My Name is Natalia part 2:
We spent a month in France. It was a wonderful, peaceful place in the forest, not far from the city. Susan and Bernard became so close to our family that we felt not like guests, but relatives!
While we were with them, a sponsor was found in the UK, who was ready to provide us with his house under the “Houses for Ukrainians” scheme. Since we understood that we could not be visiting France for a long time, we needed to move on and try to improve our life. The children need a school (they studied English in Ukraine), I need a job and at least temporary stability and an ordinary life.
When we received visas, there was a state of confusion, we again need to move, a new country, new people, environment, and again everything is alien... Saying goodbye to our French family was difficult, everyone had tears! The kindest Sue and Bernard said that they would definitely visit us on the island in the summer and we should definitely visit them when we return to Ukraine!
In the car, on the way to the ferry, my adult children were crying, they could not cope with the feeling of a new loss of a calm place and the beginning of a new temporary stage of life. When we got off the ferry in Portsmouth, it seemed very gray and alien to us. Tall houses, chaotic movement and it doesn't look like green blooming France at all.. But! After we took the second ferry and got to the island, it seemed to us that we were again in the French village! Everything is green, flowers, landscapes.. beauty and tranquility!
The house that Lynn and her family prepared for us is very beautiful and spacious. We are so grateful for their help! It's impossible to put into words! There was everything you need for life! They took care of everything from global household items to cute little things! We are people who had everything at home, and then we were immediately deprived of everything acquired! Of course, sincerely, with gratitude and without self-interest, we accept help and support! Lynn is constantly in touch, she is interested in how we are doing, how our life is arranged, what we lack and how my parents are!
After some time, my husband came from work to us on the island, it became much calmer and there was a feeling of a normal life. Here the children went to school, I was very worried that the local teenagers would take them well and not offend them. Everything went great! My children attend school with great joy, they have very good class teachers and everyone around supports Ukrainian children!
In parallel with studying at the English school, the children continued to study online at the Ukrainian school and Roger and his team helped us a lot. They organized the collection of computer equipment from local residents for needy Ukrainians. At home, of course, we have everything, but, unfortunately, it is not possible to put everything acquired into the car and the computer remained in Ukraine. Turning to Roger, we received a laptop for our son and he continues to study, communicate via video with his friends, watch YouTube and keep track of all the news that interests him. This is the zone of his personal space in which he can live as before.
Everywhere in the UK I meet with huge support! These are incredible people! Everywhere, in all areas of activity, they meet us! Every Ukrainian is ready to kiss the hands of the British for such a reception at a difficult time! My son worked at home on weekends handing out leaflets, then he also did not want to sit idle and went along the beach asking: is there a job for him? So he found a job as a waiter on the weekend, when I went to this cafe to sign documents for him, I was also offered to work there! This is a family cafe in Yaverland on the coast, run by the beautiful Martin and her children and loved ones work there. We are well received, helped, very friendly and attentive!
And what visitors, I have already fallen in love with all the regular customers and met their dogs! The British are great! With Susan and Bernard, we continue to keep in touch, constantly correspond and share news! They were in England at the wedding of their granddaughter and after the wedding they came to the island to visit their son. Of course, they came to us for dinner with their whole extended family (their son has 6 children)! I treated them to Ukrainian dishes and told them how we got settled here. It was a very touching and tender meeting!
My parents are still at home in Kherson. Our city cannot be liberated from the Russians. The situation there is terrible and I cannot calmly talk about the horror that is happening in my hometown. He is under shelling, violence and pressure around the clock. Everyone is praying that the city will be liberated and once again become part of a free independent Ukraine! We look forward to winning and returning home!
While we were with them, a sponsor was found in the UK, who was ready to provide us with his house under the “Houses for Ukrainians” scheme. Since we understood that we could not be visiting France for a long time, we needed to move on and try to improve our life. The children need a school (they studied English in Ukraine), I need a job and at least temporary stability and an ordinary life.
When we received visas, there was a state of confusion, we again need to move, a new country, new people, environment, and again everything is alien... Saying goodbye to our French family was difficult, everyone had tears! The kindest Sue and Bernard said that they would definitely visit us on the island in the summer and we should definitely visit them when we return to Ukraine!
In the car, on the way to the ferry, my adult children were crying, they could not cope with the feeling of a new loss of a calm place and the beginning of a new temporary stage of life. When we got off the ferry in Portsmouth, it seemed very gray and alien to us. Tall houses, chaotic movement and it doesn't look like green blooming France at all.. But! After we took the second ferry and got to the island, it seemed to us that we were again in the French village! Everything is green, flowers, landscapes.. beauty and tranquility!
The house that Lynn and her family prepared for us is very beautiful and spacious. We are so grateful for their help! It's impossible to put into words! There was everything you need for life! They took care of everything from global household items to cute little things! We are people who had everything at home, and then we were immediately deprived of everything acquired! Of course, sincerely, with gratitude and without self-interest, we accept help and support! Lynn is constantly in touch, she is interested in how we are doing, how our life is arranged, what we lack and how my parents are!
After some time, my husband came from work to us on the island, it became much calmer and there was a feeling of a normal life. Here the children went to school, I was very worried that the local teenagers would take them well and not offend them. Everything went great! My children attend school with great joy, they have very good class teachers and everyone around supports Ukrainian children!
In parallel with studying at the English school, the children continued to study online at the Ukrainian school and Roger and his team helped us a lot. They organized the collection of computer equipment from local residents for needy Ukrainians. At home, of course, we have everything, but, unfortunately, it is not possible to put everything acquired into the car and the computer remained in Ukraine. Turning to Roger, we received a laptop for our son and he continues to study, communicate via video with his friends, watch YouTube and keep track of all the news that interests him. This is the zone of his personal space in which he can live as before.
Everywhere in the UK I meet with huge support! These are incredible people! Everywhere, in all areas of activity, they meet us! Every Ukrainian is ready to kiss the hands of the British for such a reception at a difficult time! My son worked at home on weekends handing out leaflets, then he also did not want to sit idle and went along the beach asking: is there a job for him? So he found a job as a waiter on the weekend, when I went to this cafe to sign documents for him, I was also offered to work there! This is a family cafe in Yaverland on the coast, run by the beautiful Martin and her children and loved ones work there. We are well received, helped, very friendly and attentive!
And what visitors, I have already fallen in love with all the regular customers and met their dogs! The British are great! With Susan and Bernard, we continue to keep in touch, constantly correspond and share news! They were in England at the wedding of their granddaughter and after the wedding they came to the island to visit their son. Of course, they came to us for dinner with their whole extended family (their son has 6 children)! I treated them to Ukrainian dishes and told them how we got settled here. It was a very touching and tender meeting!
My parents are still at home in Kherson. Our city cannot be liberated from the Russians. The situation there is terrible and I cannot calmly talk about the horror that is happening in my hometown. He is under shelling, violence and pressure around the clock. Everyone is praying that the city will be liberated and once again become part of a free independent Ukraine! We look forward to winning and returning home!
