Nina, a 91-year-old woman of Russian origin living in China, shows a card, written with greeting words to her hometown in the Vologda Oblast of Russia, in Mansi River Village in Zibo City, east China's Shandong Province, March 8, 2017. Nina was born in 1926 in Vahevo Village in Vologda Oblast in northern Russia. Her father, a Chinese merchant from northern China's Hebei Province, brought her to China when she was seven. Nina's mother was Russian. Nina, whose Chinese name is Liu Molan, has spent most of her life in Mansi River Village in Zibo City. Her late husband Liu Chunshu once served in the Kuomintang air force. Nina's story became known to Russian middle school students through media reports, and the children sent letters and gifts to their distant compatriot. She was excited about the letters, which were the first letters she received from her hometown after she left there 84 years ago. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)
JINAN, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Nina, a 91-year-old woman of Russian origin living in east China's Shandong Province, received letters and gifts from her hometown in the Vologda Oblast of Russia on Wednesday.
She was excited about the letters, which were the first letters she received from her hometown after she left there 84 years ago.
Nina was born in 1926 in Vahevo Village in Vologda Oblast in northern Russia. Her father, a Chinese merchant from northern China's Hebei Province, brought her to China when she was seven. Nina's mother was Russian.
Nina, whose Chinese name is Liu Molan, has spent most of her life in Mansi River Village in Zibo City. Her late husband Liu Chunshu once served in the Kuomintang air force.
Nina's story became known to Russian middle school students through media reports, and the children decided to send their regards to their distant compatriot.
"We know it may be impossible to speak to you directly, but we hope you are reminded of the small native land where you once lived," said the letter.
"Since your family left, much has changed, but possibly some photos of Vahevo Village will remind you of your happy childhood," it said.
Oleg Kuvshnykov, governor of Vologda, whom the students asked to help deliver the letter and a hand-knitted rooster as a gift, also wrote a letter himself.
"Your destiny is an example of the long-standing friendship between the peoples of Russia and China. I have great respect for your hard-working spirit and optimism," he said in the letter.
Nina said she never expected to receive a letter from her hometown. "I am grateful that they care about me," she said.
The Nanding township government on Wednesday helped her reply to the letter and send porcelain gifts to the Vologda Oblast and students.
