Brandon Stanton's Blog, page 332

"Do you remember the proudest you’e ever been of your...

"Do you remember the proudest you’e ever been of your son?"
"The time he asked me to buy some tools so he could make his grandmother a bird feeder."

(Bila Tserkva, Ukraine)

"What’s the plan if the farmer...

"What’s the plan if the farmer comes?"

“Run.”

(Korzhi, Ukraine)

"What do you want to be when you grow up?""A dad.""What will be...

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"A dad."
"What will be the best part of being a dad?"
"Buying myself a skateboard."

(Odessa, Ukraine)

She initially said “no” when I asked for a photo,...

She initially said “no” when I asked for a photo, but another old woman walked by, and began speaking passionately in Ukrainian. Apparently convinced by the words of the passerby, the woman shrugged, and posed for the picture. After everything was finished, I asked my translator: “What did that other woman say?”
"She said: ‘You must not refuse a photo, because you must represent the women of your land. Now go to eternity!’"

(Odessa, Ukraine)

"I fell in love with a girl who, logically, I knew was not a...

"I fell in love with a girl who, logically, I knew was not a good match for me. It didn’t end well. Afterwards, I made a short film based on the relationship— basically saying that you shouldn’t let your heart overrule your head. And now I’ve made the exact same mistake with another girl."

(Odessa, Ukraine)

"I’m afraid of everything. I’ve been reading...

"I’m afraid of everything. I’ve been reading psychology books to try to figure out why. Logically, I know everything is fine. I know that I’m only twenty, and I have so many blessings and advantages. Yet I’m afraid I haven’t accomplished enough yet. I’m afraid of the future. Afraid of getting older. Afraid of being alone. Afraid of having a child. And afraid of the dark. I’m really, really afraid of the dark."

(Kiev, Ukraine)

"We went to war when we were 18."“What’s your...

"We went to war when we were 18."

“What’s your strongest memory from the war?”

“My unit was being transported by train when German planes began to attack us. We jumped out and started to run across a field. I had to carry my wounded friend on my shoulders, so I was moving pretty slow. One of the planes circled around, and dropped a bomb right near me. I felt something hit me in the back and I got thrown to the ground. I thought for sure I was hit, but I couldn’t see any blood. When I finally got to some cover, I pulled my backpack off my back, and saw that it had a giant hole in it. When I opened it up, I discovered that a piece of shrapnel had torn through everything and lodged itself in the leather sole of my boot.”

(Bila Tserkva, Ukraine)

"What’s your biggest goal in life?"“To be...

"What’s your biggest goal in life?"

“To be useful.”

(Odessa, Ukraine)

"I’ve been a professor of marine biology for 64...

"I’ve been a professor of marine biology for 64 years."

“So with all that you’ve learned about the ocean during that time, what amazes you the most?”

“It’s huge.”

(Odessa, Ukraine)

"We had our first day of kindergarten yesterday, and I’m...

"We had our first day of kindergarten yesterday, and I’m already starting to mentally prepare myself for the first boyfriend."

(Kiev, Ukraine)