III. Stephen Dalil: <<My Experience at the "War Up Close" VR Exhibition>>
IV. Sarah Lage: <<When a Russian Professor Learns Spanish: Interview with Sasha Orlova>>
V. William Walton: <<Ёжник в тумане (Hedgehog in the Fog): An Amateur's Take>>
20 Days in Mariupol: A Call to Confront Russian Aggression
Monica Sullivan and Carina Shalkivski
The documentary 20 Days in Mariupol and the accounts of retired Ukrainian diplomat Volodymyr Shalkivski provide a harrowing insight into the brutality of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a diplomat stationed in Australia during the invasion, Shalkivski experienced the shock of seeing images of the war and the tragedy unfolding in Mariupol, a city still occupied by Russian forces. The documentary highlights the plight of civilians, many of whom witnessed and suffered atrocities, with Mariupol becoming one of the deadliest places in the conflict.
One particularly poignant story shared by the diplomat was that of an Australian man with a Russian girlfriend, whose mother received documents for 700 women and children forcefully deported from Mariupol to Novosibirsk. The women and children were given Russian passports and documents, while the men were separated from their families and forced to fight in Donbass against Ukrainian forces to prove their loyalty to the Moscow regime. This forced deportation and conscription illustrate the cruel tactics employed by the Russian government in its pursuit of control over Ukraine.
The documentary, following the story of an Associated Press team of international journalists, including the director of the film, Mstyslav Chernov, shows terrifying scenes of babies and young children being killed due to Russian shelling, while parents watch, helpless, as doctors and nurses are unable to save them. Hospitals, houses, and civilian stores were destroyed, killing countless Ukrainians - so many, in fact, that mass graves needed to be dug. People, left without food and water, live in fear, waiting for the next Russian strike. While all of this was happening, Russian media outlets claimed that Ukrainians had hired actors to fake the devastation happening in the city.
The documentary and Shalkivski's accounts underscore the need to fight against fake news and Russian propaganda. It is crucial to carefully select sources of information and make sound judgments to counter the misinformation spread by the Russian government.
The Russian government's actions in Ukraine are nothing short of evil. The invasion, occupation, and brutal treatment of civilians in Mariupol and other parts of Ukraine reveal a callous disregard for human life and international law. Russian citizens must confront the reality of their government's actions and stand up against this crime. By remaining silent or complicit, Russian citizens are responsible for the suffering of innocent people in Ukraine and contribute to the erosion of democracy and human rights. It is time for the world to unite against Russian aggression and support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and sovereignty.
Volodymyr Shalkivski introducing 20 Days in Mariupol at the screening in Washington Hall
During winter break, Sasha Prokhorov and Elena Prokhorova traveled approximately 4,564 miles from Williamsburg to Krakow, Poland. For two weeks, they split their time volunteering with two NGOs dedicated to helping Ukrainian war refugees - but this wasn’t the first time. In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, 2022, Sasha went to Krakow with his daughter in January of 2023 to aid refugees. In 2023, they worked with Soup for Ukraine and Salam Lab. Most recently, they volunteered with Martynka and Soup for Ukraine again.
Salam Lab works to provide housing, transportation, and other services to displaced Ukrainians so that their time relocating in Poland will be easier. Sasha and his daughter bought pet food for those who came with animals; it was harder for refugees to afford items that weren’t considered “essential” when feeding themselves was already a challenge.
Soup for Ukraine is a grassroots organization that was established by three women in Krakow on the day after Russia’s invasion. Volunteers in the community make hot soup for refugees in need and bring it to the border for soldiers and volunteers. This is a space where Poles have come together daily to support refugees at home in Krakow. Poland has taken in over one million refugees since the start of the full-scale invasion, giving those a chance to escape the war. Sasha and Elena emphasized the notion of “war fatigue” that they witnessed during their trip in Poland. The community remains extremely supportive of Ukrainians, but resources are becoming scarcer with new bodies in the country. What started as a strong network of both Polish and international volunteers has turned into a smaller scale group of Poles doing what they can with limited finances for food and housing. Sasha and Elena worry about the constant issue of what happens if the resources run dry.
Martynka is an NGO supporting Ukrainian women who experienced sexual violence and trafficking since the start of the invasion. They aid female refugees who need support in reproductive care, trauma counseling, and shelter. The shelter has therapists who work with these refugees who have survived human trafficking and sexual assault. During their trip, Sasha and Elena met with the founder, Anastasia Podorozhnia who is a Ukrainian social activist.
