MARCH 31 • 2022 | 15

the room, I invite a photog-
rapher to sleep on the floor. 
These are not normal times.
The following day I hear 
about a refugee center set up 
in what had been a shopping 
center about 80 minutes away. 
On my arrival, I find a parking 
lot filled with buses, cars, peo-
ple, outdoor cooking tents, first 
aid stations and news crews 
from around the world. Inside 
are thousands of people, some 
walking around and some 
planting themselves on army 
cots. 
A group of people in suits 
surrounded by plain-clothed 
and uniformed security walk 
past. Secretary of State Anthony 
Blinken is touring. For a pop-
up, overcrowded refugee center, 
things are fairly organized. I 
take a photo of the QR code 
shining on a computer at the 
front information desk, register 
my name, car, how many I can 
transfer and to where, and if I 
can provide housing. The vol-
unteers write that information 
in Ukrainian on a large piece 
of paper which I hold above 
my head in a line with others 
offering cars to Berlin, Krakow, 
Dusseldorf, France and beyond. 
Within minutes, a volunteer 
approaches and, before long, 

we’ve loaded Jania, mother of 
8-year-old Zarima and 2-year-
old Sasha, along with her 
mother, into the car, stuffing 
it with a random collection of 
bags they’
d fled with along with 
some diapers and snacks pro-
vided by the refugee center for 
the four-hour trip to Warsaw.
Anatevka, Anatevka.
Intimate, obstinate Anatevka,
Where I know everyone I meet.
They speak little English, 
and I speak absolutely no 
Ukrainian, but we bond over 
Lady Gaga playing through the 
speakers. We try talking some, 
learning bits of each other’s 
languages, but we all know they 
need sleep. I look in the rear-
view mirror and see the eyes 
of my ancestors running from 
similar horrors.
Arriving at their friend’s 
house in Warsaw at about 10:30 
p.m., they’re welcomed with 
hugs and a hot meal. After a 
quick coffee and bite of chick-
en, I head back to my hotel 
in Hrebenne. Arriving at 2:45 
a.m., I sit on the edge of the 
bed, allow a few tears to escape, 
and try to sleep.

THEY JUST KEEP COMING
The days continue like this. 

continued on page 16

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