Ukrainian Women Abroad: From Kryvyi Rih to the Seychelles — Daria’s Story
- Olga Kurak
- Aug 5
- 19 min read
“Ukrainian Women Abroad” is a series of interviews with Ukrainian women who have moved to live in other countries.
With my friend Daria, we talked about what felt like everything — the experience of moving to another country, love, relationships with a foreigner, cultural differences, finances, marriage, emotional burnout, the challenges of emigration, and how to rediscover yourself far from home.
I hope you’ll find it just as interesting to read Daria’s story — a Ukrainian woman who married a man from New Zealand and now lives in the Seychelles.
Contents
Childhood, dreams, and the path into tourism

— Hi Dasha! So happy to have you here, and thank you for agreeing to share your story for the “Ukrainian Women Abroad” series. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Daria Karaman — an expert and blogger about the Seychelles, and co-owner of a travel company. I’m originally from Kryvyi Rih* — a city known for being the longest in Europe, where after it rains, the puddles turn orange.*
I was born in June 1991 and grew up in a big, loving family: grandma, grandpa, dad, mom, two sisters, and me. As far back as I can remember, our house was always loud and lively.
Author’s notes:
Kryvyi Rih is considered the longest city in Europe — according to different sources, it stretches from 88.8 km to 126 km.
The orange puddles are caused by deposits of iron ore in the region and Soviet-era road construction that used oxidized quartzite as filler, giving the soil its characteristic reddish color.
— How would you describe your family?
I’d say we were an ordinary post-Soviet family. Everyone worked regular jobs and earned a modest income. There weren’t any entrepreneurs in our family.
— Did you dream about traveling the world or living abroad?
When I was 17, something happened that stuck with me. A friend and I had just graduated school, and we went to a club. As we stood at the entrance, she told me about her dream of going to Australia. She had a clear plan — exactly what to do to get there.I remember thinking, “Australia? That’s so far. Would I even ever visit such distant countries?” At that time, moving abroad wasn’t on my mind at all.Tourism did attract me though. Even if I didn’t have a burning travel dream. Or wait — I did! As a kid, I dreamed of going to Cyprus. But my grandma used to say, “Only rich people vacation abroad.”
— When was your first trip abroad?
Well… does Russia count as abroad?
— Of course. It’s a different country.
Then my first trip was in 11th grade — a tour to St. Petersburg with my parents.
— Where did you travel as a child?
We’d go to the seaside in Lazurne (Kherson region) or Crimea. Before I turned 20, I traveled a lot around Ukraine and often went hiking in the mountains for 7–10 days with friends. My first international trip with my parents was to Turkey when I was 17.
— And when did you first visit Europe?
When I was about 19 or 20 — on a ski tour to Slovakia and Poland.
— You mentioned always being drawn to tourism. How did you get into the industry?
In 11th grade, I first heard about a tourism faculty and told my mom I might want to study there. But she said, “What are you going to do with that? Where would you even work?”So I thought: well, Mom and Grandma are economists — I guess I’ll be one too.I graduated from university and got my master’s degree. On my final year, I took tourism courses. After that, I looked for jobs both in economics and tourism, and the one I landed was in tourism.
— So you did find your way into tourism 😊
I did! I quickly got a job at a travel agency. And my first “familiarization tour”* organized by the company was to Cyprus. That’s where we first met.
Author’s notes:
Familiarization trips (or “FAM trips”) are organized by tour operators for travel agency staff to explore hotels, excursions, and services in a specific destination.
— Yes! We met there in 2013 and became friends right away. And your childhood dream came true — you made it to Cyprus.
It did. And I had another dream — to visit the UAE. I went there that same year, in 2013, also on a “reklamnik.” I remember one moment clearly: standing in the lobby of the Rixos The Palm hotel, surrounded by yellow fresh flowers, I looked around and thought, “I’d love to live abroad one day. Or at least here, in the UAE.”
