“In 1966 I, then 18, finished Glier music college of Kyiv specializing in piano and was assigned to teach a piano in Chernobyl (at that time after graduation everybody was assigned to teach in music schools in the Kyiv region). At that time construction of the atomic plant was still at the planning stage. In Chernobyl I lived with my former classmate in a peasant house with non-existent facilities.

Every weekend after a five-day workweek I went to Kyiv to have piano lessons with my private teacher. My greatest dream then was to study in the Music academy (I fulfilled my dream in 1969). In winter I went to Kyiv by bus which took four hours one way to get to each destination. It took two hours in summer, because I went there by Dnieper in Meteor hydrofoil. This picture was taken on one of these days in Kyiv on the Dnieper riverbank.

The coat I wear in this photo was purchased at Central Department Store in Kyin on Khreschatyk.”

Comment by Natalia Tryliska.

This photo is contributed by Natalia Tryliska.