A Round Trip Journey

A year ago, Belén, I?aki, and I decided to travel to Ukraine to extend our solidarity and support to refugees who were in the midst of fleeing from war. We sought no reward from this journey; our only purpose was to share the sadness and uncertainty of the people who did not know what the future held. We wanted to give them solace and offer them a chance to continue their journey.

We did not have much, but we had been given the unwavering support of many who helped make this trip possible. For that, we are grateful.

As soon as we arrived there, we were stunned by the contrast between the natural beauty of the area and the grim reality of what was happening. In a shopping mall at Przemysl (or Tesco), a makeshift refugee reception center was in the process of being organized. The Polish boy scouts and police officers were in charge of the center, but the presence of mafia was very much felt, creating an uneasy atmosphere.

At the border crossing of Medyka, we saw long, winding queues. Hope and fear were equally present, but so was the prevailing attitude of dignity and resilience. It was hard for us to fully comprehend.

One image that sticks out in my memory is that of a four-year-old boy. He had a map with a cross indicating where his destination was: Germany. Spain was too far away for such a small one. When we explained the route we would be taking back home, Tetiana and her children, Kirill (11) and Ksenia (12), looked skeptical – traveling back home was just as intimidating as traveling into an unknown future.

We had moments of anguish, helplessness, and rage, but we also embraced moments of joy, gratitude, and connection. We heard extraordinary stories, such as that of Boris and Nadiia, an older couple who showed us photos of their past happy life before they had to flee. They were our family at the beginning and end of our round trip.

Once we were back in Madrid, it was difficult to come up with the right words to accurately describe what we had seen, smelled and felt – too much shock and awe to express in a constructive way. So for the most part, our silence spoke for itself.

There came a point when I found it hard to go back to my old routine. I sensed a shift inside me, as if I had left a part of myself at the border but also brought back a new one.

A year later, I still feel a special bond with Belén and I?aki, my travel companions and dear friends. And I still remember the smells, silences, songs, cries, alarms, and laughter that marked our experience. It was a round-trip journey, but it was also an inward journey. 8,000 kilometers of experiences...

As we celebrate Tetiana's 39th birthday in Toledo tomorrow, I'm reminded of the incredible strength and resilience we witnessed in the people we met on our journey. Their determination to keep moving forward in the face of uncertainty and adversity has stayed with us long after we returned home. Although the memories of our trip to Ukraine will always be with us, I'm grateful to have found happiness and hope in the everyday moments of life, surrounded by dear friends like Belén and I?aki.