Epilogue

It has taken me over 50 hours of typing and editing my original 1998 Ukraine journal to send to you now, but it has been worth every second of it for me. I had forgotten I had forgotten so much. This journal is perhaps too long for most of you to read, but you must keep in mind I am a trained historian and geographer, and also an English teacher. Being an American in a new land in 1998, I noticed so many details that native Ukrainians mostly take for granted. I think most of you who read this will find my perceptions entertaining at least. I may have some of my facts and names written incorrectly, but please remember I was on a fast schedule, trying to keep my journal current, but illness and activities sometimes got in the way. I hope most of you will forgive my wordiness, but instead find it fascinating to perhaps compare my observations in 1998 to reality in Ukraine in 2008.

Upon my return home, I spent days recovering from jet lag. My burns healed and pealed. I recounted my time in Ukraine with family, friends, and colleagues, and shared my Ukraine chocolates with them. I developed my fifteen rolls of film and used them to showcase slide presentations to teachers in my school district meetings, and at professional social studies and geography conferences. I spoke in front of my school board and educated them that Ukraine is not a country somewhere in South America, as one member thought! Everyone came to know and love my stories about my Ukraine adventures.

“Books Across the Ocean” Project

I am very proud of one thing I was able to accomplish to help Edward’s School #11. I called it my “Books Across the Ocean” project. I started collecting used books, mostly textbooks, from my district and community in 1999 to send to Edward’s school to help fill up their almost empty library. By October, 1999 with student and staff volunteers, I had separated out over 4000 pounds and over 10, 000 books of the best reference and reading material we had collected, for shipment to Ukraine.

I conducted a fund raising campaign in 2000 to pay for the cost of 80 cents a pound to ship the books by freighter boat. Hundreds of people donated the necessary money and time to successfully meet our goal. We raised almost $4000 and shipped 44 huge canvas bags of books. It truly was a community effort and willingness by my education community in Phoenix, Arizona to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Novograd-Volynsky. I hope that the students and teachers of School #11 have benefited from our goodwill gesture for sharing and learning about American English and culture.

The “Books Across the Ocean Project” was a gift from my heart, and a big thank you to the city that gave so much to me on my visit. On May 22, 2001, Edward emailed me that the books had finally arrived at his school after a months’ long oceanic ride across the Atlantic Ocean and Ukraine. He told me later that an American Literature Library was created at the school, which I hope has been expanded and still in use today by the students and staff.

Grandfather Michael

New information I learned on my Ukraine visit about possible location of Grandfather Michael’s residence spurred me to start investigation into his genealogy, which continues to this day. I have not gotten very far due to many lost records, but the search has been fascinating. I learned he immigrated to New York City when he was 18 in May 1914 before World War I started in August. I learned from the ship manifest of the SS Russia that he was 5’10” tall with blue eyes. I learned that he died in 1937 from blood poisoning from a splinter. I have not been able to find information yet about his life in Ukraine, but I am not giving up.

Olga

Upon my return to Phoenix, I made good on my promise to find Olga, only living niece of Lesya Ukrainka. I looked for her name and address in the Scottsdale phone book, and called her. At first, she was suspicious of my call, until I mentioned Vera and the museum. I told her I had gifts to bring to her given me on a recent trip to Novograd-Volynsky.

Eventually, Kathy, Claire, and I visited her townhome in Scottsdale. She was most gracious to us, and was very excited to receive the special gifts and hear fresh news from Ukraine. She was an artist, and you will be glad to know that hanging all over her walls were paintings of Ukraine landscapes, flowers, and people. One of them was a painting of her famous Aunt, Lesya, when she was younger.

She told me many personal stories about Lesya, her childhood, Ukrainian collectivization by Stalin, World War II, and how she was able to use marriage to get out of the displaced persons camps after the war. She first lived in New Jersey, before she eventually settled in Arizona. We had Olga over to our home a couple of times before she finally passed away a few years ago. The spring before she died, she sat in my daisy garden and stated, “All these flowers remind me of the fields I used to run in when I was a little girl in Ukraine.” I feel very blessed that I happened to be in the right place at the right time to honor her life and country before she left this world.

Family Matters

Edward eventually got his computer delivered, and his Internet hookup. We have been communicating regularly every month or so since 1998. We send each other news and photos of our lives, family, and careers. We are each ten years older now, and hopefully wiser. My four children are grown adults. Our twin boys are married and have good jobs in science and advertizing in the Phoenix area. My middle son has a wonderful computer mapping career in California. My youngest daughter started her first year of teaching sixth grade this year in Phoenix. My wife Kathy is regarded as one of the best hospital administrators in Arizona. We are not grandparents yet, but are anticipating such a wonderful time. We are blessed with all that God has given us.

Another Great Depression?

I retired from teaching at Estrella Middle School after 30 years in 2002. Since then, I have been working full time as an organizational consultant with the teachers union, the Arizona Education Association. I feel it is my duty to give something back to the profession that gave so much to me, and try to help teachers who need it.

Kathy and I were both thinking of permanent retirement in 2009, but now we are not so sure we can or should. Current major crisis of tight credit, and mounting housing foreclosures in United States, are causing much concern here and across the world that another Great Depression might happen.

As I am typing this Ukraine journal, I am struck by many similarities of struggles and fears we have now in the United States, when compared to what I recorded in my Ukraine journal in 1998. Kathy and I have seen 25% loss in our savings and home value in one year and unemployment is rising. Homes and businesses are sitting empty as more people file for bankruptcy. More families cannot afford basic health care coverage. It is a very uncertain time for sure, and more Americans are very afraid of the future for their families. Kathy and I are so blessed that we have secure jobs right now, and so far, have been able to ride out the economic hurricane that is battering our country. Unfortunately, greed is at the root of this crisis, and until more good people make better decisions, the crisis could continue or worsen.

Important 2008 Presidential Election

November’s presidential election between McCain from my state of Arizona and Obama from Illinois is a very important one. Much is at stake to restore confidence and vast potential of the American people, and our worldwide friends, such as Ukraine.

Recent resurgence of Russia’s power in the Black Sea region is also a growing concern for our next president to deal with. Ukraine and the United States are intertwined in the politics of the region, not only about the recent “war” in Georgia, but also about US support for Ukraine joining NATO, something that Russia staunchly opposes. Ukraine’s energy needs will undoubtedly be a constant pawn in future relationships with Russia.

I have not made it back to Ukraine since 1998, nor have I been able to have Edward visit me yet. But these are goals I still have, and when I finally retire for good, I am determined to somehow fulfill them.

The Best Gift of All

Edward and I still send us each other little gifts around Christmas time, but the best gift we ever gave each other is continually nurturing the personal friendship our two great countries – Ukraine and the United States - first started for both of us back in 1998.

I said it in 1998, and I say it again – “America is still your friend.” And so am I.

Peace and greetings to you, Edward and Valentina, in October, 2008 - and to all who might still remember me. No matter what else may happen, we have been truly blessed to have taken this remarkable journey together! I take Valentina’s vodka bottle she gave as gift to me, and take a toast as salute to our ten year relationship. Yes, I still have half the bottle left!

Let’s hope it continues for another ten years at least!

Michael Ostapuk

October, 2008

Glendale, Arizona, United States of America