Wonderings 22 What About Ukraine?
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August 23, 2022
So, we arrived in the US on July 23 and we have been here for one month. It's been a crazy few weeks. I'm sorry I didn't write again soon but things have been very busy.
As I mentioned in my previous email, we have a house we are renting. We've spent about 7 nights sleeping here and we are settling in. We have been so fortunate to have so many of the things we need. Thank you for sending us things for the home from the gift registry that Amy set up for us. I know every time that I'm in the kitchen cooking or straitening up in the kids rooms that I have you to thank. We have been blessed with wonderful people here in Easton who have also brought by things for us as well.
The local newspaper wrote an article about us and local people have been sending us warm wishes and giving us things. We now have 4 coffee makers that people have given us. We have kept 2 and donated the other 2 to St. Vincent De Paul's. St. Vincent's has been helping us with food from the food pantry they run and put us in contact with other charities.
We have a car now also. We have a 2013 Dodge Caravan that would not have been possible without people offering to help us. It really makes me realize there are a lot of wonderful people out there; some complete strangers.
The kids start school next week and this week we have gone and will go to new student orientation. The kids are excited and a little nervous about starting school in the US. I'm anxious to find a job. I'm spending time every day looking and feeling some stress. I think that I need to find a job, not just for the financial necessity, but I need to have something outside the house to keep me busy. There is plenty to do around the house, but I want to be productive and away from the house.
We are waiting for our official documents. It has been a strange process. Nika got her Social Security card about 2 weeks ago and then nothing else has shown up. On Monday, Rostik got his Green Card. I don't understand how it is so hit or miss, but I must accept that it is how it will be. I just assumed that everything would show up at or near the same time. Once Julia gets her SS card, Green Card and the kids go to school, she wants to start working. She will need to learn to drive soon. She has never driven before, so she is nervous about that. Driving in rural Maryland is much different than driving in California, so I think it's a good way to start.
Last weekend we went to Philadelphia with Jon and Amy. They played tour guild and showed us Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Betsy Ross's house along with other sites in the area. It was a nice trip, but hard to be away from home when we were trying to settle in to our new place.
So that's what's going on here.
All our best,
Jeff, Julia, Vlad, Nika and Rostik
July 26, 2022
It's Tuesday afternoon and I'm just getting around to writing. We got into Baltimore Airport Saturday evening and I've been trying to get some rest and adjust to the time difference. I was waking up very early and busy with the family and in the evening when I tried to sit down to write, I kept falling asleep.
This afternoon, Julia and the kids are having an English lesson and I thought to would be a good time to hide in Jon's office and send a quick message. As much as I have always hated facebook, it has been a miracle. A very nice man, who is a retired school teacher, lives a few blocks away, has volunteered to work with Julia and the kids 4 days a week to improve their English. It's great for the kids to get a jump start on practicing their English before September.
So, we are trying to adjust to live in Easton Maryland. It is a much smaller town than I realized, but it might be very good. We need to get over to the kids schools before Thursday and get them registered. We have been told that since they are more than 1 mile from the school, the school district will pick them up in a bus. All three kids will be in different schools. Rostik will be in one of the Elementary schools; Veronica will be in the middle school and Vlad in the high school. We meet with one of the high school ESL teachers yesterday and she told us the school will most likely start him off as a 9th grader, even though he finished 9th grade and will be 15 next month. Unless they can evaluate his transcripts and create a one to one correlation of his class work with the school district, they put everyone back to 9th grade.
So, Mark the teacher is just one person who is helping us from Facebook. Someone that we don't know and Amy and Jon just met on Facebook is bringing new bicycles for the kids later this week. A older couple who is getting rid of their house not to far away has given us a 2 bedroom house full of furniture and household belongings. They are even giving us a Television. We have seen some pictures and everything looks like it is in really nice condition. Everyone we have interacted with on Facebook or met in person in Maryland has been so incredible to us. It's been overwhelming to us all.
I can't even begin to describe what Amy and Jon have done for us. It is simply amazing.
