“…my parents came to Australia in 1950 after being in a Displaced Persons camp in Germany.
I was born later in a small Australian town so I could only speak Ukrainian at home with my parents. I have never been to Ukraine before so I look forward to going to my parents’ “ridna zemlya” and meeting you and others at the language school.” – such a touching e-mail we have received and decided to write more about this interesting person.

We are happy to introduce you our new student – Andrew Pyrcz from Melbourne, Australia.
Being a teacher of Japanese and English Andrew decided to learn Ukrainian with our Ukrainian Language and Culture School learn-ukrainian.org.ua. He applied for the 2-week intensive course of Ukrainian language and culture “Warm September in Lviv” August, 28 – September, 8 2017. With the aim to be very well prepared for the course he is taking private lessons by Skype now.
Andrew is very open sincere person that is why he was so kind to share the story of his Ukrainian roots with us:
“I’m Andrew, an Australian of Ukrainian descent (закордонний Українець!). This year, I will travel to Ukraine in order to attend the ‘warm September’ intensive course at the Ukrainian Language and Culture School in Lviv. In fact, this will be my maiden trip to my parents’ – and ancestors’ – native land.

Born in Halychyna (Yaroslav), my father actively supported the Ukrainian nationalist liberation struggle of OUN-UPA. My mother, on the other hand, was born in Novohrad-Volynskyi (also the birthplace of Lesya Ukrainka!) and survived the Holodomor as a young girl. When the Nazis invaded Ukraine in World War 2, my parents ended up as ‘Ostarbeiter’ in Germany. After the war finished, they met for the first time in a Displaced Persons’ (DP) camp in the American-controlled zone of Germany. Because they didn’t want to live under the system of imperialistic Soviet Russian communist rule, my parents decided to migrate to Australia from Germany in 1950. Thus it was my destiny to be born later in the quiet country town of Benalla. However, my parents never forgot their native land and culture and always spoke in Ukrainian at home.
Soon, I will prepare for the long, emotional journey back to the land where all my family history originated – Україна”.
Andrew is a very interesting person, his hobby is box, playing trumpet, and history of Ukraine. He have written articles entitled “Stalin and Ukraine’s ‘Holodomor’ 1932-33”, “Hetman Mazepa and the Battle of Poltava 1709”, “The Ukrainian Revolution 1917-21”.
Dear Andrew, you are welcome to Ukraine, the land of your parents!