An Interview with Roman & Yuliia Zablotski

(Kathryn Burling & Judith Lake)

 


Roman and Yuliia, thank you for meeting with us today. We are here to help our Springton Lake congregation get to know you a little better. It has been six weeks since you arrived at Newark Airport on January 30th.  Since then, so many prayers to God and lots of people have been involved in helping you, and your little girl, Melaniia, get settled here in America. Lisa and Dana Swieson, and then Beverly and Scott Rothman, housed you until you moved into your own Swarthmore apartment on March 1st.  There has been a myriad of details in the process of bringing you to this time and place, and we all agree that God has clearly been in every one of those details. He has been guiding you and providing for you each step of the way. We know He will continue to do so into your future. We give all our praise and thanks to Him!

Where in Ukraine are you from, and are you both from the same place? We are both from a village near the city of Lviv in Western Ukraine -- near the border with Poland. We lived on the same street.


What were your lives like growing up? Our lives were mostly quiet like those of most hardworking people. Roman: My father is a priest in the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and so is my older brother. The church is like the Greek Orthodox Church. My mother teaches German. Yuliia: I also attended Roman’s father’s church, and I went to school with Roman’s younger brother.  We were in the same grade. Roman is four years older than us.

We know you miss your families. Tell us about them. We are from big families. Yuliia: I am the oldest of five. I have two brothers and two sisters. Roman: I am the fourth of seven.  I have three brothers and three sisters.

Roman – you studied in seminary for a time.  What was that like? Seminary is seven years, and I attended for five and a half years.  I went on to finish my Master’s degree in philosophy and theology at the Catholic University.

Tell us about your background in music, Roman.  We were so blessed to see you playing violin in the worship band at church. My whole family plays musical instruments. My father, brother and I play the violin, piano, and I also play a little guitar and drums. I was part of a band. I sing, and recently sang an acapella solo in my friend, Father Ruslan’s, church in Philadelphia.  Others in my family play the bandura which is a traditional Ukrainian stringed instrument.  It has 57 strings, and is similar to a harp. We did not play as a family in public, but just for our own entertainment and enjoyment.

Roman -- when did you choose to have a career as a barber, and Yuliia, a career as a hair stylist? Roman: After seminary, I learned to cut hair and opened my own shop where my brother is now the administrator and two friends are barbers. Yuliia: I started hairstyling when I was twenty years old when a friend asked me to style her hair for her graduation.  I don’t do haircuts, but really enjoy styling for special occasions.  I co-own a shop with my best friend.  There are 12 people who work flexible hours with four hairdressers in the shop at one time.  It is good work for young mothers.

When did you start to court each other and then get married? Yuliia: We have been married for four years.  When I was in 10th grade and in school with Roman’s younger brother, we would be together in a group of friends.  Roman always joked with me and said, “You will be my wife.” Roman: God spoke to my heart to marry Yuliia.

When did you decide to come to America? Roman: I had a dream to come to America for over two years.  I watched so much about the United States on YouTube and loved everything about this country. Yuliia: I didn’t share Roman’s dream until the war began and it became very dangerous. I was very afraid for us and our baby, Melaniia, and wanted to be safe. We packed our bags and looked for an opportunity to leave.

What was it like for you when Russia first attacked Ukraine? Yuliia: At first, I didn’t believe that it was really happening. When the bombing came near to us, I took Melaniia and crossed over to Poland -- then we went for three months to stay with a friend in Germany. I missed Roman and came back to Ukraine, but with rocket attacks we had to take shelter in my mother’s basement. Roman: I was at my barber shop very early in the morning when the sirens began to warn of Russian missile attacks. So many people were running in the streets.  Later, there were three rockets that exploded one mile from home.  Because of a bad back with herniated discs, I could not run or fight in the war. I needed to escape the country.  A musician friend and his band took me with them to Innsbruck, Austria on Nov. 18th, and Yuliia and Melaniia joined me on Dec. 21st.

How did your hope to come to America become a reality? Roman: On Dec. 14th, I wrote my friend Father Ruslan in Philadelphia and asked for his help with the immigration process. Father Ruslan went to seminary with my brother. -- Kathryn -- by that time, your husband, Eric, had already made the connection with Father Ruslan and arranged for him to talk with some members of the church to discuss sponsoring us to come to the United States. Documents were completed, airline tickets were provided for us, and we arrived in America on January 30th.

What do you miss about your lives in Ukraine? We miss our families and friends the most. But we also miss our work, our shops, and our old car – the “frog”—or sometimes called – the “dragon”.

What have been some of the highlights for you since you arrived here? Both Roman and Yuliia: The very best part of being here – THE PEOPLE!! There have been so many kind people in the church who have helped us so much and wanted to be our friends.  Dana and Lisa were very good to patiently teach us and improve our English. – When we first arrived, we were surprised by the big highways and lots and lots of cars.  Roman: we have to get used to different measurements here.

Tell us about your favorite activities, foods, flowers and music: Roman: I like to play music and listen to popular music like songs by Ed Sheeran and Coldplay. I watch Ukrainian history shows on YouTube. I like football – soccer in this country. Varenyky – similar to a Polish pierogi -- is my favorite food, and I like brownies. I also like strong espresso coffee. Yuliia: I love to cook and to bake.  I am so happy to have a gift of a Kitchen Aid mixer!  I like to cook Italian food and bake cakes – especially chocolate cake.  My favorite foods are pasta, pizza and sushi. Spring flowers like narcissus and tulips I like the best because my birthday is in May.

What are your hopes for the future? Yuliia: We want to grow in our English skills, work, and be good parents.  Most of all, we want to serve and help others. Roman: My cousin, Natalia, and her husband recently escaped Russia --crossing over the border from Mexico. They are seeking political asylum in the U.S. -- They are against Putin, this war, and could never fight against Ukrainian family and friends. Natalia’s father (my uncle) was recently injured on the Ukrainian front lines. Currently, this couple is in New York City which is very expensive. They are needing an immigration lawyer and provision.  Yuliia and I want to help them.

Lastly, how has your faith grown over these months? Both Roman and Yuliia: We came to America and became born again!  We are praying all the time now. Prayer changes everything. When we came to church, we found new relationships with God, and friends who love Jesus. They helped us see God’s love in them when they gave His love to us.  We are so thankful for all your support, and thank God for bringing us to America.

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.”  (Isaiah 12:2)

 

 

 

PRAISE! Roman started his new job on Tuesday, March 14th as a Grooming Experience Consultant at Ethos GSFM in Center City, Philadelphia. Book an appointment with him online and spread the word to help him build up his client base.

Get to know the Zablotski family by looking at Yuliia’s blog on Instagram at: zablotska_yuliia.  You will have to click on “see translation” to see her captions in English.

 

Birthdays:

  • Yuliia – May 30th (she will be 25)
  • Melaniia – August 13th (she will be 2 years old)
  • Roman – Nov. 17th (he will be 29)

 

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