Valery Loreyno | 84

Valery Loreyno immigrated from Russia in 1991. He has been an avid traveler, and in the US especially enjoys New Orleans. He advises everyone to travel, and he loves learning and connecting with others. This is one reason he learned to speak Esperanto!

He spoke with his interviewer in Russian and we have a translation of their conversation below.

Interview date: 5/17/21

Interviewed by: Dmitriy Blok

Referred by: Sarah Arnold, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly

Translation of audio interview with time stamps

by Linguaficient

Interviewer: 00:00-00:05- Can you tell me your full name and your age?

Valery Loreyno: 00:06-00:19- Okay. Valery Loreyno, 1937, the most important year in the history of the USSR.

Interviewer: 00:20-00:23- Can you briefly describe yourself?

Valery Loreyno: 00:24-00:26- Describe myself? My appearance?

Interviewer: 00:26-00:36- No, not your appearance. Your personality. How would your friends describe you? What do they usually say about you?

Valery Loreyno: 00:37-00:43- Well, I don’t know. You should ask them that.

Interviewer: 00:44-00:45- Okay.

Valery Loreyno: 00:46-02:51- I never really had a chance to hear that about myself from them.

Interviewer: 00:51-00:53- Okay. I understand. And when did you come…?

Valery Loreyno: 00:54-01:03- Because I have the whole world divided into great friends and great enemies.

Interviewer: 01:03-01:04- I see.

Valery Loreyno: 01:04-01:24- That’s why, I can say that my friends and I are very close, especially spiritually, and probably those who don’t really like me are the ones who are my spiritual enemies.

Interviewer: 01:24-01:25- I see.

Valery Loreyno: 01:26-01:36- For example, the associates of the current democrats. They are the main enemies.

Interviewer:01:37-01:40- And when did you come to San Francisco?

Valery Loreyno: 01:41-01:56- Around Christmas, December 22, 1991.

Interviewer: 01:57-02:02- Ah, I see. Where did you come from?

Valery Loreyno: 02:03-02:09 From the capital of “the evil empire.” From Moscow.

Interviewer: 02:09-02:18- From Moscow. And why did you decide to come to San Francisco?

Valery Loreyno: 02:18-02:41- Because I had no more mental strength left to remain there. The main reason for my leaving was that I couldn’t bear anymore to live in that country.

Interviewer:02:41-02:42- I see.

Valery Loreyno: 02:45-02:52- And specifically to San Francisco because it is one of the most beautiful cities in America.

Interviewer:02:52-03:06- Oh, that’s good. Yes, it is. Now I’m going to ask you a few questions about COVID and how you cope with it.

Valery Loreyno: 03:07-03:08- Go ahead.

Interviewer: 03:09-03:20- When you are not at home, where do you most often go?

Valery Loreyno: 03:21-03:34- Well, now everything is closed, but before COVID we travelled throughout the world and visited half the world.

Interviewer: 03:34-03:37 - Which places did you like the most?

Valery Loreyno: 03:38-03:54- Well, one of my favorite places is New Orleans, the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Interviewer: 03:54-04:09- Okay. So, if you could give a piece of advice to the young people today or to your younger self, what would you say?

Valery Loreyno: 04:10-04:22- To travel around the world as much as possible. That’s my main goal, my main interest and my advice to everyone.

Interviewer: 04:23-04:39- That’s good. Please tell me: What are the main moral principles that you live by?

Valery Loreyno: 04:40-04:59- Okay. Well, I would say that it is decency, honesty and living in accordance with your principles.

Interviewer: 05:00-05:01- Okay.

Valery Loreyno: 05:03-05:07- Decency being the most important one.

Interviewer: 05:11-05:24- Now, what can you tell me about what you have done lately that made you happy.

Valery Loreyno: 05:26-05:45- Well, playing chess is an important part of both of our lives, especially my wife’s, and Esperanto, the international language of Esperanto.

Interviewer: 05:45-05:46- Okay.

Valery Loreyno: 05:46-05:57- Well, and thanks to that, it’s interacting with people all over the world who know Esperanto.

Interviewer: 05:57-05:58 - Oh.

Valery Loreyno: 05:58-06:19- Well, these are the first two principles. Well, and also something that concerns only me is fighting for justice in the world.

Interviewer: 06:19-06:19- Okay.

Valery Loreyno: 06:19-06:34- That’s one of my main life principles. Talking about it all would take a long time. Basically, fighting for justice.

Interviewer: 06:35-06:47- I see. Now please tell me: What do you consider the most memorable and defining moments in your life?

Valery Loreyno: 06:48-06:52- Coming to America. That’s number one.

Interviewer: 06:52-06:53- Okay.

Valery Loreyno: 06:53-07:03 - Well, and, as such, breaking free from the USSR. Well, I guess these two events are connected.

Interviewer: 07:02-07:03 - Thank you.