Oral History Interview with Lavrentiy Safarov & Elza Safarov

BARBARA DRUMMOND: Drummond, and I'm at the International Food Store. It is October 10th 1998, and this is part of the Immigrants of Bowling Green um, Oral History Project. And I'm interviewing um, Elza and Lavrentiy, right? Safrov. And (unknown name) is going to translate for us, and the language you'll be translating in is?

UNKNOWN: Russian.

DRUMMOND: Is Russian?

UNKNOWN: Mhmm.

DRUMMOND: Okay. Um, so everybody here is Armenian, right?

UNKNOWN: Yeah.

DRUMMOND: Christian Armenian.

UNKNOWN: We all from one country. (laughs)

DRUMMOND: Okay. (laughs)

UNKNOWN: Same city. And even we were living on the same street.

DRUMMOND: Really?

UNKNOWN: We were neighbors in Baku.

DRUMMOND: In Baku?

UNKNOWN: Yeah, but we didn't know that we were neighbors. And we discovered it here in America.

DRUMMOND: Oh, so you didn't--

UNKNOWN: We were close neighbors in Baku.

DRUMMOND: Y'all didn't know each other in Baku then?

UNKNOWN: No, no.

DRUMMOND: No.

UNKNOWN: (indeterminable)

DRUMMOND: Oh. Interesting. Did um--okay, well tell me a little bit about um, how you got here to Bowling Green. Because I--tell me about your trip to here from Ba-, from Baku. Or, it was Moscow by the time they got to Bowling Green, right?

UNKNOWN: (speaking in Russian)

LAVRENTIY SAFAROV: I don't know. Uh, some--in 1987, 1988, we have it there some situation when uh, started some not very, I think smart (indeterminable) between different religions, and (indeterminable) started, I don't know. But I know that living there, we don't make money. They make you (indeterminable) family (indeterminable). I listen about program, American program, about Armenian people from Baku. And it was special program and I write letter from consulate, 2:00American consulate. And now we here after three years. Before we look at it (speaking in Russian).

UNKNOWN: Invitation?

L. SAFAROV: Yeah. And now we're here. Seven years. We're here.

DRUMMOND: It was a hard decision. You had told me it was a hard decision because--

UNKNOWN: (speaking in Russian)

ELZA SAFAROV: Of course, because we were born in Baku. Our children born in Baku. And our parents were born in Baku. And we lost everything because between Muslims between Christians, begin war. And uh, for save our children, we take them, we're gone. You know. It was very dangerous be in Baku. And we change our 3:00place and move to Armenia.

DRUMMOND: Mhmm.

E. SAFAROV: Uh, the capital of Yerevan. Two years uh, two years we live in Yerevan. Before, before in Baku my daughter--I had two children. Uh, the same, in this moment, my son he was in Moscow. And my daughter she studied at University in Baku. But situation was very bad and I take my children and move to Armenia.

L. SAFAROV: Armenia (speaking in Russian).

E. SAFAROV: And two years we live, and she finished, she go to fourth grade and we moved to Moscow. After two, three months from Moscow we came to Bowling Green. This was our first place, I think and last place. (laughs)

DRUMMOND: (laughs)

E. SAFAROV: Because my children and me,and my grandchildren, we're glad to be here. You know. And right now, my daughter she lives in Louisville because she want to continue her education. And she go to Louisville and study at University. She finished, she has graduate, she graduated with Master's degree. And right now she has high education but she and her husband right now have a big store, international food store market in Louisville. But I--before. Twenty five years um, was teacher of music school. I have musical education. And all my life I teach uh, at school.

(multiple people speaking in Russian)

E. SAFAROV: And, yes, I was music piano for teacher. You know, for teaching 5:00school. But right now I change my...

UNKNOWN: (speaking in Russian) (laughs)

(00:05:10)

E. SAFAROV: We opened business, me and my husband. I am glad, really, because too much people comes and uh, everybody tell us, "It's very nice that you are here." You know. I am glad, too, because they very nice people and very nice country and very free country, and uh we're very glad.

L. SAFAROV: We may do something for them.

E. SAFAROV: Yeah. And my son, maybe you know he has his own business in (indeterminable). He and his wife Natella they working together, and more people, more clients (indeterminable) because he's very, he's very clever. And uh...

