Ukranian family hopes to make Watertown their permanent home
By Roger Whittle, Watertown Current
A young Watertown family has seen their life change from a Russian nightmare into an American dream.
Maks and Tatiana Krasnyak and their 6-year-old daughter, Zhenya, are approached their one-year anniversary of moving to Watertown. Their journey here from their home in Ukraine has been long, dangerous and difficult, but it has turned into a story of joy and high hopes for a bright future.
The Krasnyaks experienced war firsthand from their home in Kherson, Ukraine, after Russia invaded their home country in February 2022. They were in the thick of the war, watching from their home as bombs fell on their town. They often were forced to hide in the center of their home, away from windows, behind their sofa to avoid become war casualties.
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Soon they fled to the small village about 40 miles away where Tatiana grew up and where her mother still lived. They were safer from the war, but the village was packed with refugees trying to leave the country. They were there for several months before embarking on a roundabout journey to the Czech Republic with other war refugees.
Millions of Ukrainians fled to other European countries in the early stages of the war, with Germany and Poland being the most popular destinations. So far, more than 300,000 have found their way to the Czech Republic.
After three months of waiting in the Czech Republic, the Krasnyaks finally made their way to the United States, but their journey was not over. They landed in the small town of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., outside of Chattanooga, but struggled to get established there.
“There are no jobs in Lookout Mountain,” Tatiana said. “Everybody works in Chattanooga, but we didn’t have a car, so we couldn’t get jobs.”
Eventually the found sponsors who helped them move to Watertown. Mike and Vickie Marotz and Susan Aamold are not only the family’s sponsors, but they have become close friends. They have moved into their own apartment. United Methodist Church helped with the initial rent and plane tickets from Tennessee. With the help of First Congregational United Church of Christ, they received an automobile. Both parents landed jobs at Dakota Tube, and Zhenya is in first grade at Lincoln Elementary. Her favorite classes, she said, are recess and music.
“We are very satisfied here,” Tatiana said. “This city is a safe place, safe for our daughter. I had read stories about places in the USA that aren’t so safe, but Watertown is nice. I like that it doesn’t take a lot of time to get to work, or to Wal-Mart. And it only takes five minutes to take Zhenya to school.”
They visit the Marotzes often, and Mike’s mother is like a grandma to Zhenya. They also have friends through the Glacial Lakes Multi-Cultural Center, but they haven’t met many of their neighbors. “Our neighbors in our apartment building always change,” Tatiana said, “so we don’t get to know them.”
They have lots of friends and family members from Ukraine, but most have fled the country and are living elsewhere. Some of them hope to return to Ukraine when and if the fighting is over, but Macks and Tatiana want to make the United States, specifically Watertown, their permanent home.
“We want to stay here,” Macks said. “Maybe in the future we will buy a little home in Watertown. That’s our dream.”
Their home in Ukraine is now under Russian occupation, and it’s not the same place they left after years of fighting. “It’s sad,” Macks said.
If you saw the Krasnyak family out and about in town, it would be difficult tell they were not an American family. The couple speak English well, considering they’ve only been in the country for a short time. Their daughter speaks English as well as any other first-grader.
Despite their seemingly idyllic first year in Watertown, it’s not a slam dunk that they will be able stay indefinitely, according to Jim Shroll, executive director of the Glacial Lakes Multicultural Society. There are about 30 Ukrainian war refugees in Watertown, he said.
“The U.S. government made it easy for them to come here originally,” he said. “All they needed was a sponsor and someone to vouch for them, basically say there were good people. But the government is not making it easy for them to stay. It’s very difficult for them to get a permanent visa or work visa, and it’s also very expensive.”
But the Krasnyaks are staying positive, holding onto their dream of being permanent Watertown residents.
They want to continue improving their English. “Sometimes I still have to search for the right words,” Tatiana said.
They haven’t had a chance to take a vacation yet, but that, too, will come.
“Zhenya dreams about seeing an ocean,” Tatiana said.
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