Last Week in My Snow Boots

My new host mother Louba and her daugther Lana getting ready to enjoy Holy Water Day Dinner.

Never met a Ukrainian Canadian?

One of new best friends, Jack the dog along with Timka the cat.



Monday: Lessons went horrible. Having some difficulty with classroom management. I’m either going to have to start abusing the children or bribing. I’ll try bribing first. After my four morning failures (classes), I went to the school cafeteria for my daily lunch. It was the head lunch lady’s birthday so they invited me to the back the kitchen. Enjoyed some delicious food with a decent amount of alcohol at 11:45 but as the saying goes its noon or five somewhere.

Tuesday: Had a normal day at school. For dinner, I met up with some Ukrainian friends of the volunteer who survived here two years ago. So it looks like I might have some non-volunteer friends who live in my town. I’m pretty excited. They seem like good people.

Wednesday: 2nd New Year’s Celebration. I went with my host mother and sister to the other daughter’s house for dinner. There was too much food and you guessed it more vodka. There were the 7 family members and myself. Around 10pm, a group of people came to sing and wish us a happy new year. They were in traditional dress. Well the ladies were; the man was in a St. Nicholas (Santa) costume. While they sang they also threw wheat seed to bring us good luck. On the walk home, I took a hard fall while walking with my host family. A tad embarrassing I found the humor of the situation and while still sitting on the ground I proclaimed in Ukrainian “I love Ukraine.” They got a pretty good laugh so that is all that matters.

Thursday: Another busy day at school because my counterpart was attending an Olympiad (academic competition in Lutsk with our top students). Classes…ehhhh. Students need to take some chill pills as well as learn to raise their hand before shouting. After school, I stopped at the post office on my walk home. Jennie Baron thanks for the snail mail. My counterpart then called me and said that I should meet her back at the school at 3pm so we could go to another teacher’s house for tea. It turned out that it was the teacher of Ukrainian’s birthday which meant it wasn’t just simply tea. I helped her daughter, who was competing in the English Olympiad; practiced with her for 2 hours by having random conversation. Then we all feasted for around two hours on a lot of delicious food along with rounds of you guessed it again vodka.

Friday: First three classes were rough but my last class with the 5th graders was a success. We read a small passage, divided them into 4 groups and gave them agree or disagree cards. Then I simply ask them questions about the story and as a group they decide which answer is correct. They get ridiculously into it. The Lion team beat the Bears, Dogs, and Cats. Original names right? Then came home to relax after a very long week and was in bed by 9:30pm. Crazy life I lead.

Saturday: Walked to the post office but didn’t feel like much of a walk around town because it was absolutely freezing. Since it was Pre-God’s day I had to get my laundry done (my host mother does believe in work on Sundays). Two loads, no dryer because they don’t really have those here in Ukraine which means I just hanging all my clothes in my room (see next post for embarrassing moment). While waiting on the laundry, I was reading news online, sent some emails and chatted with a few people on facebook. My host mother got back late from help setting up for the presidential election and started to cook for me at 9pm. I tried to turn down food but you listen to you Ukrainian women. They are serious when it comes to eating their home cooking.

Sunday: Slept in until 8am. Got up had my delicious oatmeal that I make in the microwave with an apple as a side. Read my bible and listened to worship music for awhile. Eventually got dressed and walked to the super market to buy some random food. It was super, super cold today and the wind didn’t help. I felt like I was on a 2am round to PPH in the middle of winter. But I survived and made it home to have my first ice cream since getting to my site. Not the same as a frosty. I folded and put away clothes that were finally dry. Read a little in “The Road from Coorain: In the tradition of My Brilliant Career- a women’s exquisitely clear-sighted memoir of growing up Australian.” Hey…dad can’t wait for you to send me new books. Gave up on the book after a few pages and watched The Good Sheppard on my laptop. Other than that nothing too exciting.

So that was my life this week. Exhilarating right? My mood and outlook on life has gotten better this week. Really keep telling myself to go with the flow, control what I can and leave the rest to be. Worrying and stressing will get you nothing. Hope all is well with everyone at home. Miss you a lot. Expect your weather is a little less snowy and cold when compared to mine. Later YOs.

Kate

Oh, here is something interesting: the website for my town www.Kivertsi.in.ua. It is in Ukrainian but there are photos and a map for your enjoyment.