(multiple people speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: And whenever people have some emergency, we just rush to Roman's Repair. Because we know that Roman will always help to all people. Regardless if he has time or he hasn't time. And regardless if he knew that person or if he doesn't know. He will always, always help. And uh, sometimes free of charge, you know. Because he has a lot of friends, and so he doesn't want to take money from his friends.

E. SAFAROV: Yes and right now at 7, yes we'll be at one year, October 26th. Seven years.

(Elza and Translator talking at same time)

E. SAFAROV: And we have many friends, we have many American friends, different country friends, you know. And very glad. And we live all together (indeterminable)

UNKNOWN: We're in touch with all the Armenian and Russian people. And Bosnian and American people. Yeah. People of different nationalities.

DRUMMOND: Tell me about your first day in Bowling Green.

UNKNOWN: (speaking in Russian)

L. SAFAROV: When we come here--

E. SAFAROV: When we came.

L. SAFAROV: First time uh, it's Miss Martha Deputy, she (indeterminable)

UNKNOWN: She met us there in the airport in Nashville.

L. SAFAROV: In Nashville, and bring (laughs) bring us in her house. We lived in her house three months.

E. SAFAROV: She take care of us, you know. And she (indeterminable) do everything for refugees.

L. SAFAROV: We very--

E. SAFAROV: And we (indeterminable)

L. SAFAROV: We very, all families, my family, very thanks, we thank Miss Marty, we thank Mr....

UNKNOWN: Kenny.

E. SAFAROV: Kenny.

L. SAFAROV: Kenny.

UNKNOWN: Her husband.

L. SAFAROV: It's her husband. Very nice people. Very good people, you know.

UNKNOWN: You know, we had some routine or--because the same thing was with our 8:00family, and all Armenian families. First they were met by Miss Marty Deputy. And we all lived in her house for a while.

DRUMMOND: It's like you've all lived in the same place, and gone to the same...

UNKNOWN: In the same place, yes. The same, and after that we just find another apartment and we moved, and give place for another family....

(laughing)

UNKNOWN: But right now...

E. SAFAROV: We have big house, we have big family. Good home. We have everything.

L. SAFAROV: (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: And they didn't feel disappointed, they were not disappointed when they started.

L. SAFAROV: (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: He says that there's a lot of Americans help them. It's not only Mrs. 9:00Marty and Kenny, but Jane...

L. SAFAROV: Jane. Miss Sarah.

UNKNOWN: Sarah (speaking in Russian)

L. SAFAROV: (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: And Pamela, yes I remember her.

L. SAFAROV: Yeah, Pamela. We thank them.

UNKNOWN: Very, very, very much, yes. Because uh, we uh, you know, people from different churches they came and help us.

DRUMMOND: Mhmm. Do you go to church now?

L. SAFAROV: Sometimes.

E. SAFAROV: Usually, but we busy right now.

L. SAFAROV: You know, we working.

UNKNOWN: Because our store open and (indeterminable). As far as I know, we have 10:00an Armenian church in Nashville.

(00:10:03)

DRUMMOND: Yeah?

UNKNOWN: Yes.

L. SAFAROV: Yeah.

UNKNOWN: And whenever we have a special service over there for (indeterminable) all of us attend. Very important church in Nashville. Even though not on regular basis because the shopping center is open on Saturdays and Sundays, you know. But whenever they have the chance, they will always attend the church in Nashville.

DRUMMOND: What is the name of the church in Nashville?

UNKNOWN: Uh, you know actually, it was before in the building of the Greek Orthodox church, but now we're getting the money to build our own Armenian church. So we have a project you know, and we're working on that, and so every person who has a business can help us more with building an Armenian church.

L. SAFAROV: Yeah, maybe after some time we have our own church.

DRUMMOND: Yeah. Well that'll be, that's exciting, that's exciting. I didn't know that. Um, what was your first impression when you arrived in the, in the airport.

(speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Actually, first we came to airport, we were still impressed by the events which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. Yeah, you know, and they feel how much they missed their country. And you know, all unknown is everything with them. So yeah, they were in some (indeterminable)

DRUMMOND: Mhmm. Homesick.

UNKNOWN: Homesick. Yeah. Because they were born over there, you know, their childs were born there, their youth. Everything, everything was connected with Baku. And uh....

L. SAFAROV: Their house, parents' cemetery. And we know that we see it last time. We don't go over there anymore time.

UNKNOWN: Anymore.

L. SAFAROV: And although it was--here, in here (indeterminable)

UNKNOWN: Depressed, depressed, we were very much.

