From Russia, with determination

By Dexter Bercero
Summer Forty-Niner

Leaving the former Soviet Union four years ago, Cal State Long Beach sophomore Olga Godes seems to have no problems adjusting to her new home in Long Beach.

Born in Latvia, Godes speaks mainly Russian and is ethnically Russian. She says that while living in Latvia, the former Soviet State's main languages were 50 percent Latvian and 50 percent Russian.

By the time Godes moved out of Latvia, most Russians like herself moved out to other countries, to Western Europe or to the United States.

Godes was only fourteen when she moved to Long Beach in May of 1996.

"My father had relatives living here in Long Beach starting with my uncle who moved here with his family 10 years ago, along with his parents who moved in here eight years ago," Godes said. "My uncle's goal was to reunite the family here in the U.S."

Godes says that she no longer has any close relatives living in Latvia or Russia. She says that most of them live in Long Beach, Boston and New York City.

There was never a language barrier with Godes. While completing middle school in Latvia, she was required to learn English. The school system in Latvia required students to learn either English or German other than Latvian or Russian. Godes says middle schools are tougher in Latvia.

"When I came here four years ago, I started high school in the summer and was able to practice my communication skills with people my age," Godes said. "Grammar was not a problem but the challenge was speaking in the practical aspect of everyday English."

Godes chose to study at CSULB because of the university's pre-nursing program.

"None of the University of California campuses had an undergraduate program in nursing, the University of Southern California did but CSULB was closer to home," Godes said. "Living at home was the best option rather than living in the dorms."

Like any college student, Godes enjoys the wealth of western culture. She likes pop music and all the current clothing trends.

Eventually, Godes has no plans to move back to Latvia but maybe plans only to visit one day.

"I like living here in Southern California, I like the climate and at first I missed the snow but Long Beach is my home now."