Monday was my first day of teaching. I co-taught 5th form (grade) with Allison. We did a review session themed the Olympics. The students responded really well to our lesson plan and I mean who wouldn’t we gave candy to the winning and losing team. Overall, it was wonderful to get to do my thing in the classroom.
Tuesday was our cluster field trip into Kiev. We left our zoopinka (stop) at 7:15am headed into the nearby city to catch a marsuka to Kiev. It was around hour and 45min, two hour ride. I slept pretty much the whole way. We went to the train station to get familiar because most likely we will be using it to get to our site or visit the PC office in the future. After, we did around a 15 minute walk to the Peace Corps office. I had been there my very first hours in Ukraine but for the rest of the cluster it was their first time. We talked to one of the coordinators about our community project, used the computer s real quick but most importantly we got to chit chat with current volunteers as well as PCVs who just ended their service. They gave us some insides and told us that it only continues to get better after training. After the office, we did a little walking tour of sights and monuments of Kiev (check out facebook for photos).
Wednesday would have just been another day of class and tutoring besides the fact my stomach did not want to be nice to me. I’m sad to say that I probably spent way more time than one person should in our LCF’s outhouse. Let’s just say even if you try not to breathe, one can taste the horridness. I eventually just went to home where I hangout in the bathroom for a good while before just laying on my bed asking God why? By early afternoon, I felt much better.
Thursday Den Podyakey (day of thanks aka thanksgiving)!! PC gave us the day off of lesson but we still were scheduled to teach and observe classes at our school. Again Allison and I co-taught the 5th form. They enjoyed learning about Turkey Day and making hand turkeys (check out fb to see a couple great photos). After, Allison and I ran home to change real quick before heading into the city. We also picked up couple of pevo-s (beer) to have a celebratory toast on our way in. We met up with a group of PCTs at a pizza restaurant and enjoyed just kicking it with fellow Americans. Then headed back into our village before it got dark. Overall, a pretty enjoyable thanksgiving.
Friday is funday only because the weekend is here after I finished technical tutoring at 3:30pm. I came home to an empty house, read a good 70 pages to finish “Running the Amazon.” Typed up lesson plans for the resource book we are making for school’s English teacher to use. Chilled with the family in the kitchen for a good hour and half, eating searnick (fried little dough patties) with homemade jam while watching “The Poseidon Adventure” dubbed in Russian.
This is the end of my 6th week in country but really the end of the 9th week of training which means we only have two more weeks before heading out to our sites. I’m excited (probably more excited about finally being able to shave my legs than being sworn in) but at the same time I worried about adjusting all over again and without the help of my amazing cluster. Please pray that I’ll not be too stressed in the next coming weeks and that I’ll be able to transition smoothly into my new home. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and is gearing up for Christmas!!
Kate
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