Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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A Brand New Direction for Ukraine at Eurovision
Ukraine’s 2023 Eurovision contestant is unlike any in its history of the contest. Tvorchi, a duo made up Nigerian vocalist Jeffery Kenny and Ukrainian producer Andrii Hutsuliak, will be representing Ukraine with their song, “Heart of Steel,” an electronic R&B piece warning against the dangers of nuclear arsenals. After taking a listen, watching the performance…
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Changing Christmas
When is Christmas in Ukraine? Now more than ever, it depends on who you ask. Traditionally, Ukrainians have followed the Orthodox Christian calendar and have celebrated Christmas on January 7th. According to a 2015 poll by Pew, 78% of Ukrainians identify as Orthodox Christians, with the Russian Orthodox Church having a huge presence all of…
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In Ukraine, There Are No Good Solutions for the Internally Displaced
Uzhhorod is the capital of Zakarpattia. With a pre-war population of about 130,000, this charming city in the most western region of Ukraine was the smallest region capital in the whole country. For an expat like myself, it was an ideal place to settle down – the prices are low, it’s close to Europe, and…
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When East Meets West
The Western region of Ivano-Frankivsk is about as pro-Ukraine as it gets. Red and black nationalist flags are regularly seen around the city. Stepan Bandera, a controversial Ukrainian nationalist figure from the WWII era, is beloved. And unsurprisingly, it is one of the few regions in Ukraine where you won’t hear any Russian at all.…
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Main Street Nashville – Thank You!
Big thank you to Main Street Nashville for publishing a piece about my experience in Ukraine. It touches on Peace Corps, evacuating due to Covid, returning to Ukraine, and evacuating again due to the war. You can check it out in the link below. https://www.mainstreet-nashville.com/news/nashville-native-forced-to-leave-beloved-ukraine-a-second-time/article_ac0aa0d8-bcca-11ec-a4dd-cf63d8087ed1.html
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The Return to Kyiv
The withdrawal of Russian troops from the Kyiv region has catalyzed a fierce migration back to Ukraine’s most vibrant city. After massive traffic jams of people leaving Kyiv emerged at the start of the war, less than two months later those same traffic jams have returned, but this time in the direction of the capital.…
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How the War in Ukraine is Impacting Language
If you have ever visited Kyiv, you may have noticed that the dominant language there is not Ukrainian. I was always frustrated whenever I visited, because as a Ukrainian speaker I had little to no chance of understanding the majority of the people in the capital city. Out of all of my experiences in Kyiv,…
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Picking Up the Pieces
Fleeing your homeland is a process of pure survival. Things like work/life balance, self-development, and improving your posture go right out the window when the only goal is to make it to safety. Each refugee experience is different and the severity of the trauma varies, but even for the people who didn’t fear for their…
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Everything Will Be Ukraine (Or Else)
By now, you’ve probably heard the expression, “Slava Ukraini, Heroyem Slava.” It means “glory to Ukraine, glory to the heroes,” and is a wonderful way for Ukrainians to show solidarity. Soldiers say it to each other going into battle, politicians say it as they conclude their statements, protesters chant it during rallies, and ordinary citizens…
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Getting a Visa in Czechia
Over 270,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in the Czech Republic, and visas are being offered to all of them. These are being referred to by some as “humanitarian” visas, but various government websites just refer to them as “a new type of long-term visa.” While there is more than enough information online telling refugees how…
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Insight On Ukraine 