Dan
asked
Jack Barsky:
Dear Mr. Barsky, Fascinating book! I spent a year in Jena as an undergrad and your stories of Rosenkeller/student life bring back memories. My question is about your American ttutor in Moscow. I am fascinated about foreigners, especially Americans, who moved to the USSR and how they tried to adapt to this radically different reality. What was her back story? Was she a willing employee or forced? What was her fate?
Jack Barsky
Ah, those were the days. We were dirt poor, and the living quarters were lousy, but there was always beer and "Der Keller".
With regard to my tutor, given that this was the KGB, she never told me anything about her past. As I state in the book, she was quite miserable in Moscow. However, she was there voluntarily. During the debriefing, the FBI showed me some pictures, and I was able to identify her. I forgot her real name, but I do know that she had fallen in love with a KGB agent (diplomat) and followed him to the Soviet Union. Bad move........
With regard to my tutor, given that this was the KGB, she never told me anything about her past. As I state in the book, she was quite miserable in Moscow. However, she was there voluntarily. During the debriefing, the FBI showed me some pictures, and I was able to identify her. I forgot her real name, but I do know that she had fallen in love with a KGB agent (diplomat) and followed him to the Soviet Union. Bad move........
More Answered Questions
Yoan Vikyov
asked
Jack Barsky:
You talked about your mother and how she was the biggest influence. Do you regret that you never told your mother that you dident die? On Wikipedia it says that your mother searched for you and even send mails to Mikhail Gorbachev but at the end she never learned the true story. I feel really bad for you.
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