The Mediocre Soldier And A Complete Failure As A Civilian - May 14th 2024

May 14th 2024

Yuriy humorously reveals his struggles in readjusting to civilian life, leading to a comical mishap with his jeans. 

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TRANSCRIPT: (Apple Podcasts & Podbean app users can enjoy accurate closed captions)

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
It is 14th of May.
One of my acquaintances in Kyiv decidedseveral years ago to completely abandon
the Russian language, which he spokesince childhood, and switch exclusively
to Ukrainian somewhere around half ayear later, he confessed that he didn't

(00:24):
become any better at Ukrainian, but atthe same time almost forgot Russian.
And you know what?
This does not work with languages only.
It works with everything.
Let me give you an example.
I found myself in the Army aged morethan 40 years with no prior military
experience, but with a host of healthissues like asthma and bad knees,

(00:48):
so I didn't turn into the ultimatesoldier and nobody expected me to.
I do everything I should do, everythingmy commanders order, but of course, not
as quickly or efficiently as my youngercomrades or people who have dedicated
their entire lives to military service.

(01:09):
I fully acknowledge thatI am a mediocre soldier.
But I never expected to also becomea complete failure as a civilian.
Over two years in the Army, Isimply forgot how to be civilian.
I thought it would be easier, but youcould not unlearn it, but no, you can't
actually forget how to be a civilian.

(01:32):
A few days ago I was finallygranted a long awaited day off, a
real one where I could take off myuniform and wear regular clothes.
For the first time in many months, Iput on my jeans and within 20 minutes
in the middle of a busy street witha crowd of people, I somehow made

(01:52):
such an awkward step with my jeanstore forming a huge hole behind.
So I spent the whole daycovering the hole with my hands.
With uniform pants this neverhappens even in the worst conditions.
I really hope this story has broughta little humor to your day and lifted

(02:13):
your spirits because this is the onlyfunny story I can tell you right now.
All the others are sad and worrying.
The Russians have opened a newfront and are advancing again in the
Kharkiv region, destroying citiesand towns with shells and rockets
trying to break through to Kharkiv.

(02:34):
They are being killed by the hundredsand thousands, but the Russian
army keeps sending new waves ofRussian meat at Ukrainian positions.
We have tough times ahead of us again.
New attempts by the Russians to launcha major offensive on our cities.
We need to, hold on.
Hold on tight.

(02:56):
I wish we had more missiles andtanks because in our case, they
are not the means of the killing,but the means of saving lives.