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MysticHuman

(219 posts)
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 02:59 AM Feb 2014

This is my Daughter and I am soooo Proud of her....

She has been living in Kiev, Ukraine for almost 4 years now. This photo shows her and 3 of her friends (all Ukrainian) during the protests in either the end of December or beginning of January.

She lives and works near downtown and even ventured out to help give food and water to the protesters early on. She has since has decided to avoid the main protest area for obvious reasons.

She reported to me that the TV stations went down 2 days ago and she fears the internet won't be long to follow.

Fortunately the company she works for is allowing all employees to work out of their homes until further notice as long as they have the internet anyway. My Daughter is 2nd from the right of the four

31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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This is my Daughter and I am soooo Proud of her.... (Original Post) MysticHuman Feb 2014 OP
I'd be proud, too...but urge her to keep safe! Lizzie Poppet Feb 2014 #1
Agreed Lizzie! MysticHuman Feb 2014 #3
Loyalty is one of our species' best traits. Lizzie Poppet Feb 2014 #5
Yep! I agree....:-) MysticHuman Feb 2014 #12
Good advise gopiscrap Feb 2014 #28
It's awesome to see someone showing off the good side of the USA! adirondacker Feb 2014 #2
Thanks adirondacker! MysticHuman Feb 2014 #4
I love traveling and beating down all the stereotypes. The government should pay us adirondacker Feb 2014 #7
is she trying to come back to the US ? JI7 Feb 2014 #6
ATM no.... it is an option... MysticHuman Feb 2014 #9
have you been there yourself ? JI7 Feb 2014 #11
No... yet I agree... MysticHuman Feb 2014 #13
Yanukovich is toast. Warpy Feb 2014 #8
Thanks Warpy for your input... MysticHuman Feb 2014 #10
What a lovely young lady and such a priceless experience for her young life. Does she have okaawhatever Feb 2014 #14
Thanks for you kind words.... MysticHuman Feb 2014 #16
You should be proud! defacto7 Feb 2014 #15
Yes!! MysticHuman Feb 2014 #17
interesting NJCher Feb 2014 #18
Of course Cher.... MysticHuman Feb 2014 #21
US State Department is advising all USA passport holders to get off the streets and maintain a low MADem Feb 2014 #19
MADem... thank you for your concern... MysticHuman Feb 2014 #23
I've been in similar situations, and it is very nervewracking. MADem Feb 2014 #26
There's clearly something wrong... Adrahil Feb 2014 #20
When this photo was taken... MysticHuman Feb 2014 #24
You should be proud... one_voice Feb 2014 #22
Thanks MysticHuman Feb 2014 #25
As you should be. sufrommich Feb 2014 #27
Will do... MysticHuman Feb 2014 #30
Is that Lenin on the left? lpbk2713 Feb 2014 #29
LOL... MysticHuman Feb 2014 #31
 

Lizzie Poppet

(10,164 posts)
1. I'd be proud, too...but urge her to keep safe!
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:02 AM
Feb 2014

I correspond with a couple people in Kiev, myself...and I'm worried sick for them.

MysticHuman

(219 posts)
3. Agreed Lizzie!
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:06 AM
Feb 2014

Yet she is a very intelligent and competent young lady. She assures me she is safe and I hope she is right about that. It doesn't make it easier though... one mistake and everything changes.

I have suggested she take a leave back to the States for awhile. She can work from over here also.... but for the time being she doesn't want to leave her friends and I can understand her feeling so strongly about that.



MH

MysticHuman

(219 posts)
12. Yep! I agree....:-)
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:34 AM
Feb 2014

She cried 15 hours a day for the first 3 months of her life. I would come home from work and my wife would just about throw her at me. I recall watching a Michigan State football game one time and she cried for the entire game on my chest. The doctor said that after 3 months she will outgrow it.... and she did. I later read that studies have found colicky babies have been found to be more intelligent as they grow and she was. She is a brilliant person and has a degree in "Foreign Service". She had desires to work at an embassy and/or become a politician but then realized she wouldn't like being behind a desk for a living. She wanted to be in the front lines and be hands on.

