Mom's View: Culture Shock

ISAAC at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography,
ie The Bolshoi Ballet Academy!

Isaac comes from a pretty normal American family in that the kids bicker, like all kids would do, but I don't let them get away with it for long.  Name calling is specifically outlawed in our house, though some gentle jibbing and teasing happens.

When Isaac arrived in Russia, some wonderful people from Church picked him up, fed him a wholesome, homemade meal and got him situated at the school.  His roommate, Janos (YAWN-ose) was arriving the same day--a boy with whom Isaac had corresponded a bit before arrival.  They didn't know they would be in the same room and the same class, but it has been a blessing for them.  They have become good friends and rely on each other to get through these very tough first days and weeks.

The next day, Isaac went to his first class.  His teacher is Ilya Kuznetsov, an excellent, young teacher who has posted many videos of his classes on YouTube.  Since Isaac has all ballet videos posted on YouTube memorized, he knew Kuznetsov and knew he was getting a great teacher.  What he didn't know was that his teacher was going to be Tough.  With a capital T.

For the first three days, Isaac was called, simply, "Stupid America!"

It is a longer story than you care to hear, but the first time we were able to talk was on the evening of his fourth day at the school.  When Isaac first told me that he was yelled at, called names and mocked for the first three days in Russia, tears stung my eyes.  Not my good boy.  Not my nice boy.  Not my son, dang it!  Work him hard, yes.  Make him sweat, absolutely.  But don't hurt his soul!  I was ready at that moment to pull the plug and bring him home.

But I restrained.  Swallowing hard, I asked the next question:

"Is it just you or is he mean to everyone?"  When Isaac confirmed that Kuznetsov was mean to everyone, then I relaxed a little.  It's not that I approve of the technique, but as long as all of the boys were in it together, it somehow made the hardness of it softer.

On the fourth day, Isaac was ignored.  "I was never so glad to be ignored in all my life!"

Before he left for Russia, I made Isaac promise that he would tell me every day that he was praying, reading scriptures, and not drinking Vodka or smoking cigarettes.  He laughed at me as he chided me with a, "You know me better than that, Mom!"  Yes, I do.  But when I can't be with him, read his body language, know his friends and all of his business, I worry.

During that first conversation, I asked him the questions.

His reply was simply, "Mom, I have never prayed so hard in my life."

If the only thing he gets out of this experience is a reliance upon the Savior, it will have been worth every penny and sacrifice!

McDonald's: Comfort Food!

More to come . . .

--Emily