Ukrainian and proud of it, *Elena arrived six months ago in Latvia to work in a children daycare in Sigulda, east of Riga. She leaves in a few days and her speech on the country is a real insight into the Eastern Europe. Fully integrated, speaking Latvian, Russian, Ukrainian and English perfectly, the girl said with a smile that thanks to random she came to this so small country.Educated in psychology and sociology, she worked in a recruitment firm. One day she receives the proposal of volunteerism: a good way to go out of her so closed country and to discover other realities, including that part of the European Union. Of course, Latvia is still a young country but with a story similar to the Ulrainian one. Why Ukraine is not part of the European Union if the Baltic countries are? A burning issue that is difficult to answer. "I do not know enough about economics and politics to find real answers to this question," she says.
"Going to Latvia was a sign of divine providence" she adds. She is patriotic and defends her origins while being aware of the weaknesses of her country. Latvia for her, is like Ukraine: same communist history, same stability issues, even same social organization... But a huge advantage for Latvia: freedom of circulation, the opportunity to be part of exchange programs, to discover 27 countries visa-free travel, to open up and participate in building a common union.
In Ukraine, a visa is very long to obtain and expensive. "We must go to Kiev, wait, pay, sometimes the visa is denied and must start all over again" she laments. She can not stay a day longer in Latvia unless of being imprisoned. Before leaving, she had to prove to the authorities that she was legally entitled to work in the association, it was not going to fuel a business of prostitution... a veritable obstacle course.
Despite the difficulties, she is proud of her country and would not leave it. Her greatest wish would be that it enters the European Union to have the opportunity to travel more, meet other cultures and that Ukraine opens itself to other countries.
"I am pleased that I participated to this experience, I met many young people and putting together other opinions, shoot some prejudices," she concludes. Because "nothing can be done in solitude" Pablo Picasso.
* The name has been changed.
