Kozak Talks Podcast
Ми знайомимо вас з українцями, які побудували тут неймовірне життя - підприємцями, професіоналами, громадськими лідерами та відомими українцями.
Їхні подорожі та інсайдерські поради покажуть вам, як боротися з викликами, відкривати можливості та реалізовувати свій потенціал - і все це з повагою до свого українського коріння.
Kozak Talks Podcast
Співаю в ресторанах Англії, щоб зібрати пожертви для наших хлопців
"Як пройти шлях від роботи в польському квітковому магазині до того, щоб стати маяком надії та стійкості на чужині?
Приєднуйтесь до нас, щоб дізнатися захоплюючу історію Галини Балабан, української співачки та гуманітарної працівниці, яка, незважаючи ні на що, почала будувати нове життя у Великій Британії. Від подолання мовних бар'єрів та фінансових труднощів до пошуку підтримки та розради в українській діаспорі - шлях Галини є свідченням стійкості, спільноти та сили людського зв'язку. Відзначте її непохитну пристрасть до музики та значний внесок у збереження культури та підтримку громади в цьому надихаючому епізоді".
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Galina Balaban, you are on my podcast, koza Talks Podcast, where we are now in the studio of Sterling Law, which gives us the opportunity to do these podcasts. Thank you, galina Balaban. You are a successful Ukrainian who has lived in Ukraine for more than six years. Yes, you may think that I am not successful, but I am successful. Many Ukrainians know you and most Ukrainians know that. Ukrainian restaurants, many dias diasporas, not only in London but even beyond London. I know my listeners, hungry people. They don't know about you yet, but we are today making a podcast with you so they know about you because you do a great job. You do a great job. Not only you sing well in the UK, but you also collect money for Ukraine. You do a lot of humanitarian work and you also support various Ukrainian diasporas and you also tell them. Thank you for your support. She said I'm such a Ukrainian very famous, but I have a big question. I was so glad because when I started there, I didn't know so many Ukrainians, and she sent me a message on your Facebook. I wrote to you. You couldn't answer why, because you went to England. You went to England two years ago and collected money.
Speaker 1:I remember one time you called me. I was somewhere on some event. You called me. I saw that you called me. I said no, I need to take this photo. I took this photo. I talked to you. You gave your number. I remember I came to you. I did an interview with you on YouTube. Then you said that you already new.
Speaker 1:As I do podcasts. My podcast has changed now because I am now working with successful Ukrainians. Why? Because there are Ukrainians who really do cool work, not only about business community those people who do something for the community but people who have achieved something in this country. Why is it so important to do these podcasts? First of all, your story and to be a successful person, not in Ukraine, where you feel yourself at home, but abroad, in another country. And to be here is much harder for Ukrainians. It was hard then and now. It then and it still is. The more you grow up in this country, the more you understand the problems. But, galina, this podcast is for you. Please, galina, tell us who you are. Tell us your story in Ukraine and when you came to Europe. Maybe you immediately came to Ukraine. Why did you move? Tell us a little about yourself, thank you.
Speaker 2:Good afternoon, sasha. Good afternoon to all viewers and listeners and listeners. Thank you again for your consent to come to the podcast. Tell you about it. I came to the UK, like all Ukrainians, to earn some money, because it was extremely hard to live at home. I had a son. He went to study. He didn't want to, but I insisted I want you to study abroad. So we both went to Poland. I lived there with him, in different places, of course. I spent a year in Poland and worked in a flower shop. I also sang in Polish restaurants. At the same time, I made bouquets. And how?
Speaker 1:did you sing Polish?
Speaker 2:I know Polish. I had an invitation to Poland 10-15 years ago. I was also a representative of Ukraine. I know Polish.
Speaker 1:What about your history in Ukraine? Where are you from? I am from.
Speaker 2:Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Speaker 1:When did you go to Poland Eight years ago, and why to Poland?
Speaker 2:Because my son went to study here and I wanted to be as close as possible. I didn't plan to go to England at all. I didn't want to and my son didn't want to. Just in Poland over a year, I realized that it's extremely difficult for me to earn some money to support my son and his studies.
Speaker 1:It's all expensive. And what about the UK?
Speaker 2:I managed to do it. I thought to myself that I would earn more here.
Speaker 1:Did you know any people?
Speaker 2:I didn't have any soul of acquaintance. I had 400 euros in my pocket.
Speaker 1:I'm afraid to cry because it was really hard.
Speaker 2:You came from Ukraine to Poland knew Polish, did as a florist in Poland. And music when the Bandura class, the School of Culture, the Institute. But unfortunately I didn't go further in Bandura because my son me as a second plan. I still have a dream to buy a bandura here and to play again. I have a big dream. Last year I was looking for a bandura but I don't have time. You have to sit and do a lot of things without stopping, just like singing. If you don't sing then your voice almost disappears. The same with the bandura. But I have skills I have learned, I know I just have to do it and I think I would have restored everything.
Speaker 1:But you know, galina, you went from Ukraine to Poland, worked. How did you find? And even such a desire in you was that you started singing in restaurants. Where was such a desire? Or did you just want to not forget what you learned in Ukraine?
Speaker 2:because you had such a desire. Did you just want to not forget what you learned in Ukraine? Because you had such a desire? The thing is that I love to sing so much that I will just die with it If I don't have any scene in my mind I will go to the street.
Speaker 2:I will just able to sing. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sing. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sing. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sing. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sing. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sing. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sing. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sing.
Speaker 1:I'm not sure if I'll be able to sing. I, I was a Polish singer. You sang in Polish and Polish. How did Polish people react to Polish music at that time Very good, were there many.
Speaker 2:Ukrainians there.
Speaker 1:When I was there, there were not many Ukrainians.
Speaker 2:I only sang to Polish people, but they danced very well to Ukrainian music. What do Polish people like in Ukrainian music? Most of all Polish people.
Speaker 1:Polish people, but they danced very well with Ukrainian music. What do Poles like in Ukrainian music?
Speaker 2:Most of all.
Speaker 1:Polish.
