Ukraine as Seen by Ukrainian Americans

A total of 368 U.S. servicemen took part in the multinational peacekeeping exercise Peace Shield'99 held August 1-15 on the Yavorivsky trial ground in Western Ukraine. Among them were quite a few Ukrainian Americans.

According to the latter, they volunteered when they found out about the event. On the other hand, they were made welcome because they knew Ukrainian.

For one of them, Vasyl Prokopyk, it was the first visit to the land of his forefathers. During World War II his father found himself in a Nazi concentration camp. His first wife got killed, leaving him with a daughter currently living in Luhansk. In 1955, he immigrated to the United States and married a German woman.

«I first met my half sister on the Yavorivsky trial ground,» says Vasyl, adding that his father was afraid to write to her during Soviet times and they started corresponding only after Ukraine became independent. Vasyl is married to an American and his sons Andriy and Vasyl also speak and write Ukrainian. He has also found the time to teach them Ukrainian traditions.

When asked what he liked most in Ukraine, Vasyl Prokopyk replied, «All your people dress nicely. Too bad we don't have it in America. People mostly wear jeans and T-shirts there. Ukraine is a very beautiful country with many forests, flowers, and the weather is good. We don't have as much beauty in the States and the land is red where I live, and there is much less greenery.»

Would he like to come live in Ukraine? He sure would like to live in his father's native land. The more so that he has found blood relatives here. His father was born in Strilka, a village near Stary Sambir (Lviv oblast).

For Levko Iwaskiw (his parents immigrated to the U.S. from Ternopil oblast in 1944) it is a second time on the Yavorivsky trial ground. He also would like to live in Ukraine. «I would be able to live here, although I know that living here is harder than in the States. I also know that you have people in power using their office to get rich, caring nothing about the people's well-being. All they did was change the national colors, but deep in heart they remain the same.»

Levko Iwaskiw says the main distinction between the Ukrainians and Americans is that the Ukrainian family circles are stronger. He thinks this is the Ukrainian mentality; Ukrainians always remember their parents while Americans drift away from them. «I am not saying that we do this on purpose, it's just that the U.S. lifestyle is at a quicker pace and we don't have enough time for everything, so many place their parents in homes for the elderly.»

As for his impressions of Ukraine, they are excellent, unforgettable. «The U.S. servicemen are especially fond of your women. They all think Ukrainian women are the most beautiful in the world.» And of course, Ukrainian hospitality and Lviv's charming cityscape.

What the Ukrainian Americans found most unattractive is the «strong Russification of the Ukrainian army.» «Being of Ukrainian parentage, we felt offended hearing Ukrainian servicemen communicate in Russian.»

Despite their nostalgic sentiments, they can understand Ukrainians immigrating to the United States in search of a better living. «We cannot blame them,» says Vasyl Prokopyk, «because good living standard is what America is based on.»