Stories From Ukraine: Tsovinar Kuiumchian

Meet Tsovi, Talent Acquisition Partner at Preply. On February 24th, she woke up to her world shattered by chaos and uncertainty. There was no handbook for facing war, but Tsovi found hope in the support of her Preply team and loved ones.

“On February 24th, I woke up at 5 am, picked up my phone feeling anxious because of the noise outside, and saw a missed call from my dad. “A call at 5 am?“. When I called him back, he told me the war had started. Only then I realized the noise was a mix of explosions and sirens. It was the first time in my life that I realized how fragile our bodies and lives are. I kept repeating to myself: “It can’t be true. I can’t die. I’ve just turned 27. It can’t be my life.“

The roads were already full of cars. I was not sure if the public transport worked. My family was 500 km away. When every explosion felt like the next one could be in your apartment, staying was not an option. Nobody teaches us how to face the war, it feels like it shouldn’t happen in our lives. It shouldn’t but it does.

I remember the first few months after moving to Spain I couldn’t hear planes flying, and I was afraid to look at the sky. Many simple things felt unreal, like seeing people walking dogs and drinking coffee. Just like that!?

What helped me to find a way out was my team. Andrea, our Engineering Manager, hosted me once I arrived in Spain. The team sent me flowers when I got sick. I talked during lunches with Anita, and Barbara, my manager, constantly supported me. Anthony brought donuts and shared them with me. Ryma cared for me to feel more at home in Spain. And many more Preplers did small things which were not small at all.

For over 1.5 years, Ukrainians have been bravely fighting for their rights. Just like before, they need donations to win the war. They need things to be called by their names. Not “a conflict between two countries”, but “the war”. Not “I am not aware of the exact situation, it’s ambiguous”, but “it’s clear who invades which country, and who is the aggressor.” Language, if used correctly, can be our way to clarity.

It’s a difficult experience to go through, but learnings are simple. One of them: spend time with your loved ones, because, as many of us, you may find yourself regretting not spending enough time with your grandparents, parents, or friends.”