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Huntingwhale · 11-28-2022, 09:55 AM

Just a little story about some of the UA refugees here in Calgary:

Spoiler!

My wife works at a place where it is predominantly Eastern European workers. About 90% Ukrainians, a few Russians, a Lithuanian, Romanian and Kazakh. They all get along great. The boss threw quite the staff party for them at a restaurant over the weekend. Open bar all night, unlimited food, great dancing and music. Overall a great time. It was great to see just how happy and how much fun everyone was having (alcohol played a roll I'm sure!) given the circumstances of their arrival here in Calgary, and the worries they still have about loved ones back home.

Most of these people are from the war-torn regions in Ukraine. One woman who stuck out for me is from Mariupol who is here with her daughter. She hasn't seen her husband since March. The day the city was attacked, her husband called her from work and told her to pack her things and leave with her daughter immediately, not to wait for him. She packed some stuff and drove all the way to Poland, without her husband. Recently he escaped through Russia, is in Poland and is awaiting his visa to Canada. Finger's crossed it's all good to be approved.

Another story that stuck out is one woman who came with her husband and 2 adult children. Her husband turned out to be a giant POS, was abusing her and she took adult kids (who are both now attending U of C), got a mortgage and moved out to their own place. She works 2 jobs 7 days a week to make this happen, while biding her time to allow her adult children the opportunity to get an education to have a better future. My wife was crying while this lady told us her story. Brave woman indeed.

While it was great to see all these Ukrainians here together, celebrating the holidays on the boss' bill, it was also sobering to remember that most are NOT here by choice. It's great to see them here and get to know them, but also tragic to know they were forced from their homes and separated from their loved ones in order to have a shot at a future here in Calgary. ~10 months ago Calgary wasn't even a city they had heard of. Now they live here, working towards a better life.

These are but a few of the stories I have heard from my wife's friends, along with the stories from the 2 refugees we have staying with us from Kherson. Great to see/hear a lot of UA refugee success stories here in Calgary. But sobering to know their circumstances and tragedies. Most of these people know a lot of people who were killed, are missing, kidnapped or raped by Russian occupiers. The stories are endless, heartbreaking and infuriating.

The demilitarization and fall of the Russian state cannot come soon enough.

11-28-2022, 09:55 AM	#9262
Huntingwhale Franchise Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Exp:	Just a little story about some of the UA refugees here in Calgary: Spoiler! My wife works at a place where it is predominantly Eastern European workers. About 90% Ukrainians, a few Russians, a Lithuanian, Romanian and Kazakh. They all get along great. The boss threw quite the staff party for them at a restaurant over the weekend. Open bar all night, unlimited food, great dancing and music. Overall a great time. It was great to see just how happy and how much fun everyone was having (alcohol played a roll I'm sure!) given the circumstances of their arrival here in Calgary, and the worries they still have about loved ones back home. Most of these people are from the war-torn regions in Ukraine. One woman who stuck out for me is from Mariupol who is here with her daughter. She hasn't seen her husband since March. The day the city was attacked, her husband called her from work and told her to pack her things and leave with her daughter immediately, not to wait for him. She packed some stuff and drove all the way to Poland, without her husband. Recently he escaped through Russia, is in Poland and is awaiting his visa to Canada. Finger's crossed it's all good to be approved. Another story that stuck out is one woman who came with her husband and 2 adult children. Her husband turned out to be a giant POS, was abusing her and she took adult kids (who are both now attending U of C), got a mortgage and moved out to their own place. She works 2 jobs 7 days a week to make this happen, while biding her time to allow her adult children the opportunity to get an education to have a better future. My wife was crying while this lady told us her story. Brave woman indeed. While it was great to see all these Ukrainians here together, celebrating the holidays on the boss' bill, it was also sobering to remember that most are NOT here by choice. It's great to see them here and get to know them, but also tragic to know they were forced from their homes and separated from their loved ones in order to have a shot at a future here in Calgary. ~10 months ago Calgary wasn't even a city they had heard of. Now they live here, working towards a better life. These are but a few of the stories I have heard from my wife's friends, along with the stories from the 2 refugees we have staying with us from Kherson. Great to see/hear a lot of UA refugee success stories here in Calgary. But sobering to know their circumstances and tragedies. Most of these people know a lot of people who were killed, are missing, kidnapped or raped by Russian occupiers. The stories are endless, heartbreaking and infuriating. The demilitarization and fall of the Russian state cannot come soon enough.