James Newman, Denis Newman, and Christian Newman
Recorded
February 16, 2014
39:09 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
mby011781
Description
Father, Jim Newman (72) and mother, Denis Newman (70) tell their son, Christian Newman (45) the story about their time living in Czechoslovakia.Subject Log / Time Code
J talks about his decision to move to Czechoslovakia to work with environmental scientists during the height of the Cold War.
D and J talk about having to tell their family that they were going to Czechoslovakia. They had a difficult time convincing their loved ones.
J discusses not knowing anything about the country prior to going. J and D talk about the fear they felt about not knowing anything or the customs of the country.
D and J remember the day they arrived. They didn't know the language. They remember their their colleague pick them up.
D and J talk about never being considered spies, although they themselves were spied on.
D describes how unfriendly the Czech people were towards them due to the relations that the U.S. had with the country.
D talks about the day that the U.S. embassy notified them that their apartment was bugged and how they were being spied on by their maid.
D and J talk about using the spying to their advantage. They would actively voice their disappointment with their neighbors and they would immediately get results.
D talks about becoming friends with their neighbors- Peter and Jane, who were both active members of the communist party.
J talks about the misconception the Czech had of the Westerners due to the media and politics.
D and J talk about the conditions the educated Czech people lived and worked in.
D and J talk about their continued relationship with their Czech friends.
D and J reflect on their experience in Czechoslovakia. They learned how to be more open to a wider world view.
D and J talk about how the experience affected their marriage for the better.
D and J tell C the importance of travelling.
D's fondest memory in Czechoslovakia is their daughters birthday party.
J's fondest memory is his research and family bonding.
Participants
- James Newman
- Denis Newman
- Christian Newman