The Rose couple told Voronezh students that Americans who show an interest in our country risk losing their jobs and even their lives.
A meeting with a family of migrants from the USA, Joseph and Svetlana Rose, was held in the White Hall of Voronezh State University (VSU). It was attended by students from all faculties of VSU and guests from other Voronezh universities.
The meeting was organised by students and staff of the Department of English Philology at the Faculty of Romance and Germanic Philology (RGP) of VSU. An interesting trend is emerging: Americans and Europeans are drawn to Russia. Svetlana and Joseph, parents of five children, moved from the United States to our country almost two years ago, on 16 February 2022.
Svetlana Anokhina and her husband Joseph Rose are confident that others will follow the first migrants en masse, because they will receive truthful information about the real life of people in Russia, which they can trust. For now, obtaining such information in the US is almost impossible. Therefore, blogger Joseph, who makes videos from various Russian cities and villages, faces various questions.
The Rose couple are convinced that Americans have certain stereotypes that do not correspond to reality. During the meeting, Joseph noted that, in the interests of a just and sustainable world, Russia is extending a hand to all who share traditional values.
– “People in the West want to know the truth about Russia. They live in a different reality, they want to escape it, but they are under threat of losing their jobs and even their lives. They ask us for help: to tell them where they can turn to move to Russia or at least visit it”, shared Svetlana Anokhina-Rose.
The meeting sparked great interest. Those gathered in the hall had many comments and questions. For example, they asked about the attitude towards foreigners in Russia and whether there were communication problems, inquired about modern technologies in our country and abroad, education, infrastructure, clothing, and prices. Participants were also interested in a foreigner’s perspective on the Russian mentality.
Sofia Volkova, organiser of the Russian club “Logos” and a third-year student at Voronezh State University of Forestry and Technologies, shared her impressions of the meeting:
– “Until today, I was wavering between two completely opposite opinions and didn’t know which camp to join. When I was a teenager, I believed that everything was better in the West and that one should try to escape there at the first opportunity. As I grew older, I began to have doubts. Svetlana and Joseph helped me put an end to this question and understand that the phrase “where you were born, there you are needed’” is not just a saying. We must value what we have here and strive to make our country better, not dream of a “beautiful faraway land” that is only beautiful until you get to know it too closely”.
Elizaveta Pereveeva, a first-year student of the RGP faculty, was interested in the dialogue between Evgenia Martova, who dreams of living in the West, and her opponents Svetlana and Joseph:
– “It was very interesting to hear about life abroad from our compatriots, about how healthcare, education, and other spheres of life are structured. It was also curious to hear a foreigner’s opinion about life in Russia, its pluses and minuses. The Rose couple dispelled all stereotypes and shared unusual facts about different countries. I would like such meetings to be held more often at our university”!
– “Seeing the announcement, I signed up for the event immediately, and I was very satisfied with the meeting. It was a unique opportunity to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the emigration experience. What I heard left me with many thoughts and the absolute certainty that life in a foreign land is not a dream nowadays”, stated Egor Kamenev, a fourth-year student of the RGP faculty.
Svetlana Anokhina-Rose and her family are ready to help other migrants by maintaining an open dialogue about Russia. People in the West, facing discrimination and aggressive liberal policies, are considering our country as a potential place for a new life. Russia gives migrants a chance to receive an excellent education and become highly qualified specialists. This, in turn, will help reduce the staff shortage in various sectors of our economy. It is only necessary to remove unnecessary barriers for migrants who could become useful members of Russian society.