A year into resettlement, Ukrainian family reunites with relatives
Vadym Holiuk's father, Vanya, and niece, Sasha, were set to land at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport a year after Vadym arrived to resettle in Brooklyn Park.
Courtesy of Mark Norlander
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The parents, sister, and niece of Vadym Holiuk were set to land in Minnesota Monday afternoon, just days after leaving their home in Ukraine.
Their arrival comes almost exactly a year after Vadym’s. He resettled in Brooklyn Park along with his wife and daughter. The family is among about 1,000 Ukrainian refugees who have come to the state since Russia invaded in Feb. 2022.
Some Minnesotans have been working to try and ease their transition through a sponsorship program run by the organization Alight. Vadym Holiuk and sponsor Sharon Norlander talked with MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer a few hours before the family’s reunion.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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Audio transcript
INTERVIEWER: Our next guests are very excited about a flight that's on its way to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport today. The parents, sister, and niece of Vadym Holiuk are set to land in Minnesota days after leaving their home in Ukraine. And they're getting here almost exactly a year after Vadym arrived with his wife and daughter to resettle in Brooklyn Park.
They're among about 1,000 Ukrainian refugees who've come to the state since Russia invaded in February of 2022. And some Minnesotans have been working to try to ease their transition through a sponsorship program run by the organization Alight. Vadym Holiuk and sponsor Sharon Norlander are joining us right now a few hours before the family's big reunion. Hello to both of you. Thank you for being with us.
SHARON NORLANDER: Hi, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: Vadym?
VADYM HOLIUK: Hi.
CATHY WURZER: Hi.
VADYM HOLIUK: Hello.
CATHY WURZER: Nice to meet you, Vadym. And Sharon, welcome back.
SHARON NORLANDER: Thanks. I'm happy to talk to you again.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my goodness. Well, let's see. I think, Vadym, I'm going to start with you too for you first here. How long has it been since you've seen your family members who are coming in today?
VADYM HOLIUK: Probably we leave Ukraine in spring 2022. So it's 1 and 1/2 years. So it's a long time. Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. How are you feeling right now?
VADYM HOLIUK: I'm nervous. Yes. So I very miss for them. So yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. Sharon, now tell us a little bit about-- for folks who don't remember the story-- tell us how you got involved in helping Vadym and his family.
SHARON NORLANDER: Well, we signed up to help with a Ukrainian family. And we filled out some paperwork. And there was an app that was a bit like a dating app. And the Holiuks chose us. And we chose them. And we worked on the rest of the administrative work. And four days after we started the process, they were here in Minnesota and staying with us in our home.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. And so now, the rest of the family is arriving. I understand they live not far from the fighting and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which, of course, many people know that that's been a really focus of concern here since March of 2022. Vadym, what did it take to get your family here safely?
VADYM HOLIUK: So we always think about my family. And they live so close to the fire fight. So and in spring, we think it's nobody know how long war still going. So and we have a choice for take my family to the United States. So it will be better for us and them.
CATHY WURZER: Right. Sharon, I understand the trip here is-- gosh, it sounds like it's quite harrowing. Did they not leave last week?
SHARON NORLANDER: Yeah, they left several days ago. They had to travel across Ukraine. Because they are from the Eastern border, they had to cross all of Ukraine. And then they had to wait at the border. They were in a bus. And they had to wait at the border about seven hours. Then they were able to make their way to Warsaw. And Alight had arranged for an Airbnb in Warsaw.
Vadym and Liubov had friends that had helped them when they were in Poland. And that person helped them get into their Airbnb and then to take them to the airport-- take them to the airport. And none of them have traveled very far. None of them have been in an airplane before. And none of them have left their country. So they flew to Amsterdam and changed flights and are now flying between Amsterdam and Minneapolis and will arrive at 2:15 this afternoon.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. Wow. Vadym, what does life look like for you right now since about a year since you arrived? How's it been going?
VADYM HOLIUK: Can you repeat please because I'm nervous?
CATHY WURZER: It's OK. You're doing great. It sounds like your life has been obviously quite different. What do you think about what you've experienced so far in this past year?
VADYM HOLIYUK: This last year was amazing because it's very different for life in Ukraine. And Sharon and Mark very helpful for us. So everyone is friend and family. Norlander will help us for be comfortable. So first job in the United States, first school, it's everything as well was nice for us and very comfortable. I like life in the United States.
CATHY WURZER: I hear a little voice in the background. Is that your daughter, Anita?
VADYM HOLIUK: Yes.
CATHY WURZER: How has she been doing?
