Interview mit Olya Luchka (19) from the University of Lviv, Ukraine

Wir danken Frau Olya Luchka für ihre Offenheit, die uns einen tiefen Einblick in ihre Gefühlswelt gewährt. Wir wünschen ihr alles Gute für ihre Zeit in Würzburg sowie darüber hinaus und für ihre Heimat.

Agata Stopinska: What was your motivation to come right to Würzburg?

Olya Luchka: The University of Würzburg offered from the very beginning of the war great opportunities to Ukrainian students, it was also very easy and clear to find all important information. After having contacted both the International Office and the coordinator in the Faculty of Business Management and Economics I have been in touch with them regularly. In Poland, where I lived right after the breakout of the war, the university authorities either required a lot of skills from students who wanted to continue their studies there or did not respond at all. They seemed to be overloaded by the flood of young Ukrainian people fleeing to Poland or perhaps did not work effectively. The Jagiellonian University, where I spent the previous winter semester as an ERASMUS student, responded finally, but it took them 3 weeks.

I felt that I had to settle somewhere and make quick decisions, so I decided eventually to come here. A few years ago I visited Würzburg as a tourist, and I knew the place through my mother who had received a DAAD-scholarship to work and do research three years ago at the Faculty of Business Management and Economics. I also attended the digital summer school last year, but it was an online programme which was a completely different experience than being here and studying in presence.

Agata Stopinska: What has been the most profound difficulty for you here so far (in the sense of emotional, cultural and social aspect)?

Olya Luchka: At the beginning, the biggest difficulties for me were the bureaucracy and the lack of German language skills. I could not open a student’s bank account, since I did not have my student’s ID card yet which would entitle me to have a bank account. There are many international students at the faculty who make it easier for me to get along. The local people in Würzburg seem to be open-hearted and charming, they have helping hands. You do not notice that you are alone.

Yet, I have to sort out my emotions, I cry from time to time, I reflex on the war in Ukraine, some friends of mine died in the battles. I learn to deal with the war in an English speaking environment. Sometimes I seem to myself to be useless, because I am here and not there. Many people already returned to Ukraine, but I plan to spend one semester here, which limits me in my actions in terms of helping my homeland. Sometimes I have the feeling that I do not take the responsibility for my country. I often feel lost, in the emotional sense I do not what to do. I do not know if I should look for friendships here. I left all my friends in Ukraine, so I distance myself from everything and everyone. The perspective is unclear, and this makes the situation so difficult, and makes plans and perspectives impossible or unrealistic.

Agata Stopinska: What will be the advantages of your stay in Würzburg?

Olya Luchka: Academically speaking I study now at a very good university with good reputation, there are many students even from all over the world. My previous academic international experience at the University of Cracow, where I studied before as an ERASMS students, did not allow you not a lot of communication in person. It was a pandemic situation.

Here the professors ask more questions and make direct contact to the students. Teaching in presence changed a lot for me, I was missing the direct contact to the professors so much. At the Faculty of Business Management and Economics I like the combination between lectures and group activities. The tutorials are great and make the student life here into a study process and not a school experience. This stay with you will be a breaking point for my academic experience. The local students take their studies very seriously and gain their academic knowledge in a responsible way. The assignments are done immediately, the students are much into their academic work. I admire also the culture of going and learning in a library, I love it!

In Ukraine, the students know that the more languages you speak the better. The academics in Ukraine want to speak at least 4-5 foreign languages. I started to learn German, too, and I do enjoy it a lot.

Another advantage for me after this stay will be the capacity to deal with much bigger problems, to take care of myself, to deal with people from different cultures. I appreciate to see Germany from a different perspective. Germany and Ukraine have a common history, a very difficult one, thus it is good to get to know the different present side of it.

Agata Stopinska: How was the assistance by our university/faculty before and during your stay?

Olya Luchka: The University has been very helpful from the very beginning, the International Office of the university and the faculty helped with all questions I had, even the most stupid and the smallest ones. The university staff has been always very calm, friendly, and quick about all queries I had.

The buddy programme at the faculty helped a lot to know the city better, to get to know people quickly and to transfer your questions into real activities and live your real life. The personal buddies give you the possibility to emerge into the everyday life from the very beginning of your stay here.

Agata Stopinska: Which experiences have you particularly enjoyed so far?

Olya Luchka: I love tournament, the tradition to go the Main River, to meet at the Mensa at midday. All those small routine things. Studying here is not stressful at all because of clear structures and the good environment.

I have used Google maps all the time, since I always have the feeling I am lost in a new place. The feeling I must look each address up and find it on the map is unpleasant.

Agata Stopinska: How do you see your nearest future?

Olya Luchka: I have no idea. Perhaps tomorrow someone will die, and you have to go to a funeral or your home will be burnt and you have to bring your family in safety. The biggest dream is to wake up and think Feb,. 24 was just a nightmare and continue to live there, as it was before the outbreak of the horrific war.

Basically, I want to fulfil my two roles: stay a student and continue working in order to donate my salary to the Ukrainian army. I want to get my degree from my university in Ukraine and then starting a proper job. Generally speaking, I do not feel settled in. I do not feel like one of the ERASMUS-student, since the circumstances are completely different to what they experience while their stay here.