CRIS Staff Spotlight | Anna R.

“I was born in Ukraine, but for several years I lived and worked in the United Arab Emirates. That’s actually where I met my husband.

He came to the United States back in 1998, when he was just 12 years old. His family first lived in New York before settling in Columbus, where he went to high school in Dublin and then studied at CCAD. Later, he moved to Dubai—and that’s where our paths crossed.

I came to Dubai in 2012, fresh out of college. I had studied hospitality and tourism in Ukraine, so I started working as a waiter in food and beverage. After six months, I was promoted to guest relations. The work schedule was intense—six days a week, mostly evening shifts. You’re sold for that work; it was draining. I resigned from that work but I wanted to stay near my then-boyfriend, so I interviewed for and was hired as a flight attendant based in Abu Dhabi. My husband and I got married in 2015. The following year, he moved back to the U.S., but I remained in Abu Dhabi for another 18 months before joining him here.

Even though I’d lived abroad for years, I still experienced culture shock when I came here. In the UAE, almost everyone is an expat. Over here, I am an outsider. What surprised me the most? Honestly– just how expensive life is in the U.S., especially health insurance. It was nothing like what I expected. But I feel very fortunate to be here.

Once I was settled here, I decided to go back to school. I had wanted to pursue a master’s degree as a continuation of my education from Ukraine, but that would mean putting my life, waiting indefinitely to see if my prior education and credentials would transfer to the U.S. So instead, I earned a second bachelor’s degree.

When Russia launched a full-scale invasion on my home country in the winter of 2022, I felt I wanted to somehow help my country. Since that time, my heart has been in pain seeing all these sufferings and all the terrible things that are happening to the Ukrainian nation. Many children have lost their parents. Many people have had to leave their homes and everything they’ve worked so hard to build. Many people are imprisoned. All of this is the price for Ukrainian independence. Many have made the choice, ‘We would rather die than live as slaves…’

Witnessing all of this from afar made me want to help my country. In the summer of 2022, my mother-in-law connected with CRIS as she helped a friend settle in Columbus through the United for Ukraine (U4U) program. She told me that CRIS was looking for a Ukrainian-speaking case manager, and I applied and interviewed. When my childcare situation changed later that year, I was able to start working with CRIS. Everything I’ve been able to do [for my country] would not have been possible without CRIS. The ecosystem of support at CRIS has enabled me to serve my community.”