Irina Vodonos

Irina Vodonos was born and raised in Moscow, has lived in Los Angeles and New York, and now makes her home in Seattle with her Siberian-born husband and their California-born dog. She works for Neighborhood House, a social services nonprofit, teaches Russian cooking classes, and manages to sneak in a hike, a good book, time at her P-Patch, and a home-cooked dinner with friends every once in a while.
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An immigrant “comes out” as a refugee

by Irina Vodonos
The recent U.S. backlash against Syrian refugees has convinced writer Irina Vodonos to talk openly about coming to United States as a refugee.
Dec 10, 2015
Polish immigrants arriving in the U.S. around the turn of the century we're stereotyped as "farm people" and usually went straight to work as agricultural laborers or farmers. (Photo via Wikipedia)

Why today’s immigrants are shunning rural living

by Irina Vodonos
My friends are shocked to hear I’m considering doing something almost no immigrants do: moving to a rural area.
Jul 2, 2015
Ukrainian soldiers in the city of Slovyansk this summer, anticipating an attack by Russian separatists. (Photo by Sasha Maksymenko)

Local Ukrainians see an irreparable rift with Russia

by Irina Vodonos
As the ground war continues, so does the information war, further dividing once kindred Russians and Ukrainians.
Nov 20, 2014
Nicole Pita and Andre Mascarenhas are newlyweds on opposite sides of the world's fiercest soccer rivalry. (Photo by Andre Mascarenhas)

United by love, divided by World Cup rivalries

by Irina Vodonos
Nicole Pita and Andre Mascarenhas are newlyweds on opposite sides of the world’s fiercest soccer rivalry.
Jun 10, 2014
Celia Payen checks on her freshly sprouted radishes, flanked by tulips on her left and a cardoon plant on her right. (Photo by Irina Vodonos)

What’s in your P-Patch? Global flavors sprout for spring

by Irina Vodonos
Slowly, reluctantly, in spurts, spring is coming to Seattle, and P-Patch gardens all over the area are waking up from winter slumber. Each week, a few more gardeners brave the rain to check in on their plots, and when the sun makes an appearance, they turn out in full force to till, fertilize, sow seeds, […]
Apr 30, 2014

Seattle views on Crimea, Ukraine and Russia

by Irina Vodonos
Given the breakneck speed of developments in Russia and Ukraine, keeping track of the news - and sorting out fact from fiction - can be challenging.
Mar 18, 2014