Ground Zero: Reloaded.

If laughter yoga is a sham then why do I feel so much better making jokes about this dreadful situation the country is in? I am couped up in my comfortable couch just about 50 to 70 kilometers away from the Russian border where there is an alleged amassment of troops and weapons. My mind is in a constant state of ricocheting between the two meanings of F.E.A.R.: Fuck Everything And Run & Face Everything And Rise.

I had a heartfelt conversation with an official of the medical residency program in Kharkiv, and 10 minutes into the conversation we both broke out in laughter. Of course, the laughs were a poor camouflage of the nervousness creeping into every living cell of our body. There is a heavy mist of uncertainty filling our lungs and a sense of imminent doom beating with every pulse.

It was hilarious reading BBC's report published a day back:

Meanwhile, on the streets of Kyiv, everyday life is continuing as normal. Pedestrians waved and took photographs of Mr Blinken's motorcade as it passed along ice-encrusted streets. There is no sense of panic or undue concern even amid headlines of Russian troops amassing along the nation's borders. - BBC

Anyone who has spent a few years in Ukraine knows that Kyiv, the capital, is the last place anyone has to worry about. It is a fortitude. It is, both geographically and diplomatically, the most highly guarded place in the country. I wonder if the sentiments would be the same if the reports were made from somewhere closer to the border like Kharkiv.

Naturally, the locals have a lot more on their plate compared to a foreigner like myself. They have families, livelihoods, businesses, properties, and what have you. But it isn't any easier for me. I have invested almost a decade of my life here. I have a budding career among and above all. How easy would it be to leave everything you have built and are still building simply because you are a foreigner? Pretty easy, right? Just about 10 years' worth of work. Easy peasy.

I was born and raised in the UAE. I have no connection and moreover no reason and nothing to look forward to if I go to Bangladesh. Even if for a short amount of time. Going back to UAE would mean putting my career on the guillotine. The demands of the rules and bureaucracy would simply put my career to a dead end. It's worse for my friend in the residency department. He is half Lebanese and half Ukrainian. But he is born and raised in Ukraine. His Arabic is so bad that I speak to him in English. He is completely unaware of the Arabic culture and traditions. Moreover, he has a family here as well as a job and a small business. And the crisis in Lebanon is no secret. What a conundrum!

Every day I keep asking myself "what are the chances of a full blown out war?"

Let's be honest for a moment. The real victims of war are the civilians. There is no point in taking sides. At the end of the day, anyone who is not in the room where the big boys are making decisions are the one who suffers the most.

Ukraine is a highly important geographical piece of the map. It also has a lot of economical value. Endless fertile lands, a giant army, gas reservoirs, plenty of water, plethora of establishments. It also is the difference between the east and the west. Whoever has control over this centerline is a humongous gap closer to the other side. No wonder this game of tug-of-war has played out for so long.

The most interesting thing I have come across talking to people is the public sentiment. It is very divided! It is no secret that Eastern Ukraine has a huge chunk of people that support the giant neighboring country. Especially the older generation. They seem very supportive of joining the country that once led the proud union of socialist states. There are some very harsh criticisms of the once comedian-turned president, which is very natural. It is a democracy! Also, he was a goddamn comedian. He is bound to make some massive mistakes. Not to mention, 2 years of his presidency he had to deal with a global pandemic. No wonder the economy is in shambles. Cut him some slack! Nevertheless, there are places he has done an exemplary job. I hope he is able to regurgitate his excellence when dealing with the current crisis.

There are lots of theories I have read online. The bottom line is that if a physical war ensues it could eventually domino into WW3 or nuclear war. That alone makes me believe that bloodshed isn't an option either side is looking at. There is too much at stake. There is a high possibility of diplomatic actions of a grandiose scale as well as an information/cyberwar. That isn't cool either, but it is the lesser of two evils.

The last time I shared my feelings about the current threat, I was welcomed with relieving news that there was some de-escalation. I always had it in the back of my head that it could escalate again at any time. Almost every year such flames re-ignite. But this year seemed a little more serious than the previous instances. After a few quieter days, tensions have risen again. I only hope I can continue preserving the calm mindset I have cultivated in the last few days. A few memes and a few jokes here and there while staying sharp and ready have been helping so far.

---

_{Follow me on twitter and instagram}

---

Affiliate links

_{Rising Star
Exode
Huobi
Appics
Splinterlands
Actifit
Binance
Ionomy
Cryptex}