Last semester, Sasha and Elena fundraised at William and Mary to give proceeds to Martynka, which would go to paying rent at the women’s shelter. Their goal was to raise 2,000 but they exceeded expectations, collecting 2,500 dollars. This amount paid for three months rent for the shelter. They thought they'd collect less because of war fatigue in the news and congress, but surpassing their goal has shown that people in our community have not forgotten. The message to Americans is clear: we cannot stop talking about Ukraine and advocating for the U.S. to do their part in supporting their sovereignty in Russia’s senseless war.
Spring of 2023, I had the privilege of studying abroad in Krakow Poland, where I volunteered with Serve the City Krakow. Here, I participated in leading bi-weekly English lessons for refugees in Krakow. We spent a day making soup and donating it to Soup for Ukraine. While there, I met Polish and international volunteers who wanted to come together to help Ukrainians. I cannot emphasize Sasha and Elena’s message enough; their work serves as a good reminder for all of us who are distanced from the issue to stay informed and keep fighting for Ukraine.
Sasha Prokhorov and Elena Prokorova making soup and rationing jars for refugees. Located in Krakow, Poland, with Soup for Ukraine on January 11th, 2024
Photo retrieved from this blog post.
Sammy Jennings making soup and putting it into jars for the Soup for Ukraine Food Pantry in Krakow, Poland, May 2023
My Experience at the War Up Close VR Exhibition
Stephen Dalil
February 24th 2024, marks two years since Russia first invaded Ukraine. In the days leading up to the two-year remembrance of this tragedy, multiple events were held across campus. These events recaptured the attention of William & Mary to focus on the horrors of the war. One of those events was a VR exhibition in Swem Library, brought to William & Mary by War Up Close. I had the chance to visit this exhibition and interview two staff members of this project. First, I’ll start with the virtual reality experience. Here is a photo of the exhibition:
Next, I’ll talk about my experience with VR. Prior to this event, I had never experienced virtual reality before. I had always thought that VR was reserved for video games, but after this experience that opinion has definitely changed.
As I approached the all white headset, I thought to myself “Can I wear my glasses with this?” (The answer was yes). After fumbling around with the headset, I managed to strap it over my glasses. The first virtual setting I entered was a dimly lit hallway. The virtual setting itself was very similar to Google earth’s street view. Using the handheld controller to navigate my new virtual environment, I made my way into what looked like a children’s playroom. The environment was littered with broken toys, writing on the wall, and one nostalgic piece of decor: a road rug.
Here is an example of one.
This road rug was a reminder that in another life, I could have been the kid who was displaced from their toy room. A kid that was thrown into a war that they have no place being in. After seeing the road rug, I decided to change my virtual environment. As I opened the menu to see the locations, my heart was in a knot. I read the name of the location that I was in: Yahidne Torture Chamber. The war in Ukraine had turned a room that housed playtime into a room for soliciting torture. I’ll briefly go through the other locations I visited, as the rest of the locations were similar to one another. Buildings covered in the black remnants of a bomb explosion were frequent in Kyiv, Borodianka, and Cherniv. In the Hostomel airplane hangar, an entire plane had been struck by a bomb. The sheer size of the plane in virtual reality enhanced my discomfort. 25 minutes and a headache later I took off the virtual headset.
This second part of the experience was a short interview with 2 staff members, Ivanka and Nazar. They are both from Ukraine and felt a responsibility to spread awareness of the horrors of Russia’s War on Ukraine. In order to do so, they joined this project. Ivanka described herself as a representative. Nazar described himself as a presentation conductor. The following sections are brief summaries of what I thought to be their most impactful and insightful responses.
Question: How did you get involved with this project?
Summary of Ivanka’s response: Ivanka said that she had a friend who had connections to the project. She also felt compelled to spread the word about the horrors in Ukraine. She mentioned that VR is a fantastic way to truly convey the realities of the war in Ukraine. She said that even though it was written off as technology for video games, it can do so much more than that.
Summary of Nazar’s response: He had a couple of friends who had started the project, so he decided to join. He also added that February 22nd, 2024 was the one year anniversary of the exhibition's first VR experience. Interestingly enough, that exhibition took place in a city that is not so far away from Williamsburg: Washington DC.
Question: How did this project start touring?
