Never Take Your Eye Off of A…

Ukrainian Borscht and Sushi, why not?



Notice something that sounds a little gross?

…Ukrainian Woman with Sour Cream. Tonight my host mother was making me these little ravioli like pastas stuff with potatoes and cheese. Normally, people eat them with a decent size amount of sour cream. Before I let her put any on my plate, (yes, she serves me food regardless how many times I tell her I’ll do it myself, very uncomfortable) I usually say the phrase chut chut which means a little. Well I wasn’t paying attention and next thing I know is that half of my plate is covered by a huge pile of sour cream. God, please allow me to still fit into an airplane seat when it is time to go home.

I’ve been here so long I’m not quite sure how long it has actually been, but I guess it is a good thing. It shows that I’m adjust and settling in to my new hometown. I’m starting to get recognized by people when I’m out and about. I got waved at by one of my host mother’s friends, crossed paths with the medical college student’s (that I’m tutoring) mother and my host mother’s daughter who is married on different days. But my favorite encounter would have to be with one of my 5th graders and his mother at the post office. He was like in shock that he would see me outside of school and that I would actually say hello to him. He was probably worried that I would tell his mother that he is a bit of a problem child. But he didn’t really have anything to worry about because even if I wanted to I have no ability. Well as far as I could get would be “your son bad student.”

Oh, big big news!!!! This week I saved a life. It was freezing on Wednesday morning and with the behavior of the students on Tuesday I wasn’t looking forward to the day. As I was shutting the gate, I was like “God, please let me get through this day and allow me to feel like I have some purpose for being here.” I wasn’t half way to school and there was this little puppy near the busiest road in my town. He was tiny and shivering. I couldn’t bear the idea of seeing what would be left of him if he was to wander a little further. So I picked up this pup and walked to school. I had four lessons and there was no way I could keep him in the teacher’s room so I got an Avon box from a teacher. I took him inside the box and went outside to the tiny little store right by the school. I set him next to the door where it was a little warmer. I told myself if no one takes him by the end of the day; he is coming home with me.

I went and taught my first lesson. On my way to the teacher’s room, I noticed an unusual group of students near the door. Looked a little closer and noticed one of my 11th formers holding the pup. To make a long story short, the entire day teachers would make students put the puppy outside and not a few minutes later another student would go get the dog. By the time, I finished my classes I didn’t see the puppy anywhere so I’m guessing someone probably took him home.

Overall this last week of school was probably the most frustrating with teaching. It’s like I want to help these students as much as I can but I can’t make them want to learn. I anticipated doubting and questioning my being here but I always thought the question was going to be “is the difference I am making enough to justify/validate being away from all my family and friends.” I now am faced with a difference question that sounds something like “am I making any difference at all…”
After a frustrating week, I decided it would be a good idea to go away for the weekend and visit my cluster mate, Allison, in Voldymyr Volynski. It is roughly 2 and half hours on public transportation. There are two other volunteers besides her serving in the city plus my other cluster mate, Jon who lives only 30 mins from me, made the journey as well. It was a weekend filled with American TV shows, scrabble, wine, beer and you guessed it vodka. I enjoyed the festivities of Friday night but decided it would be a good idea to be the designated walker for the second night. Saturday night we ended up going out to a bar and talking with a random group of Ukrainians who then invited us to the disco. It is so funny to see how interesting people find it to hear us speak especially when we are attempting to speak their language. It was an enjoyable night; think we got to bed by 3am. You’re only young once, right? Don’t worry Mom I’m responsible, I swear.

Sunday, I lounged around Allison’s place until rough 2pm caught a bus then marsuka before getting back to my lovely little town. Should have done laundry but that doesn’t happen because what I call “God’s day.” Did a little lesson planning and organizing my room before hitting the hay at 9:15.

So yeah this is my life. Still waiting for an apartment, still adjusting to Ukraine and the mass amount of vodka, sour cream and mayonnaise that at least one is involved in every meal (no joke). Hope everyone is well at home. You all are in my prayers some with more specific prayers than others. Want you to know I think about you alot. Later YOs.

Kate




Me and Allison enjoying freezing Chicago like wind.



One of the many churches in V.V.



Scrabble anyone?