Shakin' What My Momma Gave Me (All Over Town)

My fellow female teachers doing a skit.


Dasha (my landlord's 4 year old grand daughter) and I having a 'snack'.


My vice principle (family friend of my landlord), landlord/new babusci, and the two medical college students that I live with.

This past week I took my first outdoor non-track runs. The old folks who like to sit by their gates stare at me like I’m running down the street naked. Certain old men will nicely yelling at me to try to get my attention and what I’m only guessing to ask me why I’m running, but since I have my iPod in I just yell ‘good day’ and keep on trucking. I have found what I roughly gauge as a 4 and ¼ mile route. Down one of the main streets to the road that leads to Lutsk which I then head in the opposite direction and curve back around town. Then as the road keeps going to the next village, I take a street that comes from the backside of town up past the cultural building, park, school number 4, post office, turn at the bus station keep running past my house two blocks up. Head two streets down and loop back to the house (in case you ever want to come jogging with me). It is nice to take in the fresh air (well sometimes fresh air, I come across many horse apples) and get in some exercise. I want to attempt to do a ½ and maybe even a full marathon before I finish my PC service. I got a long way to go.

Well this last past week was not the average. I took a day off from school on Monday because I was in transit back to my town from the 10k. Then on Tuesday, I only went to school for my English Club that watches “Friends.” A huge crowd of two students came, better than non right? Wednesday was a regular day of classes with 10th, 6th and 9th formers.

Thursday was a half day at school which I wasn’t informed about so I showed up to school for 5th and 6th lesson. I should have guessed something was up because I saw more students playing hokey and walking around town than a normal Thursday. Sure enough it had been a half day and I had missed the classes I was supposed to teach. My vice principle didn’t seemed to be too bothered by it and just asked me if I was going to go to the cultural building to see students from the district perform.
Since I hadn’t really taught the entire week or been involved I thought why not.

I walked over to the performance which was in a building that has an auditorium that looks like it is used for community programs and functions. I saw dancing and singing from all levels from the 6 different schools in our town. But the high light of the show or what I found the most fun was the skit performed by my female teaching staff. It was supposed to be the conversations of old babushkas at the water pump. I was cracking up and I’m pretty sure I didn’t even understand the jokes.
Friday was classes as normal with the 5th graders and two sections of 3rd. The third graders are fun to teach even though their abilities are relative low they for sure make up for it with enthusiasm. Enjoyed my lessons and was at home by 1 in the afternoon.

Saturday, I went to Chernovograd which is roughly a 2 and half hour bus ride southwest of Lutsk and Kivertsi. There was a group of 12-14 PCVs that met up for the collaborative. We shared ideas for projects and teaching in the classroom. You could say we’ collaborate.’ It was nice to get a few new ideas for projects as well as find out more information about writing grants. Hopefully I will get motivated this summer and get more involved with that sort of stuff. It was also cool to meet a couple of volunteers that I hadn’t met before.

After the meeting, Allison, Aidan and Travis convinced me to go back to the V.V. with them for the night. It really didn’t take much and I was on the first bus to Voldyrmyr Volynski. Allison and I went to a store where you can buy already cooked food and salad for pretty cheap. It was really nice out so we ate dinner outside. Before heading over to Travis’ place for some social drinking, we had a little beauty session at Allison’s place. We both trimmed each other’s hair and Allison touched up my eye brows. (Interesting fact: I never thought I would have a tan line from my own eye brows). After a long morning of recovering from the adventures of the previous night, I jumped on a bus back to Lutsk.

The marsuka ride from Lutsk back to Kivertsi would have to be the worst I’ve ever been on. I don’t know if there are fewer buses on Sunday but every bus to my town was crammed with people. I was standing and holding on to the bar above my head. But I’m pretty sure there were so many people on it I could have let go because that was the state of constant contact I had with the other passengers. Did I mention I was wearing a sweater and had my pea coat over my arm? At one point, I really thought I was going to pass out from being so hot. I’ll start praying for my survival this summer.

Other exciting news is that if you can’t tell from my frequent face book status updates, I bought a modem this week which means I have internet access whenever in the comfort of my own room or like at the moment my own bed. I have downloaded skype. The connection is a little slow for video but it works well with voice conversation. So sign up for skype and holla at me: katemarieschmidt or the only Kate Schmidt in Ukraine.

So far living with the new people is great. Today is rainy but tomorrow I’ll take some photos from the outside and also of my room to post. Hope everyone at home is well. Yesterday marked T- 1 month until I’m an aunt!!! Get excited. Miss you all.

Kate