Maksym

Maksym (Максим), just shy of 19, is originally from Ukraine and has lived in eastern Slovakia since before the Russian-Ukraine war. He finished his later high school years there, picking up Slovak quite well, though we sometimes switch between Slovak and English when we chat, adding a fun and unique dynamic to our conversations.

Recently, Maksym moved to Bratislava and has been hopping between jobs, now working as a Bolt delivery boy while learning business and marketing skills, hoping to start his own venture someday. We’ve bonded over workouts, going to the gym or exercising outdoors together, and he’s got a real passion for boxing, even talking about joining a local club to take it further. Despite a slight language barrier, it’s been a pleasant challenge that keeps our talks lively—though it’s led to some amusing mix-ups, like when I asked him not to shave his pubes and he thought I meant the opposite, or when I suggested a trim and cleanup for his nice, longer hair, only for him to misunderstand and have a friend buzz it short.

He’s a friendly guy, though he can be a bit stubborn and set in his ways at times, which adds to his charm. Photography is a completely new world for him, and his willingness to dive in, despite the occasional hiccup, makes our time together all the more interesting. Our latest laugh came from those hair misadventures, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he grows into this new experience.