A Tourism Career: From Kyiv to Tropical Islands
— How did your career in tourism develop?
I really enjoyed working in tourism. The only thing is — as you know yourself from being in the industry — it’s very sensitive to any socio-economic events. For example, in 2014, tourism in Ukraine took a huge hit due to the Russian invasion and the annexation of Crimea.Many of my colleagues left the field, and my best friend moved to Canada. She was actually the one who insisted I should leave too or at least look for a job abroad. At that point, I didn’t want to move, but I started thinking about working outside Ukraine.I remembered all the hotels I had visited during familiarization trips, pulled out the business cards, and started sending out my CV. In 2015, I went to the Dominican Republic.
— Another fam trip?
Yes, I was discovering the world through those trips.
— I totally get that. Those trips gave me a lot too. I probably saw hundreds of hotels — it really helped when I later managed a hotel. So what happened next? Did any of the hotels respond to your CV?
Surprisingly, no. But when I came back from the Dominican Republic, I realized I just didn’t have the energy to keep working. Sales were down, the atmosphere was depressing.My parents were heading to Skhidnytsia — a spa resort in western Ukraine — and invited me to come along. I agreed. I guess the fresh mountain air helped: I had a moment of clarity and knew I didn’t want to work in a travel agency anymore. I needed change — something new.I was always impressed by the tour operator managers at seminars — they spoke about destinations and hotels in such an engaging way. I dreamed of being able to present like that. It was 2016. I wasn’t ready to open my own agency yet*, but I realized I wanted to understand how tourism works from the inside — how tour operators* operate, how travel packages are created, how they negotiate with hotels, how charter flights are launched.I started sending my resume to major tour operators’ head offices in Kyiv. I got several interviews and accepted an offer from TPG to manage the Dominican Republic, Montenegro, Albania, and Croatia directions.
Author’s notes:
Tour operator — a company that creates travel products and sells them through travel agents. Travel agent — a person who sells these products directly to clients (tourists).
— So you moved to Kyiv?
Yes, I did. And to be honest — it was tough. My salary was four times lower than what I earned in Kryvyi Rih. I shared an apartment with four guys. I worked from early morning till late night, without overtime pay.
— How long did you last?
I worked there for nine months. But living in Kyiv gave me a lot. I started working out, reading books on self-development and psychology. I was very inspired by a friend who dreamed of becoming a TV star and followed a step-by-step plan to achieve it. Professionally, I finally understood how tour operators work from the inside.Eventually, I started looking for new opportunities and got a job offer in the Maldives. I was hired by an inbound travel company to work in reservations, assist with fam trips, and occasionally meet tourists. I lived in the Maldives for a year.
— Another dream of yours came true — you lived abroad. How would you describe that time?
I worked a lot, saved every penny. I started valuing my family even more.
— How about your personal life? Any relationships with foreigners?
I never specifically aimed to date foreigners. But in the Maldives, I started considering the idea. My boss — a Ukrainian woman — was married to a local Maldivian man. Their love story was beautiful. I thought to myself, “I’d like something like that too — not with a Ukrainian guy, but someone from abroad.”I did go on one date with a foreigner. He was a gentleman, but it quickly became clear he already had a girlfriend. What shocked me was that in the Maldives, it’s considered normal for a local man to have a wife — a Maldivian — and also a “white woman” as a mistress. It’s seen as prestigious.
— An interesting cultural nuance 😊 How did your career develop after that?
I ended up working for that company for three years — one year in the Maldives and two years in their Kyiv office. Then I quit. The main reason was how the employer treated me. If I had felt appreciated, I might have stayed.It was 2018, and I fell into a depression. I didn’t know what to do next.At times like that, I turn to self-development — reading, analyzing, trying to find direction. That’s when I discovered the book “Reality Transurfing” by Vadim Zeland — he writes about shaping reality with the power of thought. It resonated with me.After the Maldives, I realized I wanted to live in Tenerife, but finding a job there was nearly impossible. Then, at the end of 2019, an acquaintance offered me a job in the Seychelles.
