Ukrainian Family Makes Home in Mt. Pleasant

Oleg Karakash was a seaman from Kiliay, Ukraine.  Where he was from, in the southern Odesa Region, most of the men worked as seamen or in Europe.  The war was in the east, and hadn't touched the southern part until this summer.  Oleg wasn't at home when his daughter, Dasha, was born, or when she took her first step or said her first word.  He worked for six months, sometimes going for two or three days without sleep, and then would have a month off, when he mostly just slept. 
During his time off he met Yuliia.  They were soon married. 
Even before the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Oleg, 29, and Yuliia, had decided to leave.  They went to Romania with their daughter, Dasha.  Through Facebook they met Oleg and Anna Polakova, originally from Latvia, who had been in the United States for 20 years, the last three in Mt. Pleasant.  The Polakovas offered to be the Karakashs' sponsor to bring them to the United States. 
The Karakashs sold everything to raise money for their move to the US.  They flew from Bucharest, the capital of Romania, to Munich, Germany and then to Chicago, where the Polakovas met them and brought them to Mt. Pleasant.  Oleg Karakash has a Social Security number, a work permit that allows him to work in the United States for two years, and is getting his driver's license.  They recently bought a used vehicle.  Oleg may be going to work for Lomont Molding in Mt. Pleasant.
They lived with their sponsor for a few days, but now are living in an apartment house in Mt. Pleasant that is owned by their sponsor.  Oleg and Yuliia are helping their sponsor renovate the apartments.  They are not looking for food stamps or handouts, although a lot of people helped them with furniture, dishes, clothing and food.  They want to work and pay taxes because in the United States they see how taxes are put to work on infrastructure, education, and public works.  In Ukraine they had to pay for everything, like healthcare and public toilets.  Yuliia is hesitant about expressing an opinion for fear of getting in trouble.  It will take some time for them to get used to life in the United States. 
They keep in touch by telephone with their family back in Ukraine.  On the day of their arrival in the United States, their city was heavily bombed.  Oleg's mother said they left just in time. 
Oleg doesn't want to kill.  Even his father and uncle, who were in the military, say, “No more war.”  Oleg can make money here in the US and give it to the people who need it.  This way he can help.  His most important priority is making sure his family is safe and that his daughter grows up in a healthy environment.  He appreciates seeing some good places in the world.
Oleg and Yuliia have heard that there is another Ukrainian family who is trying to relocate to Mt. Pleasant.  Oleg and Yuliia want to help that family get settled in any way they can, whether it be financial or just learning how to do things, like get a drivers license, furniture, dishes, find a job, or the internet hooked up. 
Oleg and Yuliia left everything behind to come to the United States.  It's a difficult transition and most people need a lot of help doing it.  They miss their family terribly, but are making new friends here.  They are impressed by the way so many people want to reach out and help them.  They want to return that help to others in need.  They are young and healthy and not afraid of work.  They have their whole lives ahead of them.  The future is theirs to reach out and take.  They will succeed, God willing.