March 30, 2022

"Cool"

Last night I transported a different type of family--a mother (Tania) and son (Mark).  Not only that, Tania spoke excellent English so during our car ride to Krakow, I was able to ask her a lot of questions and learn in greater detail the experiences of refugees as they flee from a war, something I was unable to do with my previous two families.

 

Here is her story. Tania works for a French company in a high level position in Kyiv during the week and spends the weekend with her son and her parents in a small town near the Chernobyl nuclear plant. The town was built in 1987 to house displaced residents and workers from the plant after the disaster in 1986. Tania told me that the town has not been damaged from the war but fears that it may not escape damage.

When there were rumors of war, she and her friends thought that Putin was bluffing and that war would never break out, so they were shocked when it did. As the battle came closer (the Chernobyl nuclear plant was captured by the Russians and suffered damages), Tania felt that they had to leave for the sake of Mark.  He didn't want to leave his friends but she felt that his safety was her priority.  Every day the Russian planes flew over her town on their way to other parts of Ukraine, and the noise was traumatizing Mark. What was devastating was leaving her parents behind who were elderly and had medical problems that precluded them from traveling.

They left their town on Monday in a convoy of 15 cars and drove to Kyiv. While the Russian soldiers allowed them to continue after searching for weapons, Tania said that they were constantly frightened that the next group of soldiers would attack their convoy. After spending the night in Kyiv, they took a bus to another city where a volunteer then drove them to the border.  Tania told me how everyone was very helpful and kind.  She was impressed that a Polish military man at the border was especially kind to Mark in a gentle way. When they crossed the border, they burst out crying. 

Then they entered the reception center at the border and heard an announcement that a driver (me) was available to take riders to Krakow. That's how we met.

Tania is one of the "lucky" ones. She had a place to stay in Krakow last night with a good friend. While we were driving, her sister sent her airline tickets from Krakow to Finland, where she lives. Tania plans to stay there for a few weeks to rest and recover from the experiences of war. Her boss in France encouraged her to come to France and said that he would put her to work, find housing and put Mark into a good school. She is planning to take him up on his offer.

She continued to remark on how impressed and grateful she was at the support the Ukrainians were receiving from Poland and other countries.  I told her that one of the large towers in Krakow is lit up at night with the colors of the Ukrainian flag, blue and yellow.  She said, "Cool!"  I then showed her the following photo of me at the San Francisco airport and she again said, "Cool!"

 

As we arrived in Krakow she said that she wanted to give me a memento from Ukraine. Thinking that it might be a small flag or Ukrainian doll, or something similar, she presented me with some Ukrainian candy.  It is something I will always treasure as it reminds me of my interactions with the Ukrainian people.

  

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a major concern whenever there is a large migration of vulnerable refugees, especially women and children.  Everyone, from the Polish government to humanitarian aid agencies, has given the problem a high priority and developed procedures to minimize the risks.

Refugees who cross the border are bused to large reception centers where they register and receive government travel documents. This is where rides are offered in vans and cars from volunteers, some associated with agencies and others who work privately. All drivers like myself must register and receive official authorization to drive refugees out of the reception center parking lot by presenting our passports and drivers' licenses. This authorization is checked by Polish police while we leave the parking lot.

The Polish government developed a pamphlet in Ukrainian and English that warns refugees of human trafficking and provides advice on how to protect themselves.

 

When I transport a family, I make the head of the household read this pamphlet in its entirety in front of me.  I then ask her to take a photo of me, a photo of my passport and license and the license plate of my car. None of this is required of a driver, but I do it to reassure the parent that I am transparent and can be trusted.  I can tell from the expression on their faces that they are grateful and relieved that they can be driven by a stranger who appears trustworthy.