This episode of the ERASMUS TIME expands Olha Bilash’s written testimony with an intimate conversation about her Erasmus semester in the Czech Republic. She speaks about her life back in Ukraine, about living in Brno, the kindness she encountered there, and how safety and normality felt from the perspective of someone coming from a country at war. A key moment of the conversation is her realization that when you go to another country, you see there is not only one way to do things — you can do anything you want, a thought that reshaped how she sees her future. Alongside her personal monologue, Olha reflects on her studies of puppet theatre, exploring what a puppet can be, how it can be used to tell complex stories, and what awaits her when she returns home to Ukraine.

Five years from now (from 2:00)

The text by Olha Bilash, a Ukrainian student on Erasmus in the Czech Republic, is a deeply personal reflection on growing up with war as a constant presence. Instead of clear plans for the next five years, she speaks about hoping to be alive, to still have a home, and to be able to live an ordinary, peaceful life. War has shaped her identity, her fears, and her view of the future, but also strengthened her sense of resilience and solidarity. It is a testimony of anger, vulnerability, and faith in life continuing despite everything.

Hosted and recorded by: Tereza Reková, Jakub Mareš