March 25, 2010
The 8th of March is Women’s Day here in Ukraine. All women are celebrated and honored on this day. My students gave me chocolate, roses, a salt bowl and a glass turtle. I’ve never been given a gift for just being a woman before. Sweet! It really was a fun celebration. And it is such a major holiday here. The Friday before the students and male teachers prepared a concert of singing and skits. I couldn’t find a theme—but it really was hilarious to watch! I had lunch with the Foreign Language teachers—there are 7 of us. That is always a cultural experience. :-) It may be the drinking in the middle of the day that I still find shocking. I politely decline their offers for more. I think after the third toast, I’m done. On birthdays there are 49 toasts! Yikes!
I spent most of the 3 day weekend lesson planning for my US Country Studies class. I have taught my students about the geography of the country, its important early history, slavery, civil rights and will teach them about…uh…something really incredible next week. :-) But back to the holiday weekend—Pat and Tessie came over Sunday and we made Russian Pie. It was delicious! And Pat thoughtfully gave Tes and I a cake to celebrate the holiday. My friend (and fellow PCV) Matt E. sent me a “congratulations!” card. I think America should adopt this holiday of celebrating its women. You can’t help but feel loved and appreciated after this holiday!
March proved to be fun all month long. Pat and I had visitors recently—our friends Jess H. and Jean M. came to Stakhanov to spend their spring break. Sadly, I had to work. But the ladies stayed in the dorm with me and I did end up spending a lot of my time with them. We visited the park in Stakhanov! You can finally see it now that the snow has all melted away. I hope the weather continues to be sunny and bright. I think I may become depressed if that white stuff starts falling from the sky again. The four of us walked all around Stakhanov and saw the pond, cathedral and stadium. Our park has a Ferris wheel in it! For some amazing and ridiculous photos of our week together, go check out my facebook page. We also played a few hours of cards. And laughed a lot. The phrase “Thanks for the squirrels” will forever be immortalized. It was such a joy to have them here. I hope to visit Jess for her birthday in May—and that’s only an 11 hour train ride. Piece of cake!
More to follow…
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Monday, March 29, 2010
All by Myself!!!
Last December before leaving for our sites the PCV’s in my batch elected two Volunteer Advisory Council (VAC) representatives to voice all concerns to the staff in Kiev. Well…I, along with Aidan, was elected to this position by batch #37. Our first VAC meeting was in mid-February in Kiev. The train trip from Stakhanov to Kiev takes 15 hours. It was a looong train ride. However, it was my first train ride by myself. I was so excited! Well, to be honest, I was very nervous about this trip. But once I managed to find my train car, everything was downhill from there. I’m so proud of myself for possessing enough Russian to get from my town to the capital and back, alone. It feels like a small achievement.
My site mate, Pat, speaks Russian very well. He’s been studying for 5 years now. Sharing a site with him is a joy for many reasons, and it helps that he can communicate better with the locals then I can. But at times I feel so inferior and helpless—which leaves me humiliated. I would be lost without Pat for many reasons, not just because of his impressive language skills. He’s a good friend and it’s wonderful to share Stakhanov with him. I enjoy cooking and laughing with him on a weekly basis.
Pat has his English Club at his high school on Thursdays and I have mine at the college on Fridays. We help each other with these programs. And recently we have taken on a community English Club once a month beginning in April. We’re excited! English club is so much fun! The students really enjoy the experience and I love getting to know each of them better. I absolutely adore my students in Stakhanov. They make my job so easy with their eagerness to learn and participate.
I also enjoy traveling away from site occasionally, too. It was great to go to Kiev for VAC last February. The other VAC reps are wonderful people and it was wonderful to meet them all. The meeting centered around the growth of PC Ukraine. Right now we have more than 300 PCV’s in country right now. This time next year that number will jump to 600! It’s incredible! But the staff has assured us that they are ready for the increase and our new Country Director, Doug Teschner, also seems prepared to lead our ever-growing program.
While in Kiev, I managed to visit my friend Yulya. She was a foreign exchange student in high school nine years ago! Yes, she’s Ukrainian. And we have kept in touch all these years. It was great to see her and visit! I love how small the world is! Later that same day some of the VAC reps and our CD, Doug, went to the ballet. We enjoyed a performance set to the music of Figaro. It was enchanting! Pictures of the opera house can be found on facebook. I certainly enjoy my time here in Ukraine. I hope to learn as much as possible, see all the country has to offer and experience every inch of its rich and delightful culture.
