#20: Four Things I Wish I Knew Earlier

Sharing Career Lessons I Learned the Hard Way

For about a year, I’ve been “teaching” English to a whip smart Ukrainian woman who lives alone in Kyiv.

In truth, she knows English as well as I do, and she speaks at least 3 other languages to boot. At age 26, she has already assembled an impressive career in fintech as a lawyer, reviewing contracts and other documents.

She’s smart, and very aware of the world beyond Ukraine. She’s also tough. She’s living her life in middle of a war, and at any time might have to flee her apartment and go into an interior corridor or down to a shelter. We’ve had calls with her sitting in the hallway outside her door.

I admire her greatly.

When we first met through ENGin, she told me she was more interested in cultural exchange than English lessons. I’ve done my best, introducing everything from Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon to funny word play memes to slice-of-life photos from my volunteer activities.

She …