The most
Jul 19, 10:58 AM
"I come from Mykolaiv, Ukraine. In 2015, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfolded and Crimea was annexed, I made the decision to immigrate to Poland, eventually settling in Krakow. One of my earliest experiences in my new home took place during a solitary walk along the Vistula River.
"The night was serene, yet my mind was occupied with questions: Where am I? What am I doing here? Why is this happening to me? As I stood under the Kotlarski bridge, the quietude was occasionally interrupted by the sounds of passing cars, intensifying my feelings of anxiety and displacement.
"Then, a tram passed overhead, its rumble echoing through the night. In that moment, amidst the overwhelming noise, I found solace. I realized that despite the uncertainty surrounding me, the most important person in my life was beside me, offering comfort and support.
"In the months that followed, I learned that the Polish word "most" translates to "bridge." This symbolizes the connection between my past in Ukraine and my present in Poland as well as the profound connection I share with my loved one.
"This recording is a story of resilience, adaptation and ultimately, finding a sense of belonging in a new place."
Recorded by Andrii Shamanov.
Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.
For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration
IMAGE: *fiedler*, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
"The night was serene, yet my mind was occupied with questions: Where am I? What am I doing here? Why is this happening to me? As I stood under the Kotlarski bridge, the quietude was occasionally interrupted by the sounds of passing cars, intensifying my feelings of anxiety and displacement.
"Then, a tram passed overhead, its rumble echoing through the night. In that moment, amidst the overwhelming noise, I found solace. I realized that despite the uncertainty surrounding me, the most important person in my life was beside me, offering comfort and support.
"In the months that followed, I learned that the Polish word "most" translates to "bridge." This symbolizes the connection between my past in Ukraine and my present in Poland as well as the profound connection I share with my loved one.
"This recording is a story of resilience, adaptation and ultimately, finding a sense of belonging in a new place."
Recorded by Andrii Shamanov.
Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.
For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration
IMAGE: *fiedler*, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons