🇷🇺 Vasilisa, from Russia & Brooklyn
Vasilisa is a copywriter originally from Russia. She lives in Brooklyn.
What brought you to New York?
I came to New York because I’ve always wanted to move to New York. I grew up in basically the opposite of New York: a super small town in the Midwest. I came here for college, and it was perfect; it was a fortunate opportunity to start my life here at a good time.
Who or what inspired you to move to New York?
I had a sister who had lived here for ten years. Ten years ago —  when I was a kid, and she had just moved here —  I visited her. I had the privilege of traveling when I was younger, and I’ve been to many places. New York was the first place where I was like, “Wait, I don’t wanna leave.” When you’ve been on vacation for a long time, you’re like, “okay, I’m ready to go home. I’m ready to go”. New York was the first place I came to where I was like, “Wait, no. There’s so much more here, and I don’t wanna leave.” And this is where I want to be.
How do you stay in touch with family or friends living back home?
I don’t have a huge family. I moved to the US with my mom when I was five. My mom and I were in the US, so all of my family still lives in Russia. My grandma, mom, and I are the closest, and we are very bonded together. The rest of my family, to me especially, is a little more distant, and everyone still lives in Russia and Ukraine.
So my mom met my stepdad in Russia. They dated and got engaged. He presented her with the opportunity — I mean, he didn’t give her the chance to move to the US, but you know, they fell in love. She had the opportunity to bring me to the US, and she took it because, at that time, she knew that Russia was not the place where I would receive the most opportunities or reach my full potential. So she was 29, I was five, and we moved to the US. I grew up in a small town in Missouri, which is not known for being particularly open-minded, culturally or racially diverse. I grew up there, went to high school, and moved to New York.
“The day my grandmother passes away will be hard for me because she’s my biggest, strongest, most meaningful connection to the country and the culture. And I don’t know how my identity will be shaped when I lose that connection.”
Did you create an alternative family in the city?
I think I’m getting there. I think it’s the first point in my life now that I feel surrounded by people who have the same interests as me. I just had a conversation with my friends yesterday about unconditional friend love. I think I finally found a great group of friends who want to have me around for a long time and that I also want to be around for a long time. That feels great. It feels like it’s been a long time coming, honestly.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
I’m feeling a lot of independence and the potential to make my day into whatever I want it to be. I think that promise of independence and doing whatever I want next is inspiring.
What keeps you up at night?
The amount of time that has gone by since I’ve seen my grandmother. I have visited her in Russia my whole life, and in the last four years, I haven’t seen her and haven’t been back to Russia; she’s getting old, and COVID exists. Not having seen her for a while is hard.
The day my grandmother passes away will be hard for me because she’s my biggest, strongest, most meaningful connection to the country and the culture. And I don’t know how my identity will be shaped when I lose that connection.
What is something you’re thankful for about your time in New York?
New York has given me a place where people around me have common interests and shared passions. It also let me grow up and become independent very quickly.
What’s your future vision for yourself in New York?
I’m just grateful to be where I am now. I think I’m growing up all the time, every day still. My vision is changing every day. I hope to be fulfilled in the same way I am today and continue to be.