In this eleventh installment of Sammy’s story, we pick up as the family leaves Italy and arrives in Calgary in late 1979. Sammy, joined by his grandson Ramone, reflects on first impressions of the city—its emptiness, its sprawl, and the early days spent downtown near Prince’s Island Park. He recalls landing a drafting job within weeks, launching a 38-year career with the same company during Calgary’s oil boom. He and Dinna quickly adapted to English through work, newspapers, and community life. Ramone prompts stories about school strikes, cultural gaps at Hebrew school, and the excitement of getting their first color TV—a massive set that introduced young Elliot to cartoons, hockey, and Battlestar Galactica.

In this episode, Sammy looks back on the six months he, Dinna, and their seven-year-old son spent in Italy after leaving the USSR — the first time any of them had lived in a new country. He shares what it was like adjusting to a completely different culture, finding a routine, and navigating the immigration process. The decision to move to Canada instead of the U.S. wasn’t random — it was a practical choice based on what made the most sense for their future. It’s a mix of culture shock, parenting, and figuring things out one step at a time.

Host Ramone and guest Sammy discuss their family’s immigration journey from the Soviet Union (now Russia) to Canada. Sammy shares that their family lived in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) before immigrating in 1979, undergoing a long and challenging process that included stops in Vienna and Italy before arriving in Canada as landed immigrants. They reflect on the difficulties of leaving behind loved ones, adjusting to a new culture, and learning English. Sammy found work as a civil engineer in Calgary, while his wife, formerly a teacher, transitioned into accounting. They also discuss how their traditions, particularly home cooking, have remained an important part of their lives in Canada.

Ramone and Frisbee Rob engage in a free-flowing conversation covering a variety of topics, from paintball and laser tag to small-town life, travel, and personal experiences. They discuss past paintball outings, including competitive matches against coworkers and unexpected encounters with fire ants. Rob shares insights from his extensive travels across Canada, visiting schools to teach frisbee and impart life lessons. The conversation also touches on childhood experiences, the quirks of small towns, and the importance of living in the moment. Amidst the banter, the hosts joke about podcast production, gaming, and bizarre workplace stories.

In this episode, I continue my conversation with my mother, Dinna, revisiting childhood memories—including the time I drank ink and when I broke a vase by setting up a web of string. She shares her perspective on those moments before we shift to her youth, discussing her school years, her passion for English and math, and her dream of teaching in Africa through a Soviet education program. She reflects on friendships, a summer trip to Armenia and Georgia, and the cultural atmosphere of the Soviet Union. We wrap up by teasing future discussions on her university years and the path that led her to leave the USSR.

In this episode, my son Ramone takes over as host, kicking off a debate about a nine-on-nine baseball matchup—him versus me—which quickly expands to hockey, basketball, and ultimate frisbee, with plenty of smack talk. We reminisce about past family debates on "clone matchups" before shifting to teenage drama, as Ramone shares how a joke about blondes in Idaho escalated into an unexpected relationship crisis. We reflect on the unpredictability of teenage relationships before the episode wraps up with Ramone abruptly ending things for an urgent bathroom break, closing out another fun and chaotic father-son conversation.

In this episode, I interview my father, Sammy, about our family's escape from the Soviet Union in 1979. He recounts the tense journey from Leningrad to Vienna, where we first experienced the abundance of the West, before secretly entering Italy with the help of some locals. Along the way, he reflects on the fear of Soviet bureaucracy, the surreal transition to freedom, and the challenges of starting over. We also reminisce about my childhood mischief, including the time I drank ink and another when I accidentally caused household chaos with a web of string.

In this episode, I interview my mother, Dinna, about her childhood in post-war Gomel, Belarus. She shares memories of growing up in a multi-generational home, the hardships of Soviet life, and the simple joys of childhood, including friendships and family traditions. She reflects on her love for books, the rigid Soviet education system, and the experience of starting school a year late. The conversation turns to her first school dance, where a shy classmate worked up the courage to ask her to dance. We wrap up with a look ahead to her high school years in a future episode.