Ask Maria Doukhnai what the big difference is between her native Russia and the United States, and she’ll tell you, “The language.” The people are the same, with the same concerns of raising a family, paying bills, jobs and so on. It’s just the location and the way they speak that differs.
The beautiful city of St. Petersburg in Russia was Maria’s birthplace and her home for her childhood. Founded on May 27, 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, the city grew into a capital following western-styled ideas. The Russian Revolution changed its importance (and later its name to Leningrad), moving the capital back to Moscow. Saint Petersburg remained the second largest city in Russia, and the fourth largest in Europe.
Surrounded by palaces, cathedrals, and magnificent buildings, Maria grew up surrounded by history and culture. She chose to honor her God-given talent and become a musician. She earned her degree from the St. Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in Community and Human Services with a concentration in Choral Conducting. Shortly after her graduation, she moved to Moscow. She began her career as a teacher of music and voice, working in a semi-professional theater. She also taught successively in a preschool, a kindergarten, an elementary, a middle and what we call a high school, teaching music and musical theory to children. She moved back to Saint Petersburg and continued her performing career by working as an accompanist and choir director for the Theater of Culture and Arts.
In 1997, she needed to earn more money to support herself, her mother and her young son. The economy was tight in the Soviet Union, and it was difficult to buy food to feed everyone. She recalled at least three times that she needed to feed her son Yuri ice cream for dinner because nothing else was in the stores. Although a dream dinner for most children (and my dad), as a mother she was concerned for his health– not enough vitamins can be supplied in a meal that is not balanced.
Maria embarked on a new career as a travel agent to earn more money. She did well, and enjoyed the perks such as free travel. She saved her time off, and after awhile she decided to visit a friend in the Philadelphia area. She arrived on March 18, in time to attend an engagement party for her friend. She sat at a table in the Chestnut Hill restaurant, unable to speak English, but comfortable because her friend was a member of the Russian expatriate community in that area. A few seats away was a man who also had grown up in Saint Petersburg. They spoke in their native tongue, and by the end of the evening Maria wanted to know the man better.
Before her three week vacation was over, Maria knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Alex Doukhnai. She couldn’t return to Russia, because it would take far too many years to reunite. Her son was safely in the care of her mother back in Russia, so Maria and Alex married.
Now financial problems began to surface. In 1998, economic problems following the collapse of the Soviet Union forced more privations on Russian citizens. Older people found that their pension was not enough, but after age 55, it was hard to find a job. The Doukhnais needed to send money back to support both their families. Maria was in a quandary. She had never in her wildest dreams imagined moving to the United States. She did not even speak English. How could she possibly help? What type of job could she get?
Alex combed the classified ads. There it was, an answer to their prayers: a small church in Tuckerton needed an organist. They came to the interview. Maria told me, “Ask Grace or Evie. I sat here, and Alex sat right next to me, translating their questions and my answers. I couldn’t make myself understood. But they took the chance!” Her first service was on August 1, 1998 in the little church on Green Street.
Ten years later, Maria credits her Holy Spirit “family” for helping to teach her to speak English. Her son Yuri graduated from Rutgers University last December with a degree in cartography. He lives in Tampa and works for The Mosaic Company, an international corporation, mapping deposits of phosphate for mining, destined for use in fertilizer. Mosaic is the leading producer of phosphate and potash, and they pride themselves on their role in providing nutrition for the world.
Maria and Alex also have two beautiful daughters, Kassia (8 years old) and Lada (6 1/2 years old). They are very active girls. They study gymnastics, ballet, ice skating, art, and piano (of course!). They are Girl Scouts in addition to everything else. They keep their parents hopping!
Maria’s mom also has joined her daughter on this side of the world. She lives among the Russian community in Boston, and finds everyone truly friendly.
Maria passed the Praxis exam two years ago, and recently began a full time position at Mainland High School in Linwood. She advises the Choir Club as they prepare to compete for the South Jersey Chorus/All-State Chorus. Her club performs 2 formal evening concerts a year, as well as benefits and traveling shows for local schools.
Maria also teaches piano and voice to 28 private students each week. She organizes two recitals a year: one in June and one at Christmas. Maria proudly points to her membership in the National Federation of Music Clubs, and is privileged to be a certified judge of the competitions. She feels that the competitions are valuable learning tools for the students, because they compete against themselves, not each other. She spent 14 hours one Saturday last month evaluating a competition. Sixteen of her students were among the competitors. Afterwards, each student received an individualized assessment of his/her performance, designed to help each one to improve and encouraging each to do better.
Maria has seen huge changes in Moscow since she left the country. “The people live much better. The value of an education, ruined under Gorbachev, is returning. The transitional time was very bad, but now under Putin people feel much better. I remember standing in line to buy food, but now the markets are clean and well stocked. It may have only been a period of 1 1/2 years, but still it was devastating. Old churches are reopening and being restored to their former glory, where possible. (Some of they were razed and others converted to other uses such as museums.) People are happier.” And we couldn’t be happier that a concert-trained professional musician found her way to live with us and share her wonderful gifts! How much poorer we would be without her in our lives- and our church!
