Introducing Nadiia of the Citizens of Ukraine cast from our current ACHTUNG Nr. 44 “Beruhigt Euch Nicht!” issue.

Dress NANUSHKA

ACHTUNG: How did you get to Berlin?

Nadiia: I was already studying here, living between Berlin and Kyiv.

ACHTUNG: Why Berlin? 

Nadiia: I like its diversity, art, and tech science. My mother, little brother and my two grandmothers decided to also come here shortly after the beginning of war.

ACHTUNG: What did you do in Ukraine? What do you do now?

Nadiia: I was working as an editor for a magazine, as well as stylist assistant. Right now, I am working half time as a social media manager and a content creator.

ACHTUNG: Where do you go to find hope?

Nadiia: I love that my name in Ukrainian means hope. Hope is always with me, and it’s impossible for me to lose it.

ACHTUNG: What smell has home?

Nadiia: Home smells like cardamom tea, which is my mom’s favorite. She made it every day, often asking me to help her crush the cardamom seeds. Onions frying in butter, that my grandmother always used as a dressing for Ukrainian varenyky. It takes me right back to the kitchen of my childhood and makes me think of how close I was to my family.

ACHTUNG: The smell of Berlin?

Nadiia: Wet umbrellas, body odor, hookah, kebab, currywurst, and sometimes beer or schnaps that has been spilled.

ACHTUNG: The one piece of clothes that you (brought with you and) would never give away?

Nadiia: My silver bracelet and ring that was given to me by my dad on my birthday.

ACHTUNG: Your wish for the future?

Nadiia: To find stability and peace for myself and for my path to be easy.