International work exchange brings men to Lime Creek

• Usyk and Ivanov

Andrii Usyk (left), Ukraine, and Sergiu Ivanov (right), Republic of Moldova, are participating in a 10-month work exchange in Iowa and Minnesota.

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FULDA — Andrii Usyk, from the Ukraine, and Sergiu Ivanov, from the Republic of Moldova, are completing a 10-month agriculture work exchange program.

They arrived in the U.S. in February. Ivanov will return to Moldova on Dec. 14, while Usyk will visit New York City for a month before returning home.

Ivanov studied political science and international studies and took a year-long vacation from his job in Moldova to come here.

Usyk and Ivanov spent their time working at the Farmers Co-Op Society — six months at grain elevators in Little Rock, and Sioux Center, Iowa, and the last four months at the grain elevator in Lime Creek.

Ivanov studied political science and international studies and took a year-long vacation from his job in Moldova to come here.

His father, a farmer in Moldova, suggested Ivanov visit the U.S. to learn about farming practices.

“I grow up in USSRA. You know, this was communist state, under communist policy, and all my life I was teached that our enemy was United States,”said Ivanov. “And they teached how to avoid some nuclear war and how to put on gas masks. The United States was the enemy. And it was a dream from childhood to come here and see what kind of people are really here.”

Usyk, who recently received his degree, had visited the United States before and spent time in South Carolina with a similar work exchange program.

“I wanted to find something new for me, have new experience, meeting with new people, find some friends and study American life — real life, not American TV. Now I really know how you Americans live. Not just in TV because TV is not real life,” said Usyk.

Ivanov has appreciated the openness of the people in Iowa and Minnesota. Everyone has been open and interested in why he is here, Ivanov said.

"One thing curious of me is that here, people greeting each other when they drive car," said Ivanov as he demonstrated a steering-wheel wave," said Ivanov as he demonstrated a steering-wheel wave. "I think, 'He knows me?' I didn't understand at first."

People have been very kind and very open, he added. This was something new for Ivanov, as he lives in a large city in Moldova.

The first thing that struck Usyk when he arrived was the openness of the landscape.

“My first impression is there are a lot of fields filled with corn and beans, everywhere, just fields,” said Usyk.

Usyk and Ivanov did a variety of jobs with Farmers Co-Op Society. They drove trucks, spread liquid and solid fertilizer, learned about seed varieties and helped unload wagons during harvest.

“They really want us to try everything. In Iowa, I just drive truck. Here (in Lime Creek), a lot of farmers come, and they all want to talk. I get a lot of new friends,” said Ivanov.

“Every day we do something new,” added Usyk.

Though neither Usyk nor Ivanov grew up in Russia, both speak Russian fluently and use Russian, rather than Romanian or Ukrainian, to speak with one another.

“Because we was under Russia, the newspapers, the TV channels were in Russian, and I know Russian as well as Romanian. So we use to speak between us Russian,” said Ivanov.

Ivanov is married and has a 5-year-old daughter. Missing his family has been a challenge, but he has been able to speak with them regularly over video chat.

“It helped me to communicate with them and make it easier to be here for so long time,” said Ivanov.

Usyk, on the other hand, has been enjoying the freedom that he has found in US.

“I don’t have time to miss about my country,” said Usyk.

During the 10 months they have been here, Ivanov and Usyk have been able to see some well-known Midwest landmarks. They have visited Chicago, the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and spent most of the summer in Okoboji, Iowa.

“The first we visit Chicago — crazy city!” said Ivanov.

“My favorite (part of being in the U.S.) has been traveling, because for me, I like traveling and having new experiences,” said Usyk.

Ivanov has enjoyed learning about the differences between his culture and the culture in the US.

“I participate in this Halloween party, because we don’t have Halloween. It was very ... interesting. And Thanksgiving Day. Every holiday is something new,” said Ivanov.

When he returns home, Ivanov plans to find ways to use what he has learned here, especially on his father’s farm.

“It was been a good experience,” he said.

Usyk hopes to return home and find a job as a mechanical agriculture engineer.

Daily Globe Reporter Alyson Buschena may be reached at 376-7322.

Tags: news, fulda, agriculture, farm