My journey in a peaceful Ukraine
The Sun is rising in a soft light. I listen to the sound of the train when I wake up. It has been all night journey crossing a significant part of the country. I watch the vast sunflower fields and the intensely blue sky from the window. I smile and immediately understand why this impressive country has yellow and blue as its national flag colours.
In the meantime, the syrnyky (Ukrainian cheese pancakes) are waiting for me for breakfast with a revigorating zeleny chai (green tea). I taste the meal while listening to the sounds of the language and feel at home.
This is one of the many gentle memories I had when I travelled to this country a few times.
More than one year has passed since the full-scale genocidal Russian invasion of Ukraine. For the Ukranian people who opened me the doors to stay and took good care of me like a family member, for all the learnings during my travels to the country, I feel no other option to make my humble homage to the most resilient people I came across so far.
It is an act of kindness and appreciation for everyone I have met there. Some of them might not be alive anymore or have moved to the country’s western side or abroad.
The creative and resilient, proud extraordinary spirit are qualities that indeed amaze me and continue to inspire me.
Living in a state of constant stress and fear can be as problematic as any other hardship, and what I have seen until now is the same brave face first — from the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 until now.
The little joys of ordinary life offer some escape from the ever-present difficulties made by a criminal neighbour who feels uncomfortable watching someone grow more prosperous and positive than himself. Pure envy and evil.
The challenge is to try to live normally yet, in a mindful manner, while others have suffered — tough but sensitive to the loss and caring of those around them. And there is another ingredient of resilience: hope.
Bravery isn’t just on the front line; but in the everyday life of civilians.
The mass destruction of civil infrastructure, peaceful places and the Ukrainian natural environment made by barbaric russian invaders. The countless numbers of russian war machinery and mines were left behind and scattered everywhere. Who will be cleaning all the trash after those savage war criminals? Not mentioning the ecocide they have been causing to Ukrainian flora, fauna, water and soil ecosystems.
Many Ukrainians are taking out their brooms, boots and shovels and setting the challenging tasks to rebuild during the war — brick by brick. Many people raised their hands and created fundraised organisations. Several restaurants have provided free meals to those on the front line suffering the most.
The perseverance and grit of the human spirit, despite the hardships faced by the Ukrainian people, have shown incredible determination. Despite the daunting challenges, they have continued to rebuild their country and work towards a better future.
The most crucial thing to know is that Ukranians are not russians, and that Ukraine is an ancient independent nation. Ukraine has a history of more than 1,000 years: Kyiv was a major metropolis and cultural center when Moscow was not even a village.
— Yval Noah Harari, historian, professor and writer.
Kyiv officially begins with its founding year as 482 CE, yet the city may date back earlier. Kyiv was the historical capital of Kyivan Rus. Moscow was a swamp back then, and it was officially founded in 1147 by Yuri Dolgoruki, the Grand Prince of Kyiv.
From the Crimea peninsula to Odesa, passing by the gorgeous Carpathian mountains and Lviv, to Kyiv. Such a rich culture I had a chance to be immersed in and absorb. We all should remember the Cossack spirit, which flows in Ukrainian blood, as heritage.
You can experience the history and the culture’s richness in many examples: when you listen to the language, whenever you taste the dishes such as borscht, thanks to chef Klopotenko the soup is listed in the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO) as Ukrainian, or in the literature.
I leave you with inspiring writing quotes to me written by great Ukrainian poets.
It is shameful to bow and surrender to fate. — Lesya Ukrainka
Our soul shall never perish. Freedom knows no death, and the greedy cannot harvest fields where seas lie. — Taras Shevchenko
The human is formed not while hiding beside the shield but when raising his sword.- Lina Kostenko
Fortune does not come for those who are slaves at heart. — Lina Kostenko
Thank you for the lessons you taught me, and continue to do so. Today I toast to the light against the dark until the most deserved glory. It must, and you will prevail.
