E034 Bohdana Batiuk

Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 0:08 femininity is powerful in all its forms, exceptional women, rare girls must be appreciated in every way for their perspectives, actions, thoughts, and their unique ways of being. Such rare girls are inspiring. And this is what this podcast is all about. Hello, my name is Aziz, and my guest today is Bob Donna. But you Bohdan has a flex alumna of 2022. In St. James, Minnesota, born in Lviv, Ukraine, and currently, she lives in a small town. But that small town is very iconic and pretty. She enjoys working with people, whether as a camp counselor or in any other role, as well as helping people dancing and singing by Donna, how are you today? Bohdana Batiuk 1:08 Hi, thank you for having me here. I'm good. How are you? Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 1:12 I'm feeling optimistic. Happy to be alive and very curious about you. And I'll begin with this question. If your friends whether in the US or Ukraine were to describe you, how would they describe your what would they say? What how would they describe your traits? And who are you in their eyes? Bohdana Batiuk 1:34 I think they would definitely say that I'm really funny and crazy, because I feel really comfortable with people. And I'm just showing myself my real self. And I'm not insecure about anything around them. So I just feel really happy. And yeah, they will definitely say I'm funny and crazy. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 2:01 I have so many questions. And first to begin, do you instantly show your funny and crazy side to any stranger or new person? Or is that something you build up to? Over time? Bohdana Batiuk 2:15 I think I need to get to know person better to show them my crazy side. But I'm just definitely acting really like myself with people. So I would say that I'm not really super crazy around strangers. I just know how to get to know them, and then how to work with them. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 2:41 Thank you, I understand. And so do you have that typical or stereotypical poker face or bitch face when you went to the US that people think at first? Oh my God, why is badania so angry all the time? But inside you could be happy? Or it's not your situation? Bohdana Batiuk 3:02 No, I don't think it was that way. People were thinking that I was shy at first. But then when they actually got to know me, they definitely changed their mind. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 3:15 Thank you. And for you. What does it mean to be a funny person? And what does it mean to be a crazy boy, Donna, Bohdana Batiuk 3:25 I would say I'm just having fun living my life and doing things that I really want to do. But not crazy things. Really crazy. I just think being funny for me means to do stuff that you really want to do. Because then you're going to regret it. And I just like, talk with people tell jokes. Dan's saying, and that's exactly the moment where I feel crazy. So it's like, not super crazy thing. But yes, I feel crazy. Exactly when I'm having happy moments with my people, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 4:14 happy moments with your people. And we will speak about the war later. But is this attitude where you don't want to regret losing those moments, something that happened after the war? Or maybe after the pandemic and the situation in it? Or were you always this kind of person? Bohdana Batiuk 4:35 Obviously, the war and Pandemic changed quite a bit things in my life. And it's so sad to have the situation now. So I'm just trying to be more optimistic about it. Also, not to be only focused on those bad and sad things. So I'm just trying to talk to people more to cheer them up. And just talking to people makes me happier back. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 5:11 Thank you. And do you think or feel that young Ukrainians are crazy? And more funny, similar to you? Or are you an exception and someone different to your peers? Bohdana Batiuk 5:26 I would say that every person is crazy and funny in their own way. This Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 5:34 Thank you, boy, Donna, and then to know you're even more useful about happiness and happy for times, and this in a few minutes. So it's very important for you. What does it mean for you to be happy? How do you know it? How do you feel it tell me more, Bohdana Batiuk 5:54 as I said, earlier, I feel happy around my people. So my people are my family first, and my friends, and also just also some random people, but I feel a little connection with them. So they make me feel like I'm around people who I know, for maybe 10 years. So um, my family, I love them so much, I don't know person who doesn't like their family. And being an exchange student, I understood how it is to be away from your family, also, in hard times. So I really understood the value of family for me. And also friends. I understood that friends and people who are surrounding you really affect you. So now I am really specific about my friends and people who I work with. So they're not changing me in a bad way. And I'm just grateful that I have such people that I do now that are ready to help me anytime. And I can just talk to when I need to. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 7:23 Thank you. So what do you look for? When you're making friends? And how was it when you went to the US? And you were in a new environment where you were shy? How did you develop friendships there? So when you're looking for friends, what are traits or values or characteristics that let you know, this is my person? And how was that experience when you travel to a new environment in the US, Bohdana Batiuk 7:53 I think first thing that I'm looking for in friendship is honesty. Because good relationships are built on honesty. So I'm, I'm really glad when the person is honest with me, and is not afraid to share their lives with me. Also, I'm looking for a person who who's ready to help me too. Because, as you know, teenagers have some hard time. And I'm really, I am the person who sometimes need to talk to someone just for a few minutes. But it makes me more, it makes me less anxious about something. And when I came to the gas, it was hard at the beginning to make new friends because, as you know, they already have friend groups and they know each other for 1516 years. And I'm a new person and I don't know anybody. So I had to make first tap to become a friend to someone, but it is scary at the beginning. But when you actually understand that if you don't do this first tab, you are not going to be friends with anybody. So you got to go over yourself and then be ready to make new friends. