Do you believe in miracles?
The year 2025 brought a few real miracles into my life. One of them is the incredible story of meeting my student from Mauritius in person during my trip to Russia.
These days, I regularly receive requests for Russian online and in person classes through social media, my website, and word of mouth. A couple of years ago, one such request came from a Facebook user with no profile picture. The only thing I knew was that the person was from Mauritius. Mauritius and Seychelles bring to mind a very special touristic destination white beaches, and endless ocean views. from glossy brochures. I had never had a student from Mauritius before.
Eventually, we arranged a class, and to my surprise, the student turned out to be a warm, friendly, and wonderful young woman. Her name is Ashvee. She was deeply fascinated by Russian culture and the language, and I later learned that one of her family members had studied in the USSR. Beyond our classes, Ashvee and I talked about everyday things and about life, and over time we became friends.
About a year later, Ashvee started thinking about visiting Russia for the first time. Through social media, she independently found tour guides in both Saint Petersburg and Moscow. I was impressed by Ashvee’s determination and thoughtful planning. We even discussed her sightseeing schedule, and it looked absolutely wonderful, like a dream trip. We checked the Mariinsky Theatre calendar together and patiently waited for the new season to be announced.
Not long after that, I realized that my family needed me in Russia. Ashvee and I exchanged a few jokes about what it would be like to meet in Russia, but the idea of actually meeting felt almost impossible, something close to a miracle.
After months of careful planning and arranging meetings and appointments, I finally booked my trip. That was the moment we both realized we would be in Russia at the same time, in the very same places. Yes, we met for real in Saint Petersburg on Palace Square in September 2025.
After a long day with my family and friends in Peterhof, I arrived downtown and met Ashvee right in the middle of the bustling square. Musicians were playing Russian rock music, and people were dancing and singing all around us. Later, we exchanged links to the music we heard and shared the lyrics.
We walked around for a while and shared a Pavlova dessert. My daughter instantly fell in love with Ashvee’s warm presence and gentle manner. Later that evening, we wandered through Saint Petersburg at night, watched the night boat rides along the Moyka River, and waved to the happy boaters.
The next day, my husband and Ashvee attended La Bayadère at the Mariinsky Theatre, one of the most beloved ballets in the classical repertoire, performed on the historic stage. Ashvee also brought us treats from the Labourdonnais company and black tea from Mauritius. We have been enjoying the treats and tea during long, rainy West Coast evenings in Canada, and they bring back memories of our wonderful and almost miraculous meeting in Saint Petersburg.
Ashvee keeps me in the loop about Russian cultural events taking place in Mauritius through the Embassy of Russia, including performances by the Lyudmila Zykina State Academic Russian Folk Ensemble “Russia,” Russian ballet productions, and concerts by winners of the International Tchaikovsky Competition. That will be a whole other story to share later.
I choose to believe in kindness and love. Among all the events of 2025, these are the moments I choose to hold close. Another long-term student and dear friend H. showed incredible generosity in supporting my mother during her illness. This act of care and generosity is another miracle I will never forget. Earlier this year, a student S. mailed me a large surprise parcel filled with Russian treats from a Russian store in Calgary and made a donation on my behalf to a local health foundation supporting an important for me cause.
Two of my students got married this year, and I was honored to be invited to share in their beautiful celebration. I appreciate all your thank you cards, thoughtful gifts, and kind words of appreciation. Many of you left warm reviews on my social media page and took the time to complete anonymous university surveys, sharing how much you appreciate of my work, dedication, and knowledge. This year, I also met wonderful new students from the UK, Brazil, the USA, India, Iran, and many Canadian cities.
These are some of the highlights of my 2025. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. May 2026 bring you many miracles.