Sofia says she does not know much about her genealogy. She remembers her paternal grandmother, Tsagan Ogdaeva, and what she wore and how she looked. Her grandmother died of starvation in the first winter in Siberia when the Kalmyks were sent to exile there. She starved herself to death by giving her rations to her grandchildren. Before the exile, the grandmother helped Sofia’s mother to bring up the children and look after the household. The family kept cows, geese, and chickens. With her grandparents, parents and two brothers Sofia lived in the village of Tabun-Bulung in Kalmykia (today it is in Limanskiy rayon of Astrakhan’). Sofia’s grandfather, Lidzhi-Gorya Ogdaev, worked in a fishing brigade and looked after livestock. Sofia’s father, Erdni Lidzhi-Goryaev, fought in the front during World War Two, while the women in the family worked in the field and caught fish. Before the exile in the winter of 1943, Sofia’s family had well prepared for the winter: they had stored salted fish, pumpkins, birds, and even prepared 500 brooms (to exchange for other things). Since the Kalmyks were deported overnight, all these provisions had to be left behind. Sofia’s mother and grandparents were religious people. Their faith, Sofia says, helped them not only to stay strong but to survive the exile (from 1943 to 1957). Sofia recalls that her grandfather used to read prayers with his prayer beads every evening after work. After prayers, he blessed the children with his beads. Sofia and her younger brother were in the same class in the same school. Sofia’s mother got along well with her father-in-law who lived a long life. She looked after him till he died. Sofia’s mother, Matsak, grew up as an orphan. When Matsak was only seven, both of her parents died within a week, leaving behind three children. Matsak’s sister Tsagan and brother Ilya were nine and two respectively. Although the children all grew up in different families, they always kept in touch with each other. Sofia recalls how she met her auntie Tsagan who had amnesia. She had become frightened and neurotic since Soviet soldiers came to her house to send the family to exile in 1943. In the last months of her life, Sofia’s mother also developed amnesia and did not recognize her daughter. Sofia says that she is grateful to her grandfather and mother who passed on their family traditions to her. According to Sofia, strong family bonds are what helps the Kalmyk nation persevere and survive.