First it was the eldest daughter, Cora, talking to the camera. And now it’s 15-year-old son Wesley — a slightly shy yet delightfully personable young man — starring in that Russian social media hit, “Countryside Acres.”

It took the form of an interview, with Wesley and the unseen interviewer standing outdoors in the cold Russian February. At first I thought it might have been Cora asking the questions, as sort of a family-fun type of entertainment. The interviewer was female, and spoke perfect English, so it may indeed have been Cora — or even their mother, Anneesa. If that was made clear at the beginning of the video, I’m afraid I missed it.

In any event, the questions were obviously pre-prepared, and Wesley seemed to anticipate them, as his responses were not generally hesitant. He was first asked how he liked Russia, to which he said he liked it “pretty well.” He went on to say that the people were “a bit kinder” than in Canada, and that there seemed to be more opportunity in Russia because there are a lot of things that “can be improved” and that “people here haven’t found yet.”

That struck me as either a naively honest answer, or a scripted come-on for prospective emigres who might be having trouble finding work in their own countries. You know: “Come to Russia, the land of opportunity. We have lots of work, because we’re somewhat behind the times and need people to help us catch up.”

Well, I can tell you right now where they need help: Public relations. Because that sales pitch does not make me want to pack my bags and renew my passport.

Anyway, the interviewer then asked him what he missed about Canada. And for the first time, I heard one of the Feenstras mention the son/brother left behind in Canada. Wesley said — without going into detail — that he missed his brother and his grandparents. He also mentioned a cousin, and said it made him sad to think he might never again be able to visit them in Canada.

And tools; he misses tools. In Canada, they had all the tools they needed, he said; but here in Russia . . . not so much.

Brother, grandparents, cousin, and tools. This young man has his priorities straight.

Does he have any friends in Russia? Uh . . . not so many, apparently. After thinking for a moment, he said there were two in Nizhny Novgorod, and of course, there is his family. The interviewer then prompted him about some old people in the villages, and he remembered that yes, he likes to visit with them. Again, there was no clarification of who these senior citizens are or what connection he might have with them; but I do recall Cora mentioning something similar in her earlier broadcast.

Community service, perhaps — helping out at the old folks’ home? I haven’t a clue.

When asked about plans for the future, most teenaged boys would talk about a chosen field of study or career path — engineer, musician, horse whisperer, whatever. But not our Wesley. Emulating his dad, he said he wants to get married and have a family, and to be a farmer and carpenter. But first he would hope to go to college, or to do “something important.” And he would “save up” to be able to buy his own farm. Nothing wrong with any of those ambitions, though he might want to narrow it down a bit.

There were some rather mundane inquiries about such things as his favorite food (Georgian khachapuri — a delicious sort of cheese pizza, sometimes topped with an egg); his least favorite thing (studying, as he would rather be active than seated at a desk); activities (swimming, driving the tractor, carpentry); and learning Russian (he understands it pretty well, but finds it difficult to speak).

And then came a return to the big question: the one about missing his home in Canada. He started with a straightforward enlargement of his earlier comment, saying that he was sad to know he would never live there (not just visit) again. But then — as though suddenly remembering the correct answer to a test question — he smiled and said that he thinks of life in Russia as an exciting adventure.

But that wasn’t good enough for the interviewer, who continued to goad him, asking again and again if he missed Canada. He finally said that, while he does miss his relatives, he “prefers it here,” and “feels better” about the move after having lived there for a year.

Is he happy about the family’s having cleared the first hurdle toward eventual citizenship?

Well, of course he is. Was there ever any doubt?

*. *. *

And as the sun set on beautiful Countryside Acres Farm in idyllic Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Wesley Feenstra was free to rejoin his family indoors, having given his premier performance as a shill for Vladimir Putin’s “Come To Russia” campaign.

All part of the price of admission, it seems.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/20/25