More to follow…
My site mate, Pat, speaks Russian very well. He’s been studying for 5 years now. Sharing a site with him is a joy for many reasons, and it helps that he can communicate better with the locals then I can. But at times I feel so inferior and helpless—which leaves me humiliated. I would be lost without Pat for many reasons, not just because of his impressive language skills. He’s a good friend and it’s wonderful to share Stakhanov with him. I enjoy cooking and laughing with him on a weekly basis.
Pat has his English Club at his high school on Thursdays and I have mine at the college on Fridays. We help each other with these programs. And recently we have taken on a community English Club once a month beginning in April. We’re excited! English club is so much fun! The students really enjoy the experience and I love getting to know each of them better. I absolutely adore my students in Stakhanov. They make my job so easy with their eagerness to learn and participate.
I also enjoy traveling away from site occasionally, too. It was great to go to Kiev for VAC last February. The other VAC reps are wonderful people and it was wonderful to meet them all. The meeting centered around the growth of PC Ukraine. Right now we have more than 300 PCV’s in country right now. This time next year that number will jump to 600! It’s incredible! But the staff has assured us that they are ready for the increase and our new Country Director, Doug Teschner, also seems prepared to lead our ever-growing program.
While in Kiev, I managed to visit my friend Yulya. She was a foreign exchange student in high school nine years ago! Yes, she’s Ukrainian. And we have kept in touch all these years. It was great to see her and visit! I love how small the world is! Later that same day some of the VAC reps and our CD, Doug, went to the ballet. We enjoyed a performance set to the music of Figaro. It was enchanting! Pictures of the opera house can be found on facebook. I certainly enjoy my time here in Ukraine. I hope to learn as much as possible, see all the country has to offer and experience every inch of its rich and delightful culture.
More to follow…
Pancakes and 25 Candles
February was a busy month. As was March. And the months before those. And I’m sure my schedule will continue to be hectic until the term is over and summer is here. I still do not have internet, so I use Pat’s internet once or twice a week to check in. Here is what I haven’t been telling you…
February 14 was the Maslaneetsa festival in Ukraine. It is a Russian festival celebrating the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is tradition to burn a statue of winter and eat pancakes—because they are round and golden like the sun. It is also supposed to be the last festival before Lent begins. In the Russian Orthodox Church, those who are devout cannot eat meat or dairy until Easter Sunday. Which is another reason pancakes are eaten at the Maslaneetsa festival. It was a lot of pancakes in a two day period. Pat and I went to the center of town (which is where the Lenin statue is located) to join in the festivities. It was also the warmest day we’d had in Stakhanov since we had arrived. We still needed three layers and gloves, hats and a scarf, but still. It was warmer. And it didn’t snow. A plus any day. To celebrate the festival, men climb a greased pole and who ever reaches the top wins a prize. It was hilarious to watch. Some on them wore nothing but their underwear as they climbed the pull. And most of them did reach the top. Bystanders would throw snowballs at the contestants. I took plenty of photos if you’re interested. You can see them on my facebook page. Eventually the pole climbing ended and the large consumption of vodka began. This made both Pat and I uncomfortable, so we left and went back to my dormitory. Pat’s Ukrainian counterpart (and our friend) Ruslan met us and we all had tea at my place. Later Jorge and Tessie (more PCV’s) came over for pancakes, juice and lots of laughter. We had tea (of course) and had a lot of fun celebrating this festival.
I think I drink 5-8 cups of tea a day. I’m worried that I have become addicted to this habit. And I also now must eat cookies and chocolate while I’m drinking my tea. It’s the Ukrainian way. And they do have the best chocolate in the world here. No contest! I may have a problem when I go back to America…
My birthday was a hoot! My students in all of my classes made me posters, cards, and cakes to celebrate my birthday. I blew out 25 candles this year. I was given adorable and funny-looking Ukrainian figurines, a tiger piggy-bank and a picture frame. It was fun! The English professors at the University took me and Pat out for pizza that night. It was fun to celebrate my birthday with my new friends. They certainly made my first birthday away from home an easy and enjoyable one. I feel so blessed!