Speaker 2:Ukrainian Polish From Western Ukraine very hot, fiery Polish.
Speaker 1:Cool. So did you come from Poland yourself, or did you come to London with your son?
Speaker 2:I came to London myself because my son stayed there to study. He had at least 5 years of study left. I went there alone, with his reluctance.
Speaker 1:When you came to London the first time you came here by plane. What was your impression of London?
Speaker 2:I'm afraid to cry again. Sasha, I was in a big panic. I barely found that plane in Warsaw. God was really holding me. I found myself in a man in a red jacket with a passport control and I thought I'm going to follow him. He went away and there were signs, a bunch of shops, and I didn't know where he was going and where my plane was going. It was fantastic. I didn't know how I got to London.
Speaker 1:Did you know the language.
Speaker 2:I didn't know anything. I knew Polish but I didn't know any English. I could barely speak only Dundundestand. But you found the plane and went to the airport. I just heard someone talking in English. I just prayed to God that I wouldn't fly to Africa. I'm telling the truth. I just went to the airport, got in any row. I didn't know that they would check my passport, my ticket, and still sent me. I didn't know anything about it. I was like a little mouse in that airport in Warsaw. I didn't sleep for two days because I was still leaving Ukraine. We were on the bus for a long time. I remember on the border at 10 o'clock. I didn't meet my cousin. I drank some tea with her and went to the airport.
Speaker 1:So you came to London. You have 400 euros in your pocket.
Speaker 2:Yes, I know no soul, but I willis, whom I called my second mother because she helped me with everything here, opened my eyes to everything, taught me, supported me.
Speaker 1:How did you find her? I?
Speaker 2:found her on Facebook. Being still in Ukraine, a month before London, I didn't know how to find a job in London. I didn't have a to find a job in London, I didn't have a soulmate. I just wrote the word London on Facebook to the listeners. In her photo there was a dove, a white dove, yes, and I think this person is probably definitely good if she put a dove of peace. Good. And I called her and I started talking to her for a month to trust her, because at that time in Ukraine, living in a provincial little town, kalush, where I had London it living in a small provincial town, kalush, where London was like a space for me I talked to her for a month to trust her, to get closer. She helped me find a room, she gave me a job in a hotel and she already met me in London. My first place is Stratford.
Speaker 1:Did she meet you to the hotel she sent her employee from the hotel.
Speaker 2:I was waiting for an hour. I was in a panic. Lyuba was somewhere at the council and she didn't pick up the phone. I was in a big panic.
Speaker 1:I don't have a ticket back.
Speaker 2:I don't have the Internet, I don't know anyone, I don't know the language. I don't know any language. I don't know anything. I have bronchitis. I haven't slept for two days. I just cry. And when I saw people walking around, me. Indians with hats on their heads. I just cry.
Speaker 1:Have you seen Poland like this?
Speaker 2:No, poland is like Ukraine, just a little bit different language a little bit, and here it's a completely different world. I had such a panic. I'll never forget it.
Speaker 1:Okay, you're moving. Lyuba gives you work. You work in a hotel, you have a place to live. How do you start your life here in Luhansk? What difference do you see? How it differs from between Poland and Ukraine?
Speaker 2:If it wasn't for my desire to help my son, I would probably have left For a week or two?
Speaker 1:Really yes. Why Was it hard for you?
Speaker 2:Yes, both morally and physically. The hotel was not as easy as I thought. You have to clean it very quickly and efficiently. I lost 10 kilos in a month. It's hard to get used to the other world morally.
Speaker 1:What was your moral? You were looking for Ukrainians to talk to. Was it easy for you to find Ukrainians? Morally? Physically, you worked and you said I said it's hard, but morally to support you too, because I see, you know a lot of Ukrainians come now. Many Ukrainians who come now. They are looking for a lot of Ukrainians. Thank God there are these Telegram groups, facebook groups, instagram. It wasn't like that when you were doing it. Thank God it is now. But you see yourself how many Ukrainians who write and where are the Ukrainian or Russian-speaking people here? They are looking for their own Because it's much easier for them, first in Ukrainian, then in English, then it's easier for them to go there. And you didn't have that. What did you do to support you? You can call your son, say a few words, he supports you and then you're back. I lived. I lived with a woman from Tarnopol in one room.
Speaker 2:But everyone had their own life, we were all unfamiliar with each other. Of course they supported me. They pointed out to me, even gave me food because I didn't have anything to buy at the beginning. I had my dinner at the hotel Because I came, gave all the money to the room and the first salary in the hotel was for a month and a half and my son had to be paid for his education. So in the house where I lived I had a friend, victoria Pereviasko. She cooked something delicious for me and she will give me a phone. When I arrived my phone was broken the player, the phone. Where are all my phones? Wow.
Speaker 1:At the beginning, I had a lot with Ukrainians. I have listened to podcasts, discussions some of them were also stories like that, but it's alive what you tell, because now people who have come to Ukraine, ukrainians, arelya, who listens to these podcasts. She lives in America. She lived in America for more than 35 years and she wrote to me. She said, sashko, thank you for doing these podcasts, because I like to listen to Ukrainians who live in the UK, in America, there are many more Ukrainians than here. But she told me how to take Ukrainians and how they told their living story. But you told us how Ukrainian brothers told their own story.
Speaker 1:Your story is very important. You came from Poland, ukraine, from Poland, from Great Britain, and you were not far away. You were standing here on your feet. Thank God, you had a son who supported you. Your mother supported you too. Thank you, luba Adonis, for supporting you so much. She gave you information, gave you work. It's very important If there is no work there, if you say you came for 400 euros, it's nothing, yes, it's very nothing. You start working a little bit to say, to recognize London, great Britain music. You haven't forgotten the music, have you? What did you do to support and do?
Speaker 2:something with your music here. Well, I Not to forget. I also want to remind, to say that I am very grateful to that man in whom I rented a room, a place in a room. He didn't take my money for the first two months because I didn't have them. He believed me that I would give it to him in time and thanks to the fact that I sang New Year's Eve, I had something to pay for the gym to call him Vladimir, on Leyton Stone, which is my home in that area. I couldn't sing and dream because I was not so smart on the phone and on the city map. I was at the beginning like some young person to learn quickly. I didn't understand and couldn't navigate London at all. I learned one road to the hotel, the center and back, and so for half a year.
