After one year living in both west and east Ukraine, I was tempted to write about my vision and experiences, but this time its occurs to me an even better idea, to be honest there are hundreds of articles about Ukraine and the east from a foreigners perspective, although most of them are fairly good, also many others fall down to topics and a very limited (Touristic) vision, often become or too positive or too gloomy.
In this case I decided to make a series of small interviews to be included on "Humans of Ukrainia" about different aspects of Ukrainian society, give voice to the Ukrainians, and express without filters what they think about their situation and also of my job in the region, hopefully will bring more understanding about current situation in Ukraine and its people.
We began with Yevheniia a very interesting lady who loves to travel, books and photography. Currently she is working as assistant in the University.
(Note: Translated to English, original in Ukrainian language)
Where are you from?
I was born in Luhansk, and now live in Lysychansk
How is living near a war zone. Do you have any problems?
When there was still active hostilities, it was alarming. I woke up at night when shots were heard, or from loud noises. Then began the "Pause" [Ceasefire] - home next door, but not available, you can go, but scary. You are waiting for release, but when it will be ... There was a time when I didn't plan anything, even a month in advance - I waited for everything, when ... Then it became the same.
I have not been home for five years. For the first year and a half, I tried to visit the remaining relatives at least once every 3-4 months. But when the road home takes instead of an hour to a day, when you come to a once prosperous city you see gray ruins, when this grayness of the head permeates the heads of your former friends, when you suffer bullying at the border with the so-called LPR, all this takes away even the slightest desire to come home . And why go there, when there is only an apartment left now?
The pause continues to this day. I'm learning to plan, I'm learning to call home the place where I am now. I am learning to communicate with relatives and old acquaintances who have a completely different view of these events and have remained in the occupied territories or moved to Russia. I may have been quarantined a little easier than others. My work was evacuated to Starobilsk, and most of the time I work remotely. I comfort myself that on any trip I can collect a suitcase in 10-15 minutes. But sometimes it gets a little scary because in these 10-15 minutes you can put your whole life in a suitcase ... All my personal problems are either psychological as a result of all these events, or related to the location I can't call it my home.
But there are still the problems of the people nearby and the problems of the region. But sometimes it also becomes a problem, sometimes a problem of worldview. The problem of our region is that we do not know our history, distorted facts have been invested in us, our thoughts have been diverted from Ukraine. How can you live in a country and not know its language? moreover, to mock the state language, to ignore it. How can you believe in the distortion of facts, even what was 20-40-60 years ago?
Here live people who look with amazement at the defenders of the Motherland, who believe in the "evil Bandera" and believe that the neighbor's life is better. You will be looked at with astonishment if you use Ukrainian, you are not understood when you say that you do not watch Russian media and movies. There are still people here who believe that Ukraine has started the war, and the Maidan is to blame.
In Russian there is a saying "Ivan, who does not remember kinship." Historically, we are a region of such Ivans who do not remember who they are and where they come from. I do not want to go further - this is a painful and philosophical question for me. Another painful problem is the economic prospects of the region. All large-scale production remained in the temporarily occupied territory. What is left are the old ruins of factories, closed or bankrupt enterprises. People have been leaving here for years to make money. But, unfortunately, they do not bring money to the region ... These two problems are like a vicious circle. People seem to be used to such a life and are afraid of change.
What kind of challenges/problems do you think Ukrainian youth have?
In my opinion, the main problem not only for young people, but also for half of Ukraine, is that we live in times of change. And in such times, rarely anyone is engaged in patriotic education - only survival. Now it's better with that. Whatever it looks like, the war made us Ukrainians. But it has taken away many prospects in our region. Young people want to get a better education, but after getting it, they do not return home ... I really like the statement that a Ukrainian is not one who has Ukrainian ancestors, but one whose descendants are Ukrainians. We must teach young people to look to the future and strive not only to make their lives better, but to make their country better for life. This can be said about any country, but for some reason it needs to be explained to our people.
What do you think about the activities organized by Alejandro. How are they useful to you?
It's great!!! I really like classes with Alejandro. And communication with a native speaker is very useful for students. I studied Spanish a bit myself, but when you study alone or with a teacher - not a native speaker, you sometimes do not understand the small nuances, do not see your shortcomings, or just afraid to speak (perhaps my biggest fear in learning languages). Such classes, for me, are beyond my comfort. But it gives me great pleasure! I am very grateful to Alejandro for this opportunity. It's a breath of fresh air for me - literally and figuratively. Literally, like a person who does not leave home because he works remotely, such classes are a small trip to a neighboring city. And yet - it's fun meetings with interesting people, live communication.
About the European Union projects: Do you think Volunteers like Alejandro, working in local schools and with local people, teaching and making activities? is good for Ukrainian people in general? what are the positive aspect?
It's great when school students in a small town or village see and have the opportunity to communicate with foreigners. I know a lot of people who have never traveled not only outside their country, but even in the region, or even the district. The world is big, but when you see a person who has traveled to many countries, you not only get acquainted with another culture, you touch his experience, you get an incentive to continue learning! Everything is possible! I am glad that we have such an opportunity. Alejandro and others bring us their culture, their worldview, instead they will take a piece of our culture with them and tell people about Ukraine. This is a very cool experience.
Maybe Alejandro and other volunteers will inspire someone to learn different languages, travel, be creative, maybe one of the students will also become a volunteer and tell others what a great and beautiful world.
For the end, do you have some comment?
Donbass is not only coal, not only war. This is a very beautiful piece of Ukraine with a difficult and little-known history and hard-working people
