Ruslan Kogan is someone who lived in Russia and then moved to Melbourne. He lived in Russia during the time of communism. He founded a massive company and is very, very rich! Recently, he bought a $38 million dollar house!
Interview with Ruslan Kogan
Q: Name some differences in the lifestyle you have now than to the one you had in Russia
A: I was very young when we left the Soviet Union but it was a Communist country which is not great for the human mind and freedoms. The human mind needs to flourish by being allowed to think whatever it wants, to be able to asks whatever questions you have, to have the choice to believe what you want to believe, to be able to ask for evidence and proof and being able to decide what you want to believe and what you don't want to believe. Then you can form your own view about how you want to live your life and what beliefs are important to you. In a communist country you don't get the freedom to develop your own beliefs and ideas. This is why my parents tried desperate to escape the Soviet Union to bring their kids to a society where freedom of thought was a core value.
Q: At what age did you move to Melbourne?
A:I was six and a half years old.
Q: How was life in Russia?
A: As a kid, I was shielded from a lot of the hardships so life for me was great. I was raised in a very loving home with great parents. I have been back to Belarus a few years ago and I was very happy that we don't need to live there anymore.
Q: What made you want to move to Australia? Why not America or Israel?
A:We had family in Australia so it was the natural choice.
Q: Did you speak any English when you came to Melbourne?
A: No, when we arrived I did not speak English.
However, as a young kid, you learn a new language very quickly so I was speaking English within a few months of arriving.
Q: Did you find it hard to make friends in Melbourne?
A: Up until I was fluent at English, it was a little bit harder to make friends but this was not an issue. In the school yard, there are common languages with no barrier like footy and chasey.
By Dovi Sufrin
Jew Perfect | 27