Summary of Nazar’s response: Initially, the project started as a website. The project’s founders had contacts in Ukraine who did google street view work, so they collaborated with those contacts to initiate the project. Then, the project started to grow in popularity and was shown to senators and other government representatives and officials. This boom in popularity led the project founders to apply for grants and sponsorships in the United States. Eventually they got them. Thus, the project had enough funding to start touring with virtual headsets and made its way to Williamsburg.
Question: Anything else to say?
Summary of Ivanka’s response: She says that although this technology does wonders to paint the picture of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, immersive VR cannot fully disclose the effects of those actions on the citizens of Ukraine and those around the world.
Summary of Nazar’s response: He hopes that this technology will help the US public better comprehend what is going on in Ukraine. He also hopes that this comprehension will lead to more funds being sent to Ukraine in order to fend off the Russian invasion. Lastly, he added that donations and other forms of support from the US are a small price to pay for the saving of lives.
My experience at the VR exhibition and subsequent interviews with Ivanka and Nazar opened my eyes to the horrors in Ukraine. Through virtual reality, I was able to enter the Ukraine that had been besmirched by Russia. I got to see the destruction in obscene detail. In conjunction with my VR experience, I was able to build my empathy for Ukraine by anchoring it to Nazar and Ivanka. I also had an opinion of mine changed. No longer is VR reserved for gamers wanting to immerse themselves in their games, I now see VR as an incredibly powerful learning tool.This VR experience was worthwhile and I hope that William & Mary offers more events like these in the future.
To learn more about the War Up Close project, follow this link: war.city
When a Russian Professor Learns a Spanish: Interview with Sasha Orlova
Sarah Lage
In this article, I interview Aleksandra “Sasha” Orlova, the Russian House international fellow and former instructor of Advanced Russian I and II (I had such fun taking that class with her!). During her time in the United States, Sasha took up learning Spanish. Here are the language-learning insights of an experienced teacher of Russian as a foreign language, as well as a former English learner!
Sarah: Tell me about the experience you have teaching Russian as a foreign language.
Sasha: Wow. Alright, it all started many years ago, when I was getting my master's degree in St. Petersburg. So, it started as a way to practice teaching during my second year being there. So I started teaching at Herzen State Pedagogical University which was, at that time– in 2017, was still a partner with the College of William & Mary. So, I started working there and teaching mostly Asian students. We would have 400 Asian students… like 500 in total, and 400 of them would be Asian students. The other 100 would be students from all over the world, and I just loved it. Once I started getting to know all these kids, which were mostly my age, actually, at that point, from all over the world, I just– I loved it, and I realized that it's something I want to do. So it started there and that was also the place where I got to know my first students from the College of William & Mary, actually, because they used to do their summer program there. And after two years working there at this school, I was invited to come to the College of William & Mary to be an international fellow here. And of course, I happily accepted the offer. I came here and [had] a great year. And unfortunately, the pandemic happened, so I had to move somewhere else– and I got a job in Singapore, where I continued teaching, also working with students from all over the world: expats, and of course some locals too, some Asian students from different Asian countries. And it was a great experience as well– completely different, of course, from my experience here at the College of William & Mary, and from my experience at the school in St. Petersburg too. Also, I had an opportunity there to work with kids. It was also something different! And actually, I think that it was the time when I realized that I want to work with adults! So I spent another, like, year and a half there… teaching and then I was invited to come back to the College of William & Mary to be an international fellow and also a teacher. Of course, I had to accept the offer again. And so I've been here already for an amazing, almost two years.
Sarah: Why have you decided to learn Spanish, specifically? Why did you want to?
Sasha: It all started in 2018. When I came here as an international fellow, and I was actually thinking between French and Spanish. But then I just realized that I would have more opportunity to practice Spanish here. Because as far as I know, it's the second language here, right (it is!)? So, I was thinking that it would be good if I took Spanish and I would always have an opportunity to practice it. Because there are so, so many Spanish speakers surrounding me, actually. It didn't take long to decide [that] actually, it [would] be better (than French).
Sarah: And why were you between French and Spanish initially?
Sasha: Initially, I don't know, I love French.
Sarah: Yeah, me too.
Sasha: It sounds nice. You know, I'll always want to speak French. And before that, actually, before coming to the United States, I did a big trip in France. So, I visited a few regions there, and I just loved it. So I really wanted to come back and be able to understand what these people, what these beautiful people are talking about… so, that's why.