But she has a long life ahead and she may use that degree someday...lol... fluent Spanish and pretty good Russian will always help her. Now she is learning Ukrainian. and I think someday she will decide to run for office.

Now you are seeing why I am so proud of her. I am honored to have been trusted to be her father.

MH

adirondacker

(2,921 posts)
2. It's awesome to see someone showing off the good side of the USA!
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:03 AM
Feb 2014

Major kudos to both you and your daughter!

adirondacker

(2,921 posts)
7. I love traveling and beating down all the stereotypes. The government should pay us
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:15 AM
Feb 2014

for our fine diplomacy

JI7

(89,182 posts)
6. is she trying to come back to the US ?
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:12 AM
Feb 2014

or is she just going to try to see how things go for now ?

i hope her and everyone else stay safe.

MysticHuman

(219 posts)
9. ATM no.... it is an option...
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:21 AM
Feb 2014

however she has expressed to me that she wants to help her friends and show support for the good cause.

She is an incredible person and is a wonderful representative of the US.

I am sure she will stay as long as possible.... this is where she is supposed to be at this time. That is why I am so proud of her. She is trying to do her part to make the world a better place and right now it is Ukraine who she is trying to help in her own way.



MH

JI7

(89,182 posts)
11. have you been there yourself ?
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:26 AM
Feb 2014

i have always been fascinated with eastern europe. and the ukraine has been one of the places i would love to go to.

MysticHuman

(219 posts)
13. No... yet I agree...
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:39 AM
Feb 2014

She loves the people and the country. My ex wife took a trip there last summer for a week. I have yet had the opportunity to do so myself. Someday maybe...we will see.

Warpy

(110,913 posts)
8. Yanukovich is toast.
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:15 AM
Feb 2014

If he doesn't call for a snap election soon, he's going to be burnt toast.

Russia has been applying considerable pressure for him to step down.

Daughter is doing well to stay away from the main protest area. This isn't her fight beyond solidarity with working people everywhere. Giving food and water to people on their way downtown is a great thing to do.

The story is getting out so far. I've been glued to live video all evening.

#t=1374054

I can catch maybe every 15th word.



MysticHuman

(219 posts)
10. Thanks Warpy for your input...
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:24 AM
Feb 2014

I have been watching a live feed myself. We can only hope common sense will prevail and the good side wins this standoff.



MH

okaawhatever

(9,453 posts)
14. What a lovely young lady and such a priceless experience for her young life. Does she have
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 03:55 AM
Feb 2014

a blog or anything documenting what's going on? You said she was social media. I didn't know if her or her friends are trying to document this in some way.

MysticHuman

(219 posts)
16. Thanks for you kind words....
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 04:21 AM
Feb 2014

and I have to agree... she should be blogging about it. She hasn't talked to me about such a thing... but she plans on calling me later today and I will ask her about it and make that suggestion. It would be a great way to express the history in the making.

I will keep you posted.

NJCher

(35,428 posts)
18. interesting
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 06:12 AM
Feb 2014

I may show this to my students later on today.

For some reason, I was thinking of the most exhilarating moments of my life. One of them was when I was in a throng of protesters in D.C. when Bush was trying to ride in his limo to be sworn in--the first time he stole the election. We protesters ran the republicans out of town and up into their rooms at the Willard. And then a group of protesters mooned them; yeah, about 40 bare butts to the sky.

During that time, I had an experience I will never forget. It was definitely a moment of transcendence. I saw swirling colors and there was definitely some type of altered state going on. This was while I was within 20' of their limo and was surrounded by crowds. Some of the people were throwing eggs and tomatoes and oh, how I wished I'd brought some.

I had this feeling that I was doing the right thing at the right moment. I was so sure of this. Nothing could ever dissuade me of that.

