
Life in Ukraine: A South African's Perspective with John Pereira-EP 51
From The Relocated South African | Emigration stories by Jan Hugo - Emigration stories expert
March 2, 2026 · 52 min
About this episode
John Pereira shares his journey from South Africa to Ukraine, discussing his experiences in the British Armed Forces and life in a war-torn country.
In this episode, I speak with John Pereira, a South African living in Ukraine. We explore his journey from South Africa to the UK at age 20 and eventually to Ukraine. John shares his experiences in the British Armed Forces, his deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, and his life in Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. He moved from Kyiv to Lviv due to the ongoing conflict in Kyiv. He discusses cultural insights, economic comparisons, and the challenges of living in a war-torn country. John also reflects on his visit to South Africa and offers advice for young South Africans regarding financial education and opportunities abroad. John Pereira: “ I wish I saved more” Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to John Pereira and his journey from South Africa to Ukraine 02:16 - John's early life in Kempton Park and move to the UK in 2004 03:23 - Working as a labourer and medical trials in London 04:50 - Joining the British Army and deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan 10:26 - Experiences in Iraq’s Basra and Helmand Province 12:00 - The reality of war: casualties, survival, and combat 13:00 - Transition to civilian life and life in Scotland as a bouncer and entrepreneur 15:21 - Moving to Ukraine for…
People in this episode
Host: Jan
Guest: John Pereira
Topics covered
- emigration
- war
- cultural insights
- financial education
Keywords
- South Africa
- Ukraine
- British Armed Forces
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- financial opportunities
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Ukraine, South Africa, UK, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kyiv, Lviv, Kempton Park, London, Basra
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