The people here are really amazing. One funny anecdote: for the train, we turned the bike handlebars sideways, so you can’t really steer them as you walk down the platform; they only turn one direction. As the whole crowd was moving down the platform to board some newly added cars, I, very clumsily, tripped over my bike. This woman calmly picked me up, sorted me out and took five extra seconds to look me in the eye and ask if I was okay. I remember she was still touching me, holding my arm or hand. That five extra seconds kind of stops the world and forces you to take a deep breath. She was like an angel, and I don’t even believe in angels. She had the kindest smile on her face.
Here in Kyiv, I picked up a tick while working in the garden. It was well embedded by the time I spotted it and we didn’t succeed in getting all of it out. Some of the mouth parts were still in my skin, so according to protocol I had to get it medically removed. Everyone here was so helpful, from actually taking me to a clinic and translating for me, to offering to drive me for a Lyme test, should I need it. Once again, I came to help, and I’m the one being helped. They were doing One Small Thing. I want to live in a place like this.