Anastasia Haydulina – London, England

Kyiv Post: Where are you from in Ukraine?

Anastasia Haydulina: I was born in Kyiv, but grew up as a military kid all over the U.S.S.R. We settled in Ukraine in 1991.

KP: When did you leave? Why did you leave?

AH: I left first as foreign exchange student in 1998, then a year later to go to a university in the U.S/

KP: How did you end up where you are?

AH: I now live and work in London. It was a long path here from New York via Moscow.

KP: Do you ever regret that you are not in Ukraine – why or why not?

AH: Sometimes I dream of coming back to work as a school teacher to open the horizons for the children there, but I doubt I’ll ever manage.

KP: What do you miss most about Ukraine?

AH: My family hanging out all together; Khreshchatyk in May when the trees are blooming and also varenyky with poppyseeds from Varenichnaya Number One, borsht, herring under a fur coat (herring salad) and salo.

KP: What do you miss least about Ukraine?

AH: Intolerance.

KP: Does London have more opportunities for you than in Ukraine?

AH: Less so than I thought, but still in my profession (TV journalism) there’s little to do in Kyiv. There’s plenty of ideas, but corruption blocks all progress.

KP: What relatives and friends are left back in Ukraine?

AH: My parents and extended family, not many friends.

KP: Do they visit you or do you visit them often?

AH: My mother has been following me with visits to every country I have lived in; my father, not so much. I try to come at least once a year; when in Moscow, once a month. Now every few months.

KP: With Ukraine coming up on its 20th anniversary of national independence, how do you feel about your homeland? Is it making progress as a nation? Or not so much?

AH: Sadly, I’m no longer in touch with the latest developments in life and politics. But from what I hear, Ukraine is turning into a mafia state. But what makes me happy is that there is still plenty of room for debate and discussion.

KP: What would it take for you to return?

AH: Probably complete disenchantment with life here. A good professional incentive.

KP: What do you wish for your country?

AH: For people to stop holding grudges and blaming others for their failures, for ideas and initiatives to be rewarded and injustice and intolerance to be punished.

KP: Do you think that wish will come true?

AH: Eventually, when we do well economically.