English Camp, Ukrainian Construction & American Celebration

Sasha being Sasha.


Group shot with the English flag which was weird for me.


The homestay work crew. Got to love the shirtless, funny hats and sandals look.


Allison keepin' it real with the booze, Kari throwin' a sign, & Me stating "What don't judge us."


People chattin' it up outside in between our little dance parties we had.

Well it has been a month since my last post, but I do have the excuse I’ve been on the move. I spent 3 weeks at a summer camp in Chernivtsi in the south. Then after only a couple days at home I traveled to Lviv to spend the 4th of July with other volunteers.

The camp was a three week overnight adventure. It cost around $500 per kid so almost every camper was from a wealthy Ukrainian family. There were 4 groups of rough 15-25 campers. Our group was special because we were the English speaking one. Roughly, we did 2 hours of English with the kids. Playing different games, activities, discussions about many things. We tried to keep it fun but still educational (sometimes we were less successful with that i.e. playing mafia and it kids throwing English out the window). Allison, Aidan and I were the only PCVs there. The head counselor of our group was a 23 Ukrainian guy, Stas. He had lived in New York City and runs an interpretation business with his dad so his English was excellent. Stas was enjoyed by the campers as well as the three Americans.

Overall, I enjoyed camp but weather kept it from being really great. The first four days were incredibly hot and humid. Then the rest of the time it was chilly and rainy which translated into many games of UNO, Scrabble and watching Disney and Pixlar movies on Allison’s computer. I still think kids enjoyed the camp despite the rain. I have many photos on facebook that show many of the talent shows/concerts performed by the kids.

To and from the camp I travelled by overnight train for a little over 12 hours. The set up of the train isn’t that bad. On the train, you have a mattress you can roll out and for a little extra money by a sheet and pillow case. The problem is that the windows don’t open which means a long ride in a hot box. It was especially hot on the way there it reminded me of in ‘Cool Hand Luke’ where the guy got throw in the hot box. The train is hot but I would prefer it to a long, long marsuka ride.

I arrived home on the 30th at 3:30am. Walked the 4 blocks to my house and by the time I got semi-settled in I was wide awake. Not being able to sleep threw me off for a few days. The 30th I just bummed around and watched “Breaking Bad” yet another TV show that I’ve started here in Ukraine. The 1st and 2nd of July, I headed into Lutsk to meet up with and bum around with Jon and Melissa, the two closest PCVs to me. Meanwhile back at the house construction was underway. My landlord’s son (late 40s), medical college housemate (17) and his friend (16) built an entryway room on the side of the house which also included a shed that is accessed by a door on the outside corner of the house. (I will posted the finished product soon).

Thursday night we drank for the concrete block walls being finished, Friday evening we drank and had an even bigger dinner because they finished the roof. Ukrainians are all about celebratory dinners and gathers. I’m only scared because after a long week of celebrating the 4th I don’t know if my liver can handle the gutters being finished today. Oh, bosha… (Oh, God).

Saturday moving a little slow from the night before, I backed my bag and was on a marsuka to Lutsk a little after 9am. Jon and I took a 3 hour bus to Lviv. We meet up with part of the crew at a pub. A group of us rented a flat near the center. The night of the 3rd, we enjoyed a few different places while watching the world cup games. Now that Ghana is out of it I’m cheering for Germany since I’m a Schmidt.

Happy 4th of July!!! Started off with a brunch meal at McDonald’s, the most American you can get in Ukraine. A group of us wandered around tourist-y market with the normal stuff as well as cool antiques. I bought a few things. Sweet basketball pin from the 1980s summer Olympics, the same one that the USA boycotted was my favorite find.

Around 2ish we got to Kari’s (PCV in Lviv) house. She lives in the same school she teaches at which made it a great place to have a cookout because she has access to the kitchen and dining room. Great food (see the spread on facebook), fun to meet new people, kicked back on drinks, threw around the pigskin and a dance party. I have to say it was one of the most memorable 4th that I’ve had in awhile. Hope next year is as fun.

Today, I started to get a crack at my huge laundry that I’ve accumulated over a month. Also still trying to catch up on emails and letters. Hope everyone had a great 4th of July. Miss you all.

Kate