Sarah: How long have you been trying to learn Spanish?
Sasha: It's been a long journey. But I've been on and off. Yeah, I started in 2019. I took a semester of Spanish, so Elementary Spanish in 2019. And then COVID happened, so I had to stop. It was terrible. We didn't have time. And then, it was a like a year[-long] break, I think. I didn't take any Spanish after this first semester and then I resumed taking Spanish with a personal tutor in Singapore. But it would be like once a week… not very often because I didn't have time. It was also not very cheap, so I was thinking I would just resume taking Spanish with the tutor, like review everything that I know and also don't know with one of these language learning apps. I think it's called Babbel. So, I remember that once I moved to Singapore, I had like two weeks of quarantine there. So I was like, 'okay, I have these two weeks in a hotel; I'm gonna use this time.' So I started learning. I started from the very beginning, actually. I started retaking Spanish in this app and then I continued with the tutor. And then after that, I came back here and I retook the elementary course again and now I'm continuing with the intermediate.
Sarah: Have you tried only Babbel before?
Sasha: No, I used Babbel and then I do Duolingo now, actually.
Sarah: Which one (language-learning app) do you prefer?
Sasha: It's a good question, because, actually, Babbel takes more time. And then Duolingo is more playful, and it takes like 10-15 minutes. It's perfect for me, because now I just need to review vocabulary. I know grammar, and Duolingo doesn't give any grammar. This is its problem, but it works for me because I don't need that. I just need to review vocabulary and only a few grammar forms, so it works great for me for now. But I would say if you want to start learning Spanish, I would start with Babbel.
Sarah: Along those lines, what does your study plan look like right now for learning Spanish? Do you have a rigid schedule or not?
Sasha: I do take the intermediate course. So yes, I do have Spanish every day: five days a week, basically. So before the class, I would review everything that we did the day before, just to refresh the words, I would write them down, like some of the, some of the new vocabulary, I would write it down just to review it. I would review the grammar forms too, because, maybe it's just me, but I forget things very, very, very quickly. So I have to review them all the time. So after the class, if I have time, I might go over the vocabulary. And because this is not something we do in class, writing in class… we usually focus on grammar, explanation, something like that, but not on vocabulary. So I feel like I have to spend a lot of time on my own just to learn these words, to memorize these words. And I think it applies to every language, of course. Like, you have to spend a lot of time just to memorize these words. And that's the way to remember them and use them.
Sarah: And how do you personally memorize words?
Sasha: So, Duolingo helps a lot. Repetition. Repetition is key, really. So that's actually the thing about Duolingo. Because Duolingo would give you the same words all the time, so you can review them– and this is good about this app. So you would review all the time, you would review the words that you learned like two weeks ago, a month ago, so this is a good thing! Also, this app has flashcards and there is– you can review your mistakes, too, so it's also a good thing. And this is something I do also on my own; I would look at these flashcards, I would look at the words that I learned two weeks ago. I always would have them in front of me and come back to them. It's very important to come back to these words. Also, I would try to use them in sentences. This is something I started to do recently. Actually, I started to keep a diary in Spanish. I would write… it might get boring, so that's why I try to keep it short. I would write a few sentences. I would use these new words that we just studied. I would use them in this, I would try to use them in these sentences just to know how to use them, to see that, ‘yeah, actually this is something useful; this is something I can use daily.’ And also the fact that I have this diary now– it also helps me to look for new words that I really need for my vocabulary that I really use. So this is something that helps me too!
Sarah: How has your experience learning English helped you in learning Spanish, or has it?
Sasha: So my experience with learning English was completely different because I haven't taken any courses in English. This is the thing. I've learned all my English being here on the spot, basically. When I started, I was just listening to people, what they say, repeating what they say, repeating it in my head, writing it down. Also, I was pretty lucky because when I was here in 2019, the German fellow who was here was also an English teacher, so he would correct my every mistake. He would drive me crazy, but he would correct me– every mistake. It helped a lot, too. So, I'm not sure how my experience of learning English helped me in learning Spanish, but actually this is the language that I use to learn Spanish now. I use English, not Russian, because it's easier for me to compare since now I know the grammar, so it's easier for me to compare Spanish grammar with English grammar. I think that has helped, the comparison.
Sarah: And has your experience teaching Russian to foreigners helped you at all in learning Spanish?
