Bank account unoperable, exchanges threatening to deny service, payments blocked, contract cannot be renewed. Sounds similar to the time that the invasion happened and systems collapsed. But it isn't about the war. This is something different, in a place where it is unexpected.
There has also been a rise of intolerance towards Ukrainians refugees of a different origin - a.k.a, me and people like myself. It was expected. But what wasn't expected was such rhetoric from Ukrainians themselves. It has almost reach bizarre levels.
Just under 2 months back I received a letter from the immigration and naturalisation department of NL asking me to come collect my residency permit. Great, I thought. I'll get my permit and submit it to places where needed and this part of life will go smoothly.
I go to my appointment as per the letter and the first question I get asked is "Why are you here?", with the letter in her hand. "You don't look like you should be here". It's 2024 and I don't think looks can determine anymore where a person should be or not.
After roughly 30 minutes I'm told the card isn't ready, but will be ordered and should be delivered in a day or two. I should make a new appointment and come again after 14 days.
Fine. Mistakes happen.
14 days later, on the day of expected delivery, I'm called and told the card isn't available so I shouldn't "bother coming". Card should be available in a day or two, wait 14 days, make a new appointment.
Fine. Mistakes can happen twice.
14 days later, once again a call. Again told the same thing. This time I explain her that in 14 days my current permit will expire. In my mind I know that all the places that require a valid ID will stop providing me service.
"Oh no, don't worry I'll make sure I'll call you when it's here."
14 days later. Same thing. Now I'm pissed. I ask multiple times what if the card isn't there again. My contract cannot be prolonged then, there is the bank and other services. "Не знаю". Which means I don't know. Will you make sure the card is ordered? "Не знаю" (I dont know). What's the problem that I have to go through multiple appointments and still the card isn't here? "Не знаю" (I dont know).
Huh? You work for them. You are also a Ukrainian refugee. How can you say I don't know when you know exactly what are the consequences. The absolute rudeness in all of these calls. And the unwillingness to help. Absurd.
14 days later I get the call again. Card isn't here. That's it. I called up the main office and first asked the Dutch lady to compromise and speak in English because my Dutch is still not the best.
After explaining the lady what's going on, she apologised and said this is indeed bizarre. This is the first time I get an apology. And it's from someone who isn't even involved.
It took her less than 20 minutes to figure out what went wrong. Turns out none of the ladies who I spoke to before ever ordered my card.
WHAT!! WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?
They are Ukrainian refugees themselves. They know the consequences. And even after telling me the card would be available I'm a day or two, they purposely didn't order the card?
I mean give me a tin foil hat, but this doesn't look like a coincidence.
The call center Dutch lady called me back the same day and told me to go collect the card the next day itself because she called all the relevant departments and made sure the card would be available the next day. Wow. Thanks.
From the next day onwards I'm getting calls from the ladies I spoke to before who started using the respectful "вы" instead of unprofessional "ты" they used before in their language, basically APOLOGISING and asking me to come collect. Not one. All of the ladies who I had spoken to before.
Oh. Wow. What a drastic change.
Reminds me of the Ukrainian lady working for the municipality who told me
"YOU ARE NOT UKRAINIAN SO YOU DONT DESERVE TO REPRESENT US"
Squeeze me and tell me how should I feel?
When collecting the card I was asked when was the last time I flew "home". Are Ukrainians being asked when was the last time they went turkey to get veneers or went lviv or a nice vacation in the Carpathians. I might be stretching but sounds like discrimination.
I know I'm focusing in the tiny percentage of Ukrainians, because the larger percentage are nothing but friendly and nice. But it's hard not to focus on the negatives. Plus, really, I didn't expect this from them AT THE LEAST.
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Oh, mate, what a nightmare. So sorry to hear that. It frustrates me no end when people don't do the ONE job they've been asked to do and it's even worse I imagine when it's down to some kind of discrimination as well! AT least you have it now - I hope you got rid of some of your frustration writing this post at least.
Truly a nightmare. Venting always helps!
I will squeeze you and tell you that you should feel exactly whatever you are feeling.
Reading this made me so mad and sad. Having met you in person I can vouch for your warmth, intelligence, kindness, motivation to help your community, and a whole bunch of other things that I could splash in the face of that prejudiced ignoramus who never ordered your card. I know how much the negative experiences hurt, but I hope that you see yourself for the good and deserving person that you are, and won't internalize it.
Thanks corvidae. I'm more disappointed than pissed. It's a repeating behaviour and sometimes it gets to me no matter how much I try.
Disappointment. Yeah. I hear that. I'm sorry. It just fucking sucks, to say it straight up. The world is so full of wounded souls blindly taking their pain out on others.
There’s always going to be challenges with things like this - inefficiencies, incompetence and the like. Hopefully this is the last one you experience in a while! There’s a lot of chaos around the world, I think we are due for getting some balance restored and these foolish things over with.
