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‘My aunt Janina lives a few hundred meters away across the border. We can talk over this fence that crosses my potato yard. Neither Belarusians nor Lithuanians forbid us to do that - I only need my neighbour's help to arrange a meeting. Although, I cannot remember when was the last time we spoke.’ - Stanislaw
‘Sometimes I am awakened by the barking of the German Shepherd dogs when our border guards are out on patrol early in the morning.’
- Stanislaw
‘I have a horse and I used to go to my aunt to help her cultivate the land and she used to come to me to help harvest my potato yard. I lost part of my potato yard. It is over the fence now. They said that my deed of ownership is not helpful since it is written in 1915 when the region belonged to the Russian Empire.’ - Stanislaw
‘We are here in NorviliškÄ—s, and they are there in Pieckuny. People there are cut off from the church and their relatives’ graves. It is here, on our side. They used to throw flowers with a rock and a note on which grave they want us to put it. But not anymore, the guards do not allow that. For those who have visas, they open the border gates to come to the church three times a year: at Easter, All Saints’ Day, and Christmas. And if someone dies in Pieckuny on any other day, the coffin must pass through an official checkpoint 200 kilometres away to reach the village cemetery in NorviliškÄ—s.’ - Stanislaw
‘My husband works in Belarus for many years already - he found a job there, and obtained a Belarusian passport. And I am here, in my homeland. I am used to being here. And I have no money either to visit or to divorce him. I would divorce him, but it is too expensive! My sisters also live on the other side, one of them just half a kilometre away. But we do not talk - no, no - why should I break the law? It is just me and my three dogs: Barak, Landsbergis and Chernomyrdin! They keep me company.’ - Leokadija
‘Back in Soviet days there were many of us. We all worked in the Druzhba [Friendship] collective farm and had around 800 cows. Today few old men, few old women, and three cows remain.’ – Leokadija
‘I am so lonely here, longing longing for something, longing...’ - Leonas
‘I have a tractor driver and locksmith diploma, and I was driving all my life. I heard I should go to the job centre. And would they even take me? I do not have a car. And where would I work? There is nothing around me, just empty houses. Empty, empty... I would like to work somewhere.’ - Leonas
‘At least I have animals. I am too aware of them all the time to be sad.
In fact, they really do make me happy.’ - Leonas
"When I grow up, I hope to be a tractor driver. I’ll probably live where I do now. So far, so good. I don’t really know much else. Maybe life is better in the city, where there are more friends. Here, I only have two friends. Well, two more, but they’re very young and don’t understand much yet. So often, I play with my two dogs, Bymas and Mališas, and with my cat, who I didn’t name.
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Once, we went to the zoo with my school. I saw a zebra there, and I think I really like zebras. Another time, I remember we went to the capital city to get our passports. On the way home, we ate pizza and bought a sausage at the supermarket. Those are the days I won’t forget, like my birthdays. Although, I don’t remember exactly when my birthday is... I think it’s at the end of summer. Or maybe in April. But on my birthday, we have a cake with candles, we count, and then I blow them out. The wishes come true. I wished for a puzzle. Even today, I can’t complete it. I think I’ve tried twelve times already." - Dariukas