Not the best photo, but the ceremonial ringing of the last bell.
Days are slow and years are fast. It seems like it was just yesterday that this school year started. Now, another class of 11th formers are welcomed into this place called ‘the real world’ (what that really is don’t ask me; Father Schmidt seems to have more of an opinion on the phrase). The week was filled with many celebrations and very interesting traditions. Yes, it was easier to sit through many hours of presentations last year not knowing what was next. I still thoroughly enjoyed this year, because I had a better connection with this graduating class.
Friday morning was the official Last Bell. The list of events that took place: the school flag was given to the next class of 11th formers, graduating 4th form students were welcomed into the gymnasium (grades 5th-11th are technically gymnasium students) {Oh, remember my school is called a gymnasium, because they have a special area of focus}, 11th forms students were given a graduate sash, teachers were presented with a small gifts and flowers, parents were thanked for work and volunteering, speeches were given by local officials, and lastly a graduating boy hoisted a 5th form girl on to his shoulder and she rang the sacred school bell. This was around two hours, but seemed shorted. The day went pretty on time and was well executed.
The 11th form bestowing the school flag to the 10th who will rule the school next year.
The best part of Last Bell some would argue would be the Teacher Party. We all gathered at 1pm at the same café as last year that is not but a five minute walk from school. I sat with my two English teachers, but unfortunately perfectly in the middle of the table. Not soon after sitting down and starting the meal, teachers asked me to give a toast. I tried to explain to them that I only new simple toasts. Also I explained I only really like to speak Ukrainian when I have to, because I make so many mistakes and most people don’t have the patience to listen to me stumble through their language, especially when speaking in English is an option. I got out of the cheers luckily and said I would look up a more appropriate one for the next night of partying. I did however then get asked some questions about my summer plans and was able to impress them with what I would like to think as not that horrible of Ukrainian skills.
After leaving the teacher party early, I went to meet up with Melissa who came into Kivertsi to hang out for the evening. I don’t know if I have told all of you out there in blog world, but Melissa is the best baker/cook in our group and possibly of all of Ukraine. She brought me delicious banana bread and M&M cookies. What a generous, generous soul. We lounged around my flat for a little while before heading over to the pizzeria to meet with Val for dinner. The girls enjoyed their vegetarian pizza while I tried to let my stomach recover from the teacher meal. The teacher meal was expensive at 65 UAH ($8) considering the normal meal when I go out is around 30 UAH, but so delicious and ample with many courses. The three of us shot the shit and hung out until it was time to call it an evening.
The English speaking section at the end of the year teacher party: myself, Svitlana and my counterpart Halyna.
Graduation ceremony was Saturday afternoon. The day before my counterpart told me the event was at 4:30pm and reminded me not to be late (I found this pretty frustrating, because I have never been late to school and most of the time if not always arrived before her). Anywho, I got to school at 4:20pm and on the last stretch of street before turning to my school I could tell it wasn’t going to start on time from the lack of people also walking to school. Sure enough the ceremony didn’t start until 5:30pm a whole hour late. This didn’t necessarily surprise me.
Top Three Must Tells From Graduation:
1.We had a rock band play. Two of the songs featured “Smells like Teen Spirit” and “Highway to Hell” featuring one of my 11th form girl students rocking out on the drums.
2.My school was selected to participate in a high school teenage girl princess contest. Apparently, four schools across Ukraine were selected. Ours being the western school; woot woot for Volynska Oblast. Two camera guys were filming different angles of the ceremony and after party while a producer also organized interviews. Look for this tall, awkward American in the background on Ukrainian station 1+1!
3.I put together that two of the graduating students are children of the teachers. It shows how you can miss so much from lack of language and cross cultural misunderstandings. Sometimes I feel like I only understand around 5% of my life.
Never linger behind the row of graduating students while picking your nose. You will definitely get caught.
The graduation went pretty smooth even though at one point it looked like rain might put a damper on the event. We arrived to the café and started the feast around 8pm. Like last year there of course a lot of toasts, food, and dancing. This year I took extra special care to get a lot of the dancing on video. Ukrainians might be the most enthusiastic dancers I have ever seen. I’m also impressed with the men’s ability to ball room dance, even the boys can. Since the weather has been warm, they organized one set of speakers outside so we could dance in the court yard of the café. I danced a bit more than last year which is surprised with the lack of liquid courage. It probably added up to it being darker in the courtyard. What you have to understand is that Ukrainians dance in a perfect circle not a group. So you are busting your move while being watched by the entire group. This can be a little intimidating for the solo American of the group.
Side note: I at one point busted into the electric slide as a joke. They loved it. One student even went inside to grab one of the other girls and then came back out to the courtyard. Then begged “Miss Kate, Miss Kate please show her the dance you just did.” If only they played some Beyonce would they know the extent of my dancing ability, Ukrainian music doesn’t really allow me to properly shake what my momma gave me.
The style of graduation is more like prom than caps and gowns.
I left the party early considering they walk to the nearby lake at 4am to watch the sun come up and I doubt being able to stay awake that long as well as make it that far in my uncomfortable flats. I was home by 1am, and since I’m a Grey’s Anatomy addict I watched the season finale past 2am (I had just gotten it right before having to leave for the graduation ceremony). Yesterday morning, I was very slow to rise. In the evening, I went over to Val’s house to join her and Ben for Mexican food. Oh, so delicious. Hung out awhile and compared notes on our different graduation experience before heading back to my place.
Today, I’m going into Lutsk. Melissa and I are going to hangout as well as purchase train tickets to Crimea. Woot woot for summer camp and the Black Sea. I’m looking forward to a great summer; let it be said I have ample of sun screen close at hand. Well I need to make my bed, wash a few dishes and bucket bathe before I head to the marshuka stop. Hope everyone is well in America. Miss and love you all.
Kate
Lana and Pasha were the first students I met. They walked me through a snowy Kivertsi for my first day of school.
Oh, the last photo on this week’s blog is of me with Valentina who is an English teacher at Val’s school. Her 55th birthday celebration was Monday and I was invited as well as a group of my teachers to school number 4 to celebrate. Valentina’s fellow teachers put on a skit and she was honored as the queen of England. It was quite funny and with her cute outfit she played quite the part. I have known Valentina since my first weekend in Kivertsi when helping with the Olympiad and ever since then she always warmly greeted me when she sees me out and about in town.
Myself with Ukrainian Queen of England, birthday girl Valentina.
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