I was born and raised in Ukraine during the Soviet era, in a world shaped by discipline, endurance, and quiet resilience.
Every spring, when the cherry blossoms begin to bloom, my mind wanders back to Vinnytsia—the city where I was born. It is a place known for its cozy, tree-lined streets, the peaceful Southern Bug River, and the famous trams that give the city its distinct charm. I spent my first twelve years there.
Tram in Vinnytsia, Ukraine.
My childhood was a complex mosaic. Life was certainly not easy, and the shadow of antisemitism was a heavy, painful reality we had to navigate. Yet, in our neighborhood, Jewish and Ukrainian families lived side by side. My childhood friend, Natasha, came from a Ukrainian family, and our bond transcended the divisions around us. We were simply two children sharing the same world.
Our friendship lasted throughout life. The last time I communicated with her was on the first day of the war—February 24, 2022—when Russia launched its massive full-scale invasion of Ukraine. I still do not know where she and her family are now, and that uncertainty fills me with deep sadness.
Vinnytsia, Ukraine.
Vinnytsia is part of my DNA. It gave me a front-row seat to both the cruelty of the world and the extraordinary grace of friendship.
After several years spent in Belarus, my path led me to Kyiv, where I attended college. Kyiv felt like another world—larger, faster, and full of history and ambition. As the capital of Ukraine, it carried a different energy: grand boulevards lined with chestnut trees, historic cathedrals, crowded streets, and a constant feeling that life was moving forward.
My existence in the college dormitory, with very little money, was challenging. But the city inspired curiosity, independence, and a stronger desire to shape my own future.
Kyiv, Ukraine.
Ukraine was also a land of deep traditions and rich culture. The changing seasons marked the rhythm of life—snowy winters, blooming springs, golden summers, and long autumn evenings.
Those early years in Vinnytsia and Kyiv gave me my first day of school, my first friendship, my first boyfriend, and shaped the woman I would become.
Kyiv, Ukraine.
Long before the deserts of Uzbekistan, before Austria, Italy, and America—there was Ukraine.
It was the beginning of everything. There were roots, memories, hardships, and lessons that would travel with me forever.
Chestnut trees in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Seeing Ukraine now being bombed, its people killed or living through immense suffering, and its beautiful cities being destroyed by Russians for more than four years makes my heart cry.
