RPCV Adds a Y
Piece to go with photo:
“Hello, Ms. Taylor. Our records show that you are filing for a name change. Can you please spell your desired new last name?”
“Yes. B-a-l-t-i-y-s-k-y-y.”
“Ok, I’ll put in the records Baltisky is your new last name. Is that Russian?"
“No, it's Ukrainian. My husband's from Ukraine. It’s spelled:
B, as in back home
A, as in, acceptance
L, as in, missing Lviv
T, as in, terrified by traffic
I, as in, irritated
Y, as in, “Have you found a job yet?”
S, as in searching for some kind of structure
K, as in , trying to keep connected
Y, as in, thinking of Ykraina
Y, as in, “Yes, there are two Y's in my new last name.”
“I’m sorry Ms. Taylor; did you say there are two Y's at the end of your new last name?”
The extra Y has become a part of my identity as an RPCV living in San Diego, CA. It’s a fickle letter, always presenting two roads available to travel. Though the choices presented after returning from service are daunting, my designated co-captain and new husband, Oleg, and I have done just fine creating our own path.
