Feeling very nervous- meeting 3 Ukrainians in the morning

[listsandbudgets]

We area sponsoring 3 Ukrainian refugees to come here..They got their visas at the end of last week and as of this morning weren't sure of travel plans. Then at 3.30pm.they contacted me to say they'd got free air tickets to arrive London LUton tomorrow at 7.30am! Dropped everything, frantic rearranging, jumped on a train out if Birmingham and now at an air port Hotel.

Keep worrying they won't like me or I won't be able to properly support them or ..
or... or... what if???

Been waiting for weeksfor visas and days for flights but now seems so sudden. Did think I'd get 24 hours notice but they suddenly managed to get free air tickets so couldn't turn them down.

A 60 year old and 35 year old lady and a 14 year old boy. Feeling incredible responsibility for them. They've just spent 2 weeks in a refugee centre in Warsaw. I fully expect them to be exhausted.

I asked Hotel and they can come in for a shower and hotel have extended my check out to midday to let them have a rest and will also give them breakfast then long train journey back.

I can speak a bit of Russian and a few words of Ukrainian ( they speak both) but communications won't be easy

Wow. Good luck.

I’m sure it will all be fine.

Well done. And do keep us updated.

I'm sure they will be very happy and grateful to have you as a sponsor. Only one thing I can suggest and that would be to find them Ukrainian people in your town or city so they can have some good emotional support.

Oh lists, well done you!

How exciting, but nerve wracking too!

Are they grandmother/mother/son or?

Do none of them speak English?

Did you have much choice over who you had ?

How many bedrooms are you able to offer them?

I'm sure you'll make them very welcome and it will be fine!

Are there any others coming to your neighbours/community.

We're all here for moral support!!

What an incredible thing you're doing. I'm sure you'll all muddle along as best you can. You sound like you're going to be a great help to them. Best wishes x

You’re doing a really great thing. I can imagine the anxiety though! I’m sure you’ll muddle through - looking for support locally will be really helpful. Reset might be a good website for starting links if you haven’t managed to connect with local groups.

As an East European whose area gets hundreds of Ukrainian refugees weekly, my advice is: just be yourself, be empathetic, don't worry much. They're nervous, you're nervous. You're all just people in a new situation and you will be fine. Thank you for what you do.

Wow amazing hope it goes well of course they’ll like you!!

They're going to be just as dazed as you are. Be prepared for feelings of resentment and pining for home and other family. They will want access to the news in their language. Utilise any and all support the government offers. Above all remember it's only shelter, warmth and food they absolutely need from you, if you find any of them are hostile.

Download a text to speech or speech to speech translation app. Google's own is good.

I don't know what else, it's not a situation I've been in. I would dearly love to read updates from you as Sweden (where I am) will also receive around 80,000 Ukrainian refugees.

Thank you so much for doing this for those people. We genuinely don't have space in our little flat, though will help in other ways as much as we can.

I had a request recently in the day job where we put some links together, so I don't know if the language links below might be a starting point for you. They're mainly but not only relating to health but there is some general stuff in there too - and even if your new arrivals can't speak all that much English, they may well be able to read and write it.

• medlineplus.gov/languages/ukrainian.html - some technical explanations of, for instance, diabetes treatment, cancer tests etc with downloadable dual language PDFs

-www.healthinfotranslations.org/language/ukrainian/22971/ - another set of downloadable dual language PDFs, some with sketches/illustrations to help

• www.proz.com/glossary-translations/english-to-ukrainian-glossaries - PROZ is a website aimed at translators, there are also some general vocabulary lists on there

-www.davecurtis.net/phrasebook/medicalphrases.en.uk.html - the page at www.davecurtis.net/phrasebook/ also includes links to apps to help with pronunciation (looks like Windows only) and other tools that might be of use

• app2brain.com/learn-languages/ukrainian/body-health/ - this one may be a little basic and doesn’t seem to have a huge range of vocabulary on there, but might offer a starting point, and there are links to sound files

• www.easternhealth.org.au/services/language-services/cue-cards/cue-cards-in-community-languages - these are links to flashcards in a range of languages, including Ukrainian; they are bright and basic (for statistical purposes and to help with funding they may ask for your details).

•      <a class="break-all" href="http://www.picturecommunicationtool.com/index.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.picturecommunicationtool.com/index.shtml</a> - this tool was put together by Mid-Essex Hospital Services around 2006, so some of the images may be a little dated, but they will hopefully help bridge the language barrier in the first instance. Again, they do ask for contact details before you download the set.
  

• As a last resort there’s also Google Translate, although I think anyone who’s ever attempted to use it for language translation would definitely say “Use with caution”.

The societies/organisations below might also have suggestions for resources (though if you’ve already thought of these, my apologies for the duplication.)

• www.augb.co.uk/ - Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, again, main centre based in London but links on the page to centres in other large towns/cities

• mfa.gov.ua/en/embassies/velika-britaniya - Embassy of Ukraine to the UK and their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ukraine.in.uk/ and ireland.mfa.gov.ua/en

All the very best to all of you.

Good luck Op, what a wonderful thing you’re doing. Hope all goes well for all of you tomorrow.

Good luck OP ❤️ You’re doing a wonderful thing.

Do update us.

How’s it going OP?

Duolingo has put together a free basic English/Ukranian phrasebook, and is also supporting Ukranians in learning English - it is a free site anyway, although some people pay to help them provide free lessons in many languages, for all. I believe that Duo are offering their premium service to Ukranians at the moment without them needing to pay, but also without them having to see adverts whilst they are learning.

Sorry, but I have no idea how you link to things, but it is probably quite easy to find if you use Google. Thank you OP, and everyone else, who are helping Ukranians in whatever way they can.

@TurkeyRoastvBubbleandSqueek Thank you so much for adding that, I'll add that to our list of resources and on a personal note share with a friend who is taking part in the rehousing scheme.

How is it going? Our three generation family are still waiting for their visas at the moment. We are collecting things for the little one. It is definitely nerve wracking. The eldest lady would like a job but speaks almost no English and no second language. Any ideas what organisations I can get in touch with?

Hoping things are going well

How’s it going OP?

I hope very much that things are settling down with your new guests. Well done.

I registered to be a host, but now need an op so it is all on hold atm.

Might I ask how you sourced people in need of a home.

Do you have a local Facebook group for people supporting or housing Ukrainians? I am still waiting for my guests to get visas through (applied on 20th March, we only have 2/5 through so far despite much chasing from MP ) but the local groups are very helpful because of course what is available depends on your locality, plus talking to other hosts is very helpful.