Nostalgia, or the Confession of an Elderly Immigrant
By Viktorina Savelyeva

At the age of 57 (I believed my creative life was already over), I arrived as a stranger in a foreign country, hoping to become one of its own and to feel that the country would become my own as well. Considering my age — what a task! How could I possibly solve it?

To begin from the beginning: where is my place in the Universe? Thinking about this, I developed a theory I call “Puzzles.” In this “guide” for immigrants, I present only the essential part of it.

In my view, the Universe is a vast collection of complex puzzle images. Each picture consists of individual puzzle pieces, each having its own unique place and carrying a fragment of the larger image. A puzzle piece cannot exist in another place within the set, yet without that single piece, the image would be incomplete. At any given moment, a person exists within one such piece belonging to one of these complex pictures. In the material world, one may belong to several sets at once: country, society, work, family, friends, language courses, clubs, associations, and so on. Some of these sets are simple and function as individual puzzle pieces within more complex ones (such as country or society).

If you want to feel that a foreign country is your own, you must become one of its own. According to my theory, you must occupy as many puzzle pieces as possible within the different sets that make up the country. Fine — but how do you enter these spaces? All the money-generating positions you would like to occupy are already taken. Moreover, it is highly unlikely that a set will choose you among hundreds of others competing for a vacant spot.

You have no choice: take a place in any set willing to accept you. I am speaking of paid positions — jobs you would certainly have dismissed in the country you left. Do your work conscientiously (any work!!), remembering that “Freedom is recognized necessity.” Make friends and join communities that do not pay you (you will often have to pay to participate).

The most important — and most realistic — way to become one of the puzzle pieces in the set called “country” is to start your own business, even if it cannot fully support you. Do simple work within someone else’s set while carrying the business card of the set you created — one that others may later develop and strengthen. Another set you can create abroad is new friends. It is difficult, but possible, if you follow the previous instructions. And finally, if you are lucky, something worthy and income-generating will emerge.

Alas, you have arrived in capitalism, and you are evaluated by how much you earn. Therefore, it is very important to have a business with all the necessary attributes: a website, business cards, a catalogue, advertising, membership in relevant associations, a workshop, participation in city events. It does not matter how much you earn from it — no one knows — but you are already one of your own.

Do not despair. At least two sets will preserve your puzzle piece even after you are gone:

• Your family, for whom you came to this foreign country;

• Your friends and relatives who remained in your homeland and have since scattered across the world.

I have followed this theory for many years, and I can tell you: it’s not so bad.