6,511 Miles from Derbent

The exact distance between Derbent, Russia, and Logan, Utah, is 6,511 miles.
That may be hard for a child to comprehend, but Tanya would always joke with her parents that if they made her mad, she was going to pick up and move to the United States of America. No one paid attention to her.
In fact, as Tanya grew older, everyone discouraged her from setting her sights on the U.S.A.and they even claimed that it was not possible.
But the girl from a remote town by the Caspian Sea in the Caucus Mountains region of the Russian Federation would overcome everyones doubts and earn a full athletic scholarship to Utah State University.
In this memoir, she tells the dramatic story of how big ambitions led her from being a girl with limited opportunities in the U.S.S.R. and post-communist Russia to a successful woman with a loving family in the United States.
If youre interested in the social history of the Soviet Union and Russia, enjoy reading memoirs of immigrants, or simply love inspirational stories, then you need to read 6,511 Miles from Derbent.


I would especially like to thank my friend, Jon P, for his help in Proof-Reading my story. Vasiliy Kuznetsov of Moscow, Russia for advising and interviewing me through the process. My husband and my children for their support and love.