Read the CUPP instructions and assignments carefully, with a dictionary if necessary. Write your answers or better still type them clearly. Do not fashion your answers to please the Director or the teachers who conduct the examinations and assess marks to the exams and essays. It is important through the examinations, assignments and essays, that you demonstrate the true level of your fluency in English, French and Ukrainian. There have been some startling differences between the level demonstrated in the application sent from Ukraine to Canada before the Final Selection Meeting, and in the language proficiencies shown in the personal interview conducted in Kyiv. Clearly, someone other than the student applicant has written the assignments and the student discredits himself or herself in the personal interview and is, of course, disqualified. Show your initiative in replying to the assignments. For example, it is easy to purchase a postcard of your university and submit this as one of your required photographs. On the other hand, we have received some very original photographs of universities, cities, towns and even villages where students study or come from. Some of these draw attention to a student, not just in the photograph, but in the quality of the description of the university or the place of birth. As well, do not Russify my name as this is insulting to me and to Ukrainians who wish to maintain the national language, and to see the transliteration from Ukrainian to English not through the Russian language but directly from I Ukrainian to English. Mychajlo Hrushevskyj would be horrified to learn that in modern Ukraine the name of the street on which the Ukrainian Parliament stands is by some called Grushevskogo. Since when did the letter "h" disappear from the Ukrainian and English language?
9. What do you wish for the program in the immediate future?
Hopefully, with the inclusion of the students from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, a new dynamic will be introduced into the makeup of the CUPP team in Canada. I was most pleasantly struck by the level of knowledge of the Ukrainian language by the applicants by Azerbaijan and Georgia. I was impressed by the patriotism of the applicants from Georgia. Someone commented to me that Georgians are prouder of their heritage than Ukrainians. And the Ukrainian Diaspora in those countries shares this pride and respect for the Georgian language as well as for their Ukrainian roots and their Ukrainian language. But what I wish for the program is that it continue to expand and provide for greater participation by Ukrainian students and that this year, when the Ukrainian and American internship programs in the Canadian Parliament begin to share some of the activities, Ukrainian students continue to demonstrate the best qualities of the Ukrainian nation and be as proud of their heritage as the American students are of theirs.
10. Does CUPP Program receive support from the Ukrainian side?
If you mean by the Ukrainian side, the Government of Ukraine, the answer is a qualified NO. The Parliament of Ukraine has, from the earliest years, through the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, allowed the CUPP program to use the Committee's Building of Verkhovna Rada to hold examinations and interviews. The Canadian Embassy has, of course, from the beginning, provided support for the CUPP program by opening its doors in similar fashion to our final selection process and the holding of examinations and interviews as well as our reunions at the Embassy. The Chair of Ukrainian Studies Foundation at the University of Toronto, who are the financial sponsors of the CUPP program, has not sought financial assistance from the Government of Ukraine. The Chair Foundation is convinced that in order to maintain independence of the selection process for the CUPP program, it is advisable that only technical assistance and support come from the Government of Ukraine.
11. What useful paths of knowledge and information pass on to the intern in Ukrainian political life?
For those interns who participated in national or provincial elections in Canada, they observed and often acquired Canadian or western techniques and knowledge of political campaigns. They also were able to observe open and fair elections and campaigns as practiced in western democracies. There are criticisms of the election process in western democracies but they focus mainly on the individual candidate's personal wealth and ability to conduct a political campaign. But for this situation, in most recent years there have been enacted stringent rules which limit the budgets and the ability of wealthy individuals to spend on their own campaigns. These guidelines and rules are strictly adhered to as there is a reporting process and financial reporting of party and individual campaigns, made public very shortly after each election. As well, the Ukrainian interns break down the myths which often emanate from the corridors of power. The people who serve in the Canadian Parliament possess no greater strengths or weaknesses than the average Canadian who does not participate directly in the political life of the country. Politicians share the same strengths, weaknesses, errors in judgment as the population at large and therefore no artificial or supernatural abilities should be assigned to politicians either in Canada or in Ukraine simply because these individuals have succeeded in being elected to the parliament of their country. In brief, parliament and the work of parliament should be transparent and by working in the Canadian Parliament, Ukrainian students, to some degree, become more realistic about their own political politicians and their role in guiding the affairs of their country.
12. CUPP is not only working in Parliament, it is also getting acquainted with Canadian culture, the duties and obligations as Ambassadors of Ukrainian students in Canada. What makes it easier to adapt to the new surroundings of working in Canada?
It is helpful that each applicant for CUPP read the Intern's Guide and what to expect in Canada posted on the internet together with the application at www.katedra.org. Secondly, an applicant should visit the internet site of the Government of Canada to get an overview of the operation of the Canadian Parliament, the names of ministries and departments and agencies. As well, an applicant should become familiar with the political makeup of the Canadian Parliament and read any reports about legislation currently moving through the Canadian Parliament. Another helpful site is www.infoukes.com to learn about the Ukrainian Diaspora and its activities and organizations in Canada and in North America. There is as well, an internet service out of Toronto and Washington through E-poshta and Art Ukraine.
But when you finally arrive in Canada, please remember that the Ukrainian Diaspora of North America has fought to maintain its Ukrainian identity, its language and culture for over 100 years. Until recently, we were like a branch which had been cut off from its root, with no contacts with the homeland. This branch through assimilation was growing weaker and weaker. And yet, the Diaspora maintained its traditions, culture and language. Since the renewal of independence, the influence of a Free Ukraine has had both positive and negative influences. Too often, too many representatives of Ukraine appear on European North American television speaking to us in Russian. Too often those personalities actually identify themselves as being Russian even if they were born in Kyiv or Odessa. So when you come to Canada, speak to us in Ukrainian and not only to the Director and the CUPP administration team. Be as proud of your country as Canadians are of Canada or Georgians are of Georgia, Ukraine's future lies not with some confusing multi-vectored, or multi-coloured, half-baked, servile status with Russia. Ukraine's future lies as an independent, prosperous European state, tolerant of its minorities and their languages, with respect for the official language and with a clear European perspective, built on centuries old history and culture. There is a popular commercial developed by one of the large brewing companies in Canada which is titled, "I Am Canadian". The commercial focuses on the proud differences between us and our neighbours to the south. What comes through in the commercial is a sincere patriotism and dedication to the Canadian homeland. It would be fascinating to see on Ukrainian television a similar commercial titled, "I Am Ukrainian".
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