What You Call Home

What is home? Countless refugees have had to face this question at some point in their lives, and yet there is never a straightforward answer because they have had to leave what they called “home” in search for asylum. Nevertheless, many hold onto to their culture, traditions, and stories to stay connected to their identity. This was true for Olha Abakumova and her eight-year-old daughter, Zlata. 

In western Ukraine, opera singer Olha Abakumova and her husband, Ihor, a tubist, initially decided to remain in Ukraine with the belief that the war would end quickly. They both worked for the Khmelnytskyi Philharmonic Orchestra, which remained open to help fund the war effort. However, as the war continued with no clear sign of stopping, Olha’s family made the difficult decision to leave. Sadly, her husband, Ihor, could not follow them, as men ages 16 to 80, were required to remain in Ukraine to fight for the war.  

Olha and Zlata, however, were able to find security through Biden’s Uniting for Ukraine program, which allowed U.S. citizens to sponsor Ukranians seeking refuge in the United States. They had to move quickly to ensure their safety, so they packed a suitcase filled not only with neccessities such as clothes, toiletries, and food, but also a Vyshyvanka, a traditional embroidered Ukranian shirt, and Ukranian sheet music. Olha explains that the music connect her to her roots and her homeland.  

This shows the power of art and culture to bring people together, offering respite from the harsh realities of life. Olha carried this power with her to to the United States after arriving in Boston with her daughter. She intends to keep her culture alive and strong, stating, “When I am singing, I see pictures in front of my eyes, the words and music move through me and take me back to Ukraine.” Music serves as an outlet for Olha to revisit her past and to share it with others, as seen during her celebration of Ukranian Independence Day, where she sang the Ukrainian national anthem. 

 While her husband remains oversees in Ukraine, Olha has found a way to maintain a “home away from home” through her passion for music and her culture. Her story acts as an inspiration to many because of her resilience and strength she found in a country that was once foreign to her.  

I know that home may carry different meanings, connotations, or feelings for different people. However, I know that home defined by what and who you surround yourself with. For Olha, that was music. For others, it may be family, a partner, or even a favorite dish. No matter what home means to you, it is something that is meant to be shared.   

-Avery Ro, '27

Sources:

Hilton, Jodi. “When She Left Ukraine, an Opera Singer Made Room for a Most Precious Possession.” NPR, NPR, 6 Nov. 2022, www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/11/06/1127221864/when-she-left-ukraine-an-opera-singer-made-room-for-a-most-precious-possession.