Blog 1, January 7, 2012, terrace, Vieux Nice. The project begins.
Who said that writing in paradise is easy? Trying to do anything in Nice
outside of pure enjoyment and entertainment is close to impossible. There are
millions of reasons to get distracted and all of them worthwhile -
mouthwatering food, narrow, extremely romantic streets in theOld Town
and, of course, the beach. It is the water and the sun that make you
forget everything except food, of course, and make you venture outside whenever
there is an opportunity. Even exercising sounds like an attractive idea when
all you have to do is soak in incredible views from Le Chateau. Can one get a
more beautiful view? Maybe, but it will be not be easy.
outside of pure enjoyment and entertainment is close to impossible. There are
millions of reasons to get distracted and all of them worthwhile -
mouthwatering food, narrow, extremely romantic streets in the
and, of course, the beach. It is the water and the sun that make you
forget everything except food, of course, and make you venture outside whenever
there is an opportunity. Even exercising sounds like an attractive idea when
all you have to do is soak in incredible views from Le Chateau. Can one get a
more beautiful view? Maybe, but it will be not be easy.
Writing is done when one is not having a good time, when one is miserable,
heart-broken or just plain unhappy. It is in prison that many writers created
their best works or at least positioned themselves for their future
masterpieces. Francois Villon, Paul Verlaine, Fedor Dostoyevsky, Ovid, Tomaso Companella,
Wole Soyinka, Taras Shevchenko and Vasyl Stus - not to miss the Ukrainian
contribution - and many others revealed that prison space not only kills and
oppresses but also unleashes an unstoppable creative force which makes
writers look deeper into themselves and share with the world the freedom of
expression which only confinement can provide.
heart-broken or just plain unhappy. It is in prison that many writers created
their best works or at least positioned themselves for their future
masterpieces. Francois Villon, Paul Verlaine, Fedor Dostoyevsky, Ovid, Tomaso Companella,
Wole Soyinka, Taras Shevchenko and Vasyl Stus - not to miss the Ukrainian
contribution - and many others revealed that prison space not only kills and
oppresses but also unleashes an unstoppable creative force which makes
writers look deeper into themselves and share with the world the freedom of
expression which only confinement can provide.
So how can I make myself finally start this blog? With the help of wine, bien
sur! This is yet another luxury of theCote d'Azur
wine, and one should use it wisely and for good cause. So here we go, the topic
which excited all my friends, both Ukrainians and wanna-bes (even though the
latter is possible only inCanada
since very few on this side of the Atlantic seem to be proud to be Ukrainian,
not to mention to become one): Ukrainians on theCote d'Azur
you ask. Well, theCote d'Azur
has always been associated with beauty, luxury, sophistication and culture,
something that Ukrainians inUkraine
stopped associating themselves with long ago. Talk to a present-day Ukrainian
and you will hear words like "corrupt," "immoral,"
"uneducated," "uncultured" in reference to their
compatriots, and, what is more scary, references to their country as
"having no future" and "hopeless"; a place to leave
and to look at with disdain. Numerous blogs and editorials in Ukrainian
Internet publications speak of such national traits as cautiousness and evading
confrontation at all costs, lack of initiative, caring only about one's well-being,
greediness and all other imaginable sins and reasons that prevent Ukrainians
from being happy and building a normal life for themselves. Needless to say,
there is some truth in this, but it can be applied to any human being
irrespective of the country. We all have our flaws but what is important is not
the fact that as humans we can often succumb to our weaknesses, what is more
important is how we can overcome them.
sur! This is yet another luxury of the
wine, and one should use it wisely and for good cause. So here we go, the topic
which excited all my friends, both Ukrainians and wanna-bes (even though the
latter is possible only in
since very few on this side of the Atlantic seem to be proud to be Ukrainian,
not to mention to become one): Ukrainians on the
you ask. Well, the
has always been associated with beauty, luxury, sophistication and culture,
something that Ukrainians in
stopped associating themselves with long ago. Talk to a present-day Ukrainian
and you will hear words like "corrupt," "immoral,"
"uneducated," "uncultured" in reference to their
compatriots, and, what is more scary, references to their country as
"having no future" and "hopeless"; a place to leave
and to look at with disdain. Numerous blogs and editorials in Ukrainian
Internet publications speak of such national traits as cautiousness and evading
confrontation at all costs, lack of initiative, caring only about one's well-being,
greediness and all other imaginable sins and reasons that prevent Ukrainians
from being happy and building a normal life for themselves. Needless to say,
there is some truth in this, but it can be applied to any human being
irrespective of the country. We all have our flaws but what is important is not
the fact that as humans we can often succumb to our weaknesses, what is more
important is how we can overcome them.
Insulting one's country is like insulting one's genes. Whether one wants it or
not, he/she is a part of one's country’s cultural paradigm. After all, we are
what we are as a result of our personal circumstances - place of birth,
upbringing, education, etc. By rejecting the cultural milieu which created us
we reject part of ourselves. This is not a call to support dictatorial regimes
or corrupt bureaucrats but an invitation to be kind to one's land, populated by
gifted artists, talented writers, your faithful friends and your loving family.
I think it is time for Ukrainians to say that they are "creative",
"talented", "innovative", "daring" and
"inspiring". And I can prove it, to them and myself, by
tracing the contribution of Ukrainians in this part of the world, theCote d'Azure, that is nothing but "magique" and
"superb". Slava Ukraini!
not, he/she is a part of one's country’s cultural paradigm. After all, we are
what we are as a result of our personal circumstances - place of birth,
upbringing, education, etc. By rejecting the cultural milieu which created us
we reject part of ourselves. This is not a call to support dictatorial regimes
or corrupt bureaucrats but an invitation to be kind to one's land, populated by
gifted artists, talented writers, your faithful friends and your loving family.
I think it is time for Ukrainians to say that they are "creative",
"talented", "innovative", "daring" and
"inspiring". And I can prove it, to them and myself, by
tracing the contribution of Ukrainians in this part of the world, the
"superb". Slava Ukraini!
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