Thrive Center Stories: Mykola and Mariia
By Nara Shin
Mykola and Mariia have been residents of Thrive Center since November 2022. With their daughter attending school, they opened a new chapter of their lives here in Spokane, WA. Today, we met them and heard their stories of coming to the States after they left home in Horodyshche (Городище), Ukraine.
It’s been almost exactly a year since the war started. Could you retrace your steps and give us a few key points along the way to your arrival at Thrive Center?
Mariia:
On the morning of the 24th of February, 2022, my husband (Mykola) and I were working in Poland, and we were scheduled to come back to Ukraine on the 27th. Our daughter (who is 13) was still in Ukraine with her grandma (my mom), and we were hoping to see her soon. We came to work on that day and heard people talking about how the war had started. Our daughter called us the night before the war started and also warned us about what she was seeing on social media, but we just thought that she was joking. War in 2022? That’s crazy and impossible. This is what I thought, and I never knew that she was right. After the war began, I wanted to go back home (Ukraine) to get my daughter, but because of the lines of cars and gas shortage, I had to wait 2 weeks before I could return to Ukraine to pick up our daughter. I finally arrived in Ukraine and met my daughter. I came back to Poland with her and stayed there until November 2022.
Mariia, how did you feel when you were on your way back to Ukraine for two weeks to get your daughter?
Mariia:
My feelings were full of fear. What if I don’t get there in Ukraine? I just relied on God and felt that it was all gonna be good.
How did you end up coming to America? Why did you not stay in Poland?
Mykola:
I got reconnected with a former childhood acquaintance, and he invited us to Spokane which was through the U for U program. This was on Nov 22, 2022. I have always wanted to come to America and live here, so I thought that it would be a great opportunity for me and my family.
How is your life in Spokane, WA?
Mykola:
It’s okay. We’re getting used to it.
Mariia:
Our daughter loves living here. We are really happy.
What challenges have you faced while adjusting to life in America?
Mariia:
We are still overcoming difficulties, but we are getting a lot of help from Thrive Center. Many people help us and check in on us. The majority of information we have received is from people like staff and people here at Thrive Center.
Mykola:
The people who sponsored our program visa were not close to us. They guided us here to Spokane and introduced us to Thrive Center, but that was all. We don’t have a close relationship. However, Thrive Center has offered a close relationship to us, and they’ve become family to us.
What’s the biggest cultural difference that you’ve noticed about America?
Mariia:
There are a lot of kind people. We walk into a store, and it seems like they are a good distance from us, they always say “Excuse me,” or “Sorry” to pass us. We have not really dealt with stereotypes, but we have good memories here because of the kind people.
What’s the next step that you want to achieve?
Mariia:
Three steps. Learn English.
Mykola:
Find a job.
Mariia:
Buy a house.
What do you hope for people here to learn more about the situation in Ukraine?
Mariia:
I hope nobody could feel what we have felt and gone through. War should never be the reality of people here.