Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 10, 1995 TAG: 9508100022
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: SHANNON D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
For 12 years Nelly Chernousova saved a long strip of black velvet that she would eventually make into a dress. The material was given to her by a friend who bought it in Syria; it was only to be used for a special occasion.
For Chernousova, a math teacher from Pereslavl, Russia, that special occasion came three weeks ago at a welcoming party in Radford.
A group of friends from the New River Valley had paid for her plane ticket here. It was her first visit to America.
The relationship that has been cultivated for three years between the Russian school teacher and the Americans is part of a longer-standing partnership between her Russian city near Moscow and the Radford area.
It began when Luther Dickens, president of a Radford company that makes Thermastructure building panels, ventured to Pereslavl six years ago. There, he initiated Radoslav, a Russian-American venture and an expansion of Radva Corp., his existing business in the New River Valley.
Soon, business ties stretched into bonds of friendship.
A Russian folk ensemble visited the New River Valley and Chernousova's son, Vova, was in that group.
In the summer of 1992, a group of Radford-area residents, a reporter and photographer visited Pereslavl. Chernousova and her family hosted one of the American families.
Chernousova built a strong friendship with Gene Dalton, the Roanoke Times photographer who accompanied the group.
Three years later, Dalton solicited contributions to pay for her trip to America.
He had no problem finding enough contributors.
"It's like a family," Chernousova said in her limited English with her son helping to translate. Vova is going into his junior year at Radford University.
The relationship between Chernousova and her Radford friends - and others from Radford and Pereslavl - is "a true example of what can happen when people are unified toward a common goal," said Judy Barr, principal of Riverlawn Elementary School, adding that many of those who made the trip to Pereslavl two years ago were school teachers.
"They treated us like royalty," she remembered.
Giving Chernousova the opportunity to come here was "gratitude and friendship for a very deserving person," Barr said.
Annie Lauri James, who's family hosted Chernousova in the first few days of her visit, said it's easy to relate to Chernousova, who is genuine and sensitive.
"Everyone just loves her," she said.
Chernousova's visit to America, which started July 24 and will end Friday when she flies back to Russia from Washington, D.C., has taken her from a Virginia doctor's office to the mountains of the Blue Ridge.
Last week, Chernousova went for an eye examination. She had been wearing a pair of glasses with an outdated prescription. Thursday, she was given a new-and-improved pair of glasses.
Chernousova's stay with four different host families has kept her itinerary full.
She visited Natural Bridge, Monticello and an American grocery store. She took an evening cruise on the Pioneer Maid on Claytor Lake.
"The scenery is great," Chernousova said. But, "nothing could really warm my heart so well if it wasn't for such wonderful friends."
Chernousova made her first attempt at water skiing last week while visiting Jim and Judy Barr at Claytor Lake.
"First lesson," she said.
After one failed attempt, the 50-year-old former gymnast got up on the skis and held on for a five-minute tour of the lake.
"She's a good athlete," Jim Barr noted, steering the boat as Chernousova skied behind it.
"Every day is different here," Chernousova said, shortly after her success with water skiing. "Every day changes."
If there is one thing Chernousova and her host friends say they have learned from their relationship together, it is that geographical boundaries do not mean social boundaries.
"Boundaries are only for the governments, but not for the people," Chernousova said.
Before her trip to America, she said, she did not trust what she was told years ago in the media - that Americans and Russians were enemies.
She said she saw that both the Americans and Russians have one commonality that is universal - children.
Her American friends agree.
"They have the same concerns and family settings as we do," Judy Barr said. "The beauty of it is that people all over the world are very caring when you get it people to people."
by CNB