To receive a higher education in the Soviet Union was not actually a question of prestige, but one of the values which an average person could possess. It was impossible to brag of successful business, a smart new automobile or an elite private residence constructed on one’s own design. None of the things existed in the Soviet Union. Well, to tell the truth, many of the things mentioned did exist somewhere, and, of course, someone had and used all these unearthly blessings, enjoying the life, but the entrance there where all this could be found, was kept under the strict secret! Education and a great collection of books in the house - everything, the Soviet people could be proud of . That was the aim the Soviet people could and should have aspired to.
The best educational establishment for that moment undoubtedly was the Moscow University, the Moscow State University by Lomonosov. Nowadays all the former and newly created higher educational establishments call themselves universities, but at that time there was only one University. One could simply say: " I shall enter the university! " And at once it became clear to everybody which university was meant, what ambitions the person had, what connections, money, tutors … The best of the best aspired to the Moscow State University, but for ordinary people it was quite impossible to get there. Having ended the Moscow State University, it was possible to count on prestigious and higher paid work, the coupon for the car and if you were lucky enough – traveling abroad. In short, the Moscow State University, especially humanitarian faculties, was desired, but in most cases unattainable dream of all the Soviet people …
The same dream did I have! However, I didn’t so much think of money or trips, but of an interesting and sated life. I considered myself to be quite worth entering the University: I always did well, read much and took part in literary Olympiads where constantly received prize-winning places. But we didn’t live the life of rich people, and, we couldn’t afford tutors, as it was very expensive, so I prepared for finals and entrance exams all by myself, as well as expanded my outlook. I must add that nowadays it is possible to study in the Moscow State University for charge. So if you have money and can pay – you can study. But in ”those soviet times” officially and legally studying was free of charge, although it was not a question of money, but a question of connections and the position in the society only. My father worked as an engineer in a research institute of the defensive industry, he wasn’t a member of elite circles and didn’t have any connections with the University! And my mum died, when I was only 9. Any others - powerful and not so much - relatives were not observed. The only thing I could do was to act by myself, having relied on my destiny and own abilities. I see now how funny and ridiculous it was! At first I decided to enter the faculty of journalism: from my childhood I have managed to put and express my thoughts. And I wrote poetry as well(not so good, maybe, but still!) I had a secret dream to become a writer. But as to journalism I can say no one from our family friends or relatives had anything to do with it. And I had no idea that there is a special creative competition according to which it is necessary to hand over printed works, and this contest is actually over already in April, almost three months before entrance exams. The father was always occupied with his work, and had no time to ”nurse” me or my sister, and it was up to me to decide which faculty to choose and how the preparation for the exams to organize. As for me, I was rather independent, being brought up without a mother, but like most teenagers of my age, I was thoughtless enough and improvident. Therefore, having arrived in the University one year before the exams, I cleared out everything only about entrance examinations. And entrance examinations just did not frighten me at all: a composition (I have always adored writing and managed it),Russian literature (since my childhood I have never spent a day without a book), Russian language(loved and knew well because read much) and English. Perhaps, English puzzled me most of all as at school it was taught at that time very superficially. Due to the ”Iron Curtain” which separated the Soviet Union from other countries, nobody saw any sense in the subject. For the majority of the Soviet people English was similar to Latin or ancient Greek. This language was studied at school, but nobody knew what for, and certainly nobody ever practiced it. It was a kind of dead knowledge, and the attitude to it was corresponding. So I decided to focus on English - just to pass my entrance exam. Well, and another little detail to my story. Unfortunately, we lived not in Moscow, but near Moscow suburbs, in two hours’ driving from the center of Moscow. As for now – a funny distance. To cross the present day Moscow from the one end to the other, you will need much more time. But it was not so easy to reach Moscow from Podolsk where we lived: it took 30 minutes by a local bus, then 45 minutes by a suburban electric train which didn’t go frequently, and only then – by underground, 30 minutes more, and some time to get to the station, wait for a bus, change trains... Nothing so difficult for a student, maybe, and for a schoolboy?.. That’s why we didn’t go to Moscow often: only sometimes to the theatre, museum or an art exhibition. But, unfortunately, to learn English properly at that time was possible only in Moscow. Two-years-courses for all comers (adults and senior pupils) were organized in the center and nearby the Garden ring( Sadovoye Koltso). In towns situated near Moscow you couldn’t attend any similar course, so a foreign language could be learnt only with a tutor that cost extremely expensive and that was impossible practically for anyone. Therefore most capable children from provinces and small towns entered technical colleges or teachers’training institute. To get to the University for small town kids was like to reach the moon!