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Helen (aged 48) left the USA to Ukraine in 2001.
She was born in Princeton, New Jersey. She moved several times around the United States, but ended up going to Brown University and got her Bachelor’s there. During her time at Brown, she completed a university exchange study stay at Saint Petersburg State University. She wanted to take a year off of studying in order to go back because everything was interesting. It was her transition period. Everything was fascinating for her, but in the end she got a job in Ukraine instead of Saint Petersburg, and she is incredibly happy about that. That was the best piece of luck that ever happened.
During her interview, she declared: “My children understand different people in ways I did not until I moved abroad. I think migration is a positive force. I really do because I mentioned earlier you become other and it even can go into the next generation or generations. And I feel that, you know, all cultures have really strong positive influences in them. And I think when people are able to move to other societies and are accepted because I was accepted, immediately stay.”
Interview conducted by Igor Lyman on November 8 in Kiev.
To cite this interview, Igor Lyman (8 November 2023). Interview of Helen Gabruz (from USA to Ukraine). Kiev, Ukraine(length: ex: 5:06mn).