It has just been a little overwhelming for me the past few days. I think Julia and the kids have been enjoying swimming in the pool and our trips to the store to buy some summer clothes. I have to admit, that soon the vacation feeling of our life will end and the day to day reality will hit; and I'm a little scared. Our life in Ukraine was so predictable- I don't know what to expect from life in Easton, MD or the US in general. I don't tell Julia often how much it worries me.
We had an amazing thunder storm last evening. As a Californian, seeing lightning light up the sky in summer and feeling warm rain, is very strange. We get something similar to this in Ukraine, but only a few weeks in summer.
Anyway, I'm going to end for now. Mark, the English teacher took everyone to the library to get library cards and they will be back soon. I don't know how to access the information on donations or from Target. Amy will occasionally tell me that a particular person has bought an item from the registry that she set up. I want you to know how much we appreciate your help. It means the world to me and us. Thank you. I have been so lucky to be surrounded by such good people.
Thank you again
-Jeff
July 14, 2022
Hi All,
So, It's Thursday, July 14th and our situation looks very different than it did last time I wrote you. I returned last night from a 25 hour trip to Stockholm. Wednesday evening I left for Stockholm, arrived at 5:45 in the morning. Caught the next available train and arrived at our place in Copenhagen around 9pm Thursday night. After a very good night sleep and busy day, I'm writing you an update. Wednesday mid-day I got an email from the US embassy in Stockholm that they had received our documents back.
On Monday, I did a mostly ineffective trip to Western Sweden and the city of Malmo to try to find our missing documents. My first stop was at the Swedish customs office in Malmo because a customer service person at PostNord (Postal service that had our documents) told me that they would have to go back to Swedish customs before going back to the embassy. It had been 2 weeks and there was no new updates on the PostNord website, so I was desperate for any news. I left Denmark very early in the morning so I could be at the Malmo customs office at 8 am. Most of you know, I'm not a morning person - I'm really not a morning person. The customs office woman laughed in my face, and made a comment like: PostNord will say anything to get rid of people asking questions. They had nothing to do with my package and that I should try the PostNord customs center across town. If they said it was at customs, it might be there. So I hoped on an electric scooter and rode to the harbor of Malmo. They didn't have any information for me but suggested that I check with the last location to enter any tracking information. That location was at the central hub in Denmark which is also the Copenhagen airport. I was very discouraged at this point, but figured I would try. I didn't really want to return to Julia and the children empty handed and not have tried everything possible. So, I rode the train back to Denmark and walked an hour to the Distribution center. I spoke with a nice guy, who wasn't able to tell me anything more than I knew the day before. Basically, nobody knew where our package was and why there hadn't been an update on it's status since June 24th.
The two days later, the embassy wrote me to say they received the package that day around mid-day. Someone asked me if I thought all my running around had anything to do with the package showing up and I have no idea. I doubt it, but I'm so glad it showed up. The previous day was very discouraging.
We now have all of the required documentation to enter the US and we are flying on July 23rd to the US. We had wanted to be in the US for the 4th of July, but we missed that milestone. Then we said, we should be in the US for my birthday, and we will miss that a little. But flying on the 23rd is close enough.
So, it's been a crazy week.... We moved into our new temporary housing Monday evening after I ran all over western Sweden. Wednesday night and Thursday I traveled to Stockholm (North Eastern Sweden) and back. Now, I'm just looking forward to relaxing a little.
Now that we know our plans a little better it is easier to relax. We still don't know what adventures await us before and when we get to the US, but we are all very excited to be coming to America.
My best wishes for your all. Thinking about see you, my family has kept me going on days when I have wanted to give up. Thank you for your support through all of this.
-Jeff
July 5, 2022
I hope everyone had a good 4th of July holiday. Honestly, I thought we would be in the US by now.
