Random Thoughts of Mine with Celine in the Background

My life, like my thoughts, is all over the place. Right now it is 7:57pm on a Saturday night in Kivertsi (most northwestern corner of Ukraine) where currently it is in the negatives for Celsius and with the wind chill added in could possibly be in the negatives for Fahrenheit. I’m listening to Celine Dion “A Decade of Song” album (insert joke or funny remark here). I’ve been staring at my pc thinking of a witty way to relay the happenings of my life this week. While not coming up with anything to great, I’m staring at the side gadget bar of my pc.

It has a clock, calendar, two digital post-it notes and photo display. The green post-it has the page number of Monday’s lesson for the 11th form along with how much money I have on my phone. Above that is a photo of Danielle, Polelock, and me. On top of that is the yellow post-it that reminds me of things I want to accomplish daily/weekly. One: 30minsbible, yeah that hasn’t been happening but with the devotional my Gma sent me should help. Two: No Cussing, I think I’m going to have to postpone that one for when the ice melts. Three: WalkX3, go for a walk 3 times a week is also probably not going to happen until the layer of ice disappears and the temperature comes back above zero.

This week was a little crazy and still lacked structure and routine. My counterpart is participating in a recertification course in Lutsk, the nearby city. This means I’m left to teach her normal load with a substitute teacher from a nearby school. While it is nice to have another Ukrainian teacher in the classroom to control students it is also a little frustrating to have someone randomly interjecting. Like telling students to write a sentence for each of the vocabulary words when I’m ready to move on to the next planned activity, but then thought to myself just roll with it. Not too much later from the back of the classroom, the sub asks me to transcribe (how you would find it written in a dictionary). I don’t know how to do that. I say normally that is what my counterpart does on the board. He still insists that I just write them all out on the board. He keeps going with it until I’m pretty much forced to announce in front of the whole class that I don’t know how. Some kids snickered; this was definitely a humbling moment.


In Lutsk for H1N1 shot and found guide book for Turkmenistan, say what?

The whole week I experience very out of control classes. I’m starting to reach my boiling point. Some classes the students are so unruly and their level of English is not high enough for me to be able to teach them if they aren’t going to pay attention to me. On Thursday, I had a 5th grade class. One of the boys did everything but copy down the simple vocabulary words from the board. I asked him why he wasn’t writing. He pretended that he didn’t understand what I was saying when I was simply saying copy while point to the words on the board. He kept up with his act. I then thought ok if you want to play it like that. Then in my very crappy Ukrainian I said, “you and me going to stroll to the director’s (principle) room” only then did he finally pick up his pen. I was talking to my cluster mate Allison on the phone telling her of my horrid day in the classroom and eventually made the statement “they have no idea what I’m saying, but they know exactly what I mean” when I’m on the point of losing it. I’m going to have to get creative on ways to deal with these little boogers. Easiest would be to always have a Ukrainian ENG teacher to sit in on my classes but I don’t like the idea of always being observed. But it might come to that if I can’t figure anything else it out.

Something exciting that happened this week was that I met a 24 year old medical student who is a neighbor to one of my co-teachers. She studies in Lutsk and wants to practice her English so we will be meeting a couple of times for informal tutoring. On Thursday, we met up at a café to have tea and get to know each other. I showed her my “Best of America” album (my family and friends). We talked about our favorite music and television shows. Looks like she and I are going to have some Grey’s Anatomy marathons when my Uncle Pat’s mail reaches me. Today, I went over to her house for a late lunch. We sat around chit chatted about what we like to read, the weather, differences in our cultures and cute or not so cute Ukrainian guys over a delicious bowl of chairvonne (red) borscht. I’m excited for the promise of a Ukrainian friend close to my age. I also bumped into an acquaintance of mine at the grocery store. This girl was friends with the volunteer who survived her two years ago. Hopefully and I’m going to hang out with her and the other two girls that I met last week. Look ma I made friends!

This week also marks fall #3. Again, walking down the pedestrian bridge with not too many more steps left, I lost my footing. I attempted to catch myself by grabbing the rail with one hand and put the other down to break the fall. Somehow in that process, I jammed my middle finger. It nothing too severe but it is purple on the underside of my finger as well as really stiff. Walking around in the bitter weather doesn’t help it much. Oh, did I mention that this was in front of a ton of people standing at the bus stop. Moments like these are where the no cussing thing ends, but I would argue that God understands.

This week brought a lot of mail especially on Friday. I got a large envelope from Peace Corps with letters that had been sent to their office after I headed to my new site. I got a letter postmarked as far back as November 25th. It would have been nice to get Christmas cards before the 2nd Ukrainian New Year but none the less I enjoyed getting them. Thank Yous for mail this week go out to Bre, Mandy, Jennie, Dan, Robin, KS, Michele & Ty, Dad, Mom, Meg, Grandma Schmidt and RA. Only hope they keep coming. Know that I doing my best to get ones headed out to you all.


My 5 year old friend who isn't too bad when we are playing rock,paper,scissors.

Let’s see what else is exciting. I get threaten or actually hit by a 5 year old weekly. The lady I’m staying with sometime watches her grandson who is five. I’ve been around my fair share of kids, but I wouldn’t think it would be appropriate to hit and harass a paying foreign house guest. In Ukraine, kids are for the lack of a better word spoiled. Families currently don’t have many children so each grand child is especially treasured. I get that kids can be rambunctious but there needs to be some lines. Or maybe I just come from a family (especially a father) who doesn’t put up with these types antics. After long days at school, I don’t look forward to coming home to hearing a 5 year old scream at the top of his lungs. Lord, please let that flat come sooner than later. At least, I find peace in knowing that I’m not alone. Because as soon as I hear that high pitched little voice, I notice Timka (poor, defenseless kitten) run to my room seeking refuge. (As I’m finishing this the child stands on my bed looking over me while I type.)

So yeah this is my life. Miss you all. Hope prayers keep coming my way while I send my own back toward you and the Big Man.

Kate

FYI: Pal-men-tee (Ukrainian dish like ravioli) makes one very gassy. Don’t have social plans after a plate of that. Otherwise, it will lead to embarrassment. Trust me on this one. Also there exists a Ukrainian candy that tastes exactly like a PB&J sandwich.


Oh, this is Mr.Fish who I enjoyed the company while having breakfast on Saturday.