ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA. In 1941, the Nazis entered Russia. Anna Babken, 17, was pregnant and living in Luzhsky, near St. Petersburg. The Nazis destroyed her town and burned down her house, so she gave birth to her daughter, Ludmilla, outdoors in a field.
In 1942, the Nazis took Anna to a labor camp in Germany. She lost Ludmilla. "I don't know who took my daughter from my arms," she says.
Ana lived through the war. Afterwards, she searched for Ludmilla, but couldn't find her. She migrated to the U.S. and had two more children. But she couldn't stop thinking about Ludmilla. Was she alive? Where was she? Anna always put an empty chair at the dinner table for her lost daughter.
Year after year, Anna wrote letters to the Soviet government. Finally, in 1963, she found out that Ludmilla was alive and living in Russia. They started writing, but there were restrictions against travel into or out of the Soviet Union. As a result, they couldn't get together.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989, they began to make plans for a reunion. Finally, in 1998, after 56 years, Anna and Ludmilla met face-to-face in Boston. It was a dream come true. "I knew someday I would find her," says Anna, now 74. "Now my empty chair is filled."
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989, they began to make plans for a reunion. Finally, in 1998, after 56 years, Anna and Ludmilla met face-to-face in Boston. It was a dream come true. "I knew someday I would find her," says Anna, now 74. "Now my empty chair is filled."
New Idioms and Expressions:
- face-to-face---indirect contact; in person
- be pregnant---be going to have a baby
- burn something down---destroysomething by fire
- give birth (to a baby) ---have a baby
- live through something---survive something
- search of someone or sth---look everywhere for someone or sth
- think about someone or sth---remember; consider someone or sth
- year after year---regularly for many years
- find something out---learn or discover something
- get together (with someone) ---meet and spend with someone
- make plans for something---plan to do something
- a dream come true---a dream that has become has become a reality
Answer the Question:
About the Story..................................................
- Why did Anna give birth to her baby outdoors?
- What happened to her in 1942?
- What did Anna do after the wars? Was she succesful?
- After Anna came to the U.S., what couldn't she stop doing?
- Who did she write to year afer year?
- What did Anna ind out in 1963?
- Why couldn't she and her daughter get together?
- When did they finally meet face to face? How did they feel?
About You...........................................................
- Where are there wars today? Why are two sides fighting?
- Do you know someone who lived through a war? Discuss.
- Do you often think about someone far away? Will you get together in the future?
- When and where did your mother give birth to you?
- Anna waited 56 years for her dream to come true. Do you have a dream? When do you think it will come true?
- Are you making plans for a trip? Tell the class.
