Natalia

full interview

But tell me why you left your country? What happened?
The war began. I’m older, and I don’t care anymore. But my children ran away. Well, for grandson, for great-grandson already, my daughter already ran away, my daughter for grandson and me for great-grandson. We decided like this together. They didn’t want to leave me alone as the oldest one. 

Do you remember when you crossed the border?
We crossed the border very well at the beginning of the war. We were greeted very warmly. But there were a lot of people and treated us so well. Everyone felt the same way. Everyone knows that home is the best. Everywhere is good, everywhere is good, at home is the best. Why? Because, for example, in the Netherlands it is very good. Very good people. The Dutch are so nice, so friendly, and you don’t know that’s bad. And your own language, as you heard your own language, it got easier and it was very good. But I wanted to go home and I wanted to hear my own language and to be in my country. But we thought that the war would soon end. We stayed for a little over three months. And already my granddaughter also wanted to, where we were go home so much, to Ukraine, to Ukraine. The daughter was worried and felt that it would not be soon. She still wanted to stay, but my granddaughter did not and I did not, especially since I’m older. But I already held on to them. There were so many refugees like us, but all almost everyone spoke Russian. There was very little of our language. Our language is so beautiful, so melodious and our Ukrainians, few were from south, there were more from the east and we are from the west, from Lviv. And they longed to go home so much. Although my daughter met a lot of friends there, went to work there. We were helped. There is nothing to say. For example, we met very good people there. The daughter knew English, she spoke and I just looked at my daughter and listened. My daughter took me for a walks, we walked around the village where we were there in the village.

And is it difficult for you in that environment, so completely new, different?
Of course, it’s not so easy, but I was with children, so I didn’t feel so bad because I was not alone. If I would be alone with strangers, then it would be very difficult, because I don’t know the language. It’s difficult to know everywhere if you don’t know the language. But my daughter knew the language, she speaks. And the granddaughter even translated there, because almost no one from the south knew English. Then everyone who was there, came, and they always did something for us and they organized evenings for us and they asked what do we want, what we want to do. Already for me, and for the elder one, and this, and that and that and that. But if you don’t know the language, then the activity is not interesting and you don’t know the language. But my daughter translated. And that’s why I didn’t feel bad, but all because I was with the children: daughter, granddaughter and great-grandson. But all the same, I wanted to go home, I couldn’t believe that everything took so long. 

Why did you decide to return to Ukraine?
We decided because Ukraine is our own, homeland. We wanted to return to my nest, to my home not to wander. I say that they helped us a lot, they treated us very well.  the main thing, the Dutch. And there as well, all those refugees, who were with us, lived with us, also they were different people.  Well, the Dutch were better than our eastern Ukrainians. Eastern and from South, well, they treated us well, normally. Well, yes, in general. I saw this, as it should be, then the Dutch are more beautiful, better people than everyone we lived with there. But there were some very good, so we stayed with those good ones and composed, gathered with them.

Do you often remember these events?
I think, that maybe it will be the end already, maybe, and there is no end to it. I would like already to see and to wait for peace, so that our people would leave, our people are very good and everyone wants. Everywhere is good, as they say, but home is the best. Our land is also fertile, and our language. It seems to me that it is the best that there is in the world. Everyone will probably say so about their language. We wanted to return home, returned home, probably because I’m aleady old. I will soon be eighty. I was already seventy-six 2 years ago, rather seventy-eight. I already wanted to go home because the elders are always drawn home. But the children thought that maybe a little bit more and there would be an end. But it’s more sad for children, children are anxious, the nervous system deteriorates, they had already been there and stayed for a while. all the same, no matter how long you stay, you are still drawn to your home. 

How do you think this new experience of living in another country has affected you?
Almost the majority managed to change their country, their language. And their people. So is our state. I think, something is trying to help and help, but there is no end to it. If they did not help, then we have long been wiped off the face of the earth. If all countries would not help. Holland is very country-wide, except for two or three, everyone helps. And we hope that the peace will be soon, true? My God, with God, but God is truth, God is love. And we think so, that yes, we will win. And peace will come.

After everything you’ve been through. How did you feel, do you feel that you have grown as a result of this experience, that you have changed?
Not so changed, but it seems that I started to appreciate my country, my language I say, for elders more.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
So what dreams can I have for the future, so that my children will see, that our country will flourish, that there will be peace, that children, grandchildren will see life. What it is like now, God forbid. All children in my nervous system are shifted. It’s hard for us, elders, to watch it, but we have a hope that everything will finish. We are waiting from day to day.

Thank you very much for answering all the questions. Is there anything you would like to add from yourself that would help others understand the experience of immigrants in other foreign countries?
I would say simply that they should not forget their language and appreciate it, their language, their country. And in general, to treat all people with love no matter who they are, whatever nation they may be. Because love is God. God is love. And I think it will end there. that there will be peace

And victory.
Not victory, but peace. We will win with the help of all countries. I used to think, well, that’s how I live here. Whenever I went, I thought here is the best. Even if somebody said let’s go there, let’s go here and as we went, it was good, not bad, there was no Vladimir, we were not hungry. But well, it’s really better at home, in your own land, and even in Ukraine. 

Thank you.