I am Colombian but currently living in Germany. I registered for the Ukrainian convention the very first day I saw the flyer. I remember that day as I felt sad about not being able to attend the convention in my home country, Colombia, which coincidentally was scheduled for the same weekend. So, without hesitation, I filled out the form and attended my first SA convention!

However, my mom and friends were not happy; they were worried about my safety. One of them even suggested that I was insane for going to a country in the midst of war. Maybe that’s true—I lack sanity, and that’s precisely why I came to SA in the first place. I took many risks while I was acting out, and now in recovery, I am willing to go to any length to stay sober and lead a free and joyous life, as the program promises. As the organizers said it’s a safe area, I trust them.

The convention exceeded my expectations. Ukrainian fellows were incredible hosts, and we spent a lot of time together. We had a BBQ, ate chocolates, tried delicious Ukrainian dishes, made string figures, and some of us even went to a sauna (male and female separated). I heard many stories and was able to ask many questions. I met three amazing sisters and even shared a room with a Ukrainian female of my same age and very similar stories. She generously shared her experience during her five years of sobriety—an amazing opportunity for me, especially because I have always felt like a “foreigner,” not from a specific country but from the entire human species. I always knew I was different, but that feeling disappears as soon as I join an SA meeting.

It was mesmerizing to hear the Serenity Prayer in seven languages. I was there, surrounded by the Carpathians, while seeing pictures of my Colombian fellows in the Cocorá Valley (convention venue). At the same time, I missed my home group in Germany. Now, it seems that I have many homes because home is not a place anymore; home is our heart-to-heart connection with the common intention of recovery. Conventions are wonderful examples of how strong SA is.

I will always remember this experience. Дякую.