17 Comments
May 20Liked by Tim Mak

The story about the vyshyvanka was a delight to read! I hope I am pronouncing it right: vi she vanka? This post gives me a real feel for life in Kyiv. Amidst this terrible war people are committed and determined and still finding joy in life. It's nice to see that you are too, Tim, with your trade of gummy burgers with Ross. Exactly something my sons would do. LOL I had to laugh!

Great post all around.

Expand full comment
May 20Liked by Tim Mak

Love this: “We sew ourselves to this land.”

As for American nationally unifying clothing, it’s got to be blue jeans, which cross all gender, racial, cultural, regional, and national boundaries. Anyone can wear them; in fact, the whole world does. Unlike the vyshyvanka, they’re not handmade, but that’s American too.

Expand full comment

Tim,

Videos still won't play on Chrome, and now I can't get them to play on Edge either :(

Expand full comment

I keep hearing that Americans have war fatigue. Very sad to hear the Ukrainians do too. I cant imagine how traumatized they all are.

The burger candies are a hoot!

But its the shirts. The exquisite vyshyvankas! I might need one for... solidarity, but really for the beauty.

Thanks Tim. Would love it if you’d do a profile of my young Ukrainian friend. A mother of two small children, living in Kyiv. We met in Etsy when I ordered from her shop. She makes knitwear that is so lovely and such high quality that they could easily be sold at Nieman Marcus.

In the early days she fled to Poland, then returned to help her country. Her English is fluent. I worry about her every day. Trying to make a living. Trying to keep her children safe. Creating high end products to sell to a world now exhausted by the war... and yet she is not allowed the luxury of exhaustion. One day when I hadnt heard from her in two weeks, she finally wrote to apologize and say “I think I was a little depressed”... all I could think was, “yeah. I’ll bet...”

Time let me know if youd be willing to check in on her. If yes, I will post a link to her Etsy shop in this thread. You can send her a private message on there.

Expand full comment

"See you after the victory." Stay safe Tim.

Expand full comment

Thank you for your reporting. My suggestion for the American national costume is baseball cap, blue jeans, and tee shirt. Also, do you dissect real hamburgers for eating in the way you describe your gummy consumption?

Expand full comment

Tim - one minor correction of I may a civilized person would keep the gummy burgers on the shelf and collect them 😂😬 Just kidding

Joke aside yes, as Sue said, your writing gives the reader a feeling what it must be to live in Kyiv now. I very much appreciate the voice clip and video as it puts one right there.

Stay safe

Expand full comment

Love the “Dog of the day”!!!

Expand full comment

Beyoncé. Love it.

Expand full comment

Thanks for the vyshyvanka story. They are beautiful, and the photos you shared show the pride. Stay safe!

Expand full comment