Caught in the Current by Daniel Hryhorczuk

Author:Daniel Hryhorczuk
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-62652-270-1
Publisher: Langdon Street Press

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In celebration of their victory over the establishment, Nico gave the workers the day off. Most of the Swiss youth went into the city to enjoy their holiday. Alec stayed in camp to write a letter to his parents—he knew they would be panicked by now. He hadn’t communicated with them since entering the Soviet Union, and he did not know if Father Collins had contacted them to let them know that he had left the tour for an unknown destination.

Dear Mama and Tato,

I am sorry that I have not written to you sooner. I know that you must be very worried. For these past few weeks I needed to disconnect from everything. I am safe and have joined a Swiss work camp in Banja Luka to help with reconstruction after the earthquake. We are building a school. They don’t pay us anything but give us food and a place to sleep. My coworkers here are wonderful—young, independent, and unbelievably friendly.

In a week I will be leaving here for Munich to join the Flight of Freedom tour. In Ukraine, I saw Aunt Ulana and Aunt Vera. Mama, your younger sister looks exactly like you! When we first met I thought I was talking to you—she is young, beautiful, and as you yourself say, she took after your father because she loves to talk. I’ll tell you the story of how we met when I get back home.

I will always cherish the language and customs that you have taught me, but I need to find my own place in the world.

I know that you raised me to be Ukrainian, but Ukraine is not as you left her. The Soviet Union is hell. It’s a terrifying, oppressive state. I was persecuted for my nationalistic views and officially expelled. I will always be Ukrainian because it’s in my blood. I don’t know, however, whether freedom for Ukraine should be my primary goal in life. I was born in America. I’m more American than Ukrainian.

For me, the Ukrainian diaspora community is my home. We are people without a country. I now understand that the pledge in our Ukrainian national anthem—“We will lay down our body and soul for independence”—are not just words; they are bound to sacrifice, suffering, and death. We need to think about what path we choose: do we choose struggle and imprisonment or freedom in the diaspora? You have chosen to live freely in America rather than imprisoned in Ukraine—as have I.

I am doing well here, better than on Father Collins’s tour. I’ve met new people—I now have a new friend in every city in Switzerland! Next year, they might come to visit me in the States. We’ll see. Don’t worry about me. I have everything I need. I’ll be coming home soon. I miss you.

Love, Alec.

Alec sealed the letter and addressed it to his home in Chicago. He still needed stamps. Nico had set up a small tent that served as the administrative headquarters. It held a wooden table and two metal chairs.

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