Category: Interviews

Seller: Before there was a large immigration, a lot of people came.

Diana: When is “before?”

Seller: Mid ’90s. Beginning and mid ’90s- there was a large immigration from the USSR territory. It so happened that I suddenly ended up in a Muslum country. It used to be USSR and then all of a sudden this. I had a profession that prevented me from working there, so I retired. I was in the military, held a high position. My whole life I caught and arrested people, I worked in Judiciary Police. And then, I had to do something to feed my family. My kids were young and went to school. So when there was the large immigration, we worked at a company where our owner would give us one 40ft container of books every three months. Guys, can you imagine? It means, four containers per year, so in one year we would get 150,000-160,000 books, and practically 50%-60% would get sold.

Diana: What did you do with the other books that did not get sold?

Seller: Well, we would put them in catalogs, send them out, and people would still buy. It’s just new books must always be arriving. If you don’t have new books coming, then people won’t be buying the old books. Some people like to read detective genres… my whole life was a detective genre. Some people like love books, some like classics, for kids. I started selling books for kids now, that’s the only thing that still makes business. With years, the generation that could read- elderly people- they either physically can’t read or they died already. That’s why this is a dying business.

Diana: Yeah, especially with the internet being used as a popular source right now.

Seller: Well I personally like books. I have those computers and iPhone where I can read everything, but I like to physically flip through the pages of the book. It’s a pleasure that can’t compare to anything. When you feel the texture of the book, it feels nice. Over the last couple of years, it’s only private publications. Take a look, swipe your hand on the book (As he hands Diana a book). It’s German typography, Finland’s whitened paper, German paint, and Russian labor. And it’s a specialized publication.

Diana: Are those calendars?

Seller: Yes, those are calendars. Hello, Borya! (he said Hi to his friend). This is a former pilot, fought in Afghanistan, rewarded with medals. Lived in Riga (Latvia). And then it so happened that the USSR fell apart, so we moved here. There are a lot of different [people] here, you can talk to them. Ebba (points to the woman in a stroller that works with him) is not the “last” person [in the society]. She held high job positions, was a good economist. This person (points at another one of his friends) graduated a conservatory, performed in ensembles. It just so happened…..so, immigration is not all poor and uneducated.

Diana: No no, of course, that’s understood.

Seller: And with the books, not a lot of people read, the ones that used to read died or physically can’t. Young people, in my family, for example, Russian and English are two native languages. And then French and Spanish- that’s obvious. So they use Spanish to talk to me, and I am clueless because I don’t know what it is. And French they just like. My kids read.

Diana: Thank you so much! It was a pleasure talking to you!

Seller: You’re welcome! Study guys! The most important thing is to get a good education. Once you get it, everything will be easy, I know from the example of my kids. It was so hard, financially, and we all always worked, I remember all of that. My son is now an international lawyer, he is studying in Europe, for 10 years already. My daughter is a speech pathologist. Guys, study, and everything will be great! Just don’t get married too early, get your education and then everything will be okay. Good luck to you!

Diana: Okay, thank you so much! We appreciate it!

Question: Where are you from?

Answer: I am from Odessa, Ukraine.

Q: How long ago did you arrive?

A: I arrived 25 years ago and I immigrated through Italy.

Q: How was that experience for you?

A: After arriving in Italy I had to find a job because we were there for three months. It was very hard for me and my family because we did not have a lot of money and did not speak the language.

Q: What happened once you arrived in New York?

A: Originally we were supposed to leave from New York to Ohio because my wife’s brother lived there. We ended up staying in New York and moving to Brighton Beach because we liked the Russian community that we saw forming there.

Q: What was your first job?

A: My first job was sweeping the streets in front of restaurants and buildings. It did not make me a lot of money but it was enough for me, my wife, and my son to eat a little something.

Q: How did you get your current job?

A: As I was sweeping the street, they fired some man who was cutting the meats and cheeses right in front of me and saw me sweeping in front of the restaurant. The man asked if I knew how to use the machine they had and I lied and said yes because I know that the job paid more. I began working that same day and the woman already working there showed me how to operate the machine.

Q: How was life?

A: It was very hard, but now I had a job and my wife enrolled my son in school and began working as a home attendant for the elderly. The woman who I worked with showed me how to take some of the extra meats and cheeses left over after the day ended and it helped to feed my family. I also took home any stale bread they had left over.

Q: How long have you had this job?

A: I have had this job for 22 years.

Diana: What was the first time you tried going into the cold water?

Swimmer: The first time was in a frigid winter so this isn’t so bad.

Diana: Where in Ukraine?

Swimmer: Yes, in Kiev, my boxing trainer introduced me to it. But overall the idea really came from the tradition from the villages when they would go to swim during their christening. During the event everyone would go in, not only old people but young as well. There is a very big fan base for swimming in the cold that goes from enthusiast to athletes

Diana: Do you like to swim in the summer?

Swimmer: Of course. I also really enjoy going to the pool as well. To me, sports are a “must have.” You can love it or hate it, it doesn’t matter but you have to have physical exercise. For example, take my friend that is swimming. A lot of the people her age will tell you about all the different pains that they are having from aging. For example, my boxing trainer, he is over 60 years old but there is no one willing to step into a ring with him, he is a very dangerous person.

Diana: When you walk around the streets do you dress warm?

Swimmer: Yes, I dress just like everyone else. You have to look after yourself.

Diana: Has there ever been a time where you have gotten sick from doing this?

Swimmer: No, never.

Diana: So you just always have to be careful with what you are doing?

Swimmer: Yes, the first rule to doing anything in the cold is to keep your feet dry. Even if you are barefoot it will be more beneficial to rub your feet than to shove your feet into a pair of damp socks or shoes. You can find these types of simple things out on something like “Discovery Channel.” For example, when I was drilling through the ice in Kiev and my foot fell through the ice, I went straight to the car to change my shoes. You don’t feel how bad it is but something this simple can result in a minimum of you getting sick and a maximum of an amputation.

Diana: Does it still feel cold to enter the water or not anymore? What is the feeling you get?

Swimmer: The feeling at first when you enter the water is that you don’t really feel anything but then once you get a little deeper, you start to feel rapid numbing of your body.

Diana: Is it scary?

Swimmer: If you don’t know what to do then it is scary but if you are ready then it’s nothing.

Diana: One more question, you don’t have to answer. How old are you?

Swimmer: I’m 28.