CANNES,France, Could 25 (Reuters) – When Lesia Bilotserkovets and her household fled Kyiv by automobile firstly of the battle in Ukraine, her father balked on the measurement of her suitcase, filled with winter clothes.
The 24-year-old did not know she would find yourself in Cannes, on the French Riviera.
“I mentioned ‘Papa, I do not know the place I am going, and I do not know for a way lengthy,'” mentioned Bilotserkovets.
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Three months later, she is settling into a brand new job at a lodge in Cannes, which this month rolled out the purple carpet to celebrities for its annual movie competition.
A French household she had helped in Ukraine as an interpreter supplied her a spot to remain.
The Ukraine battle has loomed giant over the competition – official Russian delegations have been banned, the opening ceremony featured a speech from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the place of cultural boycotts has been a recurring theme. learn extra
For Bilotserkovets, the glamour of the competition is a world other than what she left.
“It is as if I am in a parallel universe,” she mentioned. She added that she refrains from posting about her life in France on social media out of respect for others in troublesome conditions.
Bilotserkovets is one in all some 800 refugees which have arrived in Cannes because the outset of the battle. The town corridor arrange a welcome middle and a few lodge and condo homeowners gave up trip leases to accommodate them.
“There have been sturdy gestures of solidarity,” mentioned Thomas de Pariente, deputy mayor answerable for tourism.
Cannes faces shortages of staff within the hospitality sector, which struggles to recruit youthful staff, providing the chance for some to seek out jobs, he added.
Noemie Dewavrin, the proprietor of accommodations Alnea and seven Artwork, mentioned Bilotserkovets is studying tips on how to handle the reception, emails and social networks.
“To start with she appeared a bit burdened, a bit tearful,” mentioned Dewavrin. Bilotserkovets is now extra relaxed.
“I hope if this ends shortly, that I will return house after which take into consideration the place my coronary heart is,” she mentioned.
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Reporting by Mimosa Spencer, Fedja Grulovic, Michaela Cabrera, Noemie Olive. Modifying by Alexandra Hudson
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