L. SAFAROV: Long time (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: He was in depression for a long period of time.

L. SAFAROV: Yes. (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: For several, several years. And sometimes he (indeterminable), even nowadays.

DRUMMOND: Mhmm.

E. SAFAROV: Our children. They, they don't feel. Of course, they're young. But our life, in our country, you know. Right now I'm not young and my cousin's not 13:00young. But children, when I ask my children they're glad. And we're glad that we are here. Even because we're actually for the future of our children right now, we are here.

DRUMMOND: And grandchildren too, right?

L. SAFAROV: Yeah.

E. SAFAROV: Yeah, I have beautiful grandson, he four years. And beautiful granddaughter, Mari, she is staying here. She goes to school, does great. She speaks English very well. Our grandson, he's American, he born in America...

L. SAFAROV: And maybe he be presentient someday.

(laughing)

L. SAFAROV: Maybe. (laughs)

UNKNOWN: Yeah, who knows.

DRUMMOND: Um, the last time I was here you told me a story about how you got out of Moscow with the number, with the number 13.

UNKNOWN: (speaking in Russian)

L. SAFAROV: Oh, yeah. No, yes. When I come in Moscow (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Uh, there was a big line of people.

L. SAFAROV: My number was 10,000--uh, I don't remember--10,126, my number was. For appointment, yes.

UNKNOWN: Uh-huh, for appointment.

L. SAFAROV: I ask them, "How much people go in one day?" I want to see how long time I was going to be sit sit there, in Moscow. They say it, where is it around 60, 70 people one day go there. I said, "I must be there, where is it, around 6 months (UNKNOWN: laughs) before I may go in consulate. But somebody see me and say, "You want go inside?" He knows me but I don't remember him. I say, "Yes I want but my number 10,000 and I think..." He said, "I help you. I help you." And 15:00he (speaking in Russian)

(00:15:17)

UNKNOWN: And he acquainted him with some guy.

L. SAFAROV: Yeah, it's guy looks, it's uh (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: He was uh, yeah, responsible, you know.

L. SAFAROV: He helped...

UNKNOWN: He had some duties and he helped people over there, so.

L. SAFAROV: And he say to me, "I help you, don't think about it. What you-- (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: And uh, he promised that he would be in the second line of people who would enter the building. He promised that he will be there that day.

L. SAFAROV: And uh, he ask of me uh, "If I put your name on number 13...

UNKNOWN: (laughs)

L. SAFAROV: ...What you think it? (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: (speaks in Russian) number 13 (laughs). He give you number 13 and this number, you will be proceed. (laughs)

L. SAFAROV: But uh, before (speaks in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Yeah, before that he was scared, feared of number 13. But not after.

L. SAFAROV: (speaks in Russian)

UNKNOWN: And agreed because there was no other possibilities.

L. SAFAROV: And uh, I glad it was, you know, that I now here. But when we have the appointment it was 13, I don't remember month. And it was Monday, you know, 17:00in our country Monday is bad day.

UNKNOWN: Difficult, difficult day.

DRUMMOND: Oh, okay.

L. SAFAROV: Yeah.

UNKNOWN: It was number 13 and plus it was Monday!

L. SAFAROV: Yeah, you know--

UNKNOWN: (laughs) But eventually--

(multiple people talking)

DRUMMOND: The article?

(multiple people talking)

UNKNOWN: Yeah the guy who was--

(multiple people talking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Uh, this is the story (speaks in Russian) about uh, the grocery store. And should be printed, but he doesn't like the picture. You see. Not on the 18:00right angle.

DRUMMOND: Right.

UNKNOWN: And so he came and he did another picture.

E. SAFAROV: He gave me this picture.

UNKNOWN: And he gave her the copy and another picture, too.

E. SAFAROV: And after...

(multiple people talking)

DRUMMOND: Yeah.

UNKNOWN: And we don't know, you know, what happened then.

DRUMMOND: Yeah.

(multiple people talking)

UNKNOWN: Do you want to have his copy? Because the explanation--

DRUMMOND: Okay.

UNKNOWN: (undeterminable)

DRUMMOND: Okay, that would be good.

UNKNOWN: And you can use it. Or make a copy of it...

E. SAFAROV: It's okay, it's okay.

DRUMMOND: We can um, pause. We'll pause.

DRUMMOND: Okay, we're back. We took a little pause for a customer. Um, we were going to talk about your, your life as a music teacher. And how you had learned to stu-, you were studying.