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 9:39 Thank you and you spoke about people who are strangers but you feel like you have known them for many, many years. Do you experience such chemistry often? Is it rare? And how do you explain it? What is your opinion about meeting someone and feeling as if you know this This person all your life, although you have known them five minutes, Bohdana Batiuk 10:05 I don't think I have this really often. But when I do, I just, I don't know how it happens. But I just have this weird feeling and little connection with that person. And while we are talking, I just see that passion in their eyes that I'm looking for, or they're really good leaders for me. So I'm that kind of interested in them. So I remember the time, I came to my high school in the US, and there was a teacher, English teacher, she was, her name was Rebecca. And when I first met my English teacher, I thought she was really, really cool and nice. But everybody else was saying, Oh, she's so angry. But I don't know how it happened. But I felt that little already friendship between us, while everybody else was saying how bad she was, because maybe they didn't like her because she was giving them bad grades. But even though I was doing something wrong, she was acting really, really professional with me. And I really liked that. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 11:37 Thank you. And it's really interesting. You mentioned the passion in their eyes. Do you have that passion in your eyes? How do you think people get that? And does it draw you into any person? Like if you are in a classroom, or in an event or something? I don't know if you can see it over zoom. But let's say in reality, do you notice the energy of people and people who have that passion? Or what is it tell me more? Bohdana Batiuk 12:06 For me, it's really interesting to watch people have their acting. And as I worked as a camp counselor, I was around a lot of people, kids. And, you know, while I was sitting in just looking at those people, I was kind of scanning them and trying to figure out what they're thinking about what their feelings are right now. Are they excited for this, or they're kind of nervous. And also, my colleagues at the camp, they also had different emotions. And when we were doing some, for example, exercise with kids, I saw in my friends, in their eyes, I saw what they're feeling about this right now. So I can understand if the person is doing something with enjoy, or they're not actually liking it at the moment. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 13:19 That's wonderful. And you tend to be drawn to only good people who are very logical, very organized, or is that stereotype and especially you are in the US, of being drawn to the bad boys and guys full of drama and the girls do. Because they'll be interesting and having a lot of emotions and maybe crazy, like you mentioned about yourself a real thing. What's your opinion about this, Bohdana Batiuk 13:50 I think you're not going to be around only good people, that's for sure. But those that people as we can say, um, they're really helpful for yourself. Because being around them, helps you to understand what you are like, as a person also, you can see what is good and what is bad. And you can analyze a lot of things and actually understand why are you here? And what are you carrying with the with you for in this world? And I'm really grateful for every single person that was and that is in my life because they're helping me to understand my own personality, my own traits, and they they're making me a better person. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 14:48 Thank you and what's your goal in the future? Do you have any expectations or dreams that you're pursuing and that you want to create in this reality? III, Bohdana Batiuk 15:00 I believe that in the future, I'm going to be a really helpful person for society. Because doing something good for people makes me happy and makes me feel that I am in the right place right now. And I, I hope that I'm going to travel a lot, because I like to talk to new people, I like to make new friendships. Also, I like to experience new cultures, new traditions, you know, and Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 15:38 why, what's fascinating for you about new cultures, new traditions, and all that exploration, Bohdana Batiuk 15:47 I think, firstly, it's really interesting to know something that people experience in another country while you're living in your own country. Secondly, it's really nice to see the difference between your own culture and someone else's. And the last thing I really like about it, that's your own experience, and just trying new things that you haven't done in your life before. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 16:23 That's really, really wonderful. I love this. And can you tell me your flex story? How did you decide to go through the process? How was it? Were there any unexpected surprises? And what motivated you even in the beginning to apply for the flex exchange program? Bohdana Batiuk 16:48 I think my number one motivator for my Flex story was my aunt, because she was the person who found application for this program. And she was like, Well, why don't you try this. But the year she found this, I was not old enough. But then I tried to apply for flags next year. And when I got to third, like round of this program, I was really happy. And it was really surprising for me when they called and told me that I'm semi finalist. But before this, I worked on my English with my aunt, she was talking to me in English, we were texting, we were doing some exercises, I was writing different stories and essays. She was really, she was really helpful. And she enjoyed time with me. And every time she comes home, I'm enjoying time with her too, because she's such a kind person. And she's so generous. She likes to help people a lot. And when I actually came through the whole process of flags, I was really, really surprised when they called and told me that I'm a finalist of this program, because I was not 100% sure about it. And to be honest, I didn't expect to be a finalist, my first try. Because I don't know, I just was not super sure about myself. But apparently they thought that I was ready to go on this mission at that time for what I'm really thankful. And later, I understood that I was the right person. And it was really, really nice experience for me. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 19:07 Thank you very much. That's really, really wonderful. And I love your connection with your family and the support. They provided you every step of the way. And now to ask you about February 24. And the situation that you were in when the war started, how did you experience it? How did you hear and know that the war started? How did you feel? What where and how were for you those first days, Bohdana Batiuk 19:42 February 24 was really, really sad day for me because my mom texted me and told me that she's hearing explosions and the news just were exploding my phone. And that was so hard. To experience but the people around me my host community, they were so welcoming and friendly. They helped me a lot. They supported me a lot. And I felt like my second home, but I was really worried about my home in Ukraine and my nation, my people, because we are the future. And that was really sad. Yeah. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 20:29 I really, really understand your pain and Slava Criminy. Hello, Bohdana Batiuk 20:34 Heroyam Slava. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 20:35 Thank you, Donna, for this conversation. I'm honored. I'm grateful. I wish you to keep going. And thank you again. Bohdana Batiuk 20:46 Thank you so much.