Park Voices: From Russia, With Many Great Stories

Editor's Note: This week, we are running a series of articles on St. Louis Park residents who moved here from all corners of the globe. Everyone we interviewed was in an Adult Options in Education class at . Adult Options in Education offers a variety of programs geared toward people looking to improve their English writing, reading and speaking skills. For more info on Adult Options in Education, visit its website.

Name: Alex Ryvlin

Age: 83

Birth Country: Russia

First Year in United States: 2001

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St. Louis Park Patch: Why did you decide to move to America?

Ryvlin: (Laughing) It’s a very a complicated question. I answer this with a Russian proverb: “A fish is always looking for deeper water.” And I was looking for what? A better life (laughing). That’s the shortest answer to this question.

St. Louis Park Patch: What have you enjoyed about life in the United States?

Ryvlin: I like to go to sporting activities. It’s not only my hobby, it was my profession, because I was a professional skier. I was a coach. I was a principal of an Olympic ski school in my country. My second hobby is traveling. In 11 years, I’ve visited 48 states driving my car.

St. Louis Park Patch: Wow. Which ones haven’t you gotten to?

Ryvlin: The exception is New Mexico and Hawaii. 

And my third hobby is reading books. Not every book, but some kinds.

St. Louis Park Patch: What kind of books do you like?

Ryvlin: I like to read biographies, history, science. Not fiction. I have a library in my house, and I read only in English. In my library, I have maybe 1,000 books.

And No.4 (hobby), I have a dog, Boris.

St. Louis Park Patch: That’s a good Russian name.

Ryvlin: Yes, it is a good Russian name. But it’s pronounced differently. In Russian, it’s “Borice” (like Maurice) … But my dog, he was born in America, so it’s “Boris” (laughing). 

St. Louis Park Patch: What challenges have you faced living here?

Ryvlin: Not many. America is a very safe country. I didn’t see any dangers for my life in America. I don’t have any big challenges.

St. Louis Park Patch: How was your English when you moved? Did you speak some?

Ryvlin: (Laughing) It’s tricky. I always liked the English language, and I started to learn it at my university (in Russia). I started to study English as a second language, and I was successful in this. I thought I knew English, but it wasn’t true. I knew the technical, professional language well. I could read some books and magazines about shipbuilding. But when I came to the United States, I understood that I didn’t know any English. Because the English taught in my country was a different English. 

St. Louis Park Patch: So you realized you had a lot more to learn?

Ryvlin: Yes. I started to go to school. I’ve been here more than 10 years.

St. Louis Park Patch: Have the classes helped you with your English?

Ryvlin: Oh yes. They help me a lot. And Jeannie (Radatz), she’s a great teacher. She was born as a teacher (laughing). 

St. Louis Park Patch: Do you work currently?

Ryvlin: Not professionally (I’m retired). But I have some students, and I teach them how to play tennis and downhill skiing.

St. Louis Park Patch: Do you have any family here?

Ryvlin: Yes. I have three children, two daughters and a son. My middle daughter is about 32, she’s living in Russia. But my son and younger daughter, they live in Minnesota.

St. Louis Park Patch: Do you ever go visit Russia?

Ryvlin: No. I don’t like to go back. I spent a whole life in Russia. I like the country and I like all the people. But I hate the government.

St. Louis Park Patch: Do you feel you’ve been welcomed to the United States?

Ryvlin: Yes. I was very welcome. It’s a big difference from Russia.

St. Louis Park Patch: Tell me some things about Russian culture that people might not know.

Ryvlin: Russian culture is a great culture. Before the revolution in 1917, Russia had the biggest and best culture in the world. You can remember the famous Russian composers. The famous Russian writers. The famous Russian singers. After the Russian Revolution, some were killed by Bolsheviks, but some were integrated to the West. And they brought to the West the Russian culture. No one in Europe or America knew about ballet dancing. They brought this culture to the West.

St. Louis Park Patch: What are some of your goals in the next few years?

Ryvlin: I’m an old man, but I’m in good shape. I’m very interested in everything around me. I’m very curious about everything in America. I’d like to meet more American friends. I hope I can travel a lot. And I’m interested in buying and reading new books. So I’m full of hopes (laughing).