Faina,

What a wonderful life of learning you have had! And I agree, three languages would have been great. I admire multi-lingual persons, mostly because the only "language" besides English that I know is Latin.

So how old are you?   Only kidding:)

FAINA:  Nice job on your Meme.  You shared some interesting facts about yourself.  Pretty amazing that you were reading before the age of 4!

Faina, you lived in Iceland ? I'm a mommy first too.

Faina, it's nice to learn a littlebit more about you.  It sounds like the experiences you bring with you will help make you a great success in real estate.  What kind of dancing do you love?  In case you didn't already know, my wife is a professional dance instructor.

Karen - I am the oldest, so my parents really tried: playing piano, languages, books, sports, dancing-pretty much everything was unavailable in Russia, but they somehow made it possible for me. I tried not to disappoint them- top of the class,etc., but still so many things I wished I listened to them more. 

Karen, my picture is recent, so I am that old. 

Adam - thanks. Believe me, I resisted a lot, but eventually got to like learning, partially for myself, but also to make my dad proud. My dad was a great teacher -I did not learn much more past age 6, and kind of coasted (at least in languages) through all my years of school (including graduate). I only hope to have the same influence on my kids as my parents did on me.

Missy - I lived in Iceland while working on a consulting project. I loved the people - hospitable and very educated. The surroundings take time to get used to: total darkness at 2pm in winter, very few trees - people go to a greenhouse to relax on the weekend. The country has unique data about the people which makes them a center for many types of research, including cancer.

Brian - I like tango the best - for the music, passion, energy. My rendition, unfortunately does not do it justice. I also like salsa, waltz - now that I think about it - I like them all. I wasn't dancing lately, because of some medical stuff, but am hoping to re-start. I have a great teacher. You must be an amazing dancer - with all the free practice you get.lol

Faina, Argentine Tango is our favorite too -- here's a clip of our first dance from our wedding where we danced the Argentine Tango.

Faina- What a great meme. I am so glad to get to know you more. That is why I love Memes. We have so much in common, as you already know from reading my meme. I love to dance too. I have not been able to do so for a while. I was a disco queen winning many contests when I was 16 to 18. That was the time of my life! Ah, bringing back memories. 

Being mommy is first and foremost. Mothers are the biggest influence on society and the example and teachings we impart can change the world. I spoke several languages and forgot them all mostly. My mother was born in Latvia, as you already know. I have lived in many different places and moved a lot like you. This is amazing isn't it! What a great place AR is! Katerina 

Katerina - I think I know more about my AR friends then about some people in my own office. It is pretty amazing - may be similar souls gravitate together even in the syberspace.  Moving a lot, working like crazy -that was my second name. If I did not have to do anything else, I think I would just read, travel and dance.

My grandma spoke Lithuanian and I used to be able to understand, but I also forgot all of it. It's a struggle to make my kids speak Russian. May be 20 years from now, they would be saying ;"Oh, how i wished I listened to mommy and learned Russian". 

Katerina - thanks for your comments, friend.

Faina, What a fascinating meme.  You have really moved around in your lifetime, places and careers.  Then to have 4 terrific children added to the mix!  You are very fortunate.  Thanks for sharing with us.

Roberta - thank you for such kind words. I am very fortunate, first -for being born to such increadible parents, second -for comming to America, 3d -for meeting the love of my life, 4th - for God's blessing of 4 kids, 5th - for having my sister, as my best friend. I can go on, but it's only a comment, on a blog, so I'll stop.

Faina, I enjoyed reading about you and we have a lot of things in common.  I love your statement that your kids are the biggest achievement in life. You have reason to be proud of them.

I like the name Faina, and wondered where your parents are from. The Russian embassy was offering free Course to learn Russian at home, and I signed up and got all the material but did not get time to learn. I wish I had saved the material . But I studied French for 4 years.

Gita - thanks so much for giving me the MeMe opportunity. I agree, I think we have a lot in common. For me my Russian identity is still very much who I am, although I think and even dream in English, and consider America -as my country and my home. AR is yet another opportunity to be part of the "melting" pot.

Faina-I had to come find out more about you, and I found exactly what I was looking for......."just a mommy" maybe to the kids, but oh so much more.....what kind of publishing company does/did the family have, and is it still in existence? 

Fascinating......I will be looking for more.

Kathy -OMG, I am speechless. You came all the way here to learn about me?  I am more then flattered. To answer your question - I closed the publishing company because it was so tied to my dad. After his passing it was to painful to continue without him.

My husband once told my kids that I was a Senior Principal in a large consulting firm, they were very surprised and said "we thought she was just a plain mommy." Thanks again for the kind words.