A teenager from Grodno was sent to school in Lithuania. He learned Lithuanian and now translates for the European Parliament. He also translated for the Tikhanovskys.

"I realized that I can be both Belarusian and Lithuanian at the same time"

"Nasha Niva": How did you end up in Lithuania?

Vadzim Vileita: My father has Lithuanian roots. He was born in Siberia. In adulthood, he came to Belarus, where he married my mother. And I was born in Belarus, in Grodno.

But my father wanted me to learn about my Lithuanian roots, and he found a way to send me to study in Lithuania - to a school for children of Lithuanian descent. This school is in Vilnius, and when I was 15 years old, I was sent there. It was a kind of boarding school, where we were fed and looked after.

Then I stayed in Lithuania. I entered Vilnius University, the Institute of International Relations and Political Science.

"NN": Did it take you long to get used to life in a new country?

VV: At first it was difficult for me. After all, I grew up in a Belarusian environment, and at that time I was actively interested in what was happening in Belarus in political terms. I read the newspaper "Narodnaya Volya", which my grandparents subscribed to. Plus, national identity and the Belarusian language were important to me. But my father had other plans for me, and he convinced me that I would be better off in Lithuania.

It was a bit unexpected for me to suddenly find myself in a completely different country and culture, in a different environment and with a different language. I only knew about my Lithuanian roots theoretically, but in practice I considered myself Belarusian.

There were other difficulties as well, because I was used to family comfort, living with my parents, where I had my own room. I am the only child in the family, so I was a bit of a spoiled teenager. And here I suddenly had to live according to discipline, in a school where there were many other children around. But little by little I got used to it and adapted in about a year.

"NN": Did you have to rebuild your national identity in Lithuania?

VV: I had to revise it. I had to learn Lithuanian almost from scratch, especially since all subjects in that school were taught in Lithuanian. It helped that I studied there from the 10th grade, and then in the Lithuanian 10th grades, almost the same subjects were studied as in Belarus in the 9th grade, that is, I studied the same thing for a year that I used to study in Belarus.

Three years later, I passed the Lithuanian language as my native language - with the highest score. It was unexpected for me that I was able to master it so quickly and at such a high level, because at first it seemed very difficult to me. Of course, it helped a lot that before that I had studied it for a year and a half at a Sunday school in Grodno and in a Lithuanian summer camp.

Павялічыць

The further I went, the more I felt that the Lithuanian identity was becoming a part of me, although it took many years. When I entered Vilnius University, I still felt like part of a national minority in Lithuania. But when I integrated, I already felt like part of Lithuanian society, and at the same time I did not stop realizing that I was Belarusian.

For a while I had a crisis, I couldn't understand who I was, Belarusian or Lithuanian. And then I realized that I can be both Belarusian and Lithuanian at the same time.

"The level of language you have is the level you need"

"NN": What do you think helped you learn Lithuanian so well?

VV: I have always been interested in languages. Even in Belarus, I liked to listen to the news in Belarusian and translate it from Belarusian into Russian, because at that time the news on television was mostly in Belarusian.

That is, I already had a habit of using two languages at the same time, I think I just have an inclination for it. It also helped that I started learning Lithuanian at an early age, when I was 13 years old, and I had good teachers.

Although I must admit that there is no tradition of teaching foreigners Lithuanian in Lithuania yet. This language is mainly taught here by teachers who know how to teach it to Lithuanian-speaking children as their native language. It is very difficult for Lithuanians to explain why they speak one way and not another, to answer various questions that arise for foreigners during their studies. That's why I decided to create my own Lithuanian language course, because I know that I can help people with these difficulties.

"NN": The classic situation in learning a foreign language is when a person cannot master it above a certain level and remains at the same level for many years. How can this be overcome?

VV: I am often asked this question.

I think it's very difficult to deceive yourself, and the level of language you have is the level you need. If you want to master the language more strongly, you need to integrate into the language environment: watch movies and read books in that language, meet with native speakers. If you are in such an environment, you will be able to automatically bring your language skills to perfection.

