Ukrainian exchange student Danylo Didis, 17, was to return to his hometown of Kyiv in January after his stay at the Lyndora home of his host, Cindy Parker.

Then Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to amass troops and the equipment of war on the Ukraine border as predictions of an impending invasion dominated the headlines.

While he had his ticket to fly home, it became increasingly evident to “Danny,” as he is known, and his parents that the safest move would be to keep him in Lyndora and continue his education at First Baptist Christian School until further notice.

It is not known when he finally will make it home to Kyiv and his family.

“He is more than welcome to stay here,” Parker said of her first exchange student. “I’m a parent. I wouldn’t want my kids in a war zone either.”

She said his status as an exchange student ends in nine weeks, but his visa doesn’t expire until 2024.

“I sent his teacher a message that Danny can stay as long as his parents want him to be here,” Parker said.

Each day after school, Danny talks to his parents and older sister, who fled Kyiv to the small town of Gorodok in western Ukraine to avoid the heavy fighting. He said Gorodok is safe and no fighting is taking place there. His parents are staying in a hotel.

Danny recalled his feelings after learning that troops had entered Ukraine and the invasion was a reality.

“Definitely not good,” he said. “Terrible.”

Danny’s biggest fear is that a missile would strike his house and injure his family.

“Now, my parents are safe,” he said.

He said a neighbor is watching the family’s house and caring for their dog and cat.

While many of the family’s friends have fled Kyiv, some have chosen to stay. “When they hear the sirens, they must go to the basement or the subway,” Danny said.

Like many in the world, Danny is in disbelief at Putin’s attack on his southern neighbor.

“I don’t understand for what,” he said.

Danny has a high opinion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the job he is doing as fighting continues. “My parents didn’t vote for him, but now my dad changed his opinion of him and probably my mom too,” Danny said.

Because he is in the United States, the young man said the war in Ukraine seems somewhat unreal to him.

“I haven’t seen it with my own eyes and ears, so it has not effected me 100%,” he said.

Like other Ukrainians living in the United States, Danny checks the channels on his smart phone regularly for reports on the war, although it is against the advice of his parents.

“They say, ‘Don’t read a lot of news,’” Danny said.

He said those reports have listed Russia’s casualties as 6,000, and noted that Ukrainian soldiers are well-paid for fighting the enemy. “That shows the government cares about the soldiers,” Danny said.

Regarding his stay with Parker and her family, which includes her two teenage children, Danny said the general mentality in his temporary country is much different than that of Ukraine.

“Americans are over-emotional,” he said.

Parker agreed that the more serious, quiet demeanor of her Ukrainian visitor sometimes contrasts with the outgoing, gregarious American personalities in her house and neighborhood.

“It’s been an adjustment for both of us,” Parker said.

She took Danny to a European market near the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh to try to find some foods that are more native to Danny’s palate. Pickled tomatoes, cake, candies, chocolate bars and bread made their way home to Lyndora.

“It was the most amazing cake,” Parker said. “The best cake I ever had.”

Because Danny does not eat beef or pork, Parker has been trying to prepare chicken-based meals, and even tried to make him a pot of borscht, which is a beet-based soup.

“He ate it, but I’m not sure if it was good or if he was just being nice,” Parker said as nearby Danny smiled enigmatically.

She also took a stab at chicken Kiev, which turned out to be Danny’s favorite meal prepared in the Parker kitchen.

Danny enjoys walking to Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Sundays, where he worships and chats with the Rev. Yurii Bobko and his wife, who are young natives of Ukraine.

“Father Bobko is a good man,” Danny said.

For now, Danny will cool his heels at the Parker household and attend classes at First Baptist Christian School.

Parker said he also attends Ukrainian school online after the regular school day, and often works late into the night.

When he is not working on his lessons, Danny spends most of his time online, watching what is happening in his homeland. “About four hours a day,” he said, he observes the war from behind a computer screen, wondering what the future will bring.

He hopes Ukraine someday will join the European Union.

“It will guarantee independence and we would have liberty,” Danny said.