Storytime: Moving From Ukraine To Canada

A lot of people have been asking me about my nationality and how I came to Canada, so I thought I would do a video explaining how it all happened. I was born in Kiev, Ukraine right as the Soviet Union was breaking up and moved to Canada when I was 5 years old. It was a crazy whirlwind adventure and I wanted to share my story with you guys! Let me know what you think :)

- Equipment I Use To Film Videos -

- FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA -

*** I USE AFFILIATE LINKS ***
Affiliate links do not cost you as the consumer any more than you would normally pay, but it does offer a kickback to the person who initiated the sale. This allows me to financially continue to be able to make content for you and I only endorse products I genuinely love. Any sponsored content will be stated as so.

Lots of love xx
Alina

#immigrationstory #ukrainiangirl #canadiangirl

[priscillaobeng-akrofi]

Good for you to have such a kind step father who married your mum and included you in his family

[larrysherk]

I am an old man, an American, and have never traveled very much, but I have watched a lot of history, and it breaks my heart to see what corruption and division are doing to Ukraine, the real birthplace of Russia in many ways. You have told a lovely story, full of heart and hope, and I hope people all over the world hear it. Maybe as the United States slides into really hard times we will have more compassion and understanding for what the Soviet Union, Russia, Belorus, and Ukraine have gone through. This video is a rather precious historical mini-document.

[garymoffitt]

Alina, you would truly make an incredible best friend--so honest, transparent, wisdom beyond your years..

[WarrenPostma]

A great story. I am proud to be Canadian because no matter where you came from Canada is now a great home for us all.


Thanks for sharing your heritage and your story.

Canada is great because of its people, and your story, and your mom's, is part of that greatness.

[davidjohnston]

Alina, I love your heart. Often, we get a picture of beautiful persons, like models and actresses, as being aloof and arrogant. It is so endearing to hear of your humble start with your amazement at modern conveniences (sliding store doors - what a hoot), and the beauty of having your own room (I nearly cried when I visualized the joy in that young girl, and yet the confusion, maybe even guilt). Having experienced a condition closer to poverty and inconvenience, I’m sure you’ll never take things for granted or develop an arrogance of entitlement. Nor dismiss people of humbler means. Makes you even more beautiful, beyond skin deep! Love to you.

[jmj]

You are a very beautiful person inside and out... God bless you

[aldrickbanks]

grandma wrapping up kid with many layers, so touching.

[han]

I also immigrated to Canada when I was 5 years old. Beautiful and interesting content! Thanks for sharing your story.

[rmsflorida]

Amazing from a little girl's prospective transformation from one counter to another.
and things that stick out in your memory....Amazing

[AlinaWorldJournal]

I am also from Ukraine. When I was 14 my family moved to Israel and in 2018 my husband and I moved to US... :) I am even not sure I will not move somewhere in the future :))) But I still remember and adore Ukraine. It's such a beautiful country. I visited in 2017.
I wish there will be peace and prosperity in Ukraine someday...🙏🏻🤞🏻🕊

[jan]

I know what you are talking about, when you explained that it was hard for you to get acquainted with a new country and a new language.
I would like to tell you my story if you don't mind.
I am an old man now, but I was born in Indonesia just before WW2.
Went thru the war years in a Japanese prison because we were Dutch.
Then after the war we went to the Netherlands. A country I have never been before.
Stayed there for 7 years and then emigrated to the US. I have been here 60 years now and never regret it. I am so blessed with what I have . Thank you for listening to my story.

[amit-investinyourself-idea]

Your story is very touching my family moved to the USA when I was 12 I totally understand what you had to go thru because I went thru almost the same thing.

[shenglin]

wow, great story. its crazy how many similarities i see with your story going from ukraine to canada and mine going from taiwan to the u.s even though the situations and cultures are so different.

[pgk]

Alina, I can relate to so many of the things you mention here. My family emigrated to Canada from Germany in 1952, when I was 12 years old. Because of globalization, the differences between the two countries aren't nearly what they were at the time, with many things now being commont to both countries, especially when it comes to consumer products, and even cultural events having crossed the ocean in both directions (Halloween, Valentines Day, Oktoberfest) but at the time, it was quite a culture shock, luckily, a very positive one.


