Well, February 7th was a big day for the ten members of the Feenstra family from Canada . . . it was the day they were granted temporary residency status by the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. After 13 months of living “in limbo,” as Arend Feenstra described it, they finally feel secure in the knowledge that they’re settled for at least the next three years. The second step will be permanent residency, eventually followed by full citizenship — a six-year process in all.

For the momentous occasion, they got dressed up and made the trip into the city for the formal ceremony — which turned out to be somewhat less formal, and more personal and relaxed, than they had expected. They were the only honorees that day, and each of them was given personal attention by the local officials.

As always, there was ample photographic coverage of the event. Other than Vladimir Putin himself, the Feenstras are quite possibly the most photographed people in Russia these days. And here they are, waiting for the presentation to begin:

Before entering the hall, however, Arend had a few words to say to the camera: pretty much a repetition of the reasons they had come to Russia (greater opportunities, greater religious freedom, protection of their traditional Christian values, blah blah blah). Then he launched into his customary assurance to anyone who might be considering making the move to this land of opportunity, promising the listener that the government is working to simplify the process, and even giving a plug to the local agency in Nizhny Novgorod region that has been of so much help to them: OKAgency.com.

So, for any of you out there who might be interested . . .

No, forget I said that. Back to reality.

The ceremony itself consisted of each family member in turn receiving their individual documents — which look like passports, though they were not identified as such in the video — starting with dad Arend and Mom Anneesa, all the way through the tiniest toddler . . . and all under the watchful gaze of President Putin from his perch on the wall.

Having watched them now through a few official ceremonies, a visit to an agricultural exhibition, an exhausting tour of Moscow, and endless hours of working on their farm and in their new home, I have to say that these are eight of the best-behaved, most likable children I have ever seen . . . which is probably why I have become so attached to the entire family. While I fear for their futures, I still wish them all the best.

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Then there was a guided tour of a small museum on the premises, a final photo op, and Russia’s newest temporary residents were seen out into the cold February day.

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Before heading home, they celebrated with lunch at a Georgian restaurant (I can almost taste the Chicken Tabaka now).

And then it was off across the snowy landscape and back to the farm . . .

. . . where there was time for one more little speech by Arend, again thanking everyone who has made this transition so much easier for them . . . from the folks at OKA, to the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod, to President Putin himself.

Then one more message to all the unfortunate people in the West who don’t know what they’re missing: an invitation to come to Russia, where life is good and the future filled with hope and promise.

*. *. *

After a little more than a year, I have to admit that I didn’t believe it could work for them. But they are making it happen, through hard work, perseverance . . . and an uncanny ability to go along with the system.

As my beloved grandmother — who risked everything to leave that life behind for a better one in America — would have said (and often did):

“Oy! Are they crazy, or what?!!”

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/10/25