Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
“НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЖОВТЕНЬ - ЛИСТОПАД 2008 26 In Gratitude A Moment from 2008 UNWLA Convention by Olena Kryzhanivska Walking in to hear Chrystia Freeland speak on Friday night in Detroit, I slowly scanned the room. I saw a crowd of stunning women, but couldn’t help feeling as if they were focused on their old friends and were from a different gen- eration. Feeling a little self-conscious about not speaking Ukrainian well, being the only person from Houston, and about looking all of my 24 years, I resigned myself to enjoying the session and keeping to myself, These feelings were ironic, given the fact that I was actually born in Kyiv and was raised by very dedicated parents who taught me to know and love my birthplace. Yet, I couldn’t help feeling out of my element. Just as I was setting my mind to retreating to my hotel room, a woman approached me. This, I thought, is going to be interesting. I introduced myself as Olena Kryzhanivska, and confessed to her that I do not speak Ukrainian fluently. She re- sponded graciously and introduced herself as Tatiana. Not only did we connect immediately (and she taught me many Ukrainian words), but we also went out for coffee and cannolis later that night! Thank God for this engaging woman who reached out to me, I mused. I will now have a buddy with whom to enjoy the convention. From then on, the convention got better and better —isn’t everything better when enjoyed with a friend? Tatiana and I marveled at the intricate costumes of the women during the opening cere- monies. We nodded in agreement with the speakers, and as we commemorated the Holodomor with a candlelight vigil, she told me about the work she had done in Pittsburgh raising awareness about the Great Famine of the early 1930s. I told her I had made a presentation about the Holodomor as a student at Georgetown University. The difference at the convention was that everyone attending already knew a great deal about the tragedy, and I felt part of a movement to honor and raise awareness about Ukrainian history. As I listened to the women around me, I started thinking about what UNWLA has meant to me these past two years. This organization has New friends Olena Kryzhanivska of Houston and Tatiana Rad of Pittsburgh heightened and confirmed my awareness of Ukrain- ian history and current events, supported me in making a new life for myself in Houston, and inspired me to believe in myself, knowing that I come from a long line of strong, proud, hard- working women who want to see me succeed. One such brilliant woman is Martha Noukas, the president of the UNWLA branch in Houston. Because of Martha’s guidance and per - suasive leadership skills, I have danced Ukrainian dances at the Easter Banquet, sung patriotic Ukrain- ian songs, folded dough as part of a varenyky assembly line, welcomed folks while selling tickets at the Ukrainian Bazaar, practiced Ukrainian while hiking with an older and very kind Ukrainian gentleman, learned more about Ukrainian history (even about my brave and inventive Scythian an- cestors), and came to the convention! Martha is living proof that one person can literally change the life of another. Yet, I would be remiss if I did not to thank the rest of the women in Houston who have supported me. I came to Houston from Georgetown as part of Teach for America, and that first year was a hard transition. Thankfully, like Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36-37 
38-39 
40 
