A VISIT TO UKRAINE

A PERSONAL JOURNEY Going Home... For the First Time

Charlotte Kovalchuk is the senior writer for the Georgetown View. Her mother emigrated from Ukraine in 1991 and shared her first return home with her two daughters this past December. Following are Charlotte's personal reflections on her first visit to her mother's home country.

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

Grit is defined by Merriam Webster as a firmness of mind or spirit, unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger. It’s a fitting description for my family in Ukraine. Growing up, I heard stories about how my great-grandparents survived the Ukrainian famine in 1932 by eating grass soup, how my mom and her family faced rejection from society because they were Christians and refused to become communists. Later, despite heavy influence against practicing Christianity, and the requirement to be a communist in order to get a college education, my mother found a way to go to college anyway.

As an English major, I especially loved the story of my grandfather putting up a portrait of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko on his wall in defiance of Russia’s cultural repression.

In 1991, my mom left her home to trade that cultural and religious oppression for American prosperity, not knowing it would be 30 years before she would find her way back home, this time with two daughters in tow.

CULTURE SHOCK

My mom did the best she could to prepare my sister and I for Ukraine—including warning us that if we acted like American pedestrians and took the right of way in front of a driver, we would die. And, after listening patiently to my attempts at speaking Ukrainian, saying, “Don’t try to talk to anyone, honey.” Nothing could have fully prepared me, though, for the adventure and gift of Ukraine.

Knowing Ukraine is a close-knit country with multi-generational homes, I was still surprised how many people lived in my Aunt Natalya’s tiny apartment. Along with my mom, sister, and me, ten family members got to know each other pretty well over two weeks in December and January—as well as we could with the language barrier.

That barrier was especially difficult during church, as services were twice as long as they are here in Texas and I couldn’t understand a word of it. Still, I could feel everyone’s zeal for God. People knelt and prayed out loud together, and instead of heralding the new year with a countdown and cheers, they prayed their way into 2022.

I was shocked, however, to see everyone sharing the same two communion cups. Knowing my germaphobia, my mom and sister teased me about my reluctance to participate. I reminded them, “We’re in a pandemic!”

BONDING OVER FOOD AND TUNES

The hardest part about staying in a foreign country wasn’t the language barrier or cultural differences—it was not having Chick-fil-A for two weeks, or eating out at all, as it turned out. As one guy noted with surprise when I told him Americans eat out all the time, “It’s too expensive to eat out!”

Instead, I watched people bond in the kitchen. Whether it was my aunt and cousins preparing Christmas dinner, or a young adults church group making snacks for a gathering, I learned that cooking is more than just another chore to add to one’s to-do list. When you do it with other people, it becomes a shared act of service that inspires joy from creating something together. I enjoyed learning from my aunt how to make New Year’s dishes like varenyky (potato dumplings) and olivye (potato salad).

Treasured just as much as food, music flowed everywhere I went in Ukraine. Whenever there was a lull in the conversation at a gathering, someone would reach for the nearest instrument. Usually it was the piano or guitar and my mom, who plays both, always hoped to pass on her gift of music to her kids, and now I know why it was so important to her. Like cooking, music connects people.

Wanting to embrace my Ukrainian roots, I was excited about the prospect of listening to Ukrainian music and buying clothes with Ukrainian phrases, only to find that every major store I visited blasted American music and sold shirts with American phrases. But I ended up being grateful for that westernization, because it means more people are learning English. Many were excited to practice their English with us, especially Aunt Natalya, who was trying to get a promotion and joked that we should have a conversation in English in front of her boss to increase her chances of getting a better job.

At first, I couldn’t understand Ukraine’s obsession with America, as I was raised to believe that “everything is better in Ukraine.” My aunt corrected that notion with a laugh: “Everything is better in America.”

Indeed, visiting a country that struggles with poverty and few job opportunities made me appreciate my life in America. But I’m grateful my family and I got to visit Ukraine and learn the value of family bonds and connections through food and music. My mom, who emigrated right before Ukraine won its independence in 1991, is especially glad she was able to see her homeland free. We continue to pray for the safety of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine as they struggle to hold onto that freedom.