— What was your reaction to working on an island again?
Honestly? I wasn’t thrilled. After the Maldives, I thought island life wasn’t for me: humid climate, my skin constantly breaking out (though that didn’t happen in the Seychelles). I was hesitant. But, as always, I talked to my mom. She said, “You won’t know unless you try.” So I agreed.The plan was to get a work visa in three months, but it actually got processed in a week. The company in Seychelles called and said they were expecting me by January 15. I asked to postpone by a month: I quit my job, spent two weeks with my family in Kryvyi Rih, and finally went solo to Tenerife — I had always dreamed of going there.
— How was your solo trip?
It was amazing. I enjoyed my own company, rented a car, drove around the island. Everything went great.
— When did you fly to the Seychelles?
February 14.
— On Valentine’s Day 😊
Yes. I remember being on the plane, they handed out chocolates for the holiday, and I thought, “I’m flying to the Seychelles, but I’m alone.” I felt sad. I wasn’t excited about the trip. My mom even asked me to cancel because she saw how uncertain I was.
COVID, Isolation, and Inner Transformation
— So this was the beginning of 2020, when COVID was already a hot topic?
You know, I don’t really follow the news. I wasn’t paying much attention to the details of COVID. I arrived in Seychelles and started working on February 15. Just a month later, lockdown began. We spent a month and a half at home. It was a strict quarantine.

— I was in Bali during lockdown. For me, it felt like the end of the world. How did you experience it?
It was tough. I fell into depression. We didn’t know what it was, how long it would last. I thought, “Forget tourism.” It’s always the first industry to suffer during any kind of global upheaval. So I decided: that’s it, I’m going into IT.
But later I realized that IT was absolutely not for me. Everything felt like it was falling apart. I was incredibly lonely on the island — there was no one around.
— What did you do to pull yourself out of that state?
I started working on my mental health by myself. I discovered Alla Klymenko — she calls herself a “happiness expert” on Instagram. During lockdown, she launched free programs. One of them was a morning challenge called “Happy Morning,” where she gave daily tasks like affirmations, gratitude practices, and more. It helped me a lot.
I also read a lot of books.
— Which books helped you?
Back then, I read three books that really impacted me:
• Larisa Renar — The Circle of Feminine Power
• Larisa Renar — The Elixir of Love
• Steve Harvey — Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man
Steve’s book explains men’s behavior in a fun and accessible way — how they act when they genuinely like a woman. After reading it, you start to understand them better.Larisa Renar’s books came with practical exercises. One of them was to describe your dream man — in great detail. I took the task seriously, sat down, and wrote out exactly how I imagined my future husband.
— And did anything from the list come true? 😊
Oh yes, a lot of it! I wrote that I wanted my future husband to be a native English speaker — and my husband’s native language is English. I love sports and wanted him to have a sporty hobby too. And he… goes ocean fishing. It’s his passion.
I even described his circle — the kind of friends he’d have, what kind of job — and that part came true as well. And I mentioned that I wanted him to love photographing me — and he truly enjoys it 😊
Meeting the Captain: The Beginning of a Relationship
— When did you meet your Captain, as you often call him? And where did that nickname come from?
I call him Captain because he works as a boat captain — it’s as simple as that 😊 In September 2020, when lockdown measures were relaxed in Seychelles and cafés reopened, my friend and I went to one of the local spots where expats and locals would go to dance and hang out. Nearby was a group of foreigners having fun — and he was among them.I immediately noticed him and thought, “What a handsome guy with a charming smile!” But he disappeared quickly. Later, he told me he had noticed me too that night. A week later, we ran into the same group on the beach. They invited us to a café, but my friends didn’t want to go — so we didn’t. Still, I was left with the thought: I need to find the guy with the charming smile.
— Where exactly did you look for him?
