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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