100 Days Around the World

  My name is Iryna and I decided to share my story with you :-)My story began on February 15, 2 weeks before the start of the full-scale invasion of the Rashists into Ukraine. I flew to Sri Lanka on vacation on a sunny winter morning at Boryspil airport. There were two women from Poltava with me on the flight, it was their first trip abroad. The women did not really speak the language and did not understand where to go, or what to do, so after we met, they tried to stay close to me. We lived in the same hotel. And these women were constantly panicking and asking me “what is the news from Ukraine?” Has the war started?”

To be honest, they really annoyed me with this and by the end, I couldn’t stand it and said that I came to rest and not to fill my head with nonsense. What kind of war can there be in the 21st century? This is delusional!

Time passed and my vacation was coming to an end 😞

The time difference with Ukraine was 3 hours if I am not mistaken. Therefore, during dinner on February 23, I called my parents, wrote to my friends that tomorrow we will meet in Kyiv, and I will share the impressions of my wonderful trip, sent the flight number and arrival time to my friend who was supposed to meet me at the airport.  The trip was long, two hours to the airport, and waiting there for several hours. We landed in Sharjah, we had a transfer flight. I was very sleepy on the way to transit, and I couldn’t understand why our passengers behaved so strangely, something was wrong, something was not right – I could feel it. After a few minutes, a dialogue began with a man who was with me on board. And it followed:

“Excuse me, but what’s going on?”

“Our flight was cancelled”

“How is it?”

“Now we will find out. The airport in Kyiv does not accept passenger planes.”

“What happened?”

“There was an explosion.”

“What a horror… well, we need to get home somehow. We can fly to Lviv or Odesa. We need to decide now, I have someone to turn to.”

And then I receive an SMS from the person who was supposed to meet me: ” we have an emergency situation.” Let me know about you. Where are you?”

There were several attempts to contact the people I needed, but I didn’t hear from anyone on that end. It turns out that calls were blocked by all messengers in the Arab Emirates. When it became known that we had a war, people panicked. I did not believe that this was a real war, and not some kind of terrorist attack. Apparently, many people had this rejection of reality too. And here began the hours of chaotic actions. People were in shock and in panic, not knowing what to do. Many families with children were there with us. I went to the lounge and packed up some water and croissants for them in my backpack. I was trying to write to everyone I knew to understand what is really happening.

A lot happened during this time at the airport, but that’s a story for later……

I was fortunate though, I had relatives in the neighbouring Emirates who worked under a contract, so I wrote to my relatives “I’m stuck in the Emirates, and the Airports in Kyiv do not accept planes. Can I come to you for a few days until the situation is settled?”. To be honest, I didn’t unpack my suitcase for a long time, expecting that I would soon return home. But every day the situation became tenser and tenser. Everyday shelling, deaths, and fire. And so, my “few days” turned into 2.5 months. My relatives’ contract was ending, and it was necessary to decide what to do next immediately.

An acquaintance recommended a program under which Great Britain accepts Ukrainian refugees. There was no time to delay, and I made a post on Facebook. The very next day I received a comment from Anna Polyak organisation called “Volya Ukraina”. We agreed to call and within a few days, Anna found a sponsor for me. I am infinitely grateful for the help and moral support, for our conversations in which Anna assured me that everything would be fine. Acquaintance with the sponsor was via zoom. The relatives with whom I lived at the time helped me with the translation and we submitted all the documents. I was already in Spain waiting for an entry permit, as we needed to leave our home in the UAE because of the end of the contract. The permit was ready in 2 weeks. And here I was on a plane to Great Britain.

England greeted me with rain and cold. But I cannot say much but thank you for the warmth I received from my sponsor and his friends. The next day I started receiving postcards from the Brits, the sponsor bought me warm clothes since my suitcase contained only summer dresses and swimsuits. It has been almost 3 months since I have lived in the city of Colchester. I met new friends, I attend an English language course, and I received a laptop from the state, which I need for study and work. My studies at the institute began in September. And recently, my sponsor invited me to join his family on vacation. His daughter and I are looking forward to this trip.

I can say without a doubt that I have found another family. They enveloped me in care and love. I am infinitely grateful to the host for everything they did and continue to do for me and help me start a new life in Great Britain. And also, Anna Polyak and her organisation “Volya Ukraina”, she became my fairy and helped me find a sponsor and adapt to a new country.

British people, you are incredible! Looking at you, I understand that good will still win over evil because there is more of it!

Thanks to everyone who helped me at every stage. We are the creators of today!