I approached it logically: he lives in Seychelles and meets girls — so he must be either on Tinder or Instagram. I went through all of Tinder, then switched to Instagram.By chance, I found the page of one of the guys from that group — his friend. And through him, I found him. His page had lots of fishing photos. I followed him, liked all his posts — and waited.
— You waited for him to message you?😊
Yes. But he... didn’t write anything. He just followed me back and liked my photos too. And that was it.
— So what did you do?
I let it go. At that point, I had a lot of work, and then we went into lockdown again. I had visa issues and didn’t know what to do. A friend I shared the situation with said, “Dasha, you’re stuck. You need to make a decision.”So I decided to stay.On December 11, the “cute guy with the charming smile” finally messaged me — and asked me out.
— How did the date go?
I didn’t have high expectations. I mainly wanted to confirm that he was the same guy from the café. It was hard to be 100% sure from Instagram.He suggested we meet at a nearby café. Not the most romantic place, to be honest. But when we met — I recognized him right away. And I knew it was him. I understood his English well, even though mine was still intermediate.He told me he had noticed me even before that café night. I asked why he hadn’t approached me. He said he sent his friend instead. And I remembered — yes, a slightly tipsy guy had come over that night. We turned him away. Later, that guy told the Captain we were “underage,” spoke Russian, and had poor English.The Captain also told me how important family is to him, how he misses them during the holidays. That really touched me.After the date, he drove me home, opened and closed the car door, didn’t try anything inappropriate, didn’t even go in for a kiss. And when he got home, he called to say he’d arrived and asked if he could call me the next day.
— What a gentleman! 😊 Tell me more.
I was very busy at work. But we talked on the phone every day. I remembered his birthday and asked how he planned to celebrate. He said he’d spend it with friends.The next day, he invited me over for dinner, then out kayaking.I came up with an excuse to go home before the kayaking. When he came in, I was standing there with a homemade cake, candles lit.He was stunned and said, “Is this for me?”That evening, he kissed me for the first time 😊

— That’s so romantic!
Yes. We spent Christmas together. After the holidays, he asked if he could call me his girlfriend. I said yes.In January, he asked me to move in with him. I agreed. And just then, the second lockdown started.Things at work got tough: first they cut my salary in half, then I was let go. I no longer had a legal basis to stay on the island.There was tension in the relationship — we didn’t know what would happen next.I said, “Let’s not try to solve everything right now. Let’s just enjoy this month together, and at the end we’ll sit down and decide what to do next.”He agreed.And we really did enjoy that time together. Before I returned to Ukraine, we even took a trip to Dubai. And I made a clear note to myself: we travel together really well. After the trip, I went back to Ukraine.
— Did you make any decisions before leaving?
Yes, we decided we’d continue the relationship.
— How long were you in Ukraine?
Until May. I had a lot of things planned there.
— I remember we met in Kyiv that May, in 2021. It was our second time meeting in person. You told me about the Captain, and I told you about Santiago and Bali. How did you decide to go back to Seychelles?
In May, he bought me the tickets himself and said, “Come back.” So I did.
What Did You Decide to Do on the Island?
— You decided to return to the Captain. From what I understand, you didn’t have a job. Did you know what you would do on the island?
I did 😊 When I first came to Seychelles, I noticed that there was almost no information online about the islands in Ukrainian or Russian — especially on Instagram (I always search there first). There was basically nothing.So I got the idea to grow my Instagram account as a Seychelles expert.

Life with the Captain: Challenges, Daily Life, and Compromise
— You returned after being in Ukraine. How would you describe your life together with the Captain?
We have a great relationship. I’m open about what I need and also listen to him.For example, our first March 8th together. I said, “Today’s March 8th,” and he went, “So?” But for me, it’s a big day — my dad always gave us flowers at home. I explained how important it is to me. And he remembered: now, every year, he gives me flowers on March 8th.
— And what about other holidays — do you celebrate his way or yours?