Speaker 1:Seryoga, how was the road block you?
Speaker 2:didn't know how it was. There was a story about me that the whole hotel laughed at me because the subway stopped somewhere and everyone left. I didn't know that. I just had to wait for the next subway. I went back to the center where I worked and walked through the new one calmly, and then I arrived in Stratford.
Speaker 1:Again yes Wow.
Speaker 2:But I dreamed about singing and I didn't know that there were so many bands, even Ukrainians, in London. I didn't take two months to pay you because you told him that you would pay him later, but you said that you sang music for the New Year.
Speaker 1:How did it happen?
Speaker 2:I asked my neighbor to buy a bottle of wine in my room and asked please take me to the Ukrainian club. I saw the ad Mikhailovska Zabava, london Euromaidan, the team of volunteers. London Euromaidan Support Ukraine. They were doing different fun things to support Ukraine. They were collecting money with fun and I wanted to get there, get acquainted and ask to perform there. But I didn't know how to get to the Ukrainian club. I asked a woman. She took me there. I met Vitaly Dusevich there. He agreed. I asked to perform for free.
Speaker 2:They had other musicians at Mikhailovskyi Zabava and then on New Year's Eve they couldn't find anyone, as far as I know, because most of them are already busy and I as a new visitor. I think that they still didn't trust me so much that I could handle it myself. But they probably didn't have a choice and I asked a lot, took the equipment on rent and swore to myself that I would do it. I knew that before I went abroad. I stayed at a big restaurant for five years. There were 200 people there every day. For two months I sang non-stop. I was a singer and a host. I had little practice in it. It's unusual for a woman, a girl, mostly a musician.
Speaker 1:But when you came to the Ukrainian club, maybe you were happy that there were a lot of Ukrainians here who have live here for a long time. You thought, okay, for music. But you also maybe changed your contacts. It will happen to you and I want to tell you how good you are at doing it. They gave you the opportunity, but it and you will play it. It's great, it's cool, it's great what you did and you played right and you got this money. Yes, you were paid right. Yes, I was paid.
Speaker 2:Did they pay you? Yes, they did. I paid for the equipment, rented it and earned some money. I paid for the equipment, not the equipment the room, I'm sorry and I also paid for the MacBook. As I said, I had already agreed to sing at the New Year's night in the Ukrainian club and my player broke down. Well, yes, I even came with a player and with a notebook. Wow, he broke me a year ago. I don't know how, but I managed to…. A guy who was an IT guy lived in my house and he managed to download everything from the player on the computer which he sold to me, and he said we live together in the same house. When you can, you will give me money. Give me 100 or 200 each month, well, almost every step. God gave me good people who helped me to adapt.
Speaker 1:And I already had a MacBook.
Speaker 2:To this day, I thank Nazar. I work on it and since the new year I had to pay for the room, for the laptop, for the rent. I happily remember then I would like to work for free, just like I do now at charity fairs with joy, whoever invites me, I wish. I am always open to invitations and support volunteers, fairs, ukraine. Well, now it is like that. And then I couldn't, because I didn't even have anything to eat or buy, not even a room. But I wanted to do it because I remember that at the end of the evening all the volunteers had already packed, sat at the table, london and Ramadan, and they all opened up the news for me that they all worked for free to support Ukraine. I had never seen or known Ukraine like that and I dreamed at the time that I would also want anything about Ukraine. I was dreaming about it, but I didn't have money at that time. I had to take some money. London is a tough city. If you come here yourself, it's easier to take a sister, a husband, a sister-in-law.
Speaker 1:I'm the only one.
Speaker 2:And I had to send money son to school every month.
Speaker 1:You played music, they invited you. You had a date with Ukrainians, you made contacts. You still work in hotels. What happened next? Tell me. I'm curious.
Speaker 2:What happened next? Well, it was very, very difficult for me, and when I was invited to sing and the hotel was closed on weekends and they didn't give me weekends like New Year's Eve, for example, I worked non-stop New Year's Eve, came home, took a shower and ran to the hotel again and then I realized that if I want to sing, I need to leave the hotel, look for some other job, because was in the dark for three days. I had to work hard and sing. I started looking for a job in the UK in private houses. I still have my six guys there.
Speaker 1:It's easier for you because you work as a flexibility right. You have flexibility and you can choose your own time to work and you can sing when you do this. How did you start singing in Ukrainian? How did you move from one Ukrainian diaspora to another Ukrainian diaspora? Did the Sarofanan Radio get to you? What do you sing? How did it happen? You said there were already musicians here. How did you identify with these musicians?
Speaker 2:I don't know, probably Sarafan Radio rather, because I didn't post much about myself on Facebook. At the moment I advertise. I sing a lot. I was learning everything very slowly, without any hints. I didn't understand and didn't know a lot. I guess musicians and Ukrainians were talking to each other. I got to know Marian Steslavsky later we started working together. He's been here for a long time. He's met a lot of people, with all the musicians, with people, with volunteers, and so I came more into the Ukrainian diaspora.
Speaker 1:Already thanks to him, you can say and where did you live at that time? Where did you live already?
Speaker 2:I worked for half a year. I lived in Leightonstone and then I moved to Tutin.
Speaker 1:Tutin, that's far.
Speaker 2:I've already traveled all of.
Speaker 1:London. I know not only London, but also Great Britain. I don't have the means to live there. When you first read about Euro in the UK what you are doing now in the UK it's not only a success but a miracle right.
Speaker 2:I don't know.
Speaker 1:It's a miracle that you did it. I also had a podcast and a woman said that she came here with only $100. And to live here and become a successful woman 20 years ago is also great. Galina, you had a desire. You studied to become a musician in Ukraine and you didn't want to leave it. Because we know that there are many people who live here for a long time. They don't do what they like. They do the work they, and they don't work Because they are afraid. I don't know, it's maybe metalite, maybe they are afraid in the middle, maybe they have big debts, maybe they also think that they are not educated people. But sometimes you just need to try. How did you try?