For those who don't already know. We are still waiting for 1/2 of our visa paperwork. We had 2 packages with the visa paperwork send to us from the US embassy in Stockholm to us in Denmark. One of the packages was delivered the second was sent back to Sweden. There were several issues with the packages, but the main problem was that I provided the zipcode for region next to the region we are in, in Denmark. So zipcode 2820 instead of 2920. One package was delivered with the wrong zipcode, but the second was returned. We are waiting for the embassy to notify us that they have gotten the package back and I can travel to Stockholm and pick it up in person. I have already confirmed with them, that once it is in their custody, I can pick it up directly from them. There were several other issues with the delivery service with regard to customs fees that did or didn't need to be paid and secondary letters sent to notify us about how to pay the fees, but in the end, the issue with zipcode was responsible for the second package being returned.
Julia reminded me that it has been 4 months since we left our apartment in Dnipro. We started this on March 3rd. I read part of my email that I wrote on the 3rd but had to stop. I forgot how hard it was and couldn't finish reading the email. Its' hard to believe its been 4 months. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday, other times it feel like a lifetime ago that we left. There has been a lot of recent activity in Dnipro. The past few mornings there have been rocket attacks. The air defense system (provided by the US) have been pretty effective. This morning there were 7 missiles that were launched at the city and 6, were destroyed in the air.
Summer in Denmark is not what I was expecting. I was not expecting to be in Denmark in summer, but that's beside the point. It has been between 60-68 degrees most days and rains almost every day. It isn't a warm summer rain, it's just rain - cold and wet. I'm looking forward to needing to complain about being to hot. Denmark is great, but I'm anxious to get back to the states and try to settle into our new lives.
Anyway, I hope everyone is doing good. I think about you (my family) a lot and appreciate you being there for us. Thank you again for everything you've done to help us and all your good thoughts.
Jeff, Julia, Vlad, Veronica and Rostik
June 1, 2022
Today is the big day in Stockholm
It’s June first. We are in Stockholm at the US embassy. I had imagined a big, old elegant building. It isn’t, neither was the embassy in Copenhagen. They are very unattractive 70’s looking construction
I was surprised that I wasn’t allowed into the embassy. I thought I would be able to come into the embassy but not into the interview room. So I am sitting outside the embassy on a row of benches. I feel completely helpless. We have a lot of documents to submit, about 14 items and I thought I would be in the embassy for that process and then they would take Julia and the kids into a small interview room. I guess my expectations are what the embassy has as its process.
Yesterday we left Copenhagen. We had made arrangement to take a train from Copenhagen to Stockholm. When we arrived at the central train station in Copenhagen we found out our train had been canceled. We had to scramble to figure out how to get to Stockholm. The train company help us take to trains to Stockholm. We took one train to Malmo, Sweden; a short trip across the bridge from Denmark and then another train 5 hours to Stockholm.
We are staying in a hostel as it was the only place with availability that was reasonably priced. The kids are very excited, we have a room with 6 bed; 3 bunk beds. Three kids and 3 top bunks, it worked out very good. It wasn’t a very good night sleep, our room is street level facing the alley and the trash was picked up at 5:15 this morning. Being that it is almost summer and we are so far north; it is light all but a few hours. The sun set at 9:48 and at 11pm, there was still blue in the sky. The sunrise was 3:30ish, so it started to get light about 2:45. At least that’s what I imagine, I was asleep; thankfully. It was the little sleep I got. Julia said she didn’t sleep very well either.
They should be done in about 45 minutes with the interview and I don’t know when we will hear back from the embassy about the outcome.
We will walk around Stockholm and site-see. Our plan was to spend the night at the hostel tonight and travel back tomorrow morning. I will have to speak with Julia when she’s done and see if we stick with that plan. I would be fine traveling back this evening and sleeping in Copenhagen.
Providing everything goes well, we should be in Maryland in 2 weeks. We are going to visit Jon and Amy at their home in Maryland before settling in Pennsylvania.