I guess I had inherited my dad's love for adventure, and when I heard that we might move to Canada, I couldn't have been happier. Of course I already knew a lot about this part of the world, having seen a lot of western movies, and even though most of them were in the U.S., being so close, Canada had to be very similar. I did manage to find a couple of books about Canada, and they were quite interesting to my 12 year old mind as well. I could hardly wait to go. In the end, it took almost 5 years from the time my father first announced, right after returning from being a P.O.W. that he did not intend to stay. Ok, so it wasn't quite like the western movies protrayed it, but it didn't take me long, to realize that wasn't a bad thing. After all, who wants to get shot or scalped?


In those days, it was very common for the man of the house to go first, and, hopefully, get somewhat established, and that is what happened in our case. My father had managed to establish a cabinet shop in a town in northern Alberta, and my mother, older sister and I followed later that year, just before a very severe winter.


I always thought that I was at a very good age for such a move. I was old enough to have very good recollections of the place where I had spent all my previous life, but also young enough to easily integrate. It also didn't hurt that I tended to be an outgoing person, as well as being anxious to experience for myself what I had read and seen. That also included the trip itself, at the time almost invariably by ship. We left on the 1st. of October, and arrived at our new home on the 18th., a trip that would take mere hours today. But even that was part of the adventure, as I had never seen a ship that size (tiny, by today's standards), let alone be on one. Even the 5 day trip by train was an eye opener as to the huge size of our new country.


My language skills were pretty much nil, but my desire to learn was great. I was lucky enough to wind up with a terriffic teacher, and I think that she might have had a talk with the class, something I would not have been able to understand, because I had virtually no problem from the very beginning. Let's not forget that it was only 7 years since a devastating war, and some of my class mates had fathers who had fought in that war opposite the side my father was fighting on. In fact, on my first day in school I made a friend with whom I was best friends for the next 15 years, including best man at each other's wedding, until he got killed by a drunk driver. This teacher was also very instrumental in helping me learn English, and I wish I would've had the opportunity years later to thank her for all she had done for me.


I can also relate to how you felt when you became a citizen. My parents became citizens very shortly after they qualified, and it was something that I could've done with them as a minor, but it was something that I wanted to do on my own, even if it meant having to wait a few years. Even though it was something that was important to me, I felt totally that I was already a Canadian, even without the papers, so I didn't attach any great emotions to it. That is, until it actually happened! When the moment came that I was sworn in, it suddenly became a very emotional moment, something completely unexpected. I guess I suddenly realized what it meant, to now truly be a citizen of the greatest country on earth. Even today, after so many years, I still feel a lot of gratitude that this country accepted me, something that to this day I don't believe they had any obligation to do.

It's nice to hear from someone who has a lot of the same feelings that I had, and still does. It was also nice to see that you still honour your heritage, but are aware that this is your home. The way I see your story, with your attitude, you're an asset to this country, and I wish you all the very best for the future.

[erinmarie]

I don't have a story, but I loved listening to yours! Your wreath looks so pretty on you! I was born in the US and I've grown to appreciate my privilege, especially after studying world history. I'm insanely lucky to have this life!

[stephanteuscher]

Wow! Very impressive story. I have experienced the sixties in Germany as a child and I have been to some poor countries (like Kenia, Tibet, Nepal, some carribean states and so on) since then, so I can roughly imagine what you and your family were going through. It's always good to never forget this.

[jessiesingh]

She is simply brilliant. I have seen thousands of Youtuber's but never seen anyone with so clear dialect. I would certainly like to use her vast geographical knowledge when I travel to Russia, its former federations and Central Asia etc. She is very forthcoming about her transition from her life in Ukraine to Canada. She is an inspiration and hope I will benefit from her knowledge while traveling to her birth place region.

[SM-vumg]

your immigration story reminded me mine, I came from Ukraine too but to USA and you are so right about many things, I wish you all the best and subscribed for your channel

[ludakapkina]

Good luck with your life. I like that you do not forget the country where you were born.

[nataliiatitarenko]

I'm Ukrainian living in Canada since 2018. Ukraine has developed in recent years: education, medical system, restaurants & eateries, geographic location, entertainments and Weather! are much better than Canadian (compared to MB). The huge difference is when you moved in 90s (when it was a country influenced by Soviet Union), and nowadays.