Iryna Kepych – United Kingdom
Kyiv Post: Where are you from in Ukraine?
Iryna Kepych: I was born in Kyiv where I studied at school, university and worked during all the time before I left.
KP: When did you leave; why did you leave?
IK: I left two times. The first time I left for studies in 2005, I won a scholarship for a master’s degree in Italy. Of course, this is an offer you cannot refuse.
My master’s program let me spend a year in a very beautiful and friendly country. I am lucky to be fluent in Italian – this made me enjoy living in Italy even more. I often had doubts about whether I wanted to come back or not.
I had chances to stay, but this involved some downshifting for the first years, and it was clear that my status in Ukraine would have been higher, so in the end I decided to come back.
I lived in Ukraine three more years, built quite a good career, did another master’s degree and had lots of fun. But a romantic relationship that started during my master’s in Italy made me immigrate again, this time to the United Kingdom.
KP: How did you end up where you are now?
IK: So I ended up living in the UK, not as beautiful and as sunny of a country as Italy. I came here because my husband now works here. I am not sure if this is our final destination, because of the nature of his job and the mess that two people of different citizenships may experience in the European Union.
I think at some point we will move again, but not sure where.
KP: Do you ever regret that you are not in Ukraine – why or why not?
IK: I remember having these feelings of regret when I was studying in Italy. I was still inspired by the [2004] Orange Revolution and good opportunities that the country offered in 2005-2006. I felt I was missing the best of what Ukraine could offer me.
I do not regret leaving Ukraine now. I am much more conscious about the fact that I am an immigrant and what difficulties it creates. But I am OK to struggle with them.
KP: What do you miss most about Ukraine?
IK: I miss people who really love me – family, friends and relatives. I miss the emotions you can feel only for the people you are really connected with. In the UK, it is difficult to find people who express any emotions in general.
I also miss understanding people from scratch, you know, this intuitive way of interpreting gestures, emotions, phrases and slang. This is mentality and lifestyle. Maybe it will get better with time in a different country too. But being able to understand people on this level helps in work, in socialization and in everyday life.
KP: What do you miss least about Ukraine?
IK: I do not miss the unfair way of life – when those who have money/power/connections do whatever they want. Usually they do things just for their own wellbeing and those who do not have these benefits, by default, are losers forever.
You need to be a bastard to get something in Ukraine. I do not miss the showoff phenomenon that exists in Ukraine. I do not miss the absence of the middle class – this is when the majority of people seems to live OK, and not on the borderline, like it is in Ukraine.
This also means the possibility to live among people who are happy.
KP: Does the UK have more opportunities for you than in Ukraine?
IK: The UK definitely has more opportunities for living a decent life and being simply happy. I do the job I like and have studied for. I get a medium salary, I pay taxes and have my rights. I have access to services and goods. I can simply live a normal life.
Yes, I am aware that I will never become a president of this country, but I am not sure I have chances for this in Ukraine neither. My ambitions are very basic – I just want to be happy and live among happy people.
KP: What relatives/friends are left back in Ukraine?
IK: My parents, brother and some close friends (those who stayed) live in Ukraine and this is the main reason for my sorrow. I miss them a lot. I am sorry not to be able to live more of my life with them. Skype helps – I talk to my mom every day for an hour. We cook, eat, wash dishes together, but this is not enough.
KP: Do they visit you or do you visit them? Often?
IK: My brother visited me already, but it is more complicated for my parents. They are afraid of not getting a visa, they are afraid of going abroad in general.
I feel that they are afraid of regretting their lives — that they could not visit all these countries when they were young, that they were supposed to suffer from “sovok” [Soviet] restrictions when in the Western world everything was different.
I try to visit them at least two-three times a year. In general, all holidays I get I try to spend with my parents or my in-laws. I literally never go on holidays somewhere else. I just want to come back home when there is a chance.
KP: With Ukraine coming up to its 20th anniversary of national independence, how do you feel about your homeland? Is it making progress as a nation? Or not so much? What would it take for you to return?
IK: I am very disappointed about my country since the expectations after the events of 2004 didn’t come true. I was 20 years old and I was standing under the snow not for what Ukraine is now. Unfortunately, I do not believe things will get better soon. But still I am sometimes a stupidly-in-love patriot.
I talk Ukrainian, I cook borsh and sing the Ukrainian hymn in the crowded pub when [Wladimir] Klitschko fights against [David] Haye. And I continue to love my country and be proud to be Ukrainian.
Still I do not think I will come back, as I’ve decided that I have my own country inside me, with my own citizenships and government. The only thing I suppose may make me come back is if my marriage would break. But we love each other too much, and it will never happen.
KP: What do you wish for your country?
IK: I wish my country could make a difference. And not only thanks to talented sportsmen that once in a while support its reputation and show the world what we are, but thanks to all population that should show the world what a huge potential Ukraine has got.
KP: Do you think that wish will come true?
IK: I will keep wishing it would come true. And I hope at least my children will see Ukraine’s glory.
