Hello, my name is Maria. I arrived in Canada just over a month ago — for the second time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. My story is filled with a spectrum of emotions that range from fear, loss, and helplessness to gratitude, safety, and acceptance. The title, “Before. Reboot. New Life,” reflects my transformative journey divided into three clear stages: life before the war, the challenges of adapting to a new reality, and hope for a new future.
My life in Ukraine was steady, predictable, and happy. I had just graduated from medical school and completed my residency, finally becoming a doctor. In the summer of 2021, I received an excellent job offer in Kyiv. I was full of ambition, energy, and plans for the future and my career. The only source of anxiety was the endless news about political instability, which created a lingering sense of unease.
I love travelling, and just a few days before the war began, I went on a long-awaited vacation to Spain. But the joy of that trip didn’t last long. On February 24, 2022, at 3:40 AM, the unimaginable happened — war broke out.
My great-grandfather, who fought in World War II, always kept his war books and medals hidden from me. Not because he feared I might damage them, but because he didn’t want me to hear anything about war. He believed it belonged to the dark past and wanted to protect me, even from the word “war.”
But war repeated itself. My belief in the safety of the modern world was completely shattered. The following weeks were a blur of tears, rallies in support of Ukraine, brief calls to loved ones (“Are you safe? Are you alive?”), endless news updates, and feeling survivor’s guilt mixed with fear: “What if I had been there?”
Fortunately, this nightmare wasn’t endless. An incredible number of people stepped forward to help Ukrainians. Together, we gathered humanitarian aid, donated to the army and fought the information war. Tragic events reveal human nature, and I’m heartened that most people choose kindness and help.
Eventually, the question arose: What next? The war persisted, and it wasn’t safe to stay home. Kyiv remained one of the enemy’s primary targets. That’s when acquaintances from Canada, who had lived there for over twenty years, invited us to stay with them for some time. The Canadian government introduced a program for Ukrainians, allowing them to live, study, and work in Canada. I didn’t want to miss this opportunity, so I gladly accepted.
I lived in Canada for 1.5 years. It was one of the most challenging periods for several reasons. First, I lost a job I loved and faced the realization that my medical degree wasn’t valid in Canada. Second, and most importantly, I experienced intense homesickness. Thousands of kilometres of land and ocean separated me from my family, and I increasingly yearned to return home. Unable to fully adapt during my first attempt, I decided to return to Europe and visit my family in Ukraine.
I was incredibly happy to return home and finally be reunited with my loved ones, friends, and colleagues. Neither the sounds of air raid sirens nor ongoing missile strikes could overshadow those joyful days. But over time, I realized that the war wouldn’t end soon. I wanted to build a safe and promising future, which, sadly, had become just a dream in Ukraine. That’s why I decided to return to Canada.
This time, I prepared myself thoroughly for the move, especially mentally. I was determined to pursue new achievements and success. Today, I know this country better and have a deeper understanding of its people. Canada is a land of kind and open-hearted individuals. It’s home to a diverse array of communities that generously support newcomers. Numerous services are available to help with language learning, job searching, and adapting to a new environment.
In Canada, you find yourself in a community where everyone has their own story — often similar to yours — filled with loss, struggle, and the search for a better future. That’s why I don’t feel like a stranger here. Canada feels like a home and a refuge for everyone. I will always miss my homeland and look forward to returning to Ukraine with joy whenever I can. But thanks to the strong Ukrainian community here, I’ve found a piece of my homeland in Canada — in its people, language, and culture that Ukrainians work hard to keep alive. This inspires me to share our culture with the world, to tell others about our traditions, our unique melodic language, our history, and why we are fighting for our freedom.
Moreover, I’m determined to start my professional path in medicine here in Canada. I want to learn new things, gain experience, and help others. In the future, I dream of finding ways to share these skills back in Ukraine, contributing to the growth and improvement of their medical system.
I know there are many stories like mine. Although each one is unique, they are often alike in many ways. We share the pain we’ve been through and the journey of starting over. Some adapt easily to immigration, while others, like me, struggle initially. And that’s okay because we all react to challenges differently.
What helped me was time and the realization that things would never be as they were before. It’s essential to live in the present, seize opportunities, hope, believe, love, and focus only on what we can truly change.
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