MAX KACHUROVSKVI: FROM UKRAINE TO CANADA

Along with being known around Luther as an incredibly smart student, a person with a good fashion sense, and a jokester with a quick wit, Max in grade eleven has a captivating story about his journey from Ukraine to Canada.

On February 24th, 2022, the day that Russian troops invaded Ukraine, Max and his family moved from their home in Kyiv to a nearby village where his grandma lived. They left their apartment early in the morning before the missiles and bombings which took place around 6AM. They then moved from the Ukranian village to Poland, then to Germany all to avoid the war. They then moved back to Kyiv for the summer. The most noticeable changes in Kyiv due to the war were the sandbags piled around the city that are used for soldiers to hide behind. Deciding to stay and finish school and work, Max’s sister and father stayed in Kyiv while Max and his mother went back to Poland on September 4, 2022. They then came to Toronto on September 6 and arrived in Regina on September 7. It wasn’t until November 23 that Max’s father and sister arrived in Regina.

Most of Max’s friends remain in Europe and some are still in Ukraine. He keeps in touch with them on a regular basis. Having lived in four different countries that speak different languages, Max is fluent in Ukrainian, German, Russian, and English, as well as being familiar with Polish. Although moving across the world was a very big adjustment, Max feels comfortable speaking English here as he has been learning it in school since grade one. His German language skills will also come in handy here at Luther as he is taking IB German next semester!

For Max, the most noticeable differences between Canada and Ukraine are the spatial structuring of cities, with Regina being more spread out than Kyiv, transportation methods, as, in Ukraine, he used public transit rather than personal vehicles, and school buses, which they do not have in Ukraine. Being seventeen years old, Max is hoping to get his driver’s license soon so he will no longer have to depend on public transit here in Regina. As he is currently driving with a learner’s license, he hopes to drive himself and his sister to Luther next year when she begins grade nine.

Max plans to go to the UofR or the UofT for business as his parents are business owners. Welcome to Luther, Max! We hope your friends and family in Ukraine remain safe, and we are happy to have you here with us in Canada!

THE BRITISH BOI VS. THE AMERICAN

Unknown: Greetings to all. I'll be your host for this heated discussion at Luther College High School today. I've found two fiercely competitive people in this school today. One of them is named Anderson: the only one of the two who is truly American and who appears to dislike British society.

Anderson: British people are not human.

Unknown: Woah! Calm down man. Next up, we have Daniel, who is known as the British Boi.

Daniel: Your candy sucks!

Anderson: Like your teeth! Get it, cause British people have scurvy, and you’re British.

Unknown: Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Now, I want a proper, formal, and peaceful conversation between the two of you. Are you two ready?

Daniel: Ready to win!

Anderson: I will send you back to Britain.

Daniel: in shambles

Unknown: Anyway, let us begin. Daniel and Anderson, you will both compare and contrast your different cultures in each of your different countries. Considering we are in North America, I will let Daniel begin to make things somewhat fair.

Daniel: Wait, why are you wearing a hood?

Unknown: Hey! Be quiet, I can do what I want, I’m the judge!

Daniel: Sigh

Anderson: Ha!

Unknown: Begin!

Daniel: Alright, So in Britain, we say crisps, what about you?

Anderson: Oh you know that is one I actually know - except we call them potato chips.

Daniel: I mean, yes but no

Anderson: What do you mean?

Daniel: Crisps are crunchy and crispy, therefore Crisps.

Daniel: We already have chips. You know the one where we have fish and chips.

Anderson: Fish and Chips! Ha! Classic British culture.

Daniel: Hush!

Anderson: Anyway, we call them french fries.

Daniel: Looks at Anderson in disappointment.

Anderson: What?

Daniel: French Fries? You’re American, not French!

Anderson: Ay man listen. I could care less.

Daniel: What kind of grammar is that? That makes no sense, “I don’t care” sounds way better.

Anderson: Don’t tell me what is right and what is wrong Bri’ish scum!

Daniel: HOW DARE YOU!

Anderson: Try me.

Daniel: What about colour?

Anderson: Color.

Daniel: Oh ok see we’re finding more similari- wait how do you spell colour?