May 24, 2022
I haven't written much lately because I didn't think I had much to tell you; but as I sit down to write I realize that wasn't true. We have been pretty busy the past month and half. Nothing earth shaking; more like normal life things. The older kids started school, first at a office space for only Ukrainian children and a few weeks ago at a Danish school. They are in Danish public school with classes of just Ukrainian students for most of the day, and some time with Danish kids.
Vlad and Veronica have been rollerblading and roller skating; respectively. Neither had skated at home, so it is a new things for them. Nika and Rostik celebrated their birthdays at the beginning of the month. So, just normal everyday life for us hear.
Now, for the big news. Yesterday we did our required pre-immigration doctor's appointment. Everyone who gets a visa to immigrate to the states, is required to be healthy and vaccinated for everything that an American would be vaccinated growing up in the US would be. So, yesterday everyone got multiple missing or updated vaccinations, blood work and physicals. Our next step is the interview at the Stockholm Sweden. I don't remember if I mentioned Sweden yet? Yes, we are in Copenhagen, Denmark and visited the US embassy in Denmark in March. When we went there, we were told that the future steps would have to be done in Sweden; I'm still not sure why, but it is the way that it is. Sometimes, it's not worth questioning things like that. The government will make the rules and we will follow them. Many things that we have been told/asked to do in the process don't make complete sense, but we do as we are told.
Later today, I will plan our travel to Stockholm. I think it is a 6 hour train ride. We are planning to go the day before our appointment and stay the night after and travel back on the 2nd. Our host family, where we have been living, is hosting their book club group on the night of the first and asked that we not be home. There are certain accommodations that we can make for them, since they have made so many for us to live at their home the past 2 months.
I started a new job. I'm working as a client intake associate for Ostroff Injury Law. The name should sound familiar. Jon Ostroff is the amazing man who has been helping us with everything. I've been working part time here from Denmark and will continue full time once we get resettled in the US. It's different from what I've done in the past, but part of the job is similar. It feels good to be working and being productive. A lot of my time, has felt unproductive and like we are just waiting to restart our lives, so working has been good.
I'm writing from my laptop and it feels strange. I have been writing the past few years from my iPad, Alas, my iPad is a causality of the war. Rostik has been using it to watch cartoons when Julia and I are busy. He usually sits on the bed and watches, so not sure how it happened but he shattered the screen. Now, the iPad, acts like it is demonically possessed. It will jump from one application to another, opens or closes windows on its' own and things like that.
I'm going to start work in 10 minutes, but I think I've caught you up on some of the events lately. Thank you all for being the supportive loving family that you are. We hope to see you all at some point soon. We could be in US by the 2 week of June, and will start off, in Maryland with Jon and Amy at their house.
Love
Jeff
March 20, 2022
It has been several days since I wrote. J and I celebrated last night. It was our 4th night with U and the house in Charlottenlund. It is our first time we spent 4 nights in the same place since we left Dnipro. It was a nice occasion.
In case you didn't already hear, we got married on Friday. Also, a big celebration. I can't believe we were able to get married. We originally read that we had to be in Denmark for 2 weeks before we could apply for a marriage license and maybe another 2-4 weeks to schedule an appointment to get married. We did it in 2 days, basically.
We have really been blessed to meet J.O. He's got an incredible skill to get people to help him. People who didn't want to help us at first, wanted to attend our wedding after he convinced them to be part of the solution.
It is hard to sit in Copenhagen enjoying the beautiful spring weather when so many people I know are still in Dnipro and other parts of Ukraine. Earlier today I was getting frustrated with not knowing anything about our time frame for anything. When we would complete the next steps for immigration to the US, how long we would stay in Ulrik, if we would need to find another place to stay before coming to the US. Not to even begin with what we will do when we get to the US. For me, it is a little easier. I am used to a life of uncertainty; for J and the kids to must be near unbearable.
Uhas been amazing. Friday, he brought us to the experiementarium; it is like the exploritorium in San Francisco, but even better. We all had a great time there, being junior scientists. Yesterday we walked over to the indoor swimming pool and went swimming and today he took the kids to the trampolines. Thank God, tomorrow is Monday and the older kids will have online lessons in Ukraine. Friday, the kids were doing online lessons and the lesson had to be stopped while the teacher had to take shelter during the air-raid siren. Not your normal situation.
