Childhood.

I was born in Belarus, during USSR. I was around six when Belarus gained its independence. I do not remember much up to that point, just snippets of kindergarten, etc.

However, I do remember from around age of 6 up until we left Belarus, when I was 13.

It was a carefree childhood. It was safe to walk on the streets at the age of seven to school on my own. The year before, my sister at age of seven, was bringing me to school.

Before you ask where were your parents, they were working.

With breakdown of USSR, I remember empty shelves in the shop, only dried beans and baby formula.

There was no currency in Belarus and salaries were given in coupons. Food coupons, furniture, clothing. I remember mum exchanging some of those with others to buy us furniture.

I remember long queues when something did arrive in the shops. All four of us holding those coupons and queuing as if we didn’t know each other, as it was one per family.

Even with all of that, people didn’t despair. They worked hard, most had a summer house with someone in the family. Food growing became a family affair.

I remember those summer months. Sweet strawberries and other berries, watering the plants, weeding. Spending evenings playing cards with grandma.

School started having religion as a subject ( it was banned during USSR). Churches reopened.

As a kid, it was free or very low priced to learn anything I wanted. I remember attending art classes, ballet, acrobatics, athletics – all of these were free. My parents paid for us to go to music school, but pricing was very reasonable (once currency came into effect).

Summer months were spent in summer camps that I think were free (mum and dad got us places in those from work). Last month of summer was spent camping with my parents for couple of weeks and going to see grandparents in Minsk.

All I remember is being free 🙂