Mum’s teaching tools

My mum has been here through everything. We moved country, started again, learnt languages and found our feet.

She is steady when things are uncertain. When I was scared, she was always close by. She’s been a big part in my learning of English. She helped me believe I could do it, and that we could do it together. When I couldn’t read, she helped me learn letters and the reading rules slowly, until it became easier.

We have explored the UK together, chasing sunsets, and we have continued to learn. Mum is working and has found her feet now, and she has helped me to find mine. We are settled into this new version of ourselves and of our lives.

Mum will always take time to explain, and she never gives up on me.

Cookies and handmade cards

Most of my best memories happen at home, with my nan. I particularly love spending time with her in the kitchen, or at the table, watching her cook without measuring, without rushing. She just knows things, and I love learning by watching her. I can also measure ingredients by sight now too.

Every year we make christmas cards together, cutting, sticking and choosing the colours together. We send them out to family and friends, including those who have become family to us here in the UK.

Making things with my nan is how I learn who I am.

That could be through food, craft or just spending time together. Nan and I will continue to craft our tradition and connect to our culture in the kitchen, or at the table of my Solihull home.

Dictionary and letters

I shift through English, Ukrainian, and Russian depending on the environment I am in.

I am also learning French in school, and I’m interested in learning Korean as well. Learning Korean will be hard but I like the challenge and the structure of the letters.

I switch language without thinking.

I speak Ukrainian with my mum, Russian with my nan and English everywhere else. Sometimes the words look the same but mean different things, and I have to pause and choose what works best for this moment. I like that moment, when I find the right one.

After four years here, I find myself thinking in English too.

Objects of belonging

At first, everything felt unfamiliar.

English is my second language, so even simple things felt hard. Starting school here was overwhelming. I didn’t speak much and so I just watched, listened and tried my best to learn.

But every day, I understood more and now I feel more confident. I even put my hand up in class to confidently answer the question… in my second language: English.

School has helped me to find my voice and through time, my friends. They have helped me feel like I belong.

I think I am going to be ‘okay’.

School tie and leaving card

When I moved to the UK I was 5 years old, and I only knew the basics. In language I knew the colours and animals; like cat, dog, blue or red. I knew hello and goodbye, but, that was it.

And you can’t make a conversation out of cat, dog, blue, red, hello and goodbye.

In Ukraine we started school at age 6, rather than 4, meaning I started two years after everyone else here. Everyone spoke very fast and everything moved so quickly. I didn’t know what was going on, so I had to just copy.

I gradually made friends who helped me along the way.

It didn’t happen all at once, it was all slowly... because progress takes time.

Karolina’s certificates of success

Darina (my mum):

I remember a school assembly, three years after we arrived. The hall was full of children, parents, teachers, but all I could do was watch Karolina the whole time.

I was constantly nervous about how she was adjusting to a new country, new home, and new school, especially after we had to change three schools through that time. She was still finding her feet, and as she scanned the room, she found me and smiled. And, in that moment, I let out a big exhale.

Shortly after, her teacher spoke about her progress in lessons and about how kind she is to others. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I was so proud because in that moment, I knew that she was finding her place here. I knew that she was going to be okay.

Karolina’s Souvenirs

In Ukraine, you always know what season it is: the summer is hot, the winter is deep snow, spring and autumn arrive properly.

Here... it rains a lot.

No matter the weather, we travel around as a family to beaches, cities and museums. We watch the sunset and we walk. We’ve been to Weston Super Mare, Blackpool, London, Black Country Living Museum, Cotswolds, Cadbury’s World, Legoland, Bath, and Axminster. The list is endless and we will continue to explore on our mini staycations. But, and it might sound funny, I love the trees here, they’re... spectacular!!!

Even if other locals don’t notice it, my mum and I love the variety of nature in the UK. You don’t always realise the different kind of trees you have around you, in a place that you’ve lived in your whole life.

Talisman bracelet and items of dacha

‘dacha’ is a country house where you can escape from the city and spend time together. I miss our family dacha out in the countryside of Ukraine. We used to spend almost every weekend together there.

My grandfather lived in the dacha and he is my hero. He was a soldier defending Ukraine, even before the war started. But, he went missing in spring 2022, and we still don’t know where he is. I hope he is alive and that one day he will come home.

The dacha reminds me of my most happy times; riding my bike, swimming, listening to music, helping in the garden, picking berries and vegetables. Our cat Mars would lie next to me while I stroked him. Happy times.

It was a place where we all felt safe and connected. I didn’t know how much I would miss it until we had to leave. Places are built from memories, and memories are made with people.

Awards, costume and special microphone from Ukraine

I sing at home for fun, often without even thinking about it. When I hear songs I know on the radio, I love singing along. Music is a big part of my life and a way for me to express myself and sing with all my soul. I also sing at special occasions, like during Refugee Week or when Ukrainian communities come together and sing as a group. It helps me connect with other people through our shared love of music, even when we are far from home.

I sang as part of a Ukrainian talent event, a bit like Ukraine’s Got Talent, organised by Nick Wormald at the Solihull Ukrainian Hub. The event raised money to buy tourniquets for Ukrainian soldiers on the front line. My mum also took part, which made it even more special. It was held at the Knowle Royal British Legion Club. I received medals and a cup for performing, and I felt very proud, not only because of the singing, but because I felt like I was part of something bigger and doing something important for my country. Even when I am far from home, the music is still inside me.

Karolina’s first toy from Ukraine ‘Toby’

Before we had a home here in Solihull, we moved a lot whilst trying to rebuild our lives after leaving Ukraine. The hotels, the spare rooms, always packing, always moving. We never really knew what was next for us, but were just trying to find our feet.

When we finally had our own place, something settled for me and mum. I felt calm, I felt safe, we finally felt ‘stable’.

Home means more than just a roof. It is where a person can relax, play, and be themself. For me, it is where I belong and I gained so much from finding our safety and stability here.

I think it’s also why I help others when I can, especially people who are new, unsure or un-confident. I remember what it feels like to not feel safe and stable.