I hope we can get to the US soon, I don't see how we can start to return to something normal till then. Any suggestions? We are still doing family meals and trying to assign chores, but it harder as a guest in someone else's home.
Still happy to be someplace safe.
-Jeff
March 19, 2022
A mural supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia has appeared on one of Prague’s buildings.
The mural depiсts a sad girl. Under the Ukrainian flag, she’s hiding some well-known fairy tale heroes: Mickey Mouse (US), Mole (Czech Republic), Mummintroll (Scandinavia), Obelix (France), Bolek and Lolek (Poland), Bitzer (from UK’s “Shaun the Sheep”), and Maya the Bee (Germany).
March 13, 2022
The first two pictures are from near where we were in Warsaw.
It is Sunday mid-day. We are on the train from Warsaw to the small city of Piotrków Trybunalski. It is about an hour and a half outside Warsaw. My fiance’s two sisters, a cousin and nieces and nephews have found a host family that has taken all 11 (3 women and 8 children) of them in for as long as they want.
We are going to bring some food, a little money and chance to say goodbye. It is a difficult train ride formy fiance, but I know the day will get more difficult.
We will head to Copenhagen tomorrow morning. We have an empty apartment waiting for us for 2 weeks. The daughter of the owners has told us we can stay there till her parents return. After that we will try to settle into life in suburban Copenhagen. The plan will be to get temporary residency for my fiance and the kids in the US.
My sister's contact has been amazing. He’s help us in more ways than I can begin to tell you. I have hope again after meeting him.
We have another 20 minutes on the train but I will end for now. Thank you all for your love and support. Thank you.
The last picture is from a friend - it is the train from Dnipro to Lviv night before last. There was no room in the cabins, so people slept in the hallways. I expect that in the cabins for 4 passengers, there were 12 to 16 people. I’m sure they were happy to sleep in the hall on the train since they were heading to Western Ukraine.
I know many people who are still in Dnipro that I chat with every day. They can’t or will not leave the city. There have been a few explosions, but still safer than some other cities in Ukraine. It is safer for now, but I don’t expect it to remain safe.
March 11, 2022
We are on the move again. We are leaving Krakow for Warsaw. It’s a 3 hour train ride, but much more comfortable than our previous trips.
It’s a bigger city (national capital of Poland). My sister introduced us to someone with contacts in Warsaw who can help us.
We have been sleeping in a hotel the past few nights but yesterday the hotel told us that we would have to leave to make room for others in need. The European hotels don’t have mini-fridges and microwaves like most US hotel rooms. Nice to be warm and dry, but hard to try to live a normal life for the 5 of us.
The pictures are the Krakow train station. Many people are living in the train station waiting for room in a shelter or hotel. We have been blessed to have had the hotel room.
It’s hard to appreciate, but the countryside between Krakow and Warsaw is beautiful.
March 10, 2022
3/10: [From his mom: Jeff is on his way to the train station to get tickets for them to travel Warsaw. The hotel that they've been staying at said that they had to be out by Thursday. There are others that needed help too. Lisa's cousin (is that right?) has contacted him 5 times today and says their chances are better in Warsaw. They will have a 2 room apartment, but it will cost $70 a day. His fiance is nervous about that (me too). Jeff thinks Johnny will help them with some of the expenses. He didn't know about food, but said they could probably find charities around town to help. I got off the phone when Johnny was calling him back, so maybe he found out more about their situation after I spoke to him.
We also, got off the phone when he got a call from Romania. He didn't know what it was going to be. When he called me back, it was just the routing through Romania. IT WAS MARK KELLY'S OFFICE. {His senator from home.} They sent him some forms to fill out. We'll have to see how far that lead will go. At least there are some things happening.]
