Euro Trip 2010

My trip was great. I traveled around to five new countries with my Peace Corps friend Allison and her sister. We stayed in hostels and for the most part did the trip on the cheap. Each city had its own personality as well as interesting characters. It was a great two and half weeks spent with many memorable moments.



Here is a bullet point list of some of them. When I eventually make it home ask and I’m sure I can give you more details of to what it was like. (Check out Facebook for all the photos)



Budapest, Hungary:
Dancing at the Club until 3 something to popular American songs we didn’t know
Hot, intense march up to Buda Castle
Enjoyed the beautiful scenes of the Danube



Zagreb, Croatia:
Ate a lot of delicious Italian food
Religious holiday so closed museums but hoping café life near our hostel
Gin Rummy with a cute Australian guy



Vienna, Austria:
Royal Place of the Austria-Hungary Empire
Belvedere Palace and gardens
Sisi Museum and Apartment
St. Stephan’s Church
Night Film Festival at City Hall & International Food



Prague, Czech Republic:
Propaganda Pub & Pub with taps at each individual table
Prague Castle, St. Charles Bridge, Lennon Wall
Great Free Walking Tour
Delicious bohemian goolash
Awesome Romanian, Australian, and New Zealander fellow travelers



Krakow, Poland:
American like amenities of Poland
Two more good free walking tours
‘Schinder’s List’ movie sites
Market Square
St. Mary Church
Tour of Auschwitz Concentration and Death Camp



Got back to Ukraine this past Friday after 14 hours of travel and for the distance we had to travel that’s roughly 17mph. Now, I’m trying to settle back into Ukrainian life. I got a lot of laundry to do. Feel like I need to give my room a good cleaning and organizing before the school year starts.
Can’t believe summer is of 2010 is over. Crazy how fast time flies. Hope everyone back home had a good one. Miss you all.

Kate

Cheese Braid, Chaco Tan & the "Red Phone"

Super salty and oily but wonderful.

Thoughts:

People’s lives don’t stop when you leave.

I will be 24 in less than a month, crazy.

Puking on people isn’t that big of deal on Ukrainian transportation.

Summer weather here has turned me into a Diet Coke addicted (by that I mean 3 a
week).


Think this looks bad, it has faded alot.

I miss: driving in whitey with the windows down, ice, soft clothes from a dryer, my mom’s horrible but hilarious laugh, eating apple sauce with Fritos reclined in crappy chair watching a $1 movie rental in my living room, Pearce, my dad asking me what my “agenda” for the day is, good hugs, Mexican food and Chicago style pizza, mowing the yard, beds long enough for me, singing at church.

I don’t miss: the dogs next door in Berwyn, having to put gas in my car, people around me being able to understand my cell phone conversations, traffic, Cardinal fans, FOX news, humid central Illinois summer weather.


My house has a straight line to the Kremlin.

Biggest frustration: living in a house and feeling like I’m an unwanted house guest.

Biggest challenge: learning Ukrainian or should I say being motivated enough to learn it.

Overall High Thus Far: having a better understand of myself.

Overall Low: not being in two places at once. I’m an absent daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt and friend.


My thrown away old, holey zip-lock washed and hung on the line by my babusci.

Numbers

1,000+: sunflower seeds I’ve consumed this summer

169: mail sent

125: mail received

100+: pages I read yesterday

66: Ukrainian verbs made into flash cards

36.5: % of service I’ve completed

24: days til school starts

4: shots of vodka that were forced on me at lunch yesterday

3: movies I watched yesterday (Return to Me, Casablanca, Cool Hand Luke)

2: showers that I’ve taken in a 7 day period

0: real haircuts I’ve gotten


Somethings never change, I'm still rockin' the fro look.

Learned

Germs don’t exist in Ukraine. You get sick from drafts, not wearing a hat, and sitting on cold surfaces. Vodka cures all: sickness, boredom, loneliness, anything.

No matter how many people are on a bus, they can (and will) get more on it.

