Ukrainian evacuees on escaping war, new life in Canada with host family

Nicolette and Tom Kovesi held up a blue and yellow poster – the colors of the Ukrainian flag – with the phrases “Welcome to Canada.”

They had been ready for a aircraft full of Ukrainian evacuees escaping the Russian invasion to the touch down at Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport.

The Kovesis mentioned their mother and father fled Hungary a few years in the past and had been welcomed by Canadians with open arms. They felt it was their obligation to pay it ahead.

“We’re so excited to have them and add a little bit of light to these dark times,” Tom Kovesi informed CityNews on May 29.

On that constitution flight from Warsaw, Poland, had been Anastasiia Varchenko and Svitlana Ivanysko. The two younger Ukrainian girls had been moments away from assembly the host household that might change their lives without end.

Seven months later, Varchenko and Ivanysko are reflecting on life with the Kovesis and being in Canada.

“They showed us how people can be so kind and help the people,” mentioned Ivanysko. “And it inspired me to do the same and to be better. “I don’t know how to say thank you because it’s more than just words.”

“We are really grateful to Nicolette and Tom and for Canadians,” added Varchenko. “It’s a really cool country. It’s like another planet. Everyone’s so kind, so friendly. We’re like a family.”

The Kovesis shared that feeling of being a household.

“We’ve extended our family,” mentioned Nicolette. “I think we will have permanent connections, whether you guys stay here or whether you move back to Ukraine. I will now have family in Ukraine, in Kiev… and I think you guys will feel the same.”

“I’m glad we’ve been helping them, but they’ve benefited our lives so much,” mentioned Tom. “They introduced us to experiences that we’ve never had otherwise.”

Varchenko and Ivanysko fled Ukraine with their good friend Tatiana, who was initially meant to stick with the Kovesis as properly. Tatiana ended up staying with mates of the Kovesis who had been impressed by them to host Ukrainian evacuees.

Varchenko, 23, and Ivanysko, 24, are attorneys of their dwelling nation and are working a number of jobs in Canada to assist present for household in Ukraine.

Despite feeling relieved for his or her private security and the enjoyment of a newfound household in Canada, the conflict of their dwelling nation is all the time on their hearts and minds.

“I left my country, came to Canada, and I was really stressed,” mentioned Varchenko. “But when we came, I felt relieved because now we are here. Here is so serene. But still, we are really worried about our parents, about our partners, about our friends.”

“Of course my family in Ukraine, I call them,” mentioned Ivanysko. “I worry about them and it was really difficult and heartbreaking to leave them there and all of my life. But at the same time, I’m so happy to be in this family and to receive all the warmth and love from them.”

Russia invaded Ukraine in February

For Nicolette, internet hosting Varchenko and Ivanysko has been a lesson in perspective, and a continuing reminder the state of affairs in Ukraine is ongoing – and has been since February.

“When living with these girls, we realize the privileges of what we take for granted, like heating, electricity, food, water,” she mentioned. “So once I get up within the morning, the very first thing I do is I verify the news and what’s taking place in Ukraine and the way will we assist them.

“We can really laugh. We can really have a good time. We really enjoy looking at the decorations in the suburbs, you know, looking at the lights. And then five minutes later, you feel very sad again and worrying.”

As a lot as Nicolette loves having Varchenko and Ivanysko round, she is aware of they’re right here as a result of their dwelling nation stays extraordinarily unsafe.

“Part of me really hopes that they’re not going to be here next year because it means that there will be peace in Ukraine,” she mentioned.

And with their minds nonetheless on their household and mates again dwelling, Varchenko and Ivanysko are nonetheless looing ahead to celebrating their first Canadian Christmas.

“We already bought our gifts. We already know about typical Canadian gifts like socks and cards,” mentioned Varchenko with amusing.

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