At Lincoln South Rotary Club on Friday, April 28, 2023, we learned about one of our newest members, Elina Newman.
During Member Moments we ask members to share information about their personal life and work, what they like about Rotary, and one thing that we may not know about them.
Elina shared that, being a part of Rotary is an extension of what she has done during her life. she appreciates the opportunity to network and meet new exciting people.
She shared a detailed personal account of her journey from Armenia to America.
My name is Dr. Elina Newman. To alleviate any concerns of the legitimacy of my credential: yes, I can use it; yes, I worked for it and paid for it; and, no, I am not a medical doctor and never claimed to be although I am a healthcare employee as I work in a pharmacy and have been a pharmacy technician for close to 20 years. I’ve been invited I am very thankful for yet another opportunity to share my story.
I am an Armenian from the former USSR. My people were part of the Armenian genocide many years ago, before my time. Due to a land dispute that turned into a religious war, they fled and scattered. One of the countries to which they fled was Baku, Azerbaijan, where I was born on March 8, 1984. Baku sits right on the Caspian Sea, and one of my claims to fame is that I remember swimming in that sea. My people did very well hiding because that’s what we had to do. We hid because of our heritage and faith.
When I was 4, the country experienced another territorial and or religious upheaval. My brother and I were being put down for a nap and heard a knock on the door. This was followed by my grandmother’s loud scream, and my grandfather rushing to shove a piano to block the door. It wasn’t long before my family’s 3rd floor apartment was infiltrated not only through the entry door but also through the balcony. Glass was broken, our belongings were destroyed.
We were given a choice. LEAVE AND LIVE OR STAY AND DIE.
My family left with nothing but the clothes on our backs. My grandfather had two mismatching shoes. We, along with many other families, were escorted downstairs, down the sidewalk, meanwhile the government officials, if you can call them that, stood by and watched. The extremist group that wanted us out stood on the sidewalk, some of their faces covered with masks (so you can probably imagine what the last year and a half was like for me), and threw rocks and bottles at us as we were being escorted out. We were loaded into a bus and dropped off at the railroad tracks. That is where we stayed for what seemed like weeks. We then boarded an airplane, dropped off in Moscow, and were told to scatter. The families refused to leave the plane until the country gave us a place to stay. They did, a place that by US standards would be condemned.
We went from Moscow to Rostov-on-Don, where my father continued to work on paperwork to come to the US. It took us about 5 years to get approved. Finally, in 1993, we were approved, along with my father’s parents, and in November of 1993, we came to the US. I will be celebrating 30 years in this wonderful country this coming November. I remember our first apartment at 923 S 10th Street. My brother and I thought it was a mansion. We thought the door stoppers (the boingy ones) in our apartment were anti-theft devices. We did not have to worry about hot water or electricity limits. I made sure to use up all the hot water my first shower. I remember my first phone number. I remember our first trip to the grocery store, Super Saver on 48th and O. We stood in front of the bread section in awe because we were not used to such food availability as our food was rationed.
You see, life is USSR, and now Russia, was not what people think it is when they go on vacation. Yes, Moscow and St. Petersburg are beautiful. The churches are made of real gold, which is why there’s an echo inside, and it’s cold. The government puts a lot of money into the cities. Why? Because that’s where all the important people live, and they are tourist locations. The small towns are a different story. We, everyday people, had limited everything: electricity, water, and food. My grandfather had to stand in line at 4am to ensure that all of us had bread. We had pre-rationed butter, cheese, and meat. You got what you got, and you had to make do. Hot water was on from 4pm to 6pm. Our showers were limited to once every 2 to 3 days, on rotation. In Rostov-on-Don, I remember my mom boiling water to give me and my brother baths and then emptying the tub, bucket by bucket, and carrying down flights of stairs to dispose of it.
Eleven months after our arrival in the US, working 3 jobs, my father died in a car accident. Eleven months is what I remember of my father. So, I can say that I did not have a father figure for most of my childhood life. My mom had to take over everything, and at that time, I was expected to be self-sufficient. My brother and I pressed on. I remember going to Everett Elementary. I vividly recall my teachers. I remember drawing pictures for a good month or two of 4th grade because I knew ZERO English. I remember having a translator who left later that school year. I remember being told that we would be making and eating dirt cake. I was scared. I later found out it was chocolate pudding.
I continued with school and landed at Lincoln Christian in 6th grade. I graduated as a salutatorian of my class in 2002. I went on to UNL and graduated with a BA in Psychology, attended University of Phoenix and graduated with an MS in Psychology, and obtained a PhD in Psychology from Northcentral University in November 2020. I am a first generation student, the first in my family to earn a PhD.
Currently, I am a faculty at Southeast Community College and have been there since 2008. I am also a pharmacy technician. I left the corporate world because, now, more than ever, we need to do everything we can to support small businesses. I also own a small business, focusing on editing/proofreading as well as student and business support. Many of you seen my posters around town…yes, that’s me, and yes I’m also running for the District 3 City Council Seat in the upcoming election. AND, because I was able to find a few moments to spare, I am a steering team member on the Welcome Plan for Immigrants and Refugees, the same plan that you heard about a few weeks ago, and my husband and I along with our dance family volunteer our time putting on dance performances in various assisted living facilities and community facilities in town.
Being a part of Rotary is an extension of what Elina has been doing. She hadn't been invited to participate in many things, so when she got an invitation, she saw that as an opportunity to network and meet new exciting people.
As far as what we may not know about me…she asked . . . does my story count?