Me & one of my favorite classes, 10th form.
5th grade girls.
Goofs.
Partyin' it up!
Friday afternoon, I hopped a marsuka to head into Lutsk for dinner with my clustermate Jon. Normally, I take the large buses but instead I decided to take a marsuka that was already at the station. Marsuka is like a small bus or large van/truck like vehicle. It was labeled route 107 which I thought would get me to the center. Just to be safe I asked the driver. He confirmed “Pomme potim Centra.”
There I am riding at the back of the bus trying not to fall asleep after a long week, I get to what I’m pretty sure is the “Pomme” stop. I start to stand up because the next stop should be the Centra. We hit the circle and start heading the wrong direction. I tell myself it isn’t that big of deal because maybe the marsuka route has a different route. I figure give it a little time and then it will be fine. The more time, the more I headed away from the center. But at this point, the marsuka isn’t making as many stops.
I called Jon to tell him I’m going to be an extra 30mins because I am a dumb American that doesn’t know what she is doing. I got off at the next stop and found my way back. I’m guessing that the driver thought I was going to exit at the “Pomme” stop and then grab another city bus to the center because apparently that marsuka doesn’t go to the center. While the bus kept getting further and further from the center, I started mentally cussing realizing that this was going to be a waste of my time meanwhile Jon is standing outside waiting for me. I quickly come to my senses. Telling myself it wasn’t the end of the world. All and all, I did a little detour that cost me 1/8 of a dollar.
Thus far my experience here in Ukraine has taught me patience with people and situations. That situation on the bus made me think of how frustrating it must have been for my Turkish refugee family when they came to America. I’m normally not a dumb person, and I get the idea of a bus route, but when you are in a foreign country where you don’t fully understand the system nor the language you are helpless in many situations. I can remember my Turkish mom being so frustrated with learning the language slow and not being able to keep the normal pace of life. We have all seen it where there is someone struggling with a language at the checkout counter or information desk. I can unfortunately say there have been times when I think to myself “Come on already.” Now I am that person. I’ve had many moments that make me respect and have sympathy for people who find themselves in situations where they are handcuffed because of language.
Besides getting a little lost, this week I realized that I’ve been spelling my name wrong. I had been spelling it where it reads “Kite.” I learned this while writing the return address on a few letters in the teacher’s room. One of the ENG teachers was like I thought you pronounced your name Kate not Kite. What? Oh, I’m one sharp cookie I tell you.
This week was English Week which meant that I got to teach a lot of fun lessons and activities about Valentine’s Day. Each class created their own signs that were posted in the foyer. Above you can see the two boys from 7th form and two girls from 5th form. I got a number of Valentine cards. The 10th form class bought me three pink roses. I wish they could have been from a handsome, older and rich Ukrainian man but I’ll take a class that is largely dominated by girls over not getting roses. Also one of the photos shows what a Ukrainian teacher party looks like. This was to celebrate the birthdays that fall in February; it just so happened that it was Valentine’s week.
The week started out a little rough. If you need confirmation talk to my sister because I sent her an email when I was infuriated that would be highly inappropriate to quote on here. Still trying to teach the best I can and realize it is up to the students. My college friend Kelsey, who is currently teaching in the Philippines, sent me a message with the analogy that ‘we are the conveyor belts. we try to make the product as appealing as possible but in the end they are the ones who have to take it.’ It is hard because I’m trying to keep my insanity in the classroom yet not become apathetic which at this point is my biggest daily challenge.
So yeah that’s where I’m at right now. Please prayers to keep my motivated and focused. Hope everyone is well at home enjoying the winter Olympics. I won’t be watching them but every day that I glide to work I feel as if I’m in the race of my life against Ukrainian babushkas.
Keep lookin’ up.
Kate
Gross fact of the week: I can normally guess how cold it is by if the snot in my nose freezes on my walk to school.
My sister keeps me warm and informed.
My huge Valentine!!!
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