Happiness Is Not Money But That Family And Friends Are Alive

"Happiness is not money, but that family and friends are alive" Three ukrainian refugees write about the past year Tatyana Lutsik: "Everyone helps in their own way" I am a refugee from the city of Chernigov in Ukraine.

First of all, I would like to thank Norway for the opportunity to live in a peaceful country, and for helping Ukraine to fight the enemy Vladimir Putin and his minions I am now in Bjerkreim with my sons and parents.

On the first day of the war, fleeing from the bullets, we moved down into the basement Power stations were bombed, and the power went out.

For 45 days we lived in the damp, cold basement, while nearby houses were collapsed by Russian missiles and civilians were killed As soon as it was possible to leave, we left.

We were transported to Poland, and there we met volunteers who helped us get to Norway The whole journey took seven days.

Norway welcomed us at night with seagulls and friendliness Wherever we were, we met Norwegians with a sincere desire to help.

Here in Bjerkreim, the children go to school and nursery school, and we are well looked after During this year, I, like many Ukrainians, have learned to appreciate life.

We have realized that happiness is not money, but that friends and family are alive Ukrainians have gathered and fought against the enemy.

Everyone helps in their own way, whether in Ukraine or from abroad For example, I took the initiative for a fundraising campaign where I live, where we collected candles, batteries, flashlights, etc.

You do your best, even if it's small Both learning a new language and not knowing what awaits you tomorrow are difficult.

I want the children to get an education and sometime in the future we will go back to the ruins of Ukraine I believe in Ukraine's victory! Norway is a country with friendly people, mountains and fjords.

But many Ukrainians will return home to rebuild their country Tatyana Lutsik, Bjerkreim Svetlana Tischenko: "I would do everything to return to my life in Ukraine" We came to Norway in April 2022.

It is difficult to describe what it was like to come here, because the most important thing was to feel safe Everyone around us contributed to just that.

The surroundings helped me calm down and relax a bit, at least in terms of external circumstances It was good to know that my children had a place to live, enough food and clothes.

What do I miss most about Ukraine? I miss everything, my whole past life I loved, and I still love, my hometown: the people, my home, all the things inside it, streets, buildings, the smell of spring that we always waited for.

I miss my plans for the future there I would do anything to return to it.

But That Is Impossible And It Hurts

It has been difficult to start over without being able to prepare for it Without close people and friends, without my usual rhythm of life and without all the little things that made up our life.

It's hard to think about this without going into the basement, because we don't yet know what's in store for us I can't make any plans for the future.

Now we do what we can, like learning languages ​​and trying to integrate into society, make new friends and learn new things I am very happy to have the opportunity to go to the nork course, and I want to say thank you to all the teachers there.

It is really useful and interesting I've learned that life doesn't always go as planned.

What we can do is adapt I have learned to value life itself, value people and their support.

Simple things like warm hugs, the voice of best friends and relatives, hearing that they are alive and safe And smiles from people you meet on the street.

Svetlana Tischenko, Hakadal Mykhailo Lakatosh: "I have found out who my real friends are" I came to Norway in May 2022 because I have family who live here It felt safe to come here.

I have made many friends, I go to upper secondary school, and I have learned to speak Norwegian in a short time I wanted to be independent of others when I had to work with all the subjects and various tasks at school.

What I miss most in Ukraine is feeling completely at home I miss people who play a big role in my life.

I miss hearing the language in which I learned my first words all the time It is still challenging to understand everything and to be able to explain everything in Norwegian.

I really like and am happy about the system in Norway that helps people when they need it You can get what you need to feel "normal" in Norwegian society.

And then I have become very fond of nature I have learned to go for a walk the Norwegian way.

First of all, I hope that the war in Ukraine ends as soon as possible Maybe I can go back and meet all the people I miss.

In the meantime, I would like to have the opportunity to study at a Norwegian university This year I have changed a lot.

I have been able to talk to many people from different cultures and hear how they see life and the situation as it is now in Ukraine I have learned a lot from that.

I've learned who my real friends are and who aren't That people who live far away from Ukraine and have a different culture can be so kind, the Ukrainians have been proved.

We have received a lot of help with the problems we have now, and that means a lot Mykhailo Lakatosh, Brønnøysund.