A few weeks ago one of my students was telling me he was a socialist. He is fascinated with the idea of revolutionaries and how they happen to become the people they became. I was thinking about this moment and how our younger generation will never have that moment like I did, but your post shows me they might, even if it's in another country.


Cher

MysticHuman

(219 posts)
21. Of course Cher....
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 02:19 PM
Feb 2014

Sorry I didn't answer sooner... I work nights and sleep most of the day...

Oh.. I remember that protest..he couldn't even walk to the White House as was traditional... he had to hide from the protesters. Good for you!

I also agree ... this is an amazing experience for her. One that she could define the rest of her life. Although it is a difficult time for me as a parent knowing my daughter is in one of the more volatile places to be at this time.... I know she is where she was meant to be.She is a wonderful person and right now it is important for her to support the good cause in Ukraine. Thus my post to how proud I am of her.

We are all in this together... we are one race and that is the Human race.

Peace to you and I have to say....how fortunate your students are to have such a person in guiding them.

MH

MADem

(135,425 posts)
19. US State Department is advising all USA passport holders to get off the streets and maintain a low
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 06:26 AM
Feb 2014

profile.

I realize you are proud of your daughter (who looks to be a vibrant and lovely person, you should be proud of having raised such a fine young woman) but I'd be careful about discussing her whereabouts and activities in such a public setting. One never knows who is looking.

I hope she stays safe.

MysticHuman

(219 posts)
23. MADem... thank you for your concern...
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 02:26 PM
Feb 2014

Agreed... and as I have stated this was from a few weeks ago. She avoiding that area of the city now.

This picture was taken when there was no violence or government crack downs going on. It was peaceful and not unlike any protests here in the U.S.

Of course things have changed and so she and her friends have backed off from protesting in public.

On a side note... my Daughters ex husband (also American) personally knows one of the confirmed dead from the recent clashes with the government.

So my Daughter understands the gravity of the situation and of course has taken proper precautions.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
26. I've been in similar situations, and it is very nervewracking.
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 05:44 PM
Feb 2014

You might want to tell her, next time you're talking to her, to think about what she might pack in a quick "GO" kit with essentials; the most important stuff in a backpack, and the nice-to-have but not essential in a suitcase, just in case the State Department decides to do a noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO) to get people out of there. They usually limit what you can take with you, and you end up leaving a lot of stuff behind. Sometimes it's one bag, sometimes two, but usually not more than that. Keep that passport both safe and handy....ya never know when you need to grab it and run!

 

Adrahil

(13,340 posts)
20. There's clearly something wrong...
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 08:02 AM
Feb 2014

... I've been told by certain DUers that the protestors are racist right wing nuts. All I see is an awesome young woman and her friends! I demand you fix this!



Encourage her to stay safe... I have a feeling it's about to get very dangerous.

MysticHuman

(219 posts)
24. When this photo was taken...
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 02:32 PM
Feb 2014

it was a very peaceful and non violent gathering. However, there are factions that do have ties to racist elements.

For the most part this isn't the case though. Although it would be incorrect to say they aren't there. As the violence escalates I am sure these groups will be front and center.

As my Daughter has told me she suspects the government has hired some of these groups to actually instigate some of the violence so the police would have justification to respond with force.

I spoke to her on the phone today and she is safe and staying out of harms way. We have an agreement that she is to message me everyday if not call.... and if the phones and internet are shut down she and her colleagues have a well thought out plan to get out.


MysticHuman

(219 posts)
25. Thanks
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 02:35 PM
Feb 2014

Talked to her today on the phone and she is safe and assured me the violence is actually in a small part of the city and she is keeping a very low profile.

MysticHuman

(219 posts)
30. Will do...
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 09:33 PM
Feb 2014

Thanks... talked to her today by phone and all is well. She is staying inside working from home... Hopefully today's news of a truce will hold and progress will be made.

lpbk2713

(42,696 posts)
29. Is that Lenin on the left?
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 08:34 PM
Feb 2014



I heard they did a fantastic job of embalming but this is ridiculous.


And BTW ... you have good reason to be proud.

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