March 9, 2022
3/9 [From his mom: Jeff was having a little "down" day today. It is hard to be in a position where you have to ask for so much help. They left Ukraine with 2 extra changes of clothes each. In Poland they have set up help for the refugees to get clothes, but it is mainly for women and children, because the Ukrainian men from 18 to 60 were not allowed to leave the country. One woman that was from the US went back to her hotel and got Jeff 2 t-shirts from one of the men she was traveling with. They have been fortunate to be located in a hotel next to the shelter that they originally stayed in. They go back over there once a day and get a hot meal and something to bring back to the room for dinner. Jeff is worried because it looks as if the shelter is running low on supplies. There is so much unknown. It is a blessing that so many people here are trying to help us get them out of Europe.
From Jeff:
First Two Pictures: Yesterday I took pictures of the temporary building they were building. Today they're done. The square next to the mall/train station; along with the new buildings, the outdoor ice skating rink disappeared today.
Third Picture: Hotel window in Krakow
Fourth Picture: These two young women said they were from Russia and Belarus and they opposed the war. They were in the main square of old Krakow. I didn’t realize it, but the reflection of the glass door you can see the kids.
March 8, 2022
3/8: A news reporter from KSLA did a Zoom interview with me and my cousin. CLICK HERE to see the interview: "American in Ukraine endeavors to get himself, his girlfriend and her family to safety." My cousin also sent these pictures from his experience escaping Ukraine:
March 5, 2022
3/5a: [His mom contacted me and said that the family is in Krakow. He was traveling with his girlfriend, her sister, and her cousin - four adults and 6 children. Now that they are safe, I can tell you that the train ride was 20 hours long. They needed to keep all lights off during the night. He slept one hour. There were ten people but four beds in their train car. The sister and cousin were sent to a different town when they crossed the border. They were working on getting reunited. He wanted to try to get help from the American Embassy, but it was Saturday, and the Embassy was not scheduled to open until Monday. They were scheduled to be moved again in 12 hours. When they got across the border, they went to a shelter with a hot meal, supplies for their needs, toys for the kids, and candy! - and donated air mattresses!]
3/5b: Just a short note. I spoke with my mom earlier. We are in Krakow in a “visitors” center. We are here by accident. We were walking on the street from the train station to find a hotel someone suggest might have rooms. As we were walking a woman we asked for direction brought us here. We were fed, given air mattresses and the chance to shower. We are in an theater Goulding but it is warm. It’s cold outside and it’s much better than the floor at the train station.
We are going to find out if we can get to Warsaw today. A friend of a friend of my girlfriend’s cousin might have room for us there. It would be nicer than the shelter, but honestly considering the situation the shelter is nice and orderly. Kids running around when you haven’t slept can’t help but be kids. So, we might be on the move again later today. I will go to the US embassy either here in Krakow or Warsaw Monday morning and see about emergency visas or refugee status for my girlfriend and the kids.
3/5c: [From his mom: Real luxury! They now have 2 hotel rooms and can stay until the end of the month. It is in Krakow, so they may not continue to Warsaw (his girlfriend has family there). There are still obstacles to overcome, but at least it will give them time to adjust and rest. The shelter will still help them with clothes and possibly meals. It is good to know that they have a roof and heat.]
March 4, 2022
3/4: [His mom contacted me and said she received this message: We are on a different train which will cross the border. When we get off the train I think we will have been processed. Whatever that looks like now. It has been very chaotic. Better I don't tell you anything until I've had time to sleep. I slept about an hour and a half total last night.]
March 2, 2022
3/2: We have decided to leave our apartment tomorrow and try to get a train to get out. The train system has changed its operations. It has a very reliable schedule most of the time. Now, we will find out in a few hours what trains they expect to run tomorrow. Even with the last minute schedule; I heard from others that there wasn’t really a schedule. The trains show up and everyone gets on. A friend of mine texted that the small compartment that is usually designated for 4 passengers had 13 when she took the train yesterday. It was hot and uncomfortable, took 20 hours and they don’t allow lights on at night. That said, she was happy to be at their destination and looking forward to the expected 36 hour wait to get processed into the next country.