Plenty of chaos. Sometimes it feels there's nothing but that. Then I try to focus on something positive, anything positive. It helps for the moment.
Thanks!
These people need to be stopped and removed from office. This is sheer ill will, against the law and cannot be tolerated. They knew exactly what they were doing and what are the consequences. I hope the Dutch lady will keep an eye on them as they do more harm then good.
I simply hope it doesn't become a regular thing. Unacceptable.
You didn't mention which country you're in. And how is it that so many of these government employees are refugees? It's very difficult for a native born person to get a government job. At least in Canada these are often very well paid positions. Given that the who treaty is going to force inject everyone random s*** this article gives me hope
Very considerate of you to censor the word shit. At least I'm guessing that is what it is.
😆
Malicious people are among every nation. Kind people too. The most important thing is that everything was handled with a positive result. Don't worry about the morons.
Exactly. Thank you for saying what's important.
Dude, I´m so sorry to read this. After everything you have done for your fellow Ukrainian refugees, this is the way some of them treated you? Like really? It´s disappointing to the point where it´s actually heartbreaking. Again, I´m so sorry mate...
You don't have to apologise. But equal and humane treatment should be a given, and not earned because of something I have done or didn't.
Of course. But what you did in the past just makes this situation more ironic and pathetic. There is a sarcastic saying in my country that goes like this: "Every good deed will be properly punished." I just hope you won´t get too bitter after this experience. Everywhere in the world, there are good people and bad people. It´s just about the proportion. In those hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees that are in my country now, there are also some bad people (and certain populist politicians and media here always make sure to highlight their origin when they commit a crime, to boost the anti-refugee sentiment that some simple people tend to fall for) but that doesn´t change the fact that the vast majority of them are nice, polite, grateful and respectful folks. And I believe it´s the same in the Netherlands...
That's why I told him to only focus on himself. He did a lot so far and that's enough...🤣
If we meet you in person again, I will tell you more my friend 😀
Ok, I hope to meet you guys again, even though it sounds like what you want to tell me is not really nice :/ You had some bad experience with your fellow Ukrainian refugees too?
Well, it became a daily routine 😀. So both good and bad experiences I have...
get a job
Funny you say that. I haven't see you telling this to those you're sending Hive or HBD to, although you know they are doing nothing all day, but playing video games.
FYI, he has a job and residency permit has nothing to do with having a job!
I have told them (some), actually. I say that quite often.
Next time tell those who don't have a job and don't just drop this nonsense on anyone just because you're bored or it makes you feel good.
I follow him, his posts pop up in my feed, I curate daily.
All I got so far was a travel blog of Europe and then this entitlement;
A rant about the beautiful Netherlands that offer him refuge.
And what do you want now?
You really want to go there? You really think people are obliged to write about what they do in life?
And you call this entitlement? And a rant about the Netherlands? Are you serious? Did you even read the post?
Better question is what do you want now? You made an assumption, which was wrong. You were rude and wrong and you continue to be rude and wrong.
@felixxx You're just a typical two-faced troll. Filled to the brim with privilege.
You wouldn't dare say half of this shit to my face.
All you do is complain about anyone doing better than you and assume everyone you don't know is doing worse than you (and you're not doing any better anyways).
It's my blog. I post what I want. What do you know about my life or what I do now? And why is it your business? You still failed to answer my original question. Or was that just your escape to vent some frustration?
Listen, you're wrong. And your fragile ego doesn't help.
What shit? You got a job and the NL bank cancels your account?
I don't even believe you. Try me next time we meet.
We are not talking about NL, we are talking about Ukrainian refugees who are just like us except for the skin color difference.
Do you feel any better assuming that?
I've been ao accustomed to not seeing them on Hive, I forgot there are still trolls... Thanks for keeping it real and informative! God bless
@felixxx Your comment gave me the idea that you didn't even bother to read the post. First of all, we never showed or said that NL ever did anything for us. We were always grateful that NL gave us shelter when we needed it. The second fact, all the refugees from Ukraine work in NL and pay taxes. So, we are not completely dependent on the government and we are contributing. In this post, we were talking about the immigration system what exactly happened, and the discrimination we faced because of skin color. We are not nationals of Ukraine but we, immigrants have equal rights as Ukrainian nationals because of our residence permit. We faced discrimination and we talked about it. If you don't know the background story, you shouldn't comment like this.
About the Europe trip: We might be homeless for now but we are not beggars. We are not obliged to stay at a government shelter all the time and cry for help. Even many people including my doctors told me to go to see Europe. We work and we use our own money for life. We pay for our own food, transportation, and shelter. Just because you see all the travel posts, doesn't mean our life is like Barbie World. Kindly, next time before saying something irrelevant, try to read the post again and stay on the topic instead of hurting personally someone.
@tipu curate 2
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