Christmas is his tradition. He organizes a big barbecue for friends, the table’s full of food — it’s a lot of fun.For Easter, I bake cherry-filled pastries using my mom’s recipe, and I hide chocolate eggs for the Captain to find.
— How did you get along with his friends? Were there any difficulties?
Yes. I was insecure about my English. I somehow understood the Captain right away, but I couldn’t understand his friends. Most of them are from South Africa, and I didn’t get their accent at all. I avoided hanging out with them because of the language barrier.There was one guy I couldn’t understand at all. I once confessed this to his girlfriend — and she said she often didn’t understand him either, even though they’re from the same country 😄
— What did the Captain say about your language struggles?
He just said, “Don’t stress.”
— Good advice 😊 We often make things harder for ourselves — like with the friend you couldn’t understand, but even his girlfriend struggles!
Exactly!
— How do you split up the household chores?
We don’t follow traditional roles: the Captain loves cooking, and I don’t. So he cooks, and I clean up after.In the beginning, I kept thinking, “He’s not just a man — he’s a dream!” Because he really does cook delicious food.Once, I asked him if he was okay with how we divide things. He said:“I’m fine. No need to compare. In my family, my mom cooks and my dad doesn’t. My uncle is the opposite — he cooks, his wife doesn’t. Everyone’s different.”
— You have a very thoughtful husband.
Yes, I always say — I married a psychologist 😊
Managing Finances as a Couple
— Financial matters are often sensitive in relationships. Among foreigners, for example, the 50/50 model is popular. How is it for you two?
That’s true, but honestly, the 50/50 model isn’t for me, and I said that clearly when finances became a topic. It was really important to me.
— Dasha, you weren’t afraid to voice your opinion, even though in the Western world, financial equality is the norm, and what you said might sound old-fashioned. Still, saying it out loud takes courage! How did your financial arrangement evolve? What’s it like now?
We still don’t have a 50/50 system. We don’t divide everything strictly — like “you pay for this, I pay for that.” I do the shopping on my own and pay for groceries.
We have shared goals. I can buy tickets for a trip or pay for the hotel. And it all happens very calmly — without long discussions. We don’t argue like, “I paid for this, but you didn’t.”
Marriage: The Road to “Yes”
— You and the Captain are officially married. Tell me how he proposed!
When we started dating, I noticed that most of his friends had long-term partners but weren’t married. In New Zealand, if you live together, it’s already seen as “official.”The only couple in his circle who got married did so after four years together. That’s totally normal for them — but not for me.I’m Ukrainian, and for me, official marriage is important.
— Did you talk about it with the Captain?
Yes, early in the relationship. I made it clear that it mattered to me. I didn’t want to wait 4 or 10 years. I believe one year of living together is enough to know if you want to be with someone.
— But in the end, he decided to propose. Did you know when he bought the ring?
I did.
— So how did the proposal happen?
Very romantically. He invited me to watch the sunset — and that’s when he proposed. The ring was stunning. Honestly, after that, I felt calm.
— What do you mean?
I stopped talking about the wedding 😄 We didn’t set a date or make any plans.Then, out of the blue, he suggested we go and ask about the paperwork to get legally married.I agreed. I went to the local registry office to find out what documents were needed and how long it would take. I was sure it would take at least two weeks.But they said, “We can marry you the day after tomorrow — the 13th. Or on the 14th.”
I called the Captain and asked which date to choose. He said, “Let’s do the 14th!”So we got married on February 14, 2023.

— Was it just a civil ceremony? Or did you have a celebration too?
We organized the ceremony two months later. The Captain hadn’t seen his parents since 2020. I hadn’t seen mine since the war began. Ideally, we were waiting for the war to end — but as you know, we’d still be waiting. My dad couldn’t come, but we managed to convince my mom.We gathered his parents, my mom — and had a small ceremony on the beach. I didn’t wear a white wedding dress. And now I really want a “real wedding” — with my dad, my grandma, my sisters…
— Are you planning another wedding? 😊
Why not? Who said you can only have one wedding? 😄I want to go to Ukraine and have another one — a real, homey one, with everyone.
