Hi all --
I just got the sad news today that DD's former Russian tutor, who has remained a dear, dear friend of our family, is being abandoned by her American husband.
Their baby is not yet a year old; she is trying to bring her (jobless) mother over, legally or not, from St. Petersburg; she has a maters but (due to baby) has yet to complete her Ph.D.; and we believe the house is in husband's name.
Sadly, our area has few Russian resources. The few available are limited to her because (1) he has resisted for years her learning to drive, and (2) he resists any social life, so that she and babe are virtual prisoners in the house. (They all eat what he purchases and provides; she buys clothing for herself and the baby when and where he permits; if she really needs anything else in the way of food for the baby, she has to walk 1 1/2 miles each way with baby in stroller (straight up-hill 1/2 way) to get it with what little she has squirrelled away).
The husband has always been rather nasty and negative (my DH, a gentle, kindly soul, said at first meeting, "The hair on the back of my head stood up. He's dangerous.")
Do any of you live in or near a place where there is a welcoming and kind Russian community who might embrace this very lovely and intelligent young woman, her baby, and perhaps her mom (whom we met and who is just the sweetest, dearest person, but does not speak English?)
Our home is pretty big, so if we need to, we will take mommy, baby and grandmommy in (although we are already scheduled for a long-term houseguest -- DH's legally blind best friend since high school, don't even ask)....
Given this guy's weirdness and anger and creepiness, we're thinking that they may all be better off somewhere removed from this woman's husband. But there does not seem to be an established Russian community here, which is what they might need.
Does anyone have any suggestions, or know of a possibly welcoming community?
Thanks so much for any ideas.