By Eva C. Visperas

 

EVERY day is a struggle, especially for people who live in the midst of conflict and war.

There is no guarantee they’ll still be alive tomorrow. They face a grim life, always scared, always worried, always anxious about what the future will bring.

It’s as if there is a long, dark shadow over them.

Such is the experience shared by two of my Ukrainian students whom I teach online. Their lives have been directly impacted by the ongoing conflict, woven from threads of fear.

One of them stayed in Ukraine while the other was able to migrate to Canada before the conflict between Russia and Ukraine became full-blown. His mom was left there with other relatives.

It is a battleground of survival.

Infrastructure damage has been monumental. They show me sights of ruined buildings every now and then. Access to basic necessities is always faced with so much risk.

Countless innocent lives have been sacrificed. I could almost see the hatred in their hearts. I couldn’t blame them.

The one who stayed in Ukraine moved his family to Poland, where they sought refuge while he stayed to protect their home. This gave him at least peace of mind knowing his wife and son would not be caught in the crossfire of the firefight with the use of missiles by their country’s enemy.

Sometimes my student would tell me how he spent sleepless nights because of alerts Ukrainians receive for a missile attack. They’d go to a safe sanctuary.

I can see in my two students’ eyes the grief they feel about the whole thing.

I repeatedly ask them this question whenever they open up about the war: Will there ever be a return to peace and normalcy?

Their answer is a deafening silence and an empty gaze.

The question of what tomorrow will bring is a constant source of anxiety. Yet I know, deep in their hearts, that they still look forward to a better future, despite the seemingly insurmountable challenges they’re facing.

One proof of positivity in them is their desire to learn the English language in the midst of war. They continue to be hopeful. They continue to dream.

Amidst the pervasive fear, these two Ukrainians still find reasons to be grateful. Each day that they remain alive is a victory.

The story of these two Ukrainians living in war is one of extraordinary resilience. Despite the constant threats and the looming uncertainty, they find reasons to smile and laugh even in the darkest times.

They laugh when I crack jokes. The sound of their laughter is like music to my ears. Every moment of joy I spend with them uplifts my soul, too.

It makes me realize how, despite my own big blows and mountains of frustrations, I am still lucky and blessed.

The Ukrainians’ indomitable spirit to fight on, to carry on, the day-to-day existence, no matter how crushing and excruciating it is, should be a grace to be treasured.

That kind of strength of the human spirit is what everyone needs in this world.

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