To master a foreign language, you need to become a slightly different person: get out of your comfort zone and grow another additional personality in yourself. You have your personality as a Belarusian - so a personality, for example, of an English-speaking person should appear. Then this language will become natural and comfortable for you, and not something foreign that you have to artificially learn.

"Like any politician, Lukashenko can be translated"

"NN": How did you find yourself in the translation business?

VV: I dreamed of being a translator since childhood, I trained when I translated news releases on television. When I was a student, I participated in events where there was sometimes a need to translate a report or speech. I offered my help then and saw that I was doing well, I liked it. Other people also saw this and began to invite me to translate on a professional basis.

Павялічыць

Through trial and error, I came to simultaneous translation. Over time, I got many clients, I also work at large congresses, conferences, and I am regularly invited to the European Parliament. I translate in all combinations between Lithuanian, English, Russian and Belarusian, and sometimes I can also translate from Polish.

"NN": You also have journalistic experience. Tell us about it.

VV: I worked for Lithuanian radio for two years and for Lithuanian national television for another two years. I made reports on important topics, connected from different places of events, from parliament, government. But over time, I saw that when I work as a freelance translator, I feel more free, and in 2009 I completely switched to this job.

"NN": What do you like about your job as a translator?

VV: I like to see how people find mutual understanding, and realize that I play an important role in this process. When I see that at some event people would not be able to understand each other without me, I feel that I am realizing my abilities, and this motivates me. I like it a little less when one or two people listen to me at events, but it is still important that someone needs my translation.

"NN": But isn't it a difficult job?

VV: It's a very hard job: it's emotionally and physically exhausting. Therefore, it is impossible to do it daily from 8 to 17. In simultaneous translation, you always work in pairs with a colleague, because one translator is not able to maintain concentration as long as required

It's like a craft that you get used to, and then it seems easy, but in reality it's very tiring.

"NN": Which of the famous Belarusians have you translated?

VV: I can say that I have not translated Lukashenko.

"NN": Given his manner of speaking, would you be ready to translate him?

VV: No problem - like any politician, Lukashenko can be translated.

I really like to translate bright politicians, when there is intrigue and an element of conflict in their speeches. I must admit that conferences are often not very interesting: there are many predictable expressions, and such speeches are easy to translate. In the 16 years of my work, such translations have become a routine and eventually become boring.

Therefore, when there is some intrigue, a real discussion or even a quarrel at the event, it gives energy and a feeling that there is some meaning in the event. For example, I like large events with motivational speakers: they often give interesting speeches. There are also psychological trainings where you can hear something new about yourself or your family.

At some events, when you translate, it is very difficult to hold back tears. This is a very delicate situation, because as a translator I have no right to my emotions at this time.

"NN": Probably, one of such events was the press conference of Sergei Tikhanovsky a few days after his release, where you worked.

VV: Yes, it was emotional work. In general, there was a very strong feeling of family reunification. When you see how Tikhanovsky, this sincere, strong and courageous man, cannot hold back tears and speaks so emotionally about his family, it was also difficult for me to hold back at that moment. Because I saw how people in the hall reacted to it, how Svetlana Tikhanovskaya reacted. This is a very vivid memory.

Павялічыць

At the same time, a very pleasant feeling remained from this meeting. I have never been a fan of Sergei Tikhanovsky - you can say that I first saw him when he was released from prison. He seemed to me to be a completely unyielding person, inspired, interesting and charismatic.

"NN": How many years have you been translating events related to Belarus in general?

VV: Since the very beginning of my career. I started it in the Belarusian public sector, when I was still living in Grodno, and then continued in Lithuania. In my student days, I was active in such affairs, I created a public organization with like-minded people. We organized various projects, seminars and conferences, trying to bring closer the time when Belarus would be free. My translation activity began from that time.

"In the understanding of Lithuanians, they are still under siege, including from Belarusians"

"NN": How would you describe the relationship between Belarusians and Lithuanians today?

