Olena Surdi – Paris, France
Kyiv Post: Where are you from in Ukraine?
Olena Surdii: I come from a little town called Berdychiv, about 180 kilometers from Kyiv.
My father was a Soviet military man and we travelled a lot when I was little (we were not supposed to stay in one place more than six months.
After years in the eastern part of Germany, Russia and Kazakhstan, in 1989 we ended up in Ukraine – the homeland of my parents. I did all my studies in Ukraine.
KP: When did you leave; why did you leave?
OS: I left in 2005 to do my studies of Chinese language in Beijing. At the time I was in the third year in Kyiv National University. I loved China. I had a cultural shock; it was my first time abroad. I was amazed how different people and culture can be from all that I was used to! I wanted to stay, explore and learn. I was thirsty to discover.
KP: How did you end up in Paris?
OS: In China I met my future husband. He is French. We stayed in Shanghai for almost three years. We got married there. After his contract in China was over, he was offered a new job in Paris. He proposed me to move with him. I accepted. It’s been now almost three years that we live in Paris, France.
KP: Do you ever regret that you are not in Ukraine – why or why not?
OS: I’m always sad not be there for holidays and for my birthday. I miss all my family coming to see us. Our door was always open and all the family lived in the same town – so there was always a lot of people in the house.
There was a lot of laughter and I felt really happy. I miss this atmosphere when it’s just simple and you don’t need to speak to be understood.
KP: What do you miss most about Ukraine?
OS: I miss most the relationship between people, Ukrainians are so open and they are always there for you. They don’t care about money or their own comfort – you can call them at 3 a.m. if you are sad or just come and knock at the door and they will be there for you! It’s not like that in France.
I find that people are cold here. If you want to go out with friends – you need to book one week ahead! In Ukraine you just need to call and say: hey, I’m downstairs – come!
KP: What do you miss least about Ukraine?
OS: Public transportation! I hate Ukrainian buses and trains – they are slow and smell bad!
KP: Does Paris have more opportunities for you than in Ukraine?
OS: I think there are more opportunities in France because in general the level of life is higher here.
KP: What relatives/friends are left back in Ukraine?
OS: All my family lives in Ukraine. My brother who is 20 years old is in the third year of military university in Kyiv. I would love him to go abroad like me and discover new things. My parents still live in the same town.
KP: Do you visit them or do they visit you? Often?
OS: I go back about two times a year. My parents came once to Shanghai and once to Paris to visit me.It is not easy to arrange because of the visa problem. It requires a lot of paperwork.
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?
OS: I feel proud to be Ukrainian. I try to learn as much as possible about the current situation there. It’s been only 20 years that the country has opened to the Western world. This is very short time, but I think our new generation feels free.
Today we can travel, we can study abroad, we can have the correct information and, most importantly, we can express what we feel, we can protest. I was there during the [2004] Orange Revolution.
I remember I felt like the new door was opening, like there is a chance for our nation to move on. It will not happen immediately of course, but it will happen. I’m sure!
KP: What would it take for you to return?
OS: An interesting and well-paid job. And my husband has to be OK with it as well, of course.
KP: What do you wish for your country?
OS: I wish all the Ukrainians strengths and courage to build an ambitious European country. Like our poet Taras Shevchenko said: “Struggle and overcome, God help you!” [Борітеся – поборете, Вам Бог помагає!]
KP: Do you think that wish will come true?
OS: I’m sure!