VADYM HOLIUK: Oh, she's come back maybe half hour about preschool, something like that. So she is very excited for United States and for this life.
CATHY WURZER: And the family coming in. Sharon, boy, you've done a lot of work on this one. What did it take to get everything together to have this family come to live with you? And now you're sponsoring the rest of the family, right?
SHARON NORLANDER: Right. But the second time around has been a lot easier. Many Ukrainians have immigrated to the United States since we first started to help the Holiuks. So this time is much easier. Their family is going to stay in an Airbnb in Northeast, not too far from us, for a while, until we're able to get them into an apartment. We were able to get a church group behind us. And they we're able to help us gather all the furniture that they will need in order to move into their new house.
There will be quite a bit of administrative work that will come in the next couple of weeks. But we've gone through it once. And we know what it is and how to do it and what to expect. So I expect everything will go smoothly.
CATHY WURZER: What have you learned about yourself? You And your husband-- I know this has been a huge thing for you. What have you learned about yourselves?
SHARON NORLANDER: Oh, well, there's plenty of love to go around. And I think this experience has really opened our eyes to the world, opened our eyes to-- helped us learn to better communicate with people that don't speak English, to be empathetic, to think about how we use our time, how we use our money. It has caused us to reflect on a lot of things in the past few months-- in the past year.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, I can only-- yes. And then, of course, now with more folks coming in, what are you excited about the most to meet the new members of the family here?
SHARON NORLANDER: Oh, to see them reunited. I just cannot wait for that moment when the three girls can see their grandma and grandpa. Every time I would see that Liubov and Vadym would post something on Facebook, I thought that their grandma must be very, very sad that I was the one that was experiencing that with her children. I am so happy that she can now be part of their lives and that she can experience everything with them as well. I'm so happy that we can help bring them to safety and so happy that they'll all be together.
CATHY WURZER: Vadym, you've got a big day here. What kind of a celebration-- do you have anything planned when your family arrives today, any special food or special meal?
VADYM HOLIUK: I don't know. Maybe was a very long trip. So maybe they want to sleep couple of days. I don't know. But yes, after they-- maybe we come to some place and eat something food. I don't know. We will see.
CATHY WURZER: OK, so what's the first thing you might say to them today?
VADYM HOLIUK: I miss you. I don't know. We don't see them a long time. And I think we need just a couple of hours to be together and speak.
CATHY WURZER: Yes. Oh, Vadym, thank you. I wish you all the best today. I think it's going to be pretty exciting for you, obviously, and your family. And Sharon Norlander, thank you so much.
SHARON NORLANDER: Well, thank you for letting us tell their story.
CATHY WURZER: Vadym Holiuk has been with us, Sharon Norlander. If you're interested in sponsoring newcomers to Minnesota, you can learn more at Alight's website, wearealight.org. Or you can visit mprnews.org.
They're among about 1,000 Ukrainian refugees who've come to the state since Russia invaded in February of 2022. And some Minnesotans have been working to try to ease their transition through a sponsorship program run by the organization Alight. Vadym Holiuk and sponsor Sharon Norlander are joining us right now a few hours before the family's big reunion. Hello to both of you. Thank you for being with us.
SHARON NORLANDER: Hi, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: Vadym?
VADYM HOLIUK: Hi.
CATHY WURZER: Hi.
VADYM HOLIUK: Hello.
CATHY WURZER: Nice to meet you, Vadym. And Sharon, welcome back.
SHARON NORLANDER: Thanks. I'm happy to talk to you again.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my goodness. Well, let's see. I think, Vadym, I'm going to start with you too for you first here. How long has it been since you've seen your family members who are coming in today?
VADYM HOLIUK: Probably we leave Ukraine in spring 2022. So it's 1 and 1/2 years. So it's a long time. Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. How are you feeling right now?
VADYM HOLIUK: I'm nervous. Yes. So I very miss for them. So yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. Sharon, now tell us a little bit about-- for folks who don't remember the story-- tell us how you got involved in helping Vadym and his family.
SHARON NORLANDER: Well, we signed up to help with a Ukrainian family. And we filled out some paperwork. And there was an app that was a bit like a dating app. And the Holiuks chose us. And we chose them. And we worked on the rest of the administrative work. And four days after we started the process, they were here in Minnesota and staying with us in our home.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. And so now, the rest of the family is arriving. I understand they live not far from the fighting and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which, of course, many people know that that's been a really focus of concern here since March of 2022. Vadym, what did it take to get your family here safely?