E. SAFAROV: Yeah. I will tell you about me. When I was 18 years I graduated my 19:00high school. And uh, during this time I was studying in music school. I finished (speaks in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Uh yeah, she continued--

E. SAFAROV: Continued my education. I go to university of music college and finish. After finishing for 25 years until 1991, I was working to a music school. Uh, teacher of piano, you know. Music teacher. (speaks in Russian)

UNKNOWN: She remembers the good times when she teaching. When she was a music teacher in Russia. And it was difficult to start, you know. From zero. To start again. And especially now, you know, to working in quite different direction.

DRUMMOND: Mhmm.

(00:20:02)

UNKNOWN: You know, but that's the life. She had to do that. For the sake of her 20:00children and grandchildren. She had to work hard now.

DRUMMOND: How did you meet each other?

(laughs)

L. SAFAROV: She find me.

(laughs)

E. SAFAROV: No. You know, he studied in...

L. SAFAROV: Industrial...

E. SAFAROV: Industrial Institute.

L. SAFAROV: Institute.

E. SAFAROV: This is university. When he finished...

L. SAFAROV: When I finished I worked two year in other uh, Republic of Dagestan. I worked there two years. Then I came back...

E. SAFAROV: When he came back and uh, and one day...

L. SAFAROV: We had some...

(multiple people speaking in Rusian)

E. SAFAROV: At my friend's house was party.

(laughs)

L. SAFAROV: Party, party.

UNKNOWN: Everything starts with party.

E. SAFAROV: And we meet in party. But, long time I don't want him. But then I miss him, you know. (laughs) And I am glad. I am glad to have a nice family. We have nice children. Uh, we had before in our country a good time. We had everything. We had house, you know. We had friends. But one moment--

UNKNOWN: It was destroyed.

E. SAFAROV: Destroyed.

UNKNOWN: Because of this war. They lost everything (indeterminable) all their life.

E. SAFAROV: And then we came.

UNKNOWN: The house, the money, the property. Everything. It was everything.

DRUMMOND: How about the day that you decided that you had to leave?

UNKNOWN: (speaks in Russian)

(multiple people speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Because you know, the events were growing. You know, and the changes were fast-changing. All kind of (indeterminable) and people coming and killing and more and more. Many people got killed and fired from their jobs. It was the beginning of the war. Not declared war, but it was a real war. And whenever you see it, all the people are leaving their places and you, you see people killed and one day you decide that you cannot stay there anymore. It's too dangerous for your life. You can be the next.

L. SAFAROV: (speaks in Russian)

UNKNOWN: It was dangerous for their family.

(multiple people speaking)

E. SAFAROV: Lost their children, you know.

DRUMMOND: So how did you leave?

(multiple people speaking)

E. SAFAROV: Yes. We had...

L. SAFAROV: Nighttime.

E. SAFAROV: We had car and...

DRUMMOND: Mhmm.

L. SAFAROV: Nighttime I keep my family with me in car. Two o'clock night, and we gone. We gone. (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: It's a dangerous drive over because uh, uh, (indeterminable) around the mountains.

DRUMMOND: Mhmm.

UNKNOWN: And at two nighttime, or early in the morning when you cannot see very, very well. And you have to drive. And especially, you know, it's not, it wasn't as safe (indeterminable).

DRUMMOND: Yeah.

L. SAFAROV: And why nighttime? They stay on the way, you know, they park car and look with gun and they ask you, "Who are you?" And with nighttime maybe we make gun, you know. And thank God we make out my family (laughs).

DRUMMOND: Yeah.

L. SAFAROV: We come in Armenia. And thank God. And same moment when we came in Armenia uh, (indeterminable)--where is it? Uh, maybe two, three hundred thousand people came there. But this moment there was, it's uh, (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Earthquake. There was an earthquake.

(multiple people speaking)

E. SAFAROV: We were in Armenia and uh, we...

L. SAFAROV: So much people don't have house. Don't have place. All live together. And two, three hundred thousand people came from Armenia, from Baku there. You know, it was very hard time.

(multiple people speaking)

DRUMMOND: Did you live in the same place, or?

L. SAFAROV: Yes, in the city--where was it? They lived there, but I this time was in Baku. I stay in Baku. I look at house, you know. For (speaking in Russian)

E. SAFAROV: When it was uh...

L. SAFAROV: Yes...

E. SAFAROV: Me and my children were in Armenia. But he stay in Baku. Because after when I change place uh, (indeterminable) with my children, I come back. I 25:00came back again to Baku. But one day, it was September '99, 1999, we take our family...