I tried to contact the nonprofit Projects Dynamo and didn’t get much of a response. I tried to call the JDC, they have a local Ukrainian phone number but the line was busy every time we tried to call. My sister gave me their number. I hope that when I get to the end of the train ride that I can contact the new US Embassy there and they can assist us. I don’t know what they will be willing to do for the Ukranians I am traveling with, but I am hopeful.
We have no definite plans whether to stay in the next city, for a short time and rest before trying to cross the border; try to get a train, bus or private car into another country - I’m just not sure.
I consider myself someone who thrives under pressure. After earthquakes in California I am always the calm rational person. Today, I will confess, I’m really struggling. I don’t know if I’m making the right decisions to leave our apartment in at home. We have been safe here so far. I’m just worried about things escalating as Putin doesn’t make the progress he thought he would make. He is not a rational player in this situation, he wouldn’t have started this if he was and I expect he will get less rational not more.
We will leave the apartment in the morning with several small bags. My girlfriend has packed (maybe over packed) food for the train and first night in at our destination cityu. We each have 2 changes of clothes and toothbrushes. Dental hygiene is important.
We are leaving everything else we own in the apartment not knowing if we will ever return or ever see our belongings again. It maybe the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Ukrainians don’t have the same emotional attachment to possessions that I have - that I think most Americans have.
They truly are an amazing people. I can’t imagine Americans responding in the same way as Ukrainians have. I have heard unreliable reports of looting occurring in Kyiv, but the person who was saying this has a long standing axe to grind with Zelensky. Everyone in in my city has acted in an amazing manor. I have waited patiently in line at stores to buy an ever dwindling supply of fresh food and pharmaceuticals. I have not seen anyone selfishly pushed their way ahead of anyone and not a single broken window from looting. I’m ashamed to think this wouldn’t be the situation in the US. Even at the stores people have bought with the idea that others need supplies as well. I don’t see anyone with more than 2 or 3 jugs of milk or a few rolls of TP.
I need to go, My girlfriend has started to cry.
Thank you for you prayers. It means so much to us. More than you will ever know.
I feel like a heel. I said it was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. Then, this happened. My girlfriend's sister has decided to join us on our adventure. She has a 12 year old son and 6 year old daughter who will be traveling with us. They will be leaving her husband behind in in our city. As a Ukrainian man between 18-60, he isn’t allowed to leave the city with his family. He isn’t even allowed to travel west with them to make sure they get to our destination city safely.
He came to our apartment to get some extra backpacks for his family to travel. I watched my girlfriend say goodbye to her brother-in-law who is a wonderful man and an excellent father. Ukrainian men have a reputation of being horrible fathers, and many times it’s the truth, but he is a good man and father. I can’t even imagine being him and having to say goodbye to my family in the morning not knowing what will happen to them or myself.
Whenever I think my life gives me to much to deal with; I find someone else who has more challenges than me. I feel like I should be stronger.
My girlfriend has been busy cooking for the last 2 hours. She wants to make sure we have food for the 20 hours we expect to be on the train. I think she’s cooked enough to feed the entire train. I’m not sure if it just nervous coking and wanting to empty the fridge or maybe she plans to feed the train. It would not surprise me if she feeds strangers on the train.
She is a house-keeper and I teach part-time. We aren't rich but between the two of us we meet our needs. On the 26th she went shopping and dropped off supplies at the central collection center for those who need help. She always tells me that even if we don’t have enough, there is always someone with less than us who needs help. She’s just wonderful like that.
I don’t know about cell phone signal between here and the destination city. Some spots between here and Kyiv there is no cell signal and I will not be able to get email. I will try to write when we get to the destination; but I will definitely try to communicate with my mom somehow.
February 26, 2022
2/26: The situation in Ukraine varies depending on where you are. It is a big country. Here at home, things have been most quiet, only for the time being. We are not a priority in this battle. As long as the legitimate, democratically elected government exists we in my city will be a second thought.