VADYM HOLIUK: So we always think about my family. And they live so close to the fire fight. So and in spring, we think it's nobody know how long war still going. So and we have a choice for take my family to the United States. So it will be better for us and them.
CATHY WURZER: Right. Sharon, I understand the trip here is-- gosh, it sounds like it's quite harrowing. Did they not leave last week?
SHARON NORLANDER: Yeah, they left several days ago. They had to travel across Ukraine. Because they are from the Eastern border, they had to cross all of Ukraine. And then they had to wait at the border. They were in a bus. And they had to wait at the border about seven hours. Then they were able to make their way to Warsaw. And Alight had arranged for an Airbnb in Warsaw.
Vadym and Liubov had friends that had helped them when they were in Poland. And that person helped them get into their Airbnb and then to take them to the airport-- take them to the airport. And none of them have traveled very far. None of them have been in an airplane before. And none of them have left their country. So they flew to Amsterdam and changed flights and are now flying between Amsterdam and Minneapolis and will arrive at 2:15 this afternoon.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. Wow. Vadym, what does life look like for you right now since about a year since you arrived? How's it been going?
VADYM HOLIUK: Can you repeat please because I'm nervous?
CATHY WURZER: It's OK. You're doing great. It sounds like your life has been obviously quite different. What do you think about what you've experienced so far in this past year?
VADYM HOLIYUK: This last year was amazing because it's very different for life in Ukraine. And Sharon and Mark very helpful for us. So everyone is friend and family. Norlander will help us for be comfortable. So first job in the United States, first school, it's everything as well was nice for us and very comfortable. I like life in the United States.
CATHY WURZER: I hear a little voice in the background. Is that your daughter, Anita?
VADYM HOLIUK: Yes.
CATHY WURZER: How has she been doing?
VADYM HOLIUK: Oh, she's come back maybe half hour about preschool, something like that. So she is very excited for United States and for this life.
CATHY WURZER: And the family coming in. Sharon, boy, you've done a lot of work on this one. What did it take to get everything together to have this family come to live with you? And now you're sponsoring the rest of the family, right?
SHARON NORLANDER: Right. But the second time around has been a lot easier. Many Ukrainians have immigrated to the United States since we first started to help the Holiuks. So this time is much easier. Their family is going to stay in an Airbnb in Northeast, not too far from us, for a while, until we're able to get them into an apartment. We were able to get a church group behind us. And they we're able to help us gather all the furniture that they will need in order to move into their new house.
There will be quite a bit of administrative work that will come in the next couple of weeks. But we've gone through it once. And we know what it is and how to do it and what to expect. So I expect everything will go smoothly.
CATHY WURZER: What have you learned about yourself? You And your husband-- I know this has been a huge thing for you. What have you learned about yourselves?
SHARON NORLANDER: Oh, well, there's plenty of love to go around. And I think this experience has really opened our eyes to the world, opened our eyes to-- helped us learn to better communicate with people that don't speak English, to be empathetic, to think about how we use our time, how we use our money. It has caused us to reflect on a lot of things in the past few months-- in the past year.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, I can only-- yes. And then, of course, now with more folks coming in, what are you excited about the most to meet the new members of the family here?
SHARON NORLANDER: Oh, to see them reunited. I just cannot wait for that moment when the three girls can see their grandma and grandpa. Every time I would see that Liubov and Vadym would post something on Facebook, I thought that their grandma must be very, very sad that I was the one that was experiencing that with her children. I am so happy that she can now be part of their lives and that she can experience everything with them as well. I'm so happy that we can help bring them to safety and so happy that they'll all be together.
CATHY WURZER: Vadym, you've got a big day here. What kind of a celebration-- do you have anything planned when your family arrives today, any special food or special meal?
VADYM HOLIUK: I don't know. Maybe was a very long trip. So maybe they want to sleep couple of days. I don't know. But yes, after they-- maybe we come to some place and eat something food. I don't know. We will see.
CATHY WURZER: OK, so what's the first thing you might say to them today?
VADYM HOLIUK: I miss you. I don't know. We don't see them a long time. And I think we need just a couple of hours to be together and speak.
CATHY WURZER: Yes. Oh, Vadym, thank you. I wish you all the best today. I think it's going to be pretty exciting for you, obviously, and your family. And Sharon Norlander, thank you so much.
SHARON NORLANDER: Well, thank you for letting us tell their story.
CATHY WURZER: Vadym Holiuk has been with us, Sharon Norlander. If you're interested in sponsoring newcomers to Minnesota, you can learn more at Alight's website, wearealight.org. Or you can visit mprnews.org.
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