Sally

We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone … and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads, from one to another that creates something. Sandra Day O’Connor

When Sally, Abi, and Molly were having coffee one morning, Sally enjoyed explaining her latest painting and telling the others about her friend, Svitlana, who lives in Ukraine. This bright bouquet contains a lot of blue and gold, Ukraine’s national colors. Sally created a special wonky bird version of her Ukranian friend to honor Svitlana and the plight of our ally, her native Ukraine.

Sally and Svitlana met last year through an international organization called ENGin. The purpose of this organization is to offer opportunities to Ukranians who want to improve their English skills and to English-speaking people who would like to volunteer to mentor them. Sally was excited to learn of this program and signed up immediately. After finishing the training and passing a test, Sally was matched with Svitlana.

Sally and Svitlana meet once a week for a video chat which lasts for at least an hour, usually longer. For Sally, it’s been one of the most wonderfully rewarding experiences of her life. She looks forward to their weekly visits. They also text more frequently to share experiences and ideas. Sally has learned about Ukranian culture, food, music, and so much more through her interactions with Svitlana. Svitlana taught Sally how to make Ukranian sour cabbage which Sally really enjoys. During the holidays, they discussed the differences in the way the two countries celebrate Christmas. Prior to the war, Ukraine celebrated Christmas Eve, which is referred to as Holy Evening, and Christmas Day on the 6th and 7th of January as is the Russian tradition. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine made the decision to adopt the New Julian Calendar in 2022. The people of Ukraine now celebrate Holy Evening and Christmas Day on December 24th and 25th, as does the rest of Europe and the U.S.. Holy Evening is a time when families gather for a festive dinner, which consists of twelve meatless dishes, symbolizing the twelve apostles. The main dish is kutia, a traditional wheat grain pudding with dried fruit and nuts which symbolizes prosperity, unity, and remembrance of ancestors. Before the meal begins, the family prays together and shares prosphora or blessed bread, wishing each other health and well-being. Sally now enjoys kutia, too. A key tradition of Holy Evening is the observance of the first star appearing in the night sky, which symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ and marks the beginning of the meal. Holy Evening in Ukraine is not just about delicious food – it is a warm family tradition that unites generations, fills hearts with joy, and brings blessings.

One significant change that has occurred since Putin’s invasion into Ukraine three years ago this month is that Ukrainian men between the ages of 16 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country in case they are needed for the war effort. This has affected so many families who have relatives and friends living elsewhere. As a result, so many families have not been able to see their adult children or aging parents for three years. Putin continues to bomb infrastructure all over Ukraine. There are electrical outages several times every day. There is so much devastation resulting from this unprovoked Russian aggression.

Sally and Svitlana tend to speak mostly of their different cultures, the English language, and their common interests. During a recent conversation, Sally learned that Svitlana likes plants and gardening. When she commented that Svitlana had a green thumb, a longer discussion of idioms and metaphors ensued.

Sally is grateful for this deep connection and so thankful that Sally and Svitlana’s individual threads have interwoven into the tapestries of both of their lives.