Remember that the locomotive will be leaving the station soon? It’s a very special locomotive, full of objects linked to personal stories of migration and other kinds of journeys. As BWA‘s partner in this great project, we will keep you posted on its progress.
In the meantime, read the story of Ulad, our friend from Belarus. It tells of his last day in the city and the country where he was born. And about his object!
“It was my last day in Belarus. The political situation in my country forced me to move to Poland. I went out for a walk around the city so that I could remember it better. I passed familiar streets, and on them people who were ready to fight against the regime – we smiled at each other, flashing the ‘Victory’ sign with our fingers.
At the time I lived near a metro station where someone was always selling all sorts of things – from fruit and vegetables to warm, hand-knitted socks. As I walked past, a girl holding flags caught my eye. She stood out from the others. She looked happy and had a lovely smile. The thought crossed my mind: ‘She hopes something will change here.’ By then I had already lost that hope.
The girl was holding two kinds of flags – both Belarusian. One of them, white-red-white, is unofficial and its use is completely banned by the Belarusian regime. Those were at the top. The other, the official red-and-green flag of the regime, was at the bottom. I went up to her, said hello and asked for a white-red-white flag. I paid 25 roubles and gave her a tip of 20 Belarusian roubles.
I was intrigued that at a time when people were being arrested even for wearing white and red clothes, this girl was standing in a place where the militia were always patrolling and where crowds of people passed by.
Then I noticed militiamen coming out of the metro entrance. It frightened me badly and I began to worry about the girl. But as soon as she spotted them, she turned the flags in her hand so that the white-red-white ones could not be seen.
I was very proud of that girl and decided that I would always remember the strong Belarusian women who have fought, are fighting and will go on fighting for a Belarus free of Lukashenko’s regime. I have that flag with me, and it will always remind me of this.”
Uladzislau Antonenka
