Music, family and fairy tales on vinyl: Austrian Russian-language teacher shares his personal sense of homeland

Homeland is not so much a place on the map as something that resonates deep within you. Sometimes it is a melody you heard as a child and never forgot. Sometimes it is the sound of your parents' voices reading you a fairy tale. Or a song that, many years later, you sing together with your students. Sebastian Hacker, Chairman of the Austrian Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature and a Russian-language teacher at the Catholic Schottengymnasium of the Schotten Abbey in Vienna, took part in the National Centre RUSSIA survey as part of the nationwide campaign "What Does the Motherland Begin With?". His answer once again showed that the feeling of homeland knows no geographical boundaries and is often born from the simplest yet most meaningful details, emotions and memories.

"For me, my homeland probably begins with the experience of family life and with the fairy tales of my childhood. I remember that when I was a child, I would often lie on the living room floor listening to fairy tales on vinyl records. And, of course, my parents read them to me as well. The recordings were accompanied by music, and I think that the combination of storytelling and music is also what creates my sense of homeland," Sebastian Hacker shared.

This love of words and music has remained with him throughout his life, and today Sebastian Hacker passes it on to his students in Vienna through the Russian songs they sing together in class.

"When I teach Russian, I sing Russian songs with my students. They love them, and know many of them by heart. Even if they sometimes forget the exact meaning of the lyrics, the melody and the atmosphere of the songs create a connection with Russia and with the culture of all its peoples," the Austrian guest added.

The National Centre RUSSIA survey, conducted as part of the "What Does the Motherland Begin With?" campaign, continues to collect responses from around the world. More than 700 people from 71 regions of Russia and other countries have already shared their personal stories about what homeland means to them, including public officials, opinion leaders, artists, scientists and teachers. Each has their own life story, their own geography and their own understanding of the meaning of homeland. Yet they are all united by one thing: homeland is a warm feeling that lives in the heart.