I like to evaluate my progress in life at each birthday. Just to see how my views and opinions have changed in a year. What has happened to me and what I hope to happen the next year. I like to make wishes and send my hopes into the world. This is probably silly, but it is something I’ve always done. This birthday found me more blessed then the last. I’m single again, but I realize love isn’t an impossibility for me. I’m also more confident in myself and I feel so incredibly lucky to have such wonderful and warm friends and family. And I’m a Peace Corps Volunteer once again! Last year I was so confused and upset. This year I feel assured that what I am doing is what I was meant to do. And I feel so happy here in Ukraine. There is nowhere else I’d rather be at present. Life is beautiful and perfect right now—an improvement from last year indeed. :-)
More to follow…
February 14 was the Maslaneetsa festival in Ukraine. It is a Russian festival celebrating the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is tradition to burn a statue of winter and eat pancakes—because they are round and golden like the sun. It is also supposed to be the last festival before Lent begins. In the Russian Orthodox Church, those who are devout cannot eat meat or dairy until Easter Sunday. Which is another reason pancakes are eaten at the Maslaneetsa festival. It was a lot of pancakes in a two day period. Pat and I went to the center of town (which is where the Lenin statue is located) to join in the festivities. It was also the warmest day we’d had in Stakhanov since we had arrived. We still needed three layers and gloves, hats and a scarf, but still. It was warmer. And it didn’t snow. A plus any day. To celebrate the festival, men climb a greased pole and who ever reaches the top wins a prize. It was hilarious to watch. Some on them wore nothing but their underwear as they climbed the pull. And most of them did reach the top. Bystanders would throw snowballs at the contestants. I took plenty of photos if you’re interested. You can see them on my facebook page. Eventually the pole climbing ended and the large consumption of vodka began. This made both Pat and I uncomfortable, so we left and went back to my dormitory. Pat’s Ukrainian counterpart (and our friend) Ruslan met us and we all had tea at my place. Later Jorge and Tessie (more PCV’s) came over for pancakes, juice and lots of laughter. We had tea (of course) and had a lot of fun celebrating this festival.
I think I drink 5-8 cups of tea a day. I’m worried that I have become addicted to this habit. And I also now must eat cookies and chocolate while I’m drinking my tea. It’s the Ukrainian way. And they do have the best chocolate in the world here. No contest! I may have a problem when I go back to America…
My birthday was a hoot! My students in all of my classes made me posters, cards, and cakes to celebrate my birthday. I blew out 25 candles this year. I was given adorable and funny-looking Ukrainian figurines, a tiger piggy-bank and a picture frame. It was fun! The English professors at the University took me and Pat out for pizza that night. It was fun to celebrate my birthday with my new friends. They certainly made my first birthday away from home an easy and enjoyable one. I feel so blessed!
I like to evaluate my progress in life at each birthday. Just to see how my views and opinions have changed in a year. What has happened to me and what I hope to happen the next year. I like to make wishes and send my hopes into the world. This is probably silly, but it is something I’ve always done. This birthday found me more blessed then the last. I’m single again, but I realize love isn’t an impossibility for me. I’m also more confident in myself and I feel so incredibly lucky to have such wonderful and warm friends and family. And I’m a Peace Corps Volunteer once again! Last year I was so confused and upset. This year I feel assured that what I am doing is what I was meant to do. And I feel so happy here in Ukraine. There is nowhere else I’d rather be at present. Life is beautiful and perfect right now—an improvement from last year indeed. :-)
More to follow…
Cemya Saturdays
February 14, 2010
My Saturdays have become my family days here in Ukraine. Each Saturday my good friend and colleague, Tanya, invites me to her home for dinner with her family. Tanya and her son, Sergey, speak English. But Tanya’s husband, Valery, does not. :-) This gives me the opportunity to practice my Russian and to learn more. The family is always eager to teach me more and more Russian. And I am always happy to learn.
Saturday, 2/6/’10, I went with my friend Pat to visit Tanya and her neighbors. They had prepared a feast of verinkiey, a very delicious Ukrainian dish. Pat and I laughed and ate with our 7 new Ukrainian friends for 5 hours! We listened to Zeppelin, Hendrix, and other incredible artists from the ‘60s. We sang and played with the children and discussed politics (in Russian) with the adults. It was an amazing night. Which followed an amazing day—Pat and I attended his school’s concert earlier that morning. We applauded the girls as they sang “Auld Lang Syne” and “My Bonny” in English. :-) And danced a Scottish folk dance! It was “the random thing I saw” for the day. I have at least one a day. All are entertaining.
I am very thankful for Tanya and her family. They have made the transition from PST to site effortless. I always have their support. It is Tanya that has worked so hard to help me install internet in the dormitory. I look forward to finally being able to plan my lessons as home, instead of imposing on Pat’s hospitality. He has been very kind in allowing me to visit his apartment and use his internet whenever I like. The internet café near my home can be a hassle to use, what with all of the college students frequenting the establishment and staring over my shoulder as I type. I’m not sure why they’re interested.