Peace Corps Learned Flexibility

Ukrainian Overnight Train Ticket $9
2 McDonald Supersize Cokes $2
5th generation iPod $300
4 Bottles of Vodka $20
No money on Life phone $0



Memorable night on the train and the ability to give a thumbs up after being thrown up on by a drunk Ukrainian stranger…
PRICELESS

This past week I traveled back to my training village to visit with Allison. I had a really good time with my favorite village people but we will get back to that later.

I had a 9:10pm train from Kiev arriving in Kivertsi at 6am in the morning. Allison had left on an afternoon train so I hung around the Peace Corps office. Mc Donald’s is right by the train station so I figure take advantage of the ability to get a drink with ice in it and get another Supersized Coke or as I said to the lady dosha valeke (very big) coco cola. Boarded the train 20 minutes before it was suppose to leave. I was unfortunate to get one of the short beds that run parallel with the aisle.

I got comfortable and read until about 11 o’clock. Eventually, I put my stuff away grabed my Ipod to drown out the snoring of some old guy who was across the aisle from me. I’m almost asleep on my side with my head facing the side of the train when a guy stumbles against the set of beds I’m sleeping in. At the same time, I feel a liquid hit my shoulder, back and bed.

Yep, I just got puked on. The guy was attempting to get to the end of the car where there is a bathroom but was like 1/3 of the car length to short. In the next section, the lady in the same spot as me got booted on too. I sat up and was like seriously. Luckily, I had a shirt at the top of my backpack so grabbed it and changed. Then I striped the sheets of the bed because they both had absorbed this man’s digested dinner and vodka.

I walked to the end of the train car to ask the train person for a new set, they were fresh out. Went back to my bed and was like I have to text someone this crazy Peace Corps story. Unfortunately, I hadn’t put money on my phone so my story would have to wait until morning to share. The rest of the night I sat there in 90 degree heat and puke stank having to go the bathroom but not wanting to go into the bathroom where the guy probably had gotten sick all over.

It was gross when it first happened then I quickly was like this is a pretty good story. I’m overall thankful I had an extra shirt and the fact I was sleep on my side facing in. If not I would have been unlucky enough to have it splatter on my face. Always a silver lining.

So back to visiting the village. My host family apparently on vacation in Crimea (looks like plans for me coming to visit were lost in translation somehow.) I did get to see the daughter of the babusci because she had to come back for work. So we caught up as much as we could with my horrible language skills. The rest of the time I spent hanging out with Allison’s host family who I was pretty close with in training. The best day was Friday when we went out to the river on the outside of town, swam and had a BBQ.

Now, I’m back at my site hanging out until the 10th when I will travel through Eastern Europe with Allison and her sister who is flying to Budapest from Chicago. Hope everyone is well at home and they are enjoying the last part of summer. Miss you all.

Kate

Africa, America, Ukraine: Everyone Loves UNO

Hey Everyone,

I'm just sitting around in my free time thinking of new activities for my classes and English clubs. English reading materials are hard to come by as well as American games.

This is where I'm recruiting your help. I am asking anyone who is willing to send me magazines from this summer. Don't feel the need to go buy anything whatever you have on your coffee table will be fabulous. Really anything from Sports Illustrated, People, National Graphic, Shape, Men's Health, Automobile, magazines for younger kids, really anything.

I want to use them with the younger kids in 3rd and 4th all the way to people in their 20s who come to my English club that I have. You can send them in a flat large envelope for around $10.

If you really want to help my students and me out any UNO, Scrabble, Catch Phrase, Taboo, Monopoly or any other games would be absolutely amazing and provide a fun way to practice their English. So check your closets, dust them off and send this way. I know sending a pack of UNO cards cost around $5. Other games will be more but remember to just send the necessities don't worry about the original boxes. It will be greatly used and appreciated.

Hope everyone is well and your summer weather isn't hot as mine. Miss you all and thanks in advance for anything you send.

Kate

WRITE BOTH ADDRESSES
(otherwise it takes an extra time)

Кeйт Шмідт
A/Я 13
Bул. Шевченка 8
м. Ківерці
Волинська обл.
Україна 45200

Kate Schmidt
PO BOX 13
8 Sevchenka St.
Volynska Oblast
Kivertsi, Ukraine
45200

If You Build It They Will Come

Our Ukrainian 'Field of Dreams'


The Sharks who captured 3rd Place.