Kyiv will fall, there is no way that it can survive the overwhelming force of the Russian invasion. The city will put up a good fight. The mayor of Kyiv is an ex-boxer, and a fighter by his trade. He will try his best.
My city is a Russian speaking part of Ukraine, but just because Russian is the primary language in this part of Ukraine, people think of themselves nationally as Ukrainian. Almost everyone here has family living in Russia and deep roots in Russia. Ethnically there isn’t much difference, but nationally and politically there is a difference.
My city has a very large Jewish population and even though Putin doesn’t care about the Jewish population in Russia, I think he fears political condemnation from the global Jewish community. I think that might have a part in our safety here.
I have contacted an organization to help us get out. I have not heard back from them yet.
I feel we are safe here for at least the next few days and after that, it’s unclear.
On a positive note; the weather has not been as cold as it was a few weeks ago. It is mostly above freezing, but next weekend it is supposed to snow again. I have not been walking around the apartment in three pairs of socks, like you.
Once again thank you for your prayers. We need everything we can get. There is generally and for myself a feeling of uncertainty. It is a difficult way to live. But we survive day by day. The Ukrainian people are strong and resilient. It is impressive to see their strength. There is a belief here that the world is indifferent to their struggle, but they also understand that they are dealing with a force that defies logic and rationality.
I’m happy that we still have power and internet access. I truly thought it would be lost the first day of the invasion.
February 23, 2022
2/23: I am still at home and so far it has been safe here. Long lines to get into the grocery store and pharmacy, but so far i has been safe here. Long lines to get into the grocery store and pharmacy but so far there has been enough food and medicine that I want. Shelves are starting to go bare. Wished I had bought extra bread this morning. I think the plan is to rid it out in our home for the short term / rest of the week. Maybe if things get worse try beginning of next week to head to Poland, but the border is a mess right now.
Ways to Help
Donate HERE: Jewish Federations of North America
Donate HERE HIAS
Donate HERE United Hatzalah
Donate HERE Project Dunkirk (evacuating Americans from Ukraine). Read the news HERE. [Note: my cousin's sister found this organization and recommended it, but when my cousin in the Ukraine tried to contact them, he did not hear back from them. It is not clear how effective they currently are in evacuating people in this situation.]
Article about finding good ways to help.
Prayers for Ukraine
Go to Prayer HERE The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism
Go to Prayer HERE Academy for Jewish Religion
Go to Prayer HERE My brother sent this prayer. It is not a Jewish prayer, and it was not written for this conflict. It is a prayer FOR PEACE by John O'Donohue.
Go to Prayers HERE Ritual Well is a website from the Reconstructionist Jewish movement. It currently has four prayers on the home page:
Prayer for Ukraine By Joanne Fink [Note, this is the one we are reading during services at B'nai Zion;
Prayer Against Tyranny By Rabbi David Seidenberg;
For the Return of Peace By Alden Solovy;
Fighting Tyranny By Devon Spier
Update this content.
Wonderings 22 Ukraine
This week I am wondering about what have you heard that we can do to help those in the Ukraine.
I have an American cousin who lives in Ukraine. He teaches English. As of today, he is still there.
First thing this morning I got two emails from congregants about the situation there. One person wanted to know a prayer to say. The other person wanted to know what we can do to help. Throughout the day I have seen prayers - helpful Jewish prayers, but also other faiths shared some beautiful prayers as well. I have also seen many requests for money to help.
I will share these with you as I see them.
This week I am wondering: Have you found prayers that you found to be inspiring for this situation? Have you found organizations that you trust that you feel are helpful? We can share that information here.
Once again, I want to thank everyone who has responded to my "Wonderings." You are always welcome to respond to any of the questions I have asked by calling or emailing, no matter how long ago the question was originally posed. You can also choose to keep your replies totally private, and not be posted on the Responses page. I always try to remove personal / identifying details when I do post the replies.