My students are amazing! I love teaching at the Pedagogical College & Lugansk University. I’m only teaching four classes right now. I look forward to adding more with time. I also help Pat with his English club for the middle school/high school students. And my English club will begin 2/19 at the college—Pat is helping me with mine. We will introduce ourselves and talk about America. I believe I can now deliver this speech on auto-pilot.
Actually, Pat and I find it amusing how we are now invited to every event, together. Dinners, concerts, festivals…it doesn’t matter. It’s always an open invitation for Джессика
И Патрик. Last Saturday, 2/13, Pat and I went to the library with Tanya and walked around the park. It was more of Stakhanov. I’m still surprised by how much the city I haven’t seen yet, but I blame the snow & ice—and my intense hatred for both. After our excursion, we walked to Tanya’s home to eat блини (pancakes.) Last week was the final week before Lent and to celebrate everyone eats pancakes. According to the Russian Orthadox Church, people are not allowed to eat dairy or meat during Lent. Now, from what I’ve observed, most Ukrainians are not religious. However, this practice of eating pancakes this week seems to be observed by everyone here in Stakhanov. On Sunday we celebrated Maslaneetza, the end of winter carnival. I look forward to telling you all about it in my next blog update.
Oh, a BIG thank you to everyone who has sent letters and packages. :-) I can’t tell you how much I appreciate something of home. Take care!
More to follow…
My Saturdays have become my family days here in Ukraine. Each Saturday my good friend and colleague, Tanya, invites me to her home for dinner with her family. Tanya and her son, Sergey, speak English. But Tanya’s husband, Valery, does not. :-) This gives me the opportunity to practice my Russian and to learn more. The family is always eager to teach me more and more Russian. And I am always happy to learn.
Saturday, 2/6/’10, I went with my friend Pat to visit Tanya and her neighbors. They had prepared a feast of verinkiey, a very delicious Ukrainian dish. Pat and I laughed and ate with our 7 new Ukrainian friends for 5 hours! We listened to Zeppelin, Hendrix, and other incredible artists from the ‘60s. We sang and played with the children and discussed politics (in Russian) with the adults. It was an amazing night. Which followed an amazing day—Pat and I attended his school’s concert earlier that morning. We applauded the girls as they sang “Auld Lang Syne” and “My Bonny” in English. :-) And danced a Scottish folk dance! It was “the random thing I saw” for the day. I have at least one a day. All are entertaining.
I am very thankful for Tanya and her family. They have made the transition from PST to site effortless. I always have their support. It is Tanya that has worked so hard to help me install internet in the dormitory. I look forward to finally being able to plan my lessons as home, instead of imposing on Pat’s hospitality. He has been very kind in allowing me to visit his apartment and use his internet whenever I like. The internet café near my home can be a hassle to use, what with all of the college students frequenting the establishment and staring over my shoulder as I type. I’m not sure why they’re interested.
My students are amazing! I love teaching at the Pedagogical College & Lugansk University. I’m only teaching four classes right now. I look forward to adding more with time. I also help Pat with his English club for the middle school/high school students. And my English club will begin 2/19 at the college—Pat is helping me with mine. We will introduce ourselves and talk about America. I believe I can now deliver this speech on auto-pilot.
Actually, Pat and I find it amusing how we are now invited to every event, together. Dinners, concerts, festivals…it doesn’t matter. It’s always an open invitation for Джессика
И Патрик. Last Saturday, 2/13, Pat and I went to the library with Tanya and walked around the park. It was more of Stakhanov. I’m still surprised by how much the city I haven’t seen yet, but I blame the snow & ice—and my intense hatred for both. After our excursion, we walked to Tanya’s home to eat блини (pancakes.) Last week was the final week before Lent and to celebrate everyone eats pancakes. According to the Russian Orthadox Church, people are not allowed to eat dairy or meat during Lent. Now, from what I’ve observed, most Ukrainians are not religious. However, this practice of eating pancakes this week seems to be observed by everyone here in Stakhanov. On Sunday we celebrated Maslaneetza, the end of winter carnival. I look forward to telling you all about it in my next blog update.
Oh, a BIG thank you to everyone who has sent letters and packages. :-) I can’t tell you how much I appreciate something of home. Take care!
More to follow…
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