Kiev 1945 - 1946

With the war over, the evacuees were going back to their homes. Bronya and Larochka, already 7, went to Lvov where Bronya’s husband, David was transferred.

Larisa went to what she thought of as her home, Kiev, in hope of reunion with her parents and the strong desire to complete her education.

Kiev did not want her back. It was made abundantly clear to her when the university refused to re-enroll her since the course was now 4-years long and she has completed 4 years. However she could not get her diploma, since she did not complete the course of studies. Those people knew all about Catch-22. Larisa also could not get a job, since she had no residence permit and residence permits were only given to the already employed. Broken-hearted, she lived with a friend from her college years, Mira and her mom, Sofia, and tried to work things out.

In the meantime the ghastly information from Vinnitsa and war-time Kiev was making itself available. Larisa understood, that there will be no reunion with her parents, sister, or husband, who was completely lost to her.

However, as my mom used to always say, “I was lucky”, some kind people got her a temporary part-time job at the university which allowed her to work towards completing the university course. Which she did, and received the hard-won diploma.

With no family, job or place to live in her 'home town' Kiev, my mom re-joined her aunt Bronya and her family in Lvov.

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