(00:25:21)

UNKNOWN: '89.

L. SAFAROV: '89.

E. SAFAROV: '89, sorry. 1989. September we left our country.

L. SAFAROV: It was uh, my birthday (laughs). We gone. Yeah.

E. SAFAROV: We left and after I did not see my house. (laughs) And I, I could not uh, go back again to my country. It was very dangerous.

L. SAFAROV: (speaking in Russian)

DRUMMOND: What did you, you bring? You packed up certain things to take with you, and did you--that you have here. What did you bring?

(speaking in Russian)

L. SAFAROV: Oh, we take it. It's uh, what uh, (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: What was very uh, you know--the things which were special were their memories.

L. SAFAROV: It's picture, my parents picture. It's our family picture album. It's all of, we don't take it...

E. SAFAROV: (indeterminable)

L. SAFAROV: (speaking in Russian) We take it.

(multiple people speaking)

UNKNOWN: These things which were connected with the memory of living over there.

L. SAFAROV: House picture for the picture album. Something like that. All of that and also diploma, diploma for finished university. (laughs) Yeah, for job. For working.

UNKNOWN: For future. (laughs)

L. SAFAROV: Yeah, for future. (laughs)

DRUMMOND: What did um, what did your family do? Your father and mother do...as a job?

UNKNOWN: (speaking in Russian)

L. SAFAROV: Uh, (speaking in Russian) my father was around 50 years uh, was teacher, metal teacher in Industrial Institute.

DRUMMOND: Okay.

L. SAFAROV: In Baku. My mother was uh, first time singer, nice singer. But then after sometime, she stopped this job when (indeterminable) in Baku.

UNKNOWN: Oh yeah, we had an Armenian theater in Baku and for some unknown reason (laughs) you know, it was just closed. And after that she stopped, you know, her career as a singer. No more Armenian theater (indeterminable).

L. SAFAROV: She worked at same Industrial Institute in drill oil laboratory then.

DRUMMOND: How about your family?

E. SAFAROV: About my family...Um, our family we had four children in our family. And our mother did not work because uh, she take care for children. And my father he was worked only long and take us...He was uh, (speaking in Russian).

UNKNOWN: Oh, he was retired.

DRUMMOND: Oh.

E. SAFAROV: (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Actually, actually he devoted his life to the electronics.

DRUMMOND: We'll pause for a second so you can...

(laughs)

DRUMMOND: Okay, so you play an accordion?

UNKNOWN: Yeah.

E. SAFAROV: He plays accordion, I play piano, and (indeterminable) singing.

L. SAFAROV: Yeah, together.

(laughs)

DRUMMOND: Do you play together here?

L. SAFAROV: And play, and now? Yes. Sometimes.

UNKNOWN: Sometimes even I remember. (laughs) One day we had a party...

L. SAFAROV: In church, in church. In Nashville, yes.

DRUMMOND: What kind of music?

L. SAFAROV: It's estrada.

UNKNOWN: Different kinds.

E. SAFAROV: We love classic music and uh...

UNKNOWN: Armenian folk music.

E. SAFAROV: Folk music, loud music. Different kinds. Beautiful land, beautiful (indeterminable).

L. SAFAROV: Yeah. It's all they say about me.

(laughs)

L. SAFAROV: Why they like me. (laughs)

DRUMMOND: Um, you told me a story about how your mother survived uh, the genocide in the '30s. Could you tell that?

(00:30:04)

L. SAFAROV: About my?

DRUMMOND: Your mother?

L. SAFAROV: Yes, it was, you know um, 1914.

DRUMMOND: Oh.

L. SAFAROV: And they lived in old Armenia. Now It's Turkey. Uh, they lived there and uh, in 1914 they must be gone. There was uh, somebody said it was--don't say "genocide"--but from one night there was killed--where is it--1 million and maybe two, three hundred thousand Armenian people. They gone. My mother gone. She was two year older. It, they gone from, (indeterminable) and over the river. (phone rings) It was snow around uh, (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: She fell down where they were riding on the horse. She fell down from the horse.

L. SAFAROV: And (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Oh, this is tragedy. I mean, you know, and um...Her mother, his mother she was, by that time she was two-years-old, you know. And she fell down from the horse. And because it was--they were in panic. And it was no time. They had no time to go back and pick her up, you know. Otherwise they can be killed. Uh but uh...