— That’s wonderful. I hope your dream comes true 💛
The Start of the War: How Life Changed
— Dasha, you’ve already mentioned the war. Tell us how the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, affected your life.
At the time of the invasion, I was returning to Seychelles from Ukraine. Essentially, I left on the last flight — right after I flew out, Ukraine closed its airspace.On February 20, the Captain called me and said he’d bought tickets for February 21 and that I needed to return urgently. I had just recovered from COVID, was still in shock, and asked why the rush. He said: “There’s going to be a war.”I landed in Seychelles on February 22 at 6:30 in the morning. And at 4:00 AM on the 24th — the full-scale invasion began.
— Did you truly not realize something was coming?
No. I wasn’t reading the news. I saw some headlines on the BBC while traveling, but I didn’t believe it could really happen.
— When did it sink in?
Through conversations with my parents. They live in Kryvyi Rih, which is regularly attacked. And of course, after Bucha.
— How did the war change your life?
Everything changed. For the first few months, I kept it together — I took courses, did things I hadn’t had time for. But then I fell into a deep depression. In general, I’ve noticed that people who went through this while abroad were hit harder than those who stayed in Ukraine. Even my friends who fled and later returned said it was harder being away than back in their hometowns… At least, that’s how it was then.
— How did you get out of that depressive state?
I think one of my strengths is the ability to mobilize during crises. I took action: focused on my health, started working out, set goals for myself, started reading again. I also took more English courses and started learning Ukrainian. And I read two books that really helped me mentally:
• I Forgot to Die by Khalil Rafati
• The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
Little by little, I recovered.
— I remember when we first met, you spoke only Russian, and I spoke Ukrainian. After the war began, you decided to learn Ukrainian. Why?
I spoke Russian all my life. Everyone at home still speaks Russian. I’m from Kryvyi Rih, where most people speak Russian.I went to a Russian-speaking school for the first three grades, then switched to a Ukrainian-language gymnasium, but at university, most subjects were again in Russian. That’s how it was. And I can’t change the past.But I always dreamed of speaking Ukrainian — especially like they do in Western Ukraine. I reached out to you, and you recommended Mrs. Nadiya — she helped me a lot.
— Language is a very sensitive topic. But I think you’re a perfect example that it’s never too late to learn. And you did it. By the way, your Ukrainian is wonderful!
Thank you. Compliments about my Ukrainian mean a lot. It’s genuinely important to me.
— How is your family in Kryvyi Rih doing now?
Like most Ukrainians…
— How do you see the end of this nightmare?
I don’t know how or when. But recently the Captain said:“Dasha, we will definitely live to see the day Putin dies. And that will be the best day.”It made me laugh. He’s old — and yes, eventually he will die. And maybe that really will be the best day.
— I’m waiting for that day with you 😊
On the Present and Plans for the Future
— What are you doing now?
I have my own travel company in Seychelles. I managed to open it in partnership after a long road full of difficulties, rejections, and countless business plans.
— And finally: what are your plans for the future? Are you considering moving to another country?
I don’t like to share my future plans 😊 Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
— Do you see New Zealand as an option?
I love that country — it’s my inspiration. But it’s very far and very isolated. I can’t see myself living there permanently.

— And one last question: are you happy?
Yes, I am 😊
Afterword — the second interview in the Ukrainian Women Abroad series
This is the second interview in the series "Ukrainian Women Abroad” — and it was a conversation about everything: love and challenges in relationships, fears, crises, self-growth, and life changes.I’m grateful to Daria for this conversation. For her honesty that truly inspires.
And if you dream of Seychelles — be sure to follow @daria_karaman.Or reach out to her travel company @seyyes.cs — they know how to make your journey truly special and unforgettable.
Stay tuned for more stories of Ukrainian women who are changing the world — and themselves in it.
Thank you for reading 💛
Olya
Comments