October 17th, 2022

As some of you encouraged me to keep writing, I will try to share some more notes even if I don’t consider myself a good writer.

I have been already around in Kyiv for ten days, it has been a process of adjusting to a different reality: learning how to proceed in moments of possible danger, also “getting use to” hear air raid sirens (every day since I got here), trying to understand more what is going on from within, other logistics and work but the most important, living the simple life things while caring for each other (a lot).

Again, on Monday, the day has been very intense since very early morning regarding bombing in Kyiv, happening also every day in other places in Ukraine (sometimes forgotten in international news). Something that still strikes my mind is not only the horror such actions create but the scale of this whole thing. When I see that air raid sirens are active in the whole of Ukraine simultaneously (a lot these days), a country that covers approximately 600,000 square kilometers, happening for more than 7 months already I can’t even process such scale information, even from here.

What happened today is shocking, again, bombing from the air as a form of “statement” to keep imposing power over what?? people don’t deserve this, not here, not anywhere.

I feel that long train journey I took to come to Kyiv was like a month ago as a lot has happened since then. I remember the long queue in the border in Przemyśl; many women and kids returning, at least temporarily. Then just two hours later, in Lyiv train station, many men and other family members were waiting to see their families coming, some of them with a big smile, some others with tears in their eyes, some others nervous to see their dear ones while holding a bunch of flowers… these images will always remain in my memory in the same way as the most profound emotions I had when hugging my dear ones here, waiting for me in the train station in Kyiv.

Everything I said might be redundant but I am just trying to express from my experience which is the only perspective I can talk from in such complex ground.

And just to say, very important for those who care about me, I haven’t rejected a single moment of being here since I arrived, I am fine.