From St. Petersburg … to St. Petersburg

BY NATALIE VELEZ

St. Petersburg, Florida, is a city that holds a special place in the hearts of many. Those of us who are not originally from here, have unique stories which connect us with this city. Mine, for example, was a love story.

I am a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, who fell in love with a man from here and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. I traded the Gulf of Finland for the Gulf of Mexico and cold winters for what the locals here call “winter.” The fact that our city was named after St. Petersburg, Russia, by Peter Demens after winning a coin toss, makes it even more meaningful to me. Demens spent his youth in the original St. Petersburg.

In this vibrant city, I have found my new home, raised my children, and had amazing opportunities in education and art. For 14 years, St. Petersburg has opened its heart to me, and it has become our love story.

This story, however, is not about me. It’s about the city itself and how it has welcomed people from all over who seek refuge, a better life for their children, or the freedom to express their opinions without fear of persecution. The Sulimov family’s story is just one example of many in this country. Some of our grandparents and great-grandparents left their homes across the ocean to find a new life here, reminding us of the immigrant roots that built this nation. It reminds us of our heritage and the importance of preserving our stories for future generations.

Artem works in internet marketing and his wife, Alina, is a textile artist who creates beautiful woven pieces using traditional knot techniques. They raised their two children in St. Petersburg, Russia, where they were active members of their church and enjoyed exploring the city’s stunning architecture and rich history.

What makes the Sulimov family’s story special is that this new way of immigration takes us back to political regimes which force the smartest and most successful people to change their home, because they don’t want to conform to the ideology of the regimes they disagree with. These people are willing to leave their comfortable homes, careers, family and friends to express their freedom of speech and beliefs.

Life in Russia

This is a story about an ordinary family, who at the end of last year went on an adventure which changed their lives and brought them from one St. Petersburg to another St. Petersburg. Their lives and businesses were thriving. Sunday mornings, they attended the Evangelical Church, Petra, which was named after Saint Peter. They took an active part in ministry, being involved in preaching Sunday school for kids and adults. They enjoyed walking around the center of St. Petersburg, admiring its stunning architecture and canals, squares and drawbridges.

At first glance, both St. Petersburgs are very different. St. Petersburg, Russia, is a city of granite and canals, fog and rain; and St. Petersburg, Florida, is a city of sun, beautiful white beaches, and palm trees. But besides the name, there are things that unite them. First, their people and pursuit of freedom and happiness. Second, the art community –both have a lot of museums, theaters, various exhibitions and events, and rich cultural life. “As a textile artist who works with colorful threads and weaves stories and fairy tales using an unusual mixed medium, I am very inspired by the cultural scene and beauty of this city,” Alina told me recently.

Before the pandemic started, they traveled a lot around the world with their kids. They enjoyed visiting Italy, France and Sweden, and the United States was on their dream list. Alina remembers: “Once we dreamed of visiting the United States, although we could not imagine in what circumstances it would happen. It was our family’s dream!”

The Sulimov family in St. Petersburg, Russia

When the Russian government started the war against Ukraine, they were forced to pack their whole lives in suitcases and leave Russia, perhaps forever. They didn’t support the attack and were strongly advocating for peace. At that point, they hadn’t known their dream of coming to America would come true under these strange circumstances. They loved their city, however, when mobilization began, it was time to leave. Their departure is also a form of protest: It is now impossible to express one’s disagreement with what is happening in Russia without being persecuted.

In search of freedom

Their journey from St. Petersburg to St. Petersburg took almost three months. During this time, the family managed to visit sunny Kyrgyzstan, where they lived for more than a month near the national mountain reserve, and every morning a herd of horses grazed near their house.

Then they flew to Brazil, where they spent almost a week in a secluded home of a fellow Christian in the jungle, near Sao Paolo. After Brazil, they ended up first in Cancun, where they had to spend a month. Reaching the US-Mexican border, the family applied for political asylum through the Department of Homeland Security and were granted temporary residency.

They were invited to Florida by friends living in St. Pete. “We got to St. Petersburg on Christmas Eve and our love and appreciation for the way people in St. Pete opened their hearts and homes to us was beyond our wildest imagination,” the Sulimovs say. Today, the family is living on their savings and receiving assistance from charitable organizations to submit all the documents needed to get established in the United States. Artem is taking driving classes, and both Artem and Alina are waiting for their work permits. The couple is wisely using their savings and looking at career opportunities.

They are hungrily trying to learn English as soon as possible. They can communicate well, but they often rely on Google Translate and other language apps. Their kids are like little sponges, picking up new words every day and learning more at school with their ESL teachers.

Alina shared with me that one day on the way to school, when she was crossing the road with the children, the crossing-guard, whom they see every morning, suddenly greeted her in Russian “dobroe unto” she said, which means “good morning.” The lady told Alina that every time she sees a family from another country on her route, she tries to greet them in their native tongue. It made Alina’s day and the walk to school more joyful. In preparing for this story, Artem said, “It seems to us that very kind and sympathetic people live in America, always ready to help those who find themselves in a difficult situation. For example, we were supported by the congregation of Our Savior

Lutheran Church in St. Pete, we were able to get groceries at one of the local food banks and medical assistance at the Evara health center. My wife and I were so impressed with the love and caring support of a wonderful charitable organization, Clothes to Kids, who helped us get our children ready for school. Immigrant life is not easy, but thanks to these caring people, it has become easier.”

In a conversation with Executive Director Jennifer Jacobs of Clothes to Kids, where I brought the family to get the kids school uniforms (they just started school), she described St. Pete as “…a city which found the keys to the Art of Generosity through acts of kindness and dedication to causes.”

The first part of the journey for the Sulimov family is over; their new journey in America has just begun. I want to finish their story with Artem’s words: “It seems to me that here in St. Petersburg, Florida, free people know how to love life, appreciate art and care for their neighbors. We are very glad and thankful to this city, which is becoming a new home for us. It is an incredible feeling to be a part of St. Pete life.”

About the author: Natalie Velez is a local art curator and writer. She serves as a Docent Specialist at the Museum of Fine Art, runs an art business (Bella Unica Art Gallery) and is studying towards her PhD in art philosophy and aesthetics at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts.