As Russian troops advance to Kyiv, Ukrainians try to cope anyway they can

As Russian troops advance to Kyiv, Ukrainians try to cope anyway they can

Transcript¹

NPR's Rachel Martin checks back in with a Ukrainian college student, who she met a month ago, about what keeps her going in the midst² of war.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

As the unrest continues in Ukraine, people are trying to cope in any way they can. Rachel Martin checked back in with a college student she met a month ago.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

It's hard to comprehend³ just how much life has changed for Ukrainians in such a short amount of time. I met Daria less than a month ago at a cafe in Kyiv, along with some of her friends from university, in what now feels like a totally different world.

Hi, guys. I'm Rachel.

DARIA: I'm Daria.

MARTIN: Hi, Daria. Nice to meet you.

DARIA: Nice to meet you, too.

MARTIN: Things felt tense then, but Daria and her friends were still logging on to their classes, going to movies at night. Daria told me she had developed tricks to try to stay calm.

DARIA: For example, I ask a question. What can I do now? If I can do something - for example, to make international passport - I go and do this.

MARTIN: Like, keep occupied, keep busy.

DARIA: Yes, yes. Not concentrate on this situation because it will be crazy.

MARTIN: The crazy arrived.

DARIA: Our sky was just bombed, and I hear planes.

MARTIN: You heard planes overhead.

DARIA: Yes.

MARTIN: I reached Daria on a rough phone line yesterday from the town of Chernivtsi in the west of Ukraine. We're using just her first name to protect her security. She was still in Kyiv when the Russians first attacked last Thursday morning. She left with her brother and some friends. With all the traffic and the roadblocks, a drive that should have taken five hours took them 15. The rest of Daria's family is still in Kyiv.

Why did your parents stay behind in Kyiv?

DARIA: Because we have my grandma in Kyiv, and she didn't want to go to Chernivtsi. So they decided⁴ to stay.

MARTIN: Were your parents supportive? Did they want you to leave?

DARIA: Yes, to be more safe.

MARTIN: But you're still worried about them.

DARIA: Yes, I'm still worried about them. I asked my parents how they feel. And recently, we woke up - we knew that a military base that is really close to my home was completely bombed.

MARTIN: Daria's parents and her grandma told her they were safe in a shelter, but she's still worried for them. She's still anxious. She doesn't sleep at night. The air raid⁵ sirens⁶ don't help. She hears them, too. And when that happens, she and the friends she's staying with all go to the basement of the house.

Can you describe what those moments are like when you are gathered in those basements?

DARIA: I felt really anxious because I know that Russian army can bomb innocent people. So that - I feel really anxious, and I, like, every moment think about - that I can be dead.

MARTIN: I can be dead, she tells me. This young college student who a few weeks ago was chatting with her friends in a hip⁷ neighborhood coffee shop in Kyiv now suffers from the kind of anxiety that quickly turns to trauma⁸.

DARIA: Even now, when I talking to you, I feel a little bit in danger because I know if Russian government will know about this conversation, I probably also be in danger.

MARTIN: She does what has worked for her before. She's keeping busy, volunteering in the city center, helping⁹ other Ukrainians who fled their homes, too, and those who have picked up arms to fight.

Are there any light moments in your day?

DARIA: Memes about war (laughter).

MARTIN: Memes about war.

(LAUGHTER)

DARIA: Yes, on Instagram.

MARTIN: You need something, right?

DARIA: Yes.

MARTIN: When you are volunteering to try to get clothes to the military, what is the feeling there?

DARIA: I feel really inspired by Ukrainian nation and all those people who can - who help a lot. And I don't have anxiety when I working because I see all these people, and they really - I'm so proud of them.

MARTIN: Daria is also proud of the stories she hears about individual Ukrainians standing¹⁰ up to Russian forces. Before we hang up, I ask her a big question.

Do you think Ukraine has the strength to push Russia out?

DARIA: Oh, we don't have any choice.

MARTIN: Daria, thank you so much.

DARIA: Thank you.

MARTIN: Take good care.

DARIA: OK. OK.

MARTIN: Bye-bye.

(SOUNDBITE OF TRENT REZNOR AND ATTICUS ROSS' "PLACE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW")

MARTINEZ: That's our colleague Rachel Martin speaking with a college student in Ukraine about what's keeping her going in the midst of war.

(SOUNDBITE OF TRENT REZNOR AND ATTICUS ROSS' "PLACE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 midst   

n.中部，中间，当中

参考例句：

• The hut is in the midst of the forest.小屋在森林深处。
• There is a thief in our midst.我们当中有小偷。

3 comprehend   

vt.了解，理解，领会

参考例句：

• I did not comprehend his meaning.我不理解他的意思。
• If you can use a word correctly and effectively,you comprehend it.你如果能正确和有效地使用一个字，你就了解它了。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 raid   

v.劫掠，攫取，袭击，突击搜捕；n.突然袭击

参考例句：

• Our house was blown up in an air raid.在一次空袭中我们的房子被炸掉了。
• During their raid on the house,the police found a lot of drugs.在对这所房子的搜查中，警方发现了大量的毒品。

6 sirens   

n.汽笛( siren的名词复数 )；妖冶而危险的女人；危险的诱惑；塞壬（古希腊传说中半人半鸟的女海妖，惯以美妙的歌声引诱水手，使他们的船只或触礁或驶入危险水域）

参考例句：

• police cars with lights flashing and sirens blaring 警灯闪烁、警笛刺耳的警车
• In big cities you always hear sirens all the time. 在大城市里，你总能听到警笛声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

8 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。