Lviv-ed It Up

Aidan and I at the top of the clock tower in Lviv.


Melissa, Jon and Katie representing Volyn!


One of the many awesome buildings in downtown Lviv.


This week was an eventful week. Well not too much exciting at school. Just another normal week. The weather is warm and the students are really starting to get rambunctious. Only 15 more days of classes and then FREEDOM!!!

Wednesday marked my first adult English club. The social work program for the district is run out of a building in my town. The director asked me if I was interested in having an English club for anyone who would be interested. The first meeting went well. 11 people were in attendance. Some high school and university students as well as couple of mid 20 year olds and a 30 something year old lady. All were female so if I ever hope to marry a Ukrainian man I’m going to have to step it up with recruiting. For the first meeting I simply did a PowerPoint about my background as well as shared a little about Peace Corps. They all had the chance to introduce themselves as well as discuss activities they would like to do in the future. I’m hopeful that this will be a meaningful experience for me and it is nice to do things outside of my school.

Thursday was another first; I watched our local Ukrainian Premier Football (soccer) team play. Their name is Volyn and they are based in Lutsk (the nearby city). It was interesting to find out it is illegal to drink inside the stadium but all you have to do is leave at half and go to the beer tents right outside. Take into account it is the norm for teachers to have parties at school where they drink, so it is just a little amusing to think you can’t kick back while watching your team play. Also something us American learned the hard way is that you need to bring a newspaper to sit on. For some reason the seats are covered in chalk (maybe they are painted in chalk, I don’t know). Regardless, I sat down wearing dark jeans and by the end of the game it looked like I was wearing the washed style of jeans. The game was totally worth the less than $2 ticket. Oh did I mention we kicked the other teams butt: 4 to 0. I cheered like I normally do. No “break their legs” chant but you never know what could happen when I’m in the stands.

Friday after school, I headed to V.V. spent the evening sitting outside playing scrabble with Aidan and Allison. I attempted to get into it but it is just too slow of a pace. Meanwhile, Allison and Aidan thoroughly enjoyed battling it out. Allison took 1st. Hung out the rest of the evening and eventually turned in pretty early so we would be well rested for our morning bus to Lviv.

3 hour long bus ride and we got into Lviv. There was a group around 12 or 13 of us PCVs who met up for one of the girls’ birthday. We enjoyed sightseeing around the city, climbing the clock tower to get a view of the whole city as well as consuming the local brew of beer at a number of outdoor cafes as well as bars. Oh, also got to indulge on Micky Dee’s. I’m not a huge fan of fast food at home (besides my love affair with a Wendy’s frosty) but a Big Mac has never tasted so delicious. Also it is funny because with how much Ukrainians stuff PCVs when we eat at McDonald’s we feel as though we are eating healthy… isn’t that the saddest thing you have heard?

After a running around Lviv for an hour and half, we made it to a bus station that had buses to Lutsk on Sunday evenings. Allison and Aidan came back to Kivertsi with me for the night so they would be close to Lutsk for a sashlek and paintballing with former FLEX participants on Monday. There was 7 PCVs who went and a few of us played paintball. I sat out because yesterday woke up with a little bit of a cold and didn’t feel a 100% as well as I didn’t want to totally dominate the game. We also had a lot of food; Ukrainian picnic style. I think it is a safe bet to say that I have never been to nor will ever go to a Ukrainian get together where the lack of food is an issue.

Well that about says it all for this last week. Right now I need to go check my clothes on the line. Might just sit outside to lesson plan for tomorrow as well as take a little snooze in the sunlight. Hope everyone is well. Later YOs.

Kate

Most interesting moment of the week: Riding back to my town on the marsuka and being like what’s that noise? I took my iPod buds out to clearly hear a box full of little chicks peeping away in a cardboard box that was on the lap of the lady sitting next to me.

Countdown for Baby Natzke: roughly 22 days!!!!