
About this episode
Yaroslava shares her experience of adjusting to life in the US after fleeing her hometown in Ukraine, grappling with feelings of guilt for not being home.
The case of the teenager who can't go home. Yaroslava was 16 when she woke up in Ukraine to the sound of explosions and had to flee her town in Ukraine. Now Yara is 19, living in New York, studying digital marketing, arranging flowers, and doing better. But her grandma is still back home. Her friends are scattered. And every time Yara starts to enjoy her life here, she feels guilty for not being back home. In this episode, Yowei hosts a proxy conversation between Yaroslava and Sariyah Abuzant, a filmmaker from Palestine who also had to make a life far from the place she loves. Together, they investigate displacement, guilt, long-distance friendship, and the small ways we keep home alive after we leave. From the episode: — Dignity Beyond Borders — learn more about their work: www.dignitybeyondborders.org , Instagram , Facebook , and LinkedIn : @dignitybeyondborders — Yaroslava — on Instagram: @yasiiaaaa — Sariyah Abuzant — watch her film FordDat: https://vimeo.com/1101397354?fl=pl&fe=sh — Dignity Beyond Borders — learn more about their work: www.dignitybeyondborders.org Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn: @dignitybeyondborders — Yaroslava — on Instagram: @yasiiaaaa — Sariyah…
People in this episode
Host: Yowei Shaw
Guest: Yaroslava
Topics covered
- immigration
- guilt
- resettlement
- Ukraine
- personal stories
- cultural identity
Keywords
- Ukraine
- immigration
- guilt
- resettlement
- Dignity Beyond Borders
- personal stories
- cultural identity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Dignity Beyond Borders
More episodes of Proxy with Yowei Shaw
- Alex's Husband Is Too Straight · June 2, 2026 · 51 min
- Yowei Can't Speak Bro · May 19, 2026 · 52 min
- Jane Doesn't Like Her Dogs · May 5, 2026 · 50 min
- Caitlin Lost the Voice In Her Head · April 21, 2026 · 1h 3m
- Yowei Used to Hide Her Husband Kyle (from Love Letters) · April 7, 2026 · 40 min
- Presenting: Sisters (with Nobody Should Believe Me) · March 31, 2026 · 30 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Proxy with Yowei Shaw podcast page.