L. SAFAROV: (Speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Yeah, it was uh, it was nighttime, it was deep snow (bell rings) at 32:00that time over there. But, but her brother, he was eight-years-old.

L. SAFAROV: Mother's brother.

UNKNOWN: Mother's brother. His mother's brother. He told, "No, I have to go back for my sister." And so he went back and he found her in the snow, and came to his people with his sister.

L. SAFAROV: Eight year old.

UNKNOWN: Eight year old. So...

L. SAFAROV: (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Yeah, he wasn't scared, you know, to go back by himself alone at nighttime and to find his sister and bring back to, to the rest. And he said that he uh, very grateful to him, to his uncle for that because he saved the life of his mother

DRUMMOND: (indeterminable) (laughs)

UNKNOWN: Eventually, yes.

L. SAFAROV: (speaking in Russian)

UNKNOWN: And he says when he was uh, very old he even, you know, trim the nails of his legs. You know, he loved him so much that he wanted to do everything for 33:00him. Even you know, to cut his, the nails.

DRUMMOND: Oh, okay. Oh.

UNKNOWN: And the legs. Because he was old...

L. SAFAROV: He was very old.

UNKNOWN: ...and he could not do that. And so (indeterminable)

L. SAFAROV: I cut his nails.

UNKNOWN: And cut nails.

L. SAFAROV: I looked for him. I thanked him.

UNKNOWN: And like for a small child. His, all his life he remembered that and he was grateful for saving his mother's life.

DRUMMOND: What was his name?

L. SAFAROV: Whose?

UNKNOWN: What was your uncle's?

L. SAFAROV: My uncle? Zavian (unsure of spelling).

UNKNOWN: His name is.

L. SAFAROV: Zavian. Mother's name Barbara. (speaking in Russian)

DRUMMOND: That's my name. Barbara.

UNKNOWN: Barbara.

L. SAFAROV: Barbara? Oh, it's...

DRUMMOND: That's my first name.

L. SAFAROV: Mother's name, yes. And Zavian. (speaks in Russian)

DRUMMOND: I'm going to turn the tape over. (tape cuts out) Alright we're on, 34:00we're on side two now. And um, what I'd just like to know is what are, what are some of the things that you would want your grandchildren or your great-great grandchildren to know? The people...

L. SAFAROV: (speaks in Russian)

(00:35:25)

UNKNOWN: Yes, yeah. He wanted that uh, his children, his grandchildren, great-grand children, never saw uh, war. And never see anything which they experienced in their life. Their lives.

L. SAFAROV: (speaks in Russian)

UNKNOWN: And uh, what Lavrentiy saw in his life, Elza and their parents saw. They don't want them to see the war anymore.

DRUMMOND: Mhmm.

L. SAFAROV: (speaks in Russian)

E. SAFAROV: We wish for our children uh, happiness.

UNKNOWN: Happiness? She said "happiness."

E. SAFAROV: Happiness, yes. Happiness and never see that (indeterminable)

UNKNOWN: You know, again it's the war. They don't want their children experience uh, over that things which are connected with war.

DRUMMOND: Do you think that's, something like that could happen here?

UNKNOWN: (speaks in Russian)

E. SAFAROV: I think no. But the we, we you know, for--I think people here are very friendly...

L. SAFAROV: You know, time change. Uh, (speaks in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Okay, and that they hope that America will not go through wars. Because times have changed. And people change and their mind has changed. And people, people more understand that war uh, it's just evil. The war. And so we can and we want to live in peace. And we our grandchildren and children live in peace always.

L. SAFAROV: (speaks in Russian)

UNKNOWN: Uh, he said that uh, the difference between the mankind and the animals, that we have to solve our problems using our language. You know. Using our speech.

L. SAFAROV: But not gun.

UNKNOWN: But not with weapons.

L. SAFAROV: We are people (speaks in Russian).

UNKNOWN: We have brains and we have to use them. Not to lead to the war, not to 38:00lead to the war. To solve our problems.

L. SAFAROV: (speaks in Russian)

DRUMMOND: Okay. Well um, thank you very much. Um, you know, if you come up with anything let me know and I'll write it down.

(laughs)

L. SAFAROV: Okay.

DRUMMOND: And I really appreciate this. I love your store. And thank you very much...

(multiple people speaking)

DRUMMOND: This concludes our interview.

(00:38:40)