How often do we ask ourselves, when we meet foreigners here in the Netherlands, what experiences this person has had? Perhaps they have been to Ukraine or even had relatives, which became a deciding factor for their educational trip. Unfortunately, we will never know everyone’s story. But there is also a “fortunately.” This text is written so we can hear one of them – Ali’s story.

Long story short. How did it happen?

It was a typical rainy day in the Netherlands. I got off the bus at the nearest stop to my house. Fate was not on my side: instead of an umbrella, I had thrown sunglasses into my bag (it was hot and sunny in the morning). Hunched over and shielding my head with my hand, I nervously walked towards the crossing. There I saw a young man who also didn’t have an umbrella. A dialogue ensued:

Ali: “It’s always good to have an umbrella here, isn’t it?”

Me: “Yes, that’s so true…”

Ali: “What is your name and where are you from?”

Me: “I am Mariia. My motherland is Ukraine.”

Ali: speaks Ukrainian perfectly “Oh, you’re really from Ukraine? I lived there for 8 years.”

This is how our completely unexpected but fascinating conversation began. Thanks to this chance, I was able to introduce another “Ukrainian by heart” to the Ko-Station. And now it’s our turn to show this story to our members.

Interview. Meet Ali!

Well, we have finally met, Ali! Vyshyvanka suits you well! Tell us, how did your journey to Ukraine begin?

Thank you, of course! I’ll start with the fact that I was born in Sierra Leone and then moved with my parents to Guinea. My father got a job there. I was quite a stubborn and active child. I remember running around playing football with the local boys, falling, and getting a small wound that my father later had to stitch up. He’s a doctor, after all! Oh, and how my mother scolded me…

So, at first, I insisted on studying in the US or France, but then, my uncle, who had studied in Odesa, advocated for Ukrainian universities. He said the education there had quite a high quality. Honestly, I didn’t want to go. And it wasn’t only my uncle and father insisting, but my mother as well… Well, who can go against their mother? As a result, in 2012, I became a student at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, in the Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science.

Mothers… They are like that. How did your educational journey to Ukraine begin? What do you remember from your first step at Boryspil International Airport?

Oh, it was tough. First I went from my country to Turkey, then waited for hours in the airport, and only then flew to Ukraine. It was long, late at night, and I was exhausted. When I took my first step at Boryspil, I wanted to run back to the plane. Autumn and bloody cold! Everyone was wearing jackets, and I was in a regular T-shirt because I left Sierra Leone in a comfortable 20+ degrees.

And when I was picking up my luggage, the police at the airport questioned me very thoroughly. In broken English, they asked for my documents, why I was there, and for how long. Then, thank God, they let me go because I had a permit with me. That’s how I made it to Lviv by train and then headed to the dormitory.

Sounds like not a very bright start. How did things go from there, did you regret coming? How did your first year at university start?

The first few months, I complained and called my parents with pleas: “Take me home, it’s cold here, I don’t want this.” But as I mentioned at the beginning of our conversation, Ukraine is my second home. Just colder. I arrived here in 2012 as a boy and graduated in 2019 with a master’s degree with honors and as a real man.

I started with the language. It took ten months to master basic Ukrainian, as courses were not taught in English in 2012. Over time, I began to make friends. I even have a “Ukrainian mom”, my classmate Adriana. She is simply an incredible person, the best I’ve ever met. Always supported me, and explained things I didn’t understand due to language or cultural barriers. I had acquaintances from Angola and Greece. They also learned Ukrainian as foreigners.

How was studying overall? Did you encounter any negative experiences: racism, avoidance, etc.?

The studies were tough, but I got used to it. Unfortunately, even with the excellent grades, I did not receive a scholarship, because according to the dean’s office, it was supposed to be paid by my country. Instead, I started working part-time at Tickets.UA, “Technowagi”.

Regarding racism. There were such cases, as in any country I’ve been to. Poland, for example. It’s everywhere, unfortunately, and it can’t be avoided. But what I liked about Ukraine was that at the university, teachers always repeated: “There are no Indians, Arabs, or Nigerians here. Ali is your classmate, that’s it.” And that’s how it was almost all the time. And my “Ukrainian mom” also protected me if anything unpleasant happened. Overall, I believe my integration was successful.

How did you spend your time in Ukraine? Did you find anything similar in those 8 years to Sierra Leone?

In different ways, actually. I attended Shevchenko evenings, where foreign students were invited. There I practiced Ukrainian. Thanks to my teacher, I overcame the fear of public speaking and went to a student conference in Ivano-Frankivsk. You know, he jokingly threatened that if I didn’t go, he would lower my exam grades. What motivation that was!

There are some things similar to my homeland. Such as love for football and Easter. We also celebrate it with my family, but in Ukraine, I saw Easter eggs and painted eggs for the first time.

Did you witness the Revolution of Dignity, Russia’s occupation of Crimea, and the invasion of Donetsk and Luhansk? Do you follow the war now?

Of course, I remember 2014. Our entire university went to the central square in Lviv to support and express a clear position: Ukraine will not agree to the occupation. It still hurts me for the people to this day. You see my friends – students with whom I studied and spent time – are still there. But I help however I can – I donate to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and supported Ukrainian neighbors when I lived in Poland. I plan to go there after the war ends.

What advice would you give to people planning a trip to Ukraine or wanting to live there?

The first and most important – dress warmly! It’s very cold there in winter and autumn, don’t listen to anyone and pack warm clothes! Other than that, I sincerely wish them not to fear this experience. Many people in Ukraine know English well enough to explain things to you. That’s my experience from 2012-2017. Now, I’m sure the situation is much better. But here is my advice – learn the language. If I could do it, you can too. The main thing is desire and motivation. This way, you truly become part of the society, and you can integrate smoothly.

Conclusion

This is an honest, inspiring, and extraordinary interview we had with Ali. Hearing such stories is extremely important not only to broaden our thinking but also for a deeper understanding of what your country means to others. For people who grew up in different contexts, national ideas, perspectives. It shows that Ukrainian society is changing and moving in the right direction. Our country is loved and cherished not in spite of, but because of concrete reasons and people.

Author: Mariia Rashevska