E054 Olha Kushnirova

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 all Ha, Kushner Rova. All Ha is a science student in Poltava. She loves learning languages and speaks Ukrainian, English, German, as well as improving her French and Polish languages. All her irregular participant in international exchange projects such as my world in Germany in July and August of 2022. And her hobbies are tennis, dancing, drawing, reading, and taking photos, all her doors working with kids. And that's the reason why she participated in a large variety of projects that improve her skills and teaching. Especially our teaching, such as language, Summer School of German, and seminar bi Z in Kyiv. All Ha, how are you today? Olha Kushnirova 1:35 Hi, I'm great. What about you? Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 1:38 I'm feeling happy, positive. Excited to learn more about you. And so I'll ask if your friends were to describe your personality. What would they say about you? Olha Kushnirova 1:52 That is very, very interesting question. I think they would say that I'm a friendly person. I love taking photos of them, even if they don't want it. Also, maybe that but really active in school, for example, and other activities. And maybe that's I'm a bit shy when it comes to speaking with people. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 2:24 Thank you, I'll begin with all the activities you do what motivates you, like what pushes you or encourage you or inspires you to do so many things, Olha Kushnirova 2:36 I would say that it's my family and friends. They have put a lot of efforts in me in my jeans, they helped me a lot. And maybe also what motivates me is romanticizing romanticize in my life. And that is also a good way to motivate myself. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 3:00 Really Tell me more? What does it mean for you to romanticize your life? Olha Kushnirova 3:06 Well, as you know, I love taking photos, and I take photos of everything I do. For example, I feel very stressed when I'm studying. So I will take your photo and make it look very pretty. And that is how it feels easier. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 3:26 I like that. So aesthetics, and like beautiful designs, help you calm down, protect your mental health, and feel better. Is this correct? Yeah, that's correct. And you want to include it somehow, in your future? Are you planning to do some kind of work or study that combines both, maybe science and aesthetics, or teaching and photography or something like that, Olha Kushnirova 3:57 for me, teaching is some kind of aesthetic, because it's kids, you know, and they are very, very cheerful and very positive. And they see the world very differently from a bit from adults. And that's why, at the moment, when I'm teaching, I don't need to romanticize it. Because it is already for me like an aesthetic. I would say, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 4:26 I like that that's really, really inspiring. You said that sometimes you're shy at first, what did you mean with that? Olha Kushnirova 4:36 I mean that I love to communicate with people. But a lot of time I'm afraid that I don't want to the same. Like, I'll start to make a dialog and they won't be so interested in it and then I'll get very anxious. And yeah, that's what I mean, when I say I'm shy at first. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 5:05 Thank you. And since you participated in a lot of projects and exchanges, etc. Have you ever met people where you felt instantly? Like you know them all your life where you did not feel shy with them from the beginning? Or do you always need time to open up? Olha Kushnirova 5:26 I would say that I, firstly I open up, and then I'm a bit closing and closing. And, for example, my friends, my best friends, I feel like I've known them my whole life. But at first, I was also shy. So yeah, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 5:45 thank you. And tell me more about dance about tennis. Are you someone who enjoys working out you feel in your element when you're running and sweating and being active in that way? Or? Because usually someone who loves art are more about sitting calmly being introspective? And looking for the beauty? Do you know what I mean? Olha Kushnirova 6:15 Yeah, so for me, those sports are like every wax. Because I fit a lot. I write a lot. I study a lot for my another, for example, language lessons. And when I do sports, I mean, who likes reading? But for me, it's kind of refreshing after a long day. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 6:46 Thank you. And did you live most of your life in Poltava? Or in different cities in Ukraine? Olha Kushnirova 6:54 I live most of my life in Poltava. But when I was little, I moved with my family to the cave. And we live there, I think nearly three years. But I don't remember. Clearly. Any moments from that? Well, I mean, happy yeah, some of them. I remember. But most of my life I've spent in Poltava. And I would say, Yeah, whatever is my CD, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 7:30 how would you describe it? What do you like about Poltava? How was life there? Imagine someone a foreigner never visited, what would you say so that they can imagine Poltava Allah, Olha Kushnirova 7:43 I would say that it's very comfort city. And we have here, quote, The describes it. It sounds like tava is a very big village where everyone knows each other. And I think it's very, very beautiful of the city to be friendly with everyone. And Poltava is also very green city, there are a lot of parks and trees everywhere. Also, I would say that there are some historical places that I would, for example, show to foreigners. Yeah, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 8:34 thank you. And you as an artist and someone creative, sometimes and cities that feel like a village where everybody knows each other. People can feel judged. If they can be unique if they have a different perspective. Do you agree with that? Do you think it is that way? And that's why many artists prefer a big city so that they can be free to be unique and different, or Poltava was always encouraging people to be artists and different and there is no kind of pressure to be the same as others. Olha Kushnirova 9:14 I would say I've never feel the judge here. Yeah, it's the people here are very encouraging. When, for example, I started doing photos of everything and posting it on Instagram. Everyone was so encouraging. Yeah. And I don't know why artists choose big cities because beauty of small cities are that they are unique, I would say and united. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 9:49 I like that. So is it important for you to live a life where even with friends and other people, you feel united you feel calm? Neck, did you feel you have a long term friendship, relationship? Et cetera? Olha Kushnirova 10:06 Yes, it's very important to me because Ukraine, for I would say it suffers a lot. And all of Ukrainians are very united, even. So we are, for example, right now, in different countries, different series, we are still united. And it's, as for me, it is very important. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 10:29 Thank you. And how do kids come? Is it part of it that you want to be connected and united, or the next generation or something about kids? Make them more creative? And that inspires your creativity? Or Why are kids aesthetic for you? Olha Kushnirova 10:48 Well, I would say, I don't know how to comfort me, home, my wife. I've been communicating with kids, I have a little brother. And I started teaching him, I would say, and also my parents are teachers. And they told me a lot about it. And I also saw about being a teacher. And yeah, it's just turn that way. I Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 11:25 really, really love it. When you are if you become a teacher, would you focus on Poltava? or small, beautiful towns? Or do you feel you want bigger classrooms and to live like in Kyiv? Or in a big city? Olha Kushnirova 11:43 Well, I think that it wouldn't matter. Because kids are kids and I, I love traveling. So I could be in small towns and big towns also. Nearly at the same time. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 12:03 What is the most interesting thing for you about travelling? Is it? I don't know, a change of scenery? Is it being someone else in a new place for a short time? Is it noticing the culture of different people? Is it the new emotions and the excitement? Tell me what do you love about travel? Olha Kushnirova 12:24 I think it's all together mixed. But the most important for me is emotions. Because when I see some buildings, views, some people, I feel a lot of happiness, I feel that I've known them before somehow. And when I travel, I can experience it. Like, all the time, that's how it works. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 12:59 I really, really like the way you think, etcetera. Can you describe your day? What do you do these days in order to keep yourself inspired, motivated, your mental health good, both rested and productive? Olha Kushnirova 13:15 Well, I do a lot of things. I have a lot of lessons, a lot of work a lot of preparation for the future school year. So my day starts with revising, I think, right now. And then I can draw some sin or write some inspirational quotes to put them on my wall and Federer or something like that. And then I would go for work to do be in this air smell all the CDs smells. I don't know how to describe it. It's just an feeling. And then usually I have a dance class or something some another sport, for example, tennis, or just do exercises. And in the evening, I would be back home, watch some films serious or something else to relax myself from the stress of the day. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 14:38 Do you watch like Ukrainian theories and films or Hollywood theories and films or what interests you these days? Olha Kushnirova 14:50 Well, I've watched everything that my friends suggests me because they want to chat with somebody about something they be watched. And I am here for them. That's why I watch everything Hollywood films, horror films, especially I don't like but I watch them because my sister like them. And also, I watched some Ukrainian films lately. I don't remember actually, what was the title of them? But it was pretty interesting. And we watched it with friends. Yes. