I wish we had the chance to run this interview in better and normal circumstances away from what is happening right now in your country, Ukraine..

First of all, will you please introduce yourself to the readers..., your education.., when your arrival was to Toronto from Odessa.., etc.?

 Olga: Hello, thank you very much for having me! My name is Olga Chaplia, I’m an international student from Ukraine studying in George Brown College in Toronto. I moved to Canada in the beginning of January from Odessa. Since I had to spend more than a year studying online from Ukraine due to the pandemic, I finally got a chance to come to Canada this winter. However, the events that I have to watch happening in my home country now are absolutely terrifying.

 

Magazine: What were the circumstances during which you left Ukraine? Have you noticed any signs on the ground that Russia was about to launch an attack on its neighbor, Ukraine?

Olga: Actually, this conflict between both countries started back in 2014, when Russia started the war attacks in Crimea and Donbas regions. It has been like that ever since. Absolutely terrifying to think that we have been living in this nightmare for 8 years already, but now it turned into actual hell.

 

 Magazine: Olga... While you and your young generation are in their prime of youth, how do you feel when you see and witness the army of a neighboring country invading, with heavy military gear, your beautiful country, Ukraine?

 

 Olga: My heart is just breaking for everyone in Ukraine. It is the scariest thing ever to receive a phone call from your mom saying “We just woke up because of the sounds of bombs. The war has started”. So many Ukrainians have already lost their homes, jobs, money, relatives, friends, and their own lives. People are running away from the country while fearing for their lives, even the ones who just happen to be there at that time: travelers, regular visitors, international and exchange students, and others. Every breath can be their last. And it’s so painful to witness all this happening while being so far away from there with no ability to help.

 Magazine: Away from the political issue between the two neighboring countries, no doubt that there are strong kinship and friendship ties between the Ukrainian and Russian peoples, that is due to the common culture, religion, language, history and geography. From your perspective, to what extent do you think that this war will cause a rift and deep wounds between the two peoples, particularly on the familial and social levels?

 

 Olga: This war has already had a huge impact on the way Ukrainians and other nations view Russian people and their position, and I believe this is quite justified. Obviously, there are millions of innocent people from that country who do not support these horrifying actions and protest to stop war, but this war causes so much pain and sufferings that many people can’t help but feel distrust and disgust towards the Russian regime. Sadly, it is how it is, but in this situation, it is pretty much understandable.

 

Magazine: Olga.., you’ve mentioned that you are a newcomer and that you have not yet caught your breath to integrate and adapt in Canada until suddenly the war erupted in your country, Ukraine. Will you describe how you feel while you are alone here in Canada.., with thousands of miles separate you from your mother, father and family during these dangerous circumstances..?, I wonder whether you are able to communicate with your family and check on them on a daily basis? I wonder.., where they are now, are they still inside Odessa?, or have they managed to get out safely?

 

Olga: I’m in Canada for two months already, and I try to keep in touch with my family daily through video calls and just simple text messages. As I have already mentioned, hearing my mom telling me about war attacks in our city and realizing that my family is in a severe danger is probably the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t think of anything but my family and their safety. They are literally all I got. Luckily, they all managed to leave the country and are now in a safe place in Poland. This is such a relief; you can’t even imagine. Now, we communicate every single day and update each other on everything that is going on.

 

 Magazine: Olga..., Is there a message you would like to send to warlords wherever they are in this terrible world?

 

 Olga: The war is such a scary and terrifying thing, and it just blows my mind how some people can give orders to murder and bomb others showing absolutely no mercy. How heartless, cruel, and sick do you have to be to erase the lives of innocent civilians like it’s nothing? I do not have anything good to say to any of them, and I hope they all go straight to hell.

 

Magazine: Being now in Canada as a university student, what message would you convey to the Canadian government and people about the events currently taking place in your country?

 

 Olga: I wish there was more support from Canada and its government for Ukrainian people who are currently in Canada and the ones who have no choice but to get out of Ukraine to save themselves. It would be great if Canada could lift the visa requirements for Ukrainians, at least for the period of the war, so that people can find a safe place here and reunite with their family members or friends.

 

Thank you, Olga.., appreciate it! And hope to interview you again in better circumstances to talk about your future and success in Canada.

On my behalf.. and on behalf of Canadian Days magazine and website. I wish you and your family safety and peace, and that this brutal war stops immediately before it gets worse and before it spreads farther in the region. Also, I wish that the Ukrainian people would regain and maintain safety, security, and prosperity.

 

Olga: Thank you very much for inviting me and letting me share my thoughts and feelings on the current situation. I hope my words help others realize the seriousness of it all and can encourage people to get more educated on what is happening in the world right now. I know Ukrainians are very strong, and I believe we will do everything we can to save our country, our home. Thank you once again; it was a pleasure meeting and speaking to you!

 

▪︎ Interviewed by Moutaz Abu Kalam, Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Days