Contrast

J&M serving in Kyiv had to travel to Romania to update visas

I did not think it would be different. But it is.

Funny how the geographical border of Ukraine in the east is a joke, and the geographical boundary in the west feels like a safe haven.

In Romania, you can sense freedom; I argue that you can even smell and taste freedom.

• You don’t have to look at the skies for a flying bird that might drop something.
• You are not concerned about seeing smoke on the distant horizon.
• You don’t have to be afraid to pull out your phone and capture something.
• You don’t have to look out for checkpoints that are camouflaged.
• You don’t have to pay attention to air raid alert
• There is no limit on how much gas you can fill up
• You don’t have to pull up on the side of the road and show your identity cards.
• You don’t have to see guns and tanks day in and out.
• And so on.

60 days of the war – has made the ordinary and mundane look enticing.

• When we see the shelves full in Romanian stores, that makes us happy.
• When we see razors, shampoos, soap bars, buckwheat, and black tea bags, the only thought we have is to get a truck, fill it up, and drive all of that to Ukraine.

Four days back, we had no idea we would be in Romania, but here we are. In this shockingly beautiful nation. But any given day, I will choose Kyiv, Ukraine. Over and over again.