Today was my first day of school. I got up at 7:30am. Showered in what looks like a space capsule. I managed to get clean without falling out so I consider it my first success of the day. Around 8am, I had fried potatoes, cucumbers, bread and butter with my little host sister. I got on dress clothes which is the proper attire for school and language training; which for me meant nice slacks and button down with my very warm vest.
I didn’t have to leave school until 9:20am because it is only a short walk to my English teacher’s house where the five of us PCTs are taught every day. Good thing I had some time because I have come to the realization that around 20mins after I eat it is time for me to use the bathroom.
My host grandmother, Vala, escorted me to the teacher’s house which is pretty much down the other side of the road that Y’s from the main road that goes through my little village. I arrived and soon got to work on my Ukrainian alphabet. There are 33 letters and as the title of the lesson suggests there are “false friends, true friends, and new friends.” Which means letters that now have different meanings, some have the same meaning and then there are new letters all together. So pretty much to learn Ukrainian I need to unlearn English to some extent.
I had an hour private lesson with my teacher before the others arrived from teaching morning lessons at the school that has kids from 2nd to 10th grade, I believe there is around 150 students all together. When my other mates joined me, I stayed at the kitchen table to keep working on my alphabet while they did week #4 lessons. Eventually we walked to the school where I will have lunch every day. I was a bit hesitant from my morning fiasco. It was a type of potato soup and pretty good. I ate a lot of bread attempting to be nice to my stomach.
After a quick lunch, I went to grade 7 and 10 to watch my four fellow PVCs teach some lessons. They taught in pairs for 40mins. I was amazed at all they were able to accomplish without using a lot of Ukrainian to direct the students. Overall, I would say they did a very good job.
After school let out around 2pm, we headed back to our English teacher’s house to get back to lessons. I was able to observe the other students and attempt to pick up whatever I could while studying my alphabet. Around 4pm, we took a tea/coffee break for a half hour. Then got cracking on lessons until 6pm. We all headed back to our separate homes because our host mothers will worry if it really starts to get dark and we aren’t home yet. I pretty much learned two things besides being able to sound out the alphabet. First was Ya Kate means I am Kate and dobryi’ den means good day.
I have a lot of head of me and feel extremely behind when compared to my classmates but I’m just trying to take one day at a time.
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