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I came to Estonia from Leningrad. We still were not permitted to live in Tallinn. My sister and brother with their families went to Tooste, not far from Piarnu. Sima’s distant relatives were living there and they helped everybody with work. I went to Mardu and was hired by the motor-transport depot I used to work for before my exile. I was an accountant. The chief accountant of the motor-transport depot was not qualified, so from the first days at work I did everything for him. Then there was a downsizing of the staff at the base, and one of the economists was removed from his position. I was to take his job as well. Then the base was liquidated.
By that time I had been officially rehabilitated and was entitled to live in Tallinn. Before that I lived in Tallinn at my aunt’s place, but it was fraught with danger. In that period of time my siblings and their families also moved to Tallinn. I went to work at the motor-transport depot in Tallinn. Soon I was put in charge of the planning department. I kept on studying at university. I lost a year of studies due to my departure from Kirov – I had to get settled in a new place, which was a hassle. I had to study for seven years instead of six. I was so sick and tired of everything that I even wanted to give up my studies. Then I thought that I had spent so many years on my studies, that there was no use in dropping everything at the very finish line. So I simply had to graduate from university. My personal life wasn’t happy, so I thought I should at least succeed in education.
When I obtained a diploma from the university, my relatives started convincing me to look for another job, connected with my profession. They thought I should quit work at the motor-transport depot. I started looking for a job. There was the Mathematics Institute in Tallinn, under the auspice of the Estonian Academy of Science. I was offered a job there. First, my salary was much less here, and secondly I was told to go on with my education and enter the post-graduate department. I was so fed up with my studies that I decided to turn down that offer. I suited them very well as I was a mathematician and had experience in working as an economist. They called me, invited me, but still I refused. When a computer center was established by the motor-transport depot, I gladly transferred there. I worked there until my retirement. I retired in 1987. I was 59 years old. I could probably continue working. Every employee of the computer center had his own theme to work on. When I was through with my topic, I didn’t find any new one to take an interest in. There was no need for me to work for the sake of earning my bread and butter. I was not willing to perform tedious work.
By that time I had been officially rehabilitated and was entitled to live in Tallinn. Before that I lived in Tallinn at my aunt’s place, but it was fraught with danger. In that period of time my siblings and their families also moved to Tallinn. I went to work at the motor-transport depot in Tallinn. Soon I was put in charge of the planning department. I kept on studying at university. I lost a year of studies due to my departure from Kirov – I had to get settled in a new place, which was a hassle. I had to study for seven years instead of six. I was so sick and tired of everything that I even wanted to give up my studies. Then I thought that I had spent so many years on my studies, that there was no use in dropping everything at the very finish line. So I simply had to graduate from university. My personal life wasn’t happy, so I thought I should at least succeed in education.
When I obtained a diploma from the university, my relatives started convincing me to look for another job, connected with my profession. They thought I should quit work at the motor-transport depot. I started looking for a job. There was the Mathematics Institute in Tallinn, under the auspice of the Estonian Academy of Science. I was offered a job there. First, my salary was much less here, and secondly I was told to go on with my education and enter the post-graduate department. I was so fed up with my studies that I decided to turn down that offer. I suited them very well as I was a mathematician and had experience in working as an economist. They called me, invited me, but still I refused. When a computer center was established by the motor-transport depot, I gladly transferred there. I worked there until my retirement. I retired in 1987. I was 59 years old. I could probably continue working. Every employee of the computer center had his own theme to work on. When I was through with my topic, I didn’t find any new one to take an interest in. There was no need for me to work for the sake of earning my bread and butter. I was not willing to perform tedious work.
Period
Location
Talinn
Estonia
Interview
Mariasha Vasserman