Speaker 1:Before you were asked to play, you took a music equipment. You didn't have money. You were asked to pay. You broke your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop, your laptop.
Speaker 1:Now I know that you sing with him sometimes. I know that he sings the drums more. I also sing. I also sing his voice. I was also on the podcast. The guys were playing in my podcast on the radio. They played great music. They play well. It's also interesting with them. When we were hanging out, we were interested about these different events. It was interesting. It's the same with you. It's interesting. Okay, you already know more and more about Ukrainians in London. When the war happened, what happened then? What happened in your life? You also have a family in Ukraine. How did you start helping Ukrainians even more Because you also work? We understand that when you work in London and it's an expensive place and the most expensive thing here is the premises how did you manage to help Ukrainians so much? And now you're collecting money? You're not even collecting money for this.
Speaker 2:The war has been going on since 2014. The Ukrainian volunteers Support Ukraine, london, euromaidan and many other organizations are gathering when the full-scale invasion started. Thank God. Thank God that even today, when there is such a big problem, everyone went to rallies and I also started to go more actively, although I went when I arrived, when I already learned how to use POS codes, I already came, and when there was a full-scale invasion, I came. Well, I just stood. There were thousands, many people, hundreds people. I was standing there and the volunteers were telling me maybe you should sing a patriotic song. I couldn't do it. I had a lump in my throat, so I just stood there. Then I thought why would I stand here? There are many Ukrainians here.
Speaker 2:I was walking away from the Maidan so as not to distract people and other places. Marian helped me find it. I had a column and I was going to sing and collect money. I went out once and saw that I had stolen 100 pounds. I thought, oh, I will be more from this than from standing on the Maidan, and so it started. From then, I started to collect money myself At different fairs.
Speaker 2:Sometimes the girls called me if they had time to come. Sometimes they didn't call. I sat with Mary sitting in the car loading the equipment and driving. Maybe we should help you. We will sing. Nadiya Ivanchik, a volunteer, did it once. She didn't even know that I would come, but she was extremely grateful. She gave me 500 pounds. I just collected for my fellow villagers because I am from the village of Kopankiv, in general in the Frankevsk region and there are a lot of people on the front line about 50 people At that moment. I was collecting for them on the car. I succeeded, I collected, sent the car and, thanks to London EuroMaidan, they gave me bulletproof vests, then helmets, tourniquets, medical equipment, various food, a lot of things. We loaded the car with Maryana Steslavsky and sent it there. And that's not all. I continued to play on the streets and then I started looking for, as you say, I'm known for my friends in London. We went there and played different games Gloster, liverpool, I forgot.
Speaker 1:Manchester, tarasovka too.
Speaker 2:I started calling the organizers and offering charity concerts. I already had my own songs which I presented in Ukraine on the Galitsky Sliagir. I had my own songs and offered myself myself as a concert or as a fun. Who is successful? Someone listens, someone dances. Everyone behaves as he sees fit. The main thing for me was to raise money, and I managed to raise quite a lot of money. I'm afraid that in these two years I won't be able to say what I'm proud of, but I managed to raise a lot of money for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Speaker 2:At the moment I continue working in the Naharov restaurant. I thank the administration for allowing me to do this, for supporting me. Instead of taking a break, I take a bucket and tell a few words about myself. I take a bucket again, tell two words about myself. Sometimes it's a little uncomfortable for me not to be told that I am praising myself. There are different rumors that I talk a lot about myself. I'm always afraid that people will think they didn't know me and what they want from us. I just tell them that I have an education they already gave me for what I do. I didn't know. They gave me a birthday present.
Speaker 1:Well, I wish you luck.
Speaker 2:Yes, then they gave me various certificates. Thanks, I didn't want all this because I said I probably don't know if I'll return to Ukraine. I don't know.
Speaker 1:But unfortunately, you know, you say that for those people who say that, for you and for me too, a lot of people say that I don't look at those Ukrainians, I move forward. You know my skin has its favorite quote Don't give up. Because many times I know in you, in your profession as well as in my profession, many times I wanted to give up, even with this podcast. I wanted to give up with the network, our platform. I also wanted to give up because it was hard. It's hard because you have to look for information yourself or you have to come up with information yourself and think about how to find this information, with whom to make a collaboration. Sometimes people have great information and you want to cooperate with that person, because this is the same mission, but people don't want to give that information. They want to keep it for themselves. Maybe now they have this information, or maybe they open it up and give you this information, but then it is no longer valuable. But it is too late. Look, I will tell you this there are a lot of Ukrainians who live in this country. I'm not saying that they don't help Ukraine, but you did an interesting thing.
Speaker 1:You took a bucket and we went to Bonmov and she asked me to call her Alexandra or something. She said to me Sashko, I want to invite you to Bonmov too. There will be Galina Balaban there. I said, okay, if there will be Galina Balaban, I will come there too, why not? So I came there with my friends. They were so tired, it was hot. Yes, it was hot. I said, okay, I'll come, you'll film me too. I gave them food, bought them food so that they wouldn't run away from me. We talked, took photos. Marianne was there too. It was very sunny there. I didn't care about the concert. I was most worried about the Bormov concert.
Speaker 2:I've never been to Bormov.
Speaker 1:It's a pity I didn't perform there, but anyway you came. I don't want to say that.
Speaker 2:I was shocked.
Speaker 1:Three hours. I understand what you said about people. Well, people are a lot in my yard, but who do you inspire, galina? Who do you dislike? Walking with a bucket sorry, walking with a bucket and singing, as you said, because I know that EuroMaidan asks me a lot of times, sashko, take me so that people go to meetings more often. But I understand that you were also at meetings and you said.
Speaker 1:I remember when Vasyl was on my podcast. He said it's good to be there for the fact that maybe Ukrainians are not interested, but in the second nationality, when they see that Ukrainian prap is standing, they go there by train or bus or walk. They are very happy to be there and I think that's the most important thing, and I think that's the most important thing and I think that's the most important thing. Maybe it's not interesting for Ukrainians, but when they see Ukrainian flags on the second nationality, they go there by train or bus. It reminds them that there is a war and something needs to be done and it's great. But people like you collect money, but not only money is collected and sent to Ukraine. I remember when you were at Leighton, a Lithuanian restaurant. I was there a long time ago. They wanted to work with me. I refused, but you played music there. Vasya also met there and played. And I remember one thing when I came in nationalities, you still collected money with music and even if you didn't have music, you also did karaoke, gave people to sing, but there are people who sometimes take a microphone. I don't even have a voice, but you have to entertain people and dance. But you did it anyway and you supported Ukraine. Galina, it's interesting that you came to the UK at that time. It's hard for you and where are you now? I think a lot that we as Ukrainians not only as Ukrainians, but as people we always forget where we were 2, three, four, five years ago and look where we are now. What progress have we already made? It can be a career, it can be a volunteerism. How many people you have helped?
Speaker 1:I also do podcasts with different Ukrainians. There are also different Ukrainians who have very cool stories that I want to listen to. I want to help with the echo that I hear from Ukrainians. They say Sasha, do more of these podcasts, but people don't understand podcasts. It's not that easy to do.
Speaker 1:You know it's also coming making a schedule. Maybe a person will tell me. I can't do it today, maybe I'll do it next time. It's also preparing. I also need to prepare for podcasts. I need to know my story better. Thank God, I know you. I know your events. I go to concerts. Was it last year or this year? No, it was the birthday of the year. You invited me to Serenity restaurant. I met Lesia. I met Lesya. I only talked to her and I met her reality. I talked to her. Very cool and thank God that there are such Ukrainians who open some restaurants here and give the opportunity to you and other musicians to sing their music.
Speaker 1:Because one thing I want to say is that Ukrainians, many Ukrainians, came here and Ukrain and want to play music. They don't want to forget the voice, the training they did in Ukraine. It's very difficult to come from another country and sing in English. You don't know how to sing well in English. You want to sing in my own language why? Because those who listen to you. It's on the soul of the person. They accept you more. The English support us. They give us many opportunities, but they don't understand our music. If they hear some English words, they will understand you more and maybe give you support. What are your impressions of the British when they listen to you.
Speaker 2:I will tell you about my experience in a Lithuanian restaurant on Lichtenstown. I didn't even dream that I would stay there for so long, because behind one Ukrainian marketer, olga Sanina from Lviv, was such a person that I just sang one evening, and that's it. They made an advertisement, sang it, and that's it.
Speaker 2:That's the end of the story, but it turned out that way. I didn't even expect it. As you say it's famous. I don't think it's famous. There are just singers in the restaurant singing. I recorded a few of my songs. I'm happy to enjoy it, but they threw in the ads and I had to pay a lot of money for the number of people.
Speaker 2:Lithuanians were not going to put me on the stand as Ukrainians in a restaurant. People will come, you will have a salary. They will come, you will not have. So my career ended there because people stopped going. They did not understand Lithuanian cuisine. But during half a year I still stopped there because on the first evening came a full hall and so it lasted four months, 100%. You came and saw there. Sometimes Ukrainians waited on the street to get into the hall and there was no place. And Lithuanians, I will say they carried my bucket with pride in the hall and thought where to put it so that more people saw it and threw more money. They thanked me and were proud of me for making my own. All Lithuanians gave me money. They didn't feel sorry for me.
Speaker 2:I sold a candle that cost 5-10 pounds. I will never forget it. I sold it for 80 pounds. I bought a Lithuanian one. Moldovan just gave me 150 pounds. I found him on Facebook. I thanked him. He couldn't be happier and said that he was thinking about going to Ukraine to fight because they understand consciously that if it weren't for Ukraine then Moldova would also be in trouble. That's what Moldovan said when I sang English songs. They didn't dance like they danced Ukrainian songs.
Speaker 2:English people love Ukrainian songs. I understood it when I sang in a Lithuanian restaurant. It was a fate to learn songs in different languages Spanish, italian, lithuanian, moldovan, romanian. My tongue broke at home. I sat in headphones like this my mom watched a movie at home and I was thinking God, how easy is English compared to Romanian and Lithuanian? But they love Ukrainian music too, and they came and danced.
Speaker 2:I have a lot of videos I used to upload online. Well, not so often because it was a war, and not every time Ukrainians believed me understood that it was not even Ukrainians who danced, although Ukrainians dance now and, as they say, life goes on. People should be friends. You can't cry without a stop. The spirit of the fight must be. I think the main thing is not to leave Ukraine in trouble. Donate, help, support our guys, because each of us is a man from Odesa, a brother from his family. I mean, just help donate, and dancing is already…. It's like a soul allows you to do it. But I've been launching videos for a while and I've been getting a little bit of a kick.
Speaker 1:Yes, but you know you said you've found the mod that you gave to you. You found it on Facebook.
Speaker 2:I found it. He told me the name. I found it and thanked him.
Speaker 1:See people. I say this I also like to do this. I like to tag people because everyone likes to feel… Attention, attention, yes, attention, attention, impulse Everyone likes it. And when you tag people because there are many ends even myself, sometimes I look at social media I see a person who took a photo with me and just put it, but did not tag me. Not that I hate it. I sometimes think maybe this person does not know how to use social media, because I remember Kristina, who plays on Bandura. She introduced me to a social club in the center. She sent me a message in the social club in the center and I showed her stories that you can add this. She was shocked. She said, ashko, can you do this? I said, yes, you can do this. She looked at me like that. She was shocked.
Speaker 2:You taught me a lot too. I also didn't know a lot of things. I didn't have any ideas how to do it.
Speaker 1:Yes, it helps a lot. It helps a lot with hashtags. They have hashtags. They help Ukrainians in England or London because people use hashtags. They look for communities and it's very important.
Speaker 1:You came to Great Britain. You met Lyuba. Glory to God. Glory to God, those Ukrainians who will listen to this glory. Thank you, who opened at that time the announcement. Ukrainian in England, ukrainians in London Because they also gave me the opportunity to grow up. Too Many already know me. Many already know the name Sasha Kozak. They already know me the opportunity to grow. Many people already know me. My name is Sasha Kozak. They know me through podcasts. Thank you for joining this group and giving me the opportunity and many Ukrainians also have the opportunity to find cool information and do something with this information. I know a lot of Ukrainians who have cool groups, who translate some machines or some food. I know a lot of Ukrainians who come here to restaurants and also advertise in some of these groups or even pay for these advertisements. It's like you gave the opportunity, like they gave me. I'm very grateful to these groups.
Speaker 1:Think about how these groups were not at all. There is Facebook, but there are no groups for group for Ukrainians. We have a lot of people here. I think when you hang out with Ukrainians I already understand that we are not that many here but when you work with Ukrainians you feel I feel like in butter and water, like at home. My mom says Sashko, you're so cool, everyone knows you, you feel good. I say what do you have? My mom says I'm in the bus. I hear two guys saying for you, sasha Kozak, sasha Kozak is for you. And my mother was so happy that I did it. I said, mom, it wasn't easy. I didn't sleep many nights on social networks.
Speaker 1:I know almost all the groups, all the channels. I know a lot of Telegram. I work with guys on portals. I know a lot of TV channels. I know Telegram. I have a lot of time and research and there were my problems. There were also nuances. Not that I am a goddess, I am also a person I have. Myih does a great job. I see his posts how he supports and buys cars.
Speaker 2:He does 40 cars at the moment.
Speaker 1:Nazar. I forgot his father, who lived in the business center. He said this is my son. I say cool, great, he does a great job. He said you do a great job. I met a lot of Ukrain people who do this job In general. There are many people here London, maidan, ukraine does a great job Alina Lutz in the West of Ukraine, prosperity, galina and Oleksandr great, they do a great job. I know in the East, in Richmond, they do a lot of these things, not only in Richmond. Svetlana and Serhii also do. I don't think, and the war is coming, it's not ending. We need to support Ukraine and I'm very glad that I met you, galina, because you do a great job.
Speaker 1:I see your posts, I see you even do live streams too. You go on the livestream and show that you are here and there and you will do it right away. You give it to someone from the camera and while they are filming you, you sing, walk around, and the British are also surprised, because many times the British didn't know Ukrainian music then. Right Now they are through you, these festivals that you also go to. Did you also get invited to some festivals? Who invited you? From the UK?
Speaker 2:I was invited to the Luton festival for a few years.
Speaker 1:I know that Boa Dovzla, when she invited you, you were also constantly invited.
Speaker 2:I always have an hour of my solo performance there and the English people react very well to Ukrainian songs. The Poles also invited me to the festival here. I also sing in Polish.
Speaker 1:Where do you play now?
Speaker 2:At the moment I work in a restaurant in Khariv.
Speaker 1:When? Only on Saturdays, only on Saturdays but.
Speaker 2:I am open to different invitations because I am not only a singer but also a hostess at weddings. I have a weekend on Sunday. I don't sing on my day off. I sing on any day of my life. I am open to invitations to proposals. I am open to all volunteers' requests. I go to fairs with joy. I support them. I even had a song in the fall. I had a wedding. I sang, I had the guys. I went to the second end of London. Katryna Tomyk organized a fair. I just suffered because I didn't have time for the wedding. The owner helped me to fasten the strings because the guys were already waiting for me and I was already in the car flying from the fair. I don't know, I probably spent more on a taxi than I would have given Katya a donation, but it happens. I want to help everyone.
Speaker 1:What motivates?
Speaker 2:you to do what you are doing now? I don't know. I feel very, very pleased when I need something in Ukraine Ukrainian guys homeland. I want to come back there. I cry, I dream. When the war started, I was already going home, but the war started and it stopped me here for a long time, like all Ukrainians.
Speaker 1:And how is your mother?
Speaker 2:here. My mother came here a year ago.
Speaker 1:And where is she now? She?
Speaker 2:lives in Poland. Does she still?
Speaker 1:live there. Does she study there?
Speaker 2:Yes, she's already finished.
Speaker 1:She works there Does she want to come here.
Speaker 2:No, she didn't like it, has she been?
Speaker 1:here before she's been here.
Speaker 2:I've had a guest for a few weeks but he adapted to it.
Speaker 1:He has friends and a girlfriend. Well people, but I know that sometimes you go to see the photos.
Speaker 2:I go to visit him To gain strength and joy, because he motivates me the most in life. I laugh, sing and move forward. I see.
Speaker 1:And now you are doing what you are doing now. Has anything changed in your life?
Speaker 2:Nothing has changed. I will continue Now. In winter I don't want to go to London because I have throat problems. I often have it on my vocal cords. It's not healthy, as they say, with vocal cords and I'm forbidden to sing in the cold because I was very hoarse and bronchitis. And now you know, I already have it in my mind where I will try to ask the English to show the dedication. Maybe it will help them to allow me to sing for an hour somewhere in the center to collect more money.
Speaker 1:You know, helena, when the war started I say 2022, there was a lot of support for Ukraine. Now it's not that it's fallen, but it's fallen a lot, a lot of what Ukrainians did then. They don't do anymore, in your opinion. How do you see the Ukrainian community here? How is it changing now? Where is it moving?
Speaker 2:To be honest, I am a bit disappointed with the way Ukrainians react, Because when I see how I have to beg, sometimes it's easy for me to ask for a bucket. I asked, they threw it in. I immediately turned it over at the end of the evening. All the money was spent on witnesses, visitors. They calculated, put it out, reported, have reported. We have taken volunteers to Ukraine. Now it's a bit less. People are reacting. If they stand from one side, then almost no one will throw a bucket. If I ask, I go. Plus, I see how few people go to the Maidan now. There were thousands, hundreds now you can count on your fingers. I think people have adapted to it. I don't know Today.
Speaker 1:I posted on my Instagram story that we need to gather everyone because today we launched more than 150 missiles to Ukraine and the same problem continues.
Speaker 2:I'm posting some songs, some videos, and I'm getting a lot of feedback from people I'm not sure if it's videos and I have an hour two. Up to a thousand views, 500, a lot. At the moment I can watch 20 views. I don't evenidan. They do it without a stop, ask, advertise and the world sees that we don't give up, we don't stop who can do it. It's the duty of every Ukrainian. Someone will go and stand, someone will go and collect, someone will go and sing.
Speaker 1:Someone will pay the salaries. You know, malen, I'll tell you how I see the Ukrainian market, how it is changing here. People adopted a lot, a lot, it's true, a lot of Ukrainians who came here. Where did they go? Holon Park, it's a center. There was a lot of information.
Speaker 1:Only they already Everything is good, everything is good, only they have a problem. They return to the person who has a problem. I know why Because we have Telegram group, which you know we have, and I see statistics. I see people who are sitting on this platform because they found a job, a residence, and there is a lawyer sitting there who can answer the question. They are sitting there only they have work. When they have something bad, I see that people are writing again the same that they wrote 6-7 months ago. I think that's my people. I can't deny that. But I tell everyone that the Ukrainian people are new.
Speaker 1:Donate, go to the meeting at least once a month. Just come, hang out with someone, talk to someone, change contacts, listen to Ukrainian, maybe even the language, because I think, when you are already working, singing, doing something here side of the world, in a country where there are more foreigners than Ukrainians, thank God that there are already many Ukrainians here who can support each other, because it wasn't like that back then. Now they can support each other. Thank God that there are organizations that still hold on to the Euro-Maidan and think about how there was no Euro-Maidan at all. What was it then? I don't know myself. There is already Euro-Maidan, because Euro-Maidan, we can say, is an example for others, inspiration for other organizations, which are very many here. They are like the Opens, who have this festival. Now the war is going on. Many or they don't have them or they are doing some kind of collaboration with different people.
Speaker 1:I see that the market is changing for Ukrainians. You are walking among, often, ukrainians. I hear good news from you, but I don't hear much from you. I just changed a little. How can I say I'm more interested in Ukrainian events, more in business, more more people who don't know me, why I made this podcast, so that my audience knows about me. Maybe there will be a collaboration, maybe you will do something else.
Speaker 1:I am more focused on Ukrainians who are not only adapting but are already growing up in this country. I don't mean those who came recently, but also Ukrainians who have lived here for a long time. I also like a lot of English-Ukrainians, as I call myself an English-Ukrainian. I want to make a podcast with them too. I want to make it with girls who make nails for us. A lot of people say our Ukrainians, our experts, do it very well in Ukraine. We are the best. I say, okay, I'll make a podcast.
Speaker 1:I want to invite five women North, south, east, west and the center of London. I want to invite them. Those who have salons. Tell me how you started the salon here, how it was then and now you have opened the salon. Tell me how you are organizing from Ukraine and the UK. I want to go there. I don't hear anything from you Because the other audience has already left. I am concentrating. I feel like a podcaster, an interviewer. I don't want to be a blogger anymore. People call me a blogger, but I don't like it when they call me a blogger. Blogger is Katya Ptyashko, alina Zaleska, who I made a podcast with, volkova, who has an agency here right. See, this is also a problem because many people who have Facebook do not have Instagram. Do you have Instagram? You don't use it. Many people who have Instagram do not use Facebook, and this is also a problem.
Speaker 1:Different audience yes, very different audience, but there is a lot of information on Instagram that people throw there. The same with Facebook. This is a lot of great information. I also tell everyone go to Facebook. Facebook is a great platform. There are a lot of Ukrainians there. I am talking about some Ukrainians who ask me such questions. I am sitting at home and you know, here the Facebook group is called the Advertising Board. You can find this information there. And those who are sitting on Facebook I say do you know Instagram and other platforms? Well, some older people don't want to use other platforms. It's just that a lot has changed for me. There's also a platform. You know we already have an app, an add-on, but there's another one. I almost every day go to some meetings. I'm being invited meetings almost every day. Different people invite me now and I'll tell you one thing, galina what helps is when you invite people to interviews, to the studio.
Speaker 1:I used to do radio Kozyzok. Thank you, radio Kozyzok, for listening to me. Viktor Bailinsky thank you for the opportunity. He really gave me the opportunity to do it. Many people know about Radio Kozachok from my editorial. I wanted to do it with him to cooperate, because radio and podcasts are almost the same, but we didn't succeed. I went my way. He stays the way he is. He also needs you. I think Radio, the Kozachok Radio, should develop, because I told him I want, when some artists come to you, don't go to some party, some club, ukrainian club Let them come to you. They should be number one and then they go where they want to play. I know I also performed at the Kozachok Radio. They have it for five years now and thank God I did a podcast with Victor because so many people wrote to me.
Speaker 1:I did it like this. People wrote to me like Sashko, wow, wow, kozak, kozachok. You have a radio Kozachok. I say what do you need? We need an advertisement. I say call me, call Victor, it's his radio. I also tell people a I have to advertise something. Maybe you want to do something. There is Ukrainian radio here. People are shocked that there is a radio here.
Speaker 1:I will tell you one more thing Sum Plast, augb, ukrainian association in the UK. Many people do not know about them. I have a link to episode 38. He also told a lot of information about himself, how Irina did it I'm sorry I'm not in the video how Irina founded it, how she did it and I thank her for what she did. When Ukrainians go to their events, when they dance, we don't forget that we Ukrainians live in this country, and not only Ukrainians, but also Anglo-Ukrainians, british Ukrainians and also British people. They look at our culture and I think it inspires them, because when we live in London I see that English culture dies. Here In London it lives. It's just a lot of foreigners here. You know more, you can tell more.
Speaker 2:Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I am a volunteer from the Heart of Ukraine. One of the volunteers, Pasha, invited me to the Glastonbury World Festival for two years in a row and here in London, as you said, there are 50 nationalities. It's very difficult. Everything is mixed up.
Speaker 1:But London is London. London is where I live. I can go to Ukraine and live there for two years, but I will still go back to London.
