“Why go back to Ukraine?? There’s…Skype!“
Ivan picked me up in a dizzyingly bright yellow Prius that almost blinded me as the sun reflected off of it. He said, “I don’t care if people stare at me, I like it, it makes me happy.”
Ivan was from the Ukraine, and had moved to the United States eleven years ago.
“Do you ever go back?” I asked.
“Once, four years ago. You know, my brother is still there.”
“The rest of your family is here?”
“Yes. I miss my brother, but he wants to stay in Kiev.”
“What was it like when you visited him?”
“It was very nice. I miss him a lot. He is my older brother, he took care of me a lot when I was young. He has children now”
“Ah. So you planning a next trip there soon?”
He gave me a grin. “No! My next holiday, I want to go to Thailand! Beaches! Beers!”
“Haha. Why not spend the time and money visiting your brother?”
He shook his head, “No! Ukraine is a tough country. And always cold. I love my brother, he knows it and I know it, but now… why go back Ukraine? There’s Skype! So I see him every day!”
About the artist
Paula Vrinceanu: “I am a Romanian visual artist working in this field for about 10 years now. Before this, I was a pianist: my life has always been an interesting and creative journey. I still play the piano when I have time, but now I’m focusing on visual art. I work in an advertising agency in Cluj, and at night- for few hours ( because, unfortunately, I need to sleep), I freelance and work on my own art business which I’ve started this year.