Wearing Kevin's Hat at the New Year's tree in Lutsk.
Only two days now until I’m home in America. Last night at my flat, tomorrow morning I’m head to Lviv. I’ll stay in a hostel near the center and then Tuesday morning going to catch the trolley bus to the airport. I could have taken a really early bus Tuesday morning to Lviv, but don’t want to take any chances with missing my plane.
This week has been pretty eventful. Overall, classes went pretty well. However, my 11th formers were really rude and disrespectful to the point I just walked out of the class with ten minutes left. They can waste their time, but I’ll just go lesson plan in the teacher’s room if they are going to be like that. My counterpart had a talk with them. Hopefully in the new year, it will help with their bad behavior, but we will see.
Friday was the day my new site mate got here. Her name is Valerie and she will be teaching in school number 4. She is from Oregon and seems like a real cool chick. I’m really excited to have someone right in town to do programs with as well as just hangout. I also got to meet one of her link mates who lives just north of Kivertsi. So far group 40ers are a fun bunch.
On Friday night, I had a nice dinner party to welcome Val to the group. 5 Peace Corps Volunteers and 2 Ukrainians in attendance. It was a lot of fun and hopefully will be having more and more of them in the coming New Year. The funniest moment of the night came when I asked people’s opinions on how much they thought my bag weighed. The two American guy PCVs picked it up said it was heavy, but thinks it is right at 50lbs. Dima, the Ukrainian, picks it up and confidently says, I could fit two more bottles of vodka. Oh, too funny.
The party was over around 9ish because some of us had to help Saturday morning with the Olympiad (country wide English competition). My school hosted it for the Kivertsi District. Val came with her counterpart as well as other English teachers. It is a lot of fun to be around other Kivertsi English teachers. They were very interested in asking g questions to Val and I think she had a good time getting to know them. After the competition, we were invited out to a local restaurant with six of the teachers.
It was interesting to see how Ukrainians deal with a vegetarian (Val). They were like do you eat a little meat, is fish ok, will you eat it if it has a little chicken. Glad I’m a meat eater. So we probably spent almost 2 and half hours there, and three bottles of vodka. After bottle #1 and #2, Val and I would looked at each other and would be like yes we are done, and then magically another one would appear out of someone’s purse. Oh, Ukraine.
Then as we were leaving live music was getting ready to start to play and they asked us if we wanted to stay longer to dance. Afraid of the possibility of more vodka, the two Americans graciously declined. But we are planning to do a once of month, English Teacher Tea Evening. One teacher was like we should do it on Fridays so we can dance…I’m guessing tea won’t be the only beverage if that is the day we settle on.
This dinner was one of the most relaxed and enjoyable dinners that I’ve had in a long time here. I’m guessing because everyone at the table spoke one common language, and the fact that there were many toasts to Ukrainians and Americans being friends, love, tall men (me), to health, and pass that I can’t remember. Haha.
Friday was my year mark at being at site. I think it is appropriate that I can now take a vacation home. It has been 14 months since I last stepped foot in the U.S. I wonder if “freedom” still tastes the same? (as bored PCVs we come up with the most ridiculous sayings here, please don’t judge). Please pray for safe and smooth travel home for me. See you all very very soon. Merry Christmas world!
Kate
PS As my pops would say, “Remember Jesus is the reason for the season.” Do something Jesus like every day regardless if it is the holiday season.
Terry, Dima, Dominic, Tanya, Val, and Melissa eating deliciousness.
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