Speaker 2:You are here since childhood.
Speaker 1:Lena, I have four important questions for you. What did Ukraine teach? Question and Poland has not yet taught you.
Speaker 2:Ukraine has taught me that I am Ukrainian, that I was born there and sooner or later I will return there. I love my homeland very much, my paths where I was born, my village, my relatives, my banks. Poland has taught me that we are very similar in language, behavior and culture. When I moved to Poland I did not have such a difficult adaptation as here in England. In England I had an adaptation for at least a year. Every day I cried, but it's okay. I survived here. England, london, taught me to be much stronger.
Speaker 2:Thanks to London hard work I was able to buy and record my songs. One of them I even won at the teleproject of the contest of the Krai Hit Bronze winner. I'm going to perform two songs on the Ukrainian TV-festival Halytsky Shlyagin on April 14th. I hope I will go because Ukraine was bombed today, but I hope that there will be peace and victory soon and we will sing more happily. Well, the same is true for meeting new friends, new Ukrainians, here in London. We are different here than in Ukraine. We are a bit the same.
Speaker 1:Why it's interesting? Why are we a little different than Ukrainians in Ukraine?
Speaker 2:I don't know. I don't want to be thrown a stone at me here. Ukrainians are a little more evil than at home, although at home they say hello, everyone smiles, but sometimes I think that sometimes you can smile but then you have can put a knife in your back. Well, it happens, because it happens in all nations, like in Poles in English. It's the same in Ukrainians. There are good and bad. There are those who love you, there are those who don't. But you don't know that In Ukraine. You know that Because in Ukraine you can send them directly.
Speaker 1:Yes, they tell you directly.
Speaker 2:Directly yes and here no, and here, no, your eyes smile and you never know where the pit is.
Speaker 1:Where the pit is. I see how the British do it and they start doing the same here. What advice would you give to Ukrainians who live in the territory of Great Britain?
Speaker 2:Well, to support each other, to support Ukraine and, I repeat once again today, the third or fourth time, to support Maidan. To go to Maidan Because the war unfortunately is ongoing. Even if, god willing, the war ends, we will still support Ukraine because we will have to treat our defenders, support children.
Speaker 1:And what will you say to people, galen, what? What will you say to people who will say why should I go to the London Maidan to the US Minister just to stand there with that poster? How can I go home, sit or go to some center in Ukraine just to give?
Speaker 2:money. Who feels like himself feels like himself. I don't know what to say. It's impossible to force anyone to give money or go to the Maidan. It's the duty of every Ukrainian to support Ukraine. But who does it? Who feels it? Everyone's wish? I, for example, with my singing, my voice.
Speaker 2:I try to ask for help Because I think that it's not so easy and simple to go and ask for help with a bucket. Once when the war started, I went to help the people. I went to the police, I went to speak out to ask for help, because I think that it's not that easy to go and ask for help with a bucket. Once when the war started, I was walking on the Maidan with a bucket with a friend of one. Then she ran to work and I had two buckets left and I met another friend there. I say please take my bucket, help me collect, because then there were a lot of hundreds there. I was collecting the full bucket I don't know how much. I was throwing everything in the bag of the London Euromaidan. That girl refused. I said what? I won't do it. Then they said I was doing it for myself.
Speaker 2:There are always some thoughts Because I'll say it this way it's not that easy to go and collect a bucket. There's always some fear and I even have it myself that I'll think about myself. One guy even told me you read so much for every 50, even 100, some big volunteers like Prytula 100, or even 100, and that I am not as good as him. I said that I am afraid, but I want to. I see that people give me opportunities and it is a pity to lose. It is a molecule against what our guys need. I'm not saying that I'm giving them a generator or a system that they bought or a car that is still running. It's just a small help. But if everyone thought about it, it would be much easier for our guys. They do what they do and there are things they don't do. I think they do. They do.
Speaker 1:And there are things they don't do. What are the last words you would like?
Speaker 2:to say to our audience I wish everyone health. I wish everyone faith in victory in Ukraine. I wish everyone that each of you soul was in place. If you are good in England, stay in England. If you are good in Poland, stay in Poland. If you are good in Poland, stay in Poland. Everyone should be at ease where he is, and whoever wants to return to Ukraine. I wish to return to a peaceful, prosperous Ukraine and, as my hymn said, never give up. Never give up. You can cry for one day, two, and then get up from your knees. I always get up and go.
Speaker 1:Galena? How do you know that people can contact you, can make collaborations with you. Even in the interview you said you could do something with music. Where do you know where people can write to you?
Speaker 2:I have a Facebook page Halina Balaban. Instagram also Halina Balaban. Tiktok Halina Balaban. Instagram also Halina Balaban, tiktok Halina Balaban.
Speaker 2:YouTube YouTube, by the way. There I have my songs. I currently have 7 of them, 3 songs. I will now, if I manage, to go to Halytsky Shlyagin on 14th of April, I will present 2 new songs premiere and 3 new songs. I will still record in the at the premiere and record three new songs at the studio. I still have a dream to put up a solo concert. I collect songs for myself. Ukraine will win. I will go home to my hometown, kalush, the village, the surrounding area, fronkivshchyna. I dream of going to my solo concert. I collect songs. My son writes poems for me. There are some composers who write music. I go to my dream, although I am a little old, but it was my childhood dream.
Speaker 1:Elena Balaban, thank you for being on Kozak Talks. This is episode 45 or 44, I don't remember A famous Ukrainian singer who plays folk songs in the UK, in London, in all the UK. I know you say she's not famous, but you're famous. I don't know who from the Ukrainians plays here. No-transcript. Don't forget to come to the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They do it on Wednesday. Horror, the trouble continues.
Speaker 1:So today is additional. Understand this, remember, dear Ukrainians, 100 dollars, even 300 euros, which comes here to the Lviv party. Ukrainians have a desire. Don't give up. You can get 6 out of 10 in this country. This country gives great opportunities for those people who don't give up. They have a great desire. As it was before you, galena was a star and said mother in the fire. Mother in the fire, and you do 6. Thank you for watching.
