PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY
For Alina Panasiuk, life took an unexpected turn when the war in Ukraine uprooted her from her home in Zhytomyr. A former police officer, Panasiuk arrived in San Marcos in May 2022, seeking refuge and a chance to rebuild her life. Her journey was tied to her boyfriend, Dima, who was studying computer science at Texas State University.
“I came to San Marcos because my boyfriend was studying here at the time, and I needed a sponsor to come to America,” Panasiuk said. “The war in Ukraine made it impossible to stay.”
The transition to life in a small college town was not without its challenges.
“It’s obviously far from a metropolis,” she said. “I wasn’t impressed at first.”
Panasiuk’s boyfriend Dima’s path to Texas State was serendipitous. A professor in Ukraine connected him with a colleague at the universi- ty, creating an opportunity for him to study in the U.S. Panasiuk, however, faced hurdles of her own. As a police officer, she was restricted from traveling abroad when the war began. Ultimately, she left her job to reunite with her boyfriend Dima.
Adjusting to a new culture came with mixed emotions.
“I wasn’t in culture shock,” Panasiuk explained. “Ukraine represents culture at a really good level, and the service here is decent.”
Finding a job, however, was initially a struggle. After gaining experience, she secured a position as an advisor at a Toyota dealership in San Marcos. “I love my coworkers and my job,” she said. Still, the ache of missing her homeland persists. Her friends remain in Ukraine, and her mother has no plans to leave despite the ongoing conflict.
“She’s decided to stay, no matter what,” Panasiuk shared.
Life is set to change once again for Panasiuk and Dima. He recently accepted a job offer in California, prompting the couple’s upcoming move. While Panasiuk appreciates the open-minded nature of people in Texas, her heart remains tied to Ukraine.
“I miss home very much,” she said. “I’d like to return to Ukraine after some time in the United States.”
Panasiuk’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice and hope — a reflection of the many challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees worldwide.