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 15:33 I like that. And so it's important for you to always be chatting with people to have common topics to feel united, like you mentioned before, is this correct? Yes, yes, Olha Kushnirova 15:45 it's correct. It's like a bond between us. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 15:49 Tell me more. So for you, it's important to feel united and to feel a bond with people, correct? Olha Kushnirova 15:57 Yes. I don't know what to tell more. It's just how it feels for me how people work for me. I say, it's always about communication. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 16:12 Thank you. But you said, often you're open, and then you become more and more and more shy. So how does that work? In keeping the bond the communication and feeling united? Olha Kushnirova 16:24 No, I'm meant that I'm not becoming more and more shy, I just have this little step of becoming shy. And then when I'm, I feel comfortable around my people, I went back to being very active and communicative. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 16:43 Thank you. And if you were to describe your people, what characteristics or things do you tend to like in people or make better bonds and communications with people who have those traits or personality descriptors? Olha Kushnirova 17:01 Well, I don't have some special, like code, type in people. So I just met them and start to be friends. Or not to be, I don't know how it works. A lot of my friends are asking the same question like, why are we even friends, we don't have anything in common, but we still speak with each other, shared with each other and spend a lot of time with each other. So I would say I don't have any type in people. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 17:45 I understand and to ask you about that very important day of the invasion. February 24. How was that for you? How was the story of you hearing about the war? How did you feel? What did you do? Tell me everything? Olha Kushnirova 18:03 Well, on that day, I was woken up by my dad. And he said that I'm not going to school. And my first thoughts were like, Oh, my God, thanks, God, I didn't do homework. I can do it. And on the other day, maybe we are going to our country house or some trip. And on the next second, he said that the war began, the Russia in ways didn't invasion to our country. And I felt a lot of regret about what I said before. And I was very sad. first few weeks, I would say three or something like that. Year month. So that day was life changing, I would say, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 19:03 thank you. And did you stay in Ukraine all during that time? Or even in Poltava? Or did you move out at first to Poland or somewhere else and then return Tell me what happened? Olha Kushnirova 19:16 We stayed all of the time in Poltava. We had plans that if there happens something terrible, we will immediately move out. But to this day, thanks God, there is nothing like seriously this happens. So just some air alarms during the day, and I'm very grateful for another series that are defending the central Ukraine and others. So yeah, Have a state here all the time. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 20:02 Thank you and how did it feel all these months of the air raid sirens of the news, etc? Did it stress you out? And did you notice that people got used to the air raid sirens where they feel more normal about them compared to the beginning? Tell me how things changed and evolved in the six months? Olha Kushnirova 20:27 Well, firstly, it was all very stressful. We didn't know what to do. We went every air alarm to the bomb shelter. And then we get used, of course. I don't think it's very good, but that's how it worked. But now life I think went into its usual. Like, way of it was, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 21:09 thank you. And to finish on a more positive note. You're a polyglot, you're a language learner. Maybe some people listening want to be inspired to learn Ukrainian or some Ukrainians to follow your method for learning English? What do you do? How do you learn a language? What do you do every day or every other day? How? What methods do you use just describe your process? Olha Kushnirova 21:36 Well, for each language, I have its own structure of learning. For example, I learned English by watching serious films, listening to music, watching some superb celebrities, interviews or Thomsen like that. While I'm learning French, I'm working with a teacher with a group of students. And we also since stones on French, and that's where we find a lot of vocabulary that helps us in the future. And for example, how to learn Ukraine, I would say it's to speak with people. That's the best way. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 22:25 Thank you all. Ha, this was my privilege, my honor. It truly enriching conversation and again, all I can say is Slava Ukraini Olha Kushnirova 22:36 Heroyam Slava. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 22:39 I wish you a good day. A happy week. And thank you again. Thank you. I'm very grateful for this experience. Goodbye.