by Sergio Yanchak. There is no place that I have been that encapsulates the beauty that Ukraine has. My mother comes from a small village called Chernivtsi. What makes this humble village so dear to me is the sheer amount of love and hospitality that courses through the heart of the village. Additionally, Ukraine has phenomenal soil that causes produce and crops to thrive greatly. As long as I can remember I have been traveling to Ukraine every summer. This country provided me with happiness that cannot be described. Going to Ukraine every summer has shaped me into the person I am today. Being born in America and being blessed with all that this beautiful nation has to offer is nothing short of a privilege. In my case, having family in both Ukraine and the United States has made it difficult to understand where my heart truly lies. On the one hand you have a life filled with electronics and technology; a life where no matter where you go you have everything you could need such as incredible health care, easy access to necessities and entertainment. On the other, you have a country where you lack all these modern conveniences that allow you to live life to its absolute fullest. In Ukraine, people live in the moment, one day at a time while keeping their beliefs and values sacred. Ever since I was conscious and could make out the difference between the two places, I have been able to understand that I am blessed to live in America. People that were born in the United States lack certain values that only living in a third world country could be learned. Ukraine has blessed me with experiences and life lessons that have molded me into the man I am today.
In Ukraine, catching fresh-water fish with my grandfather has been a special hobby that I have enjoyed my entire life. Unlike the United States, Ukraine is loaded with vibrant-colored fish that shine radiantly in the bright sunlight. The memories of spending countless hours in front of a deep blue lagoon with my grandfather are memories that will forever be significant in my life. Fishing in Ukraine is like no other place in the world. There are a series of rivers that spread throughout the country that transport millions of fish to different cities and states. My grandfather and I would travel throughout western Ukraine, going from village to village, in an attempt to reel in a rare fish that goes by the name, “schuka.” This certain predatory fish can weigh up to seventy-five kilograms and is widely known throughout the entire motherland. Unfortunately, my grandfather and I were unable to catch this intimidating creature together due to his tragic passing a few years ago. I have made a promise to myself that once I return to Ukraine, I will catch this illustrious fish in his honor.
When it comes to the scenery in Ukraine, it is nothing short of spectacular. The vast fields of crops and fertile cows ready to be milked cannot be seen in America. Unfortunately, Ukraine is not a large tourist destination. It lacks a lot of things that travelers enjoy such as beaches, resorts, casinos, and a large nightlife presence. It is more of a place of nature and serenity. Blue skies, the golden fields, rigid mountains, and racing rivers make it a place that inclines people to never want to leave. I was four years old when I first traveled to Ukraine. I was impressed by the massive difference in wildlife compared to what I was used to in Long Island, New York. At the end of every summer, I would have to come back home. To me it felt like I was leaving a fairytale world and coming back to reality. As soon as I exited those sliding airport doors, I got smacked in the face with this rotten smell, something that after a while of being in Ukraine comes as a complete shock and makes me remember the comparisons in quality of life between Ukraine and the United States.
Two years ago, the Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin, declared war on Ukraine in an attempt to usurp Ukraine. My yearly trips to my home country have come to a sudden halt because of this. Due to the war, Ukraine was forced to shut down its airways for the public in addition to stopping people from coming in and out of the country. During the mid to late twentieth century, Ukraine, Russia, and a few other countries were unified into the one nation known as the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union fell apart on Christmas Day, 1991, but what did not fall apart was the Russian government’s resentment of Ukraine for being independent from them. Russia has always wanted to claim Ukraine as a part of their nation because of Ukraine’s vital resources, specifically their abundance of nuclear power, meaning their large amount of nuclear power plants that are vital to giving power to all of Europe. Moreover, Ukraine and Russia have been at war for two years now. This entire time, millions of Ukrainian men have been deployed to fight on the front lines. People my own age and even younger are sent to protect their land and their country from a Russian invasion. Being from Ukraine and having family there makes me concerned tremendously. My family that lives there, lives near the border of Slovakia, which thankfully is on the opposite side of this war. However, I have uncles and cousins that have been sent into a war they may never come home from.
Living in the United States, I am shielded from the reality that one day this might happen to me. Having a family there and knowing what it is like to live there does not make me feel any better. I chose to share this story because it is significant to my development and my true morals. My family is struggling, living paycheck to paycheck, crossing the street looking over their shoulder. They are good people that just want to live comfortably and be able to survive to live another day. Every day, I think about them and everything they have done for me to be the person I am today. Life moves quickly; if we do not stop to look around every now again it might just slip by. Spending a good portion of my youth in Ukraine has taught me values that I would have never learned if I were not there.
