Many Ukrainian children today went to school in a foreign country, and their parents found jobs there. Is that good or bad? It depends on the horizon and the angle of view. When our investment fund worked in Latvia, locals told us that after the economic crisis, many Latvians were forced to go to Europe to work and study. Some made a new nest there.
But after a few years, like a spring in the mountains, a stream entered Latvia and began to gradually grow stronger. More and more of those who left decided to buy a ticket back. Some had a hard time in a foreign land and were glad to come back, as soon as they could earn decent money at home. But - surprise, surprise! - there were also many who had achieved considerable success abroad. They had a wide range of choices, but Latvia won. Why?
When one finds oneself in a new territory, symbolically and literally, the complexity of the problems requires concentration of all one's strength and enthralls one entirely. Therefore, he tends to over-value the skills, knowledge and experience that he does not yet have, but also to ignore everything that he already has.
After some time of adaptation, it dawns on the intelligent person: "Hmm, unlike the others, I find myself between two worlds. Now I know how life and business works in the UK, but I also remember how it is in Latvia. Thanks to the "in-between" position, there are some curious possibilities. For example: "Why isn't such a popular service in England still available in Latvia? I can be the first!". After working in a Michelin-starred European restaurant for several years, a Latvian finds an investor and, in his capacity of a chef, opens an amazing restaurant in Riga. Or he gets the insight that there is a surplus in the Baltics of what is in short supply in England. And this happens in every field - business, science, art, etc. There is a synthesis of old and new experiences, which allows a person to create something of value at the intersection of the two worlds. Both Ukraine and Europe will benefit.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
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