"Destiny itself is like a wonderful wide tapestry in which every thread is guided by an unspeakably tender hand, placed beside another thread, and held and carried by a hundred others." Rainer Maria Rilke, "Letters to a Yong Poet" I was in New York City to give a talk at the Teachers College, Columbia University. It … Continue reading Baltic and Other Shores
Category: English
Trees in the Winter
The leaves are long gone and the trees stand naked. They are not embarrassed by it. The trees show off their strong trunks and elaborate branches, the graphics of an incredible artist. The shapes and silhouettes vary: ovals, spades, and semicircles, narrow and wide. The winter air is clean. Some days are gloomy grey but … Continue reading Trees in the Winter
Jerusalem
Here starts the road of Eternity to the center of the Universe. The white stones on the backdrop of the desert, under endless blue sky, keep thousand year old secrets. Filled with a plethora of important historical sights, the Old City is greeting tourists. At first glance, one might think it is really focused on … Continue reading Jerusalem
An August Rainbow
It was about to rain. Right before the storm descended upon the valley, the green mountains on both sides of the road got a more defined contour. The sky was divided; the left part was still light blue with the white clouds; the right part was getting darker and tense. The waterfall started almost immediately, … Continue reading An August Rainbow
Happy Autumn
There is no yesterday and no tomorrow, only today. Only now I sit and look at the miracle named Autumn. Content with itself, the Mountain dressed up in magical colors. The green tops are playing with orange, yellow and red bottoms. Silence is occasionally interrupted by the whispering of dry grass. A busy groundhog is … Continue reading Happy Autumn
The Colors of Passion (San Francisco)
Drops of champagne fall into the dark waters of the Pacific Ocean. The sunset just slightly touches the surface before diving right in. The silence is interrupted only by waves hitting the cliff, obeying their own rhythm. The shore submissively accepts the firm massage. The miniature charm of the Japanese garden, with every little bridge, … Continue reading The Colors of Passion (San Francisco)
From Einstein to Lenin
Last summer I gave a talk at the University of Oxford, sharing my work on the comparison of childhood and education between Russia and the US. My husband and I decided to prolong our European stay and spent a week in Switzerland. We were sitting inside a small cafe in Bern named “Einstein” on a … Continue reading From Einstein to Lenin
The Temple of the Attainment of Happiness
In August 2015 I was attending a conference at the University of Pennsylvania. Whenever I travel for professional meetings, I always look for something “for the soul.” My default plan for Philadelphia was visiting the Barnes collection. I’d seen it in its old location and it was breathtaking, so I wanted to check out their … Continue reading The Temple of the Attainment of Happiness
