08/20/2026
Yesterday, we celebrate our intern, Kateryna Pakliachenko's, last in person day with us. Tuesday, we treated Kate to dinner in a place that we hoped would nurture her as she enters her senior year at UVA McIntyre School of Business. While sharing a meal that reminded her of home at The Balkan Restaurant, we encouraged her to talk about herself, her culture, family, and Ukrainian education.
In her town, the children she started school with are the ones she went to class with for 11 years. She has traveled to 17 countries. As an almost 22-year-old, Kateryna spends a lot of time thinking about her future. Usually, people in Ukraine are married and starting their family. Vegetables are a large part of the Ukrainian diet, which goes back to the years after invasion when livestock were conscripted and families were left to fend for themselves.
Kate grew up in a Christian home and has been hosted by a family from Chesterfield who first came to Zhytomyr (her town) for a church mission when she was very young. Her maturity and global perspective is refreshing…she believes differences aren’t inherently good or bad and politics among free nations is tolerable as long as freedom is the goal. She is undecided about her whereabouts after graduation as it will depend on job prospects. Right now, she is excited about this year, hoping to enjoy new friends and outdoor activities, and anticipating a joyful reunion with her parents and sister, as she hopes they will be able to come to US for her graduation.
Thank you, Kate, for bringing your unique perspective to help broaden ours at the H/PG Chamber!
