Ana turns 18 tomorrow (today for the reader). A key age for a teenager from girl to woman. The surname, Vinogradova –with that feminine final a characteristic of the Slavic world– gives a clue to its origin: Ukraine. A beautiful smile constantly lights up her face and sometimes it turns into laughter. It is fully integrated into Tenerife and he demonstrates it together with his adoptive mother, Montse Delgado, the biological one, Natalia, his sister, the gorgeous 4-year-old Sofía and Álex, Montse’s son transformed into a peculiar Darth Vader– is a fan of Star Wars. Agustín, the father, was missing. They share a house in La Laguna and form a family united by the intangible bridge that has linked Ukraine and Tenerife since last year. Together they commemorated yesterday the first anniversary of the beginning of the war for the Russian invasion in the weyler square of Santa Cruz.
But it was not always so idyllic if it is possible to say that with the war in the background. Ana arrived on the Island in April of last year on one of the first flights from the country devastated by this war on European soil. During the first six months, she refused to speak Spanish, but everything changed in September when she moved to Montse’s house. This veteran has carried solidarity by flag for decades He came to have ten Ukrainians in charge. Now he practically dominates the language. “All of them are given with great ease” points out Montse
The young woman expresses her satisfaction at having “a wonderful family” without distinguishing between those from there and those from here. She makes her gastronomic tastes clear: “The ranch that is not missing and the gofio in milk, kneaded or in escaldón.” That doesn’t mean that this girl from Odessa doesn’t miss her country. Remember the borch, national dish. A beetroot soup, potatoes and cabbage. Montse tercia: «Tomorrow you do it at the party». Birthday in style in sight.
From the nearby tram stop arrive Natalia, Ana’s mother and, by her hand, the gorgeous 4-year-old Sofía, the treasure of the house. Natalia finds it hard to show joy, but in the end she lets go. She is 44 years old and remembers his life in the Odesa port where he was a judge. Ana demonstrates her high level in geostrategy: “Russia wants Odesa as it wanted Crimea to have access to the Black Sea.” Dmitriii, husband and father, and the rest of the family, like 90% of those who fled, remained there. They talk to him every day to find out how he is and the future of the war.
Today, one day after Year I of the war, he turns 18 at the house of Montse, his adoptive mother.
Ana stands out as a federated and athletics where he practices javelin, weight, hammer and discus throws. In addition, she cooks, helps with housework… A jewel, according to Montse
There is no hatred for Russia or the Russians, but rather the desire for peace to come as soon as possible. But pride of independence is also guessed and for having endured all these months the thrust of a superior military force in theory like that of the invader. Resistance and rejection of war in that order.
There are barely 50 people in the Santa Cruz concentration because most of them live and work in the south and preferred to go to the event there.” There are stories of all kinds. For example, that of Denis, from kyiv, a widower since June last year, a few months after the start of the war, and that of his little Vladimir (7 years old). who want to rebuild their lives here after fleeing the Ukraine via Romania. Or that of Sergi, who diligently works as a translator. Or that of Oleg, a young man, also from the capital of the country who arrived on one of the first organized flights. On the other side, supportive friends like Marian García Sanjuán of the NGO Canary Islands with Chernobyl, pioneer in bringing Belarusian children affected by that terrible atomic event that occurred on Ukrainian soil.
Ana proclaims that she wants “dialogue and peace.” Nearby is celebrated the Arena child’s Carnival. She doesn’t like it too much, but she appreciates it as the village festival that has welcomed her “wonderfully”. Montse has been surrounded by Ukrainians for almost a year and she does not speak a single word in that language. A curious person, on the other hand, said when leaving Weyler square that she had already learned one: pryvit; I mean, hello.
