The first time Maryna Altukhova marked International Women香蕉视频直播檚 Day in Canada, she was far from her home in Ukraine, having left as Russia invaded her country.
Back home, March 8 is known simply as the day when you buy gifts for women, and it香蕉视频直播檚 a day Ukrainians celebrate even more than they do for New Year香蕉视频直播檚.
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So it was a bit of a shock when she came to Canada and found no one was aware of how significant March 8 is in Ukraine. And although she tries not to attach her heart to expectations, Maryna hasn't gone without flowers since her arrival to Canada. Her first boss knew of the Ukrainian tradition, and purchased flowers for her and all her female coworkers on the first eighth of March she spent in Canada.
Maryna came to Canada in April 2022, just a few months after the Russian invasion. She had been living in Kyiv, Ukraine香蕉视频直播檚 capital city and the home of her dreams.
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Maryna was praying in the early morning of Feb. 24, 2022 when she heard the first Russian bomb hit a neighbouring town.
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She had already prepared for this day, but there remained lots of uncertainty.
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She waited to make her departure, but she knew it was time to go when the day came that there were tanks on her own street. A knowledgeable friend shared tips to help her prepare for the move, and she was lucky to have fully gassed up her vehicle ahead of time.
香蕉视频直播淚 was so grateful that my tank was full because the next morning, all the gas stations were empty.香蕉视频直播�
She helped another friend香蕉视频直播檚 family leave the country, and as they neared the border, it took them six days to cross the final eight kilometre stretch.
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All the gas stations along the way had already been emptied of food and water, but people from neighbouring towns volunteered to bring food.
香蕉视频直播淚 still remember this...how it united all people in in that moment.香蕉视频直播�
Moving to Canada was no simple ordeal. Still today there香蕉视频直播檚 paperwork to sort out and norms to adjust to.
香蕉视频直播淣obody planned war...we were not prepared...nobody tells us what we were going to face,香蕉视频直播� Maryna said while thinking about how difficult the transition to Canadian life was.
She talked about how all the small changes, from food, prices, environment and people, amount to one big stressful situation which you live in every day.
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After several moves within Canada, Maryna now finds herself in Williams Lake, B.C., working in car sales at Ranchland Honda.
She has a background in managing sales teams, but car sales are new to her, and she香蕉视频直播檚 learning every day.
香蕉视频直播淚 love communicating with people because sales is more about support, about servicing people, not only to sell, sell, sell.香蕉视频直播�
While she wishes every day to be able to return home, she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know if this will ever be possible.
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She香蕉视频直播檚 been through a lot to get to Williams Lake but said many Ukrainians experienced much worse. She had a friend based in B.C. who helped her through the move and she had savings to get the basics. She also had some knowledge of English - many, she said, had none of these advantages.
香蕉视频直播淓veryone went through losses, losing people, losing family members, losing homes...Some people, what they went through, it was hell to get here,香蕉视频直播� Maryna said.
She is very grateful for the support Canadians have shown to Ukrainians over the years, but adds the war isn香蕉视频直播檛 over.
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