My name is Alina (aged 43), and I’m from Ukraine.
The most important thing is that my children are comfortable. If my children are happy, I am happy. My biggest hope for my children is a house. For their futures, I would like good health, and good education and I want them to be good people. I’m a mother of three so I take care of my children. But it hasn’t stopped me from getting a new profession. I have already got an Accountancy qualification here in Moldova.
The biggest difference now is that we’re not at home, and there is no place like home.Alina
Of course, we’re trying to make the best of it here and we are very grateful for the support. The only thing is, we are guests, and we would like to go home.
The biggest problem was that my youngest boy was stuttering. He couldn’t pronounce things or make sounds. It was very difficult. During the summer the situation improved, he now speaks better, but sometimes he still has it. Before we moved to Moldova, he didn’t have any problems with that. And because of the stress, I was very worried. There were tanks driving on the streets. My youngest daughter saw the tanks and started to cry.
I discuss the situation in Ukraine with my children frequently. In the beginning, they always wanted to go back. But I said no, it was not possible to go back to Ukraine as it’s not as it was previously. You won’t find your friends there as they are all in different countries. I also explained to my kids you will not get freedom there as you do here. Everywhere is full of mines, bombs, and sirens 5 times a day at least.
I tried to do my best, so my children didn’t see the horror. In the beginning, I didn’t sleep at all. Then we left for my mother’s, we lived there and after a while, we moved to Moldova. Now many of my friends say it’s calmer and you can turn back. I spoke to someone. They said they might not be bombing anymore but every day they hear counter-offence bombs. For example, this explosion yesterday was so close to her house, she panicked and froze for a moment and couldn’t move. It was a big stress. So, I don’t think it’s a good environment to raise the children, they won’t do well in that atmosphere.
It was difficult the day we left, from different points of view. Including financially. I left behind my mother, my brother, and my friends. I would love to see my family again. They are the closest people I have there. Most of us have other people as well, not just me. I don’t mind living anywhere. But what’s most important is that I can see my closest people.
