The time flies fast. Lectures have already begun in Moscow after the winter holidays. Everything I’ve already learned doesn’t bring a lot of joy. I’ve been told that my Father stays at the outside of the city house in summers. It means that my search is not finished and it will go on in summer.

On the seventh day we went to Grandfather’s grave with flowers. On our way to it, my Mother saw the grave of my Father’s Mother – my Grandmother. It turns out that she passed away the previous year. 

There are things that you can play back and forward in your imagination innumerable times, but in a real life, there are situations that are impossible to change. Facing death everything turns to be insignificant.

As soon as the train arrived to the Kazan railway station, we’ve been taken right to the funeral. According to the Jewish tradition, close relatives stay at home for some days, it’s called “shiva” – time to recall all the good things, to look at the old photos, to be together in the hard moments of life.

In the left days of our stay, I’ve been at two apartments where we used to live, met my old friends and neighbors. My mother showed me where my Fathers worked, but now there is a municipal department, in that building.

It’s was very hard to imagine that there are places in the world ( +20 in Tel Aviv, where my mother came from) where it’s warm right now. The cold kept following me in Kazan. It’s – 23. Neither winter boots, nor two pairs of knit mittens saved. The only possible way to get from one place to another was with a fast run or by public transport.

It’s a pity it was impossible to use camera in such a low temperature (all the pictures were taken through the window). Outdoors it was as beautiful as in a fairy tale. There was silver in the air, crispy snow under the feet, the trees put on their white coats.

Me and my Mother went to Kazan on the same train, but in different carriages. It was terribly cold in mine. I was trying to fall asleep but didn’t succeed. The cold wrapped me like a blanket. I put on a scarf, then – a hat…a coat, but nothing helped.

I was thinking about soldiers who went to war in the cold carriages, not having enough room, starving, cold, far from their families, they were in an even worse situation than I was. At five o’clock in the morning all the passengers didn’t sleep. It was -30 outside the train, -25 inside.

It turned out that our train attendant was absolutely inexperienced. Though he was throwing the coal into the furnace all night long, the heating system was off, and the warmth didn’t go to the carriage at all. He was absolutely sure, that he did everything he could until the passengers called for the workers from the nearest carriages. That is why we were evacuated to nearest compartments. Finally at 6 a.m. we were warm and fell asleep.

There are trips that change everything in life. Kazan railway station was covered with purple mist, as if in dreams. The cold burnt the breath. Everything seemed unreal.

I booked tickets to Kazan for the 3 of January, to be at my Grandfather’s birthday. Instead of that, I came to his funeral. My Grandpa passed away in the morning of the 3 of January. My Mother took the plane to Moscow urgently at the same day.

When I was small, my Mother worked a lot. My Grandfather spent a lot of time with me. My best memories from the childhood are connected with him. Zikhrono lebraha.

An old, Soviet New Year postcard.

It’s a tradition in Russia to celebrate a New Year with close family members around the table. Not long before midnight, the President of Russia congratulates the citizens. When the main clock of the country at the Red Square strikes 12, everybody drinks champaign making wishes.

According to the belief, the way you meet the New Year determines the next year. That’s why everybody tries their best to celebrate it as well as possible. Tables are full of food, drinks, entertainment programs are watched on television and there are carnivals and surprise parties with presents under trees. People go to the Red Square, skate, ski, play snowballs and have fun. The holiday is long in Russia and lasts 10 days.

This year I was far away from all my relatives and friends, hoping that the superstitions don’t work when you don’t believe in them.

Dear students from all over the world!!!

This year, I’ve got а very precious gift – an opportunity to find my Father. I don’t know how my investigation will end, but I would like to express my deepest gratitude for such a present.

Happy New Year! Let all your dreams come true! I wish you a lot of happiness and good luck in your exams.