VV: I have the impression that in 2020 many Lithuanians hoped: like, that's it, now the Belarusians will overthrow Lukashenko, and Belarus will become a normal democratic country. Then the Lithuanians supported the Belarusians very much, and I was proud that I had Belarusian origin and that the Lithuanians reacted so positively to us. But no changes took place, and Belarus, on the contrary, became a co-aggressor in the Russian attack on Ukraine, and then there was a decline in relations with the Lithuanians.

Even hostility towards Belarusians has appeared in Lithuanian society. This is also due to the fact that Belarusian migrants who come here are mainly Russian-speaking, and many of them do not even try to learn Lithuanian.

Павялічыць

Also, Lithuanians and Belarusians have different attitudes to our common history, and many were not ready for this - neither on the Lithuanian nor on the Belarusian side. It turned out that there are contradictions between us, and we need to somehow agree: both sides should learn to look more broadly at their past, not limiting themselves to national clichés and not stepping on the toes of their neighbors.

We somehow got used to explaining history to ourselves in a certain way, and when you meet another nation and their representation, you need to somehow adapt your representation. Not all people are ready for this. Not everyone is ready for dialogue, it is much easier to quarrel and accuse another.

"NN": What do Belarusians and Lithuanians not understand about each other?

VV: Belarusians do not understand how painful Lithuanians' historical experience with neighboring Slavic countries is and how wary they are of any encroachment on Lithuanian independence.

Belarusians often treat Lithuanians as a nation that would seem to have every reason to be completely confident in itself, because Lithuania is a member of NATO and the EU, and the country has a much higher level of economic development than Belarus. Despite this, Lithuanians retain a great deal of insecurity and wariness towards any manifestation of danger from neighboring states. In the understanding of Lithuanians, they are still under siege, including not only from the Lukashenko regime, but also from Belarusians as a people who may have some imperial intentions against them.

Therefore, when they see any hints that Belarusians have historical ties with Vilnius or with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, for Lithuanians this is like an existential threat and a direct encroachment on their living space. This has happened so many times in the past that they cannot and will not react to it calmly until there is some large-scale reconciliation and rethinking of common history.

Павялічыць

The national code of the Balts is the constant reduction of their territory under the influence of the Slavs, for the Balts this process threatens their very existence. They really want this process to stop and so that there are no further hints that there will be fewer Balts and more Slavs. And now they see in Lithuania that there are many Slavs around again, a lot of Russian language, and again we seem to be returning to Soviet times, when we are no longer the masters in our country. People react to this very painfully.

Lithuanians do not understand about Belarusians how it was possible to just take and lose their national language, what the language situation is in Belarus. Some Lithuanians do not know at all that there is a Belarusian language, and they believe that, of course, it is necessary to talk to Belarusians as to a subspecies of Russians. They are sincerely surprised that some Belarusians may not like it. This part of Lithuanians simply does not separate Belarusians from Russians, it is more convenient for them that way.

The other extreme is when Lithuanians who are not very familiar with Belarusian reality believe that Belarus is an ordinary national country where most people speak Belarusian. And when Sergei Tikhanovsky, for example, comes to Vilnius, they watch his press conference and they are shocked - like, why is he "demonstratively" speaking Russian?

It is very difficult to explain to such people that in Belarus most people speak Russian at all, and for us there is nothing demonstrative in this. They do not understand - like, if he is an opposition politician, criticizes Russia and Putin, why is he promoting the language of the Russian world?

We have to explain to them that, perhaps, it is not enough to speak only Belarusian to work with the Belarusian electorate. You also need to speak Russian, because most Belarusians communicate in this language in everyday life.

The Russian language in Lithuania means something different than in Belarus. In Belarus, the Russian language for most is just a language, a means of communication, and in Lithuania it is a sign of trouble and a language of oppression. Therefore, every other Lithuanian, if addressed in Russian, feels rejection, including to our entire national community. Therefore, it is very important to show respect and address a person in Lithuanian.

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