Canada is like a whole new world in so many ways to Ukrainian woman Oksana Pryshlyak and her two children Danyla Badun, 10, and Zlatasvita Badun, 3.

They鈥檙e a long way from home taking refuge in Chemainus to temporarily escape the ravages of war in their homeland and it鈥檚 been tough for Pryshlyak to leave her husband Roman Badun behind in the Lviv suburb of Vynnyky where they live. But she鈥檚 grateful to Catherine Murphy and Steve Chadwick was for taking them in until they can return.

First impressions of Canada for Pryshlyak are 鈥渋t鈥檚 a big country in terms of area and space,鈥� she said through Chadwick鈥檚 interpretation.

Indeed, the country must seem massive and it took a long time to get here after the family left Ukraine and was offered shelter by a private citizen until arrangements could be completed to bring them to Chemainus. Pryshlyak and her husband knew Murphy and Chadwick from previous connections in Ukraine and they were only too happy to return the favour.

It鈥檚 been about a month since Pryshlyak and her children have been in Chemainus getting used to a new life until hostilities subside. She鈥檚 been learning English through the Cowichan Intercultural Society.

Chadwick and Murphy are parishioners at St. Michael鈥檚 Ukrainian Catholic Church in Nanaimo. Chadwick has Ukrainian heritage and knows enough of the language to carry on a conversation with Pryshlyak.

鈥淲hen we have conversations about specifics about politics, it鈥檚 a bit more complicated to explain the subtleties that go with it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 learning all the time, too.鈥�

The kids are adjusting as well as could be expected.

Murphy has already noticed certain trends in both of them.

鈥淗e鈥檚 the science and math guy and she鈥檚 going to be the comedian, you can tell,鈥� laughed Murphy.

They both enjoy jumping on the trampoline at the Murphy and Chadwick home.

鈥淗is favourite place to go is the beach,鈥� said Chadwick in relaying Danyla鈥檚 response.

鈥淪he loves to go the playground,鈥� he added of Zlatasvita鈥檚 comment.

Murphy said the mom Pryshlyak is a good cook and 鈥渟he鈥檚 artistic with her presentation.鈥�

鈥淪he feels just like she鈥檚 at home,鈥� Chadwick said Pryshlyak told him. 鈥淪he feels very well-received by us.鈥�

Pat English, an artisan on Thetis Island, recently gave her a dress with a sunflower pattern on it.

The sunflower has been long been Ukraine鈥檚 national flower, but is looked upon now as a symbol of strength and resistance as the nation is fighting.

The family was in Poland three months before finally getting the clearance to come here.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been really quite a long trip from Ukraine,鈥� Chadwick said she told him. 鈥淚t was really a hopeful moment when she was finally able to receive the documents and come to Canada.

鈥淎s soon as the war started, they realized things would have to change and they would have to do things differently whether that was remaining in Ukraine or coming to Canada.鈥�

Pryshlyak reiterated the feelings of so many Ukrainians when the threat of a Russian invasion first surfaced.

鈥淚 think it came as a surprise to most people in the country that Russia would have invaded,鈥� Chadwick related. 鈥淭hey think the threats were to intimidate or scare the population. They didn鈥檛 believe it would happen.鈥�

They immediately took precautions in the early days, as people stocked up on food.

鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 know if there would be any fruits or vegetables in the stores because things would be emptied,鈥� noted Chadwick.

Pryshlyak is holding dear the response she鈥檚 received since her arrival in Canada.

鈥淲hen she first arrived at the airport, people were extremely welcoming and kind,鈥� Chadwick indicated.

鈥淧eople have been very kind,鈥� conceded Murphy.

Pryshlyak has been in constant contact with her husband and he鈥檚 doing well under the circumstances in the safer region of western Ukraine.

鈥淗e phones us every day,鈥� said Chadwick.

鈥淗e鈥檚 such a jolly guy,鈥� Murphy offered. 鈥淣o bad things are happening at home.鈥�

Sometimes it all seems surreal to Pryshlyak about what鈥檚 happened in her life.

鈥淪he鈥檚 hoping the war will finish by the end of the year,鈥� Chadwick translated. 鈥淭here鈥檚 been a lot of support for Ukraine 鈥� in particular, Canada. It was great Justin 台湾MM裸聊室 came a couple of times to the country.鈥�

Her own leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been like a Rock of Gibraltar throughout the crisis.

鈥淪he thinks Ukrainians are lucky to have him as a president,鈥� Chadwick relayed from Pryshlyak. 鈥淪he thinks he鈥檚 brave and honest and open and he鈥檚 trying to help Ukraine. Some other leaders have maybe been out for their own self-interest. He鈥檚 just really, really hardworking and he was always there. She didn鈥檛 really like him as a comedian, but he is a good president.鈥�

Murphy and Chadwick are happy to help, but reserve the highest praise for those who have taken in Ukrainian refugees without ever previously knowing them. Their connection to the family goes back to 2018 when Chadwick first flew to western Ukraine to attend a seminar hosted by the psychology department at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. The Ukrainian expat friend he brought with him as interpreter contacted Roman Badun, an old school friend, and he offered them a place to stay when none of their credit cards or bank cards worked in Ukraine.

Chadwick, Murphy and their house guests will soon be taking a trip to Drumheller, Alberta to see more of our vast country.

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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