Always Something New at

Inner Space Cavern has been a staple of local and regional tourism for many years. First discovered in 1963 by surveyors boring into bedrock at the future site of IH-35, the caves have become a place of escape to a time long forgotten. Even the name inspires visions of a new world just waiting to be discovered, from the classic large rooms to dark passages. Visitors, travelers, and students of all ages enjoy the famed cavern yearround and, although Inner Space has been a popular destination for decades, those who make the beloved cavern what it is always make sure there is something new to discover.

The Adventure Tour is a wonderful introduction to the cavern and is open every day. This guided tour winds through the cavern’s larger rooms on a paved and lighted path and is great for all ages.

For those who prefer “a little bit more exploring”, as manager Taunya Vessels says, the Hidden Passage Tour is the perfect fit. It is much different from the Adventure Tour—it has no paved paths or lights. Each adventurer is provided a flashlight and follows the tour guide into and through smaller cavern rooms, allowing for up-close looks at the cavern’s features. This tour is also open every day and is appropriate for visitors seven years and older.

For passionate adventurers, it might be fun to book a Wild Cave Tour ahead of time. This tour takes visitors through the smaller spaces of the cave and provides the most raw and authentic subterranean experience this Georgetown attraction has to offer. Taunya adds, “Even if you have visited Inner Space in the past, there is always something new to discover, whether it’s a new formation in a familiar room, or a new program we have added to our already diverse offerings.”

FOR YOU IN 2022

The newest and most exciting addition to the cavern celebrates the world above the Texas Hill Country. The Saber Tooth is a two-seat zip ride located on the property. Similar to a ski lift, the ride begins on the south end of the property, lifts two passengers 130 feet into the air—facing south, for spectacular views of the hill country, quarry, and other fantastic sites around Inner Space—then slopes them gently to the ground at 30mph. The Saber Tooth opened in May and with spring fast approaching the time to try out this new attraction is upon us again.

The team at the cavern are excited to welcome you, share all the tours you love and remember, and introduce you to exciting new additions sure to bring you back. Scan the code for tickets and information.

VISIT INNER SPACE AT 4200 S. I-35 FRONTAGE RD INNERSPACECAVERN.COM 512-931-2283

ALL THINGS KIDS is a favorite for kids of all ages who visit Georgetown. Founded in 2011, the battery-free store is run by Karen and Christian Soeffker and their son Carl. Their selection of toys and activity sets represent the best in imaginative play and are a perfect complement to snow cones, a decadent selection of 400 kinds of candy, an old-fashioned soda fountain, and 48 flavors of premium hand-scooped ice cream. Relax and indulge in their cozy book niche with your choice of sweets and all your favorite children's classics.

The store is open seven days a week, but you don’t need to go to the Square to enjoy the fun. The SCOOPS ICE CREAM TRUCK is available to rent for events.

703 S MAIN ST • 512-868-2659

KIDS & FAMILY FUN

With a heart for kids, KIDS’ ZONE LEARNING CENTER is committed to offering Christ-centered education for children 0-12 years at four locations across Jarrell and Georgetown. Kids’ Zone is Texas Rising Star certified and teaches FrogStreet, ABC Jesus Loves Me, and ABEKA curricula. Children enjoy a family atmosphere, Christian character building; and experienced, award-winning teachers along with a low student-teacher ratio. Private school classes include Gifted & Talented, ESL certification, Phonics, and STEM, which are designed to meet all TEKS so students easily integrate into public school.

Kids’ Zone offers private schooling from Kindergarten through 3rd grade as well as an after-school program and child care at the following locations: Jarrell: 104 Copper Lane, 512-746-2333 Jarrell West: 105 Western Sky Trail, 512-598-3900 Jarrell Downtown: 107 S. 7th Street, 512-746-4144 Georgetown: 4802 Moreland Drive, 512-868-8300