches a family Outing a Little girl with Bangs and a Lovely shy smile. That is me she said flashing the same smile. At the University Ivan is studying Spanish French and English. He started his studies in 1985 but because of poor grades he admits he did not study enough he had to leave and was drafted into the army. He says it was because he plays the oboe he was assigned to the orchestra. Now he has three More years of study ahead. He Hopes to work in an office dealing with foreign Trade someday. This summer he will go to the United states on a student Exchange program though he does not yet know where. As we sipped our Tea sunlight streamed in the windows and a 1939 soviet film flickered on the to. The atmosphere was cozy one of smiles and Small talk and Good will. When we left it was with warm hugs All around. Top Inna Bozhinov holds the family pet and talks fondly of America. Above gathered for Tea Are from left Ivan Bozhinov his Mother Inna his Girlfriend Victoria Golubeva and Irina and Alexander Gordon. At left Victor Bozhinov and his son in the sculptor s studio. May 31, 1990 stripes Magazine 11