Sasha: Learning Spanish? Yes, I would say yes, and also the comparison, I'd say, because some of the grammar forms that I know from my experience of teaching Russian, sometimes they apply to Spanish too. For me, structure is very important; this is the way I learn. I have to have this structure in my head. Without this structure, I would not be able to speak. And, if we look at the Russian grammar, it's– it's very structured. Like, it's very, if you know… the rule, if you know how to apply the rule, it would be really easy to use it to create sentences to speak. And I feel like the fact that I know the structure… how the Russian language is structured– I know it's easier for me to learn Spanish because I look at the structure and I also compare it. I can see some of these things that help me to understand certain things in Spanish. And I would say that actually taking Spanish classes and learning Spanish helps me to teach Russian sometimes, because I've taken Spanish already with many different, professors and I appreciate this opportunity to be able to do that, actually, also because of my selfish reasons– because I learned different teaching methods from them because, you know, every professor is different, so they all have different teaching methods. This is amazing because I can use– I can learn from them what actually works; I can look at the teaching process from a different perspective. So I would say that it works both ways, actually!
Sarah: Last question: how would achieving proficiency in Spanish impact your life? Would you ever want to live in an area with a high Spanish-speaking population?
Sasha: So actually, since I started learning Spanish, I've been traveling a lot to Mexico. It happened that it's easier to get to Mexico, of course, and one of the reasons why I go there is to practice Spanish. And it's so much easier to be in a foreign country knowing the language that they speak. And it's way more fun, too, because you can immerse yourself into the culture. For me, traveling somewhere else, it's not only visiting places… like some museums or monuments. For me, it's also immersing myself into the culture! This is the main thing for me. The way I do it, I do it through people, through meeting people, through talking to people. And knowing the language helps a lot. And besides being able to talk to people and being immersed into the culture, thanks to this ability to be able to communicate to them… I think, who knows what's gonna happen after this year? I might end up in a Spanish-speaking country. The fact that I'm able to speak already, I'm able to communicate already, and I know that I'll be way more fluent by the end of the semester. It would help me a lot to have more opportunities in terms of my future job, too. You know, just in general, knowing different foreign languages helps a lot in life, and a lot of job prospects, too. And the ability to speak to your friends here in their native language is also great. So, I feel like it connects, it connects me to people and to this life.
Sasha Orlova and Sarah Lage in the Russian House, 2023
Ёжик в тумане (Hedgehog in the Fog): An Amateur’s Take
William Walton
Since the screening last Wednesday, Yuri Norstein’s Hedgehog in the Fog (Ёжик в тумане) has remained stuck in my mind. Only ten minutes in length, the hedgehog’s journey to his friend captures the essence of a classical epic. As I watched the film, enraptured by the eye-catching animation, colorless yet textured, I kept wondering to myself about the meaning conveyed. As the film was introduced, Hedgehog in the Fog was compared to Dante’s Inferno, or perhaps without meaning altogether, but I feel that neither of these is a precise fit. I will preface my own interpretation by acknowledging that I am no film student, but I feel obliged to put pen to paper and explore my own amateur understanding.
The comparison of Hedgehog in the Fog to Inferno holds insofar as the hedgehog’s adventure is a spiritual and psychological journey as much as a physical one. The fog into which the hedgehog descends is allegorical of the uncertainty of life. While in the fog, the hedgehog is accosted by an owl and the frightening shadow of an elephant, who is in reality a friendly dog. The fog obscures the true nature of the hedgehog’s surroundings and prevents him from seeing the true nature of those around him. By entering the fog, the hedgehog has stepped outside of his comfort zone into unpredictability and ambiguity that is inherent to the unknown. After falling into a river, having seen the truth of the dog, the hedgehog has become more confident in the unknown, and contentedly floats despite not knowing where the water will take him. The hedgehog’s final encounter before reaching his destination is with the enigmatic ‘Someone,’ who offers to bring the hedgehog to the shore. The hedgehog’s trust for a complete stranger is a total departure from his earlier paranoia. As the hedgehog finally reaches his companion and returns to his ordinary existence, his mind remains fixed on his adventure. This is an archetypal conclusion to a hero’s story: the hero, exposed to the extraordinary, now finds a return to the ordinary to be lacking. While the elements of the story are found across media, it is outstandingly impressive that Norstein fit these elements into so short a film, and with such amazing use of light, sound, and a unique style of art.