8 lovely Peace Corps Volunteers who do a fantastic job of representing America.


Me and Kate (she was the next PCV that my training family hosted). Super hilarious girl.


Matt (one of my favorite PCVs) rockin' the Magnum P.I. look.


Me today just so you don't forget how I look and just how nappy my hair is.

Well I am sitting in my room at my site and sweating as if I were in a gym in a unairconditioned gym in the middle of the summer playing AAU basketball. Just got back from the one grocery store in my town. There is a limited selection that I can buy there but normally they have all I want besides the family super size cereal that I like to buy. Feeling a tad homesick, my cure for that is American products. I bought a diet coke (never find Diet Pepsi) and a Kitkat.

This last week I was at a baseball/softball camp in Khmelnytsky, Ukraine which is southeast from my site exactly 6 and half hours on a bus. I had asked a co-worker how long it takes to get there and they guessed around 4-5. So the trip there wasn’t that bad because I just kept thinking it would be the next town for an extra two hours.

The camp was Sunday through Saturday (11th-17th). There were 8 Peace Corps Volunteers and around 60 Ukrainian participants from 13 to 30ish years old. We were assigned to a team and acted as a coach, player and umpire. My team was the sharks because of our royal blue t-shirts. It was fun to interact while playing the game. We taught them take me out to the ball game and other cheers such as “hey batter batter, hey batter batter, swing batter!”

Two of the fields were made on the soccer field at the local university while the other field was at a nearby middle school on their soccer field about a 5 minute walk away. The other volunteers and I stayed at the university’s dorm. Most of the nights, someone would have a recipe that they wanted to try so they would go buy the groceries and everyone would pitch in money. It was inexpensive and pretty delicious if you ask me. My favorite dish or dessert I should say was the ice cream sandwiches one of the girls made.

The first couple of nights were the last of the world cup games. We watched them at different bars. It has been really fun to watch how Europeans get so into “real” football as I have been taught to say. One of the nights, we even had the chance to watch the game with two South African guys. As much as I love Da Bears and Cubbies, “real” football is the world’s sport and really fun to watch during the world cup. I might just stay interested after getting back to the states.

Sunday morning, I caught an early marsuka to try to avoid the blazing sun and heat. It worked until I got back to Lutsk (the city close to my site) and had to catch a marsuka for the last 15K home. I get on with my big hiking back pack (really glad I bought it for PC, holds what I need and doesn’t kill my back regardless how many pairs of yeti shoes I put in it) but unfortunately there were no more seats and was forced to the last standing spot in the aisle. I’m standing there sweating holding on to the bar on the ceiling worrying about my forearm sweat dripping on the lady seating on the right side of the marsuka.

Paying enough attention to whip my forearms on my t-shirt to avoid this awkward situation, I start to think “have I just pissed myself?” At the last town before Lutsk (hour away), I finally bought a Sprite because I was dying of thirst. Normally, I try to avoid liquid but figured I was in the clear. As I’m standing there thinking how could I have peed on myself I realize that I’m sweating so much that it is running down my backside to my legs. Note to self: next time wear a white t-shirt to avoid looking like a man with all the sweat marks.

Yesterday and today, I’ve been lounging around trying not to get too sweaty. Today, I only did one load of laundry by hand because it looks as if it was going to rain. It eventually cleared up and my stuff dried on the line in no time. Washing stuff by hand isn’t the worst, but I will be excited to get back to the states to have soft clothes from the dryer. Not a big fan of crunchy socks and underwear. My babusci just came into my room to tell me that before leaving tomorrow to meet Allison in Lutsk I must wash my clothes that I have separated in different piles on the floor.

Leaving with my new babusci hasn’t been bad, but it still hope one day to have my apartment (even though I realize that is highly unlikely because I don’t think my school cares to look nor pay the difference of rent.) It is just sometimes I feel enough of a freak show walking around in Chacos, Nike bball shorts, t-shirt with my hair up in a messy bun and Ghanaian bag over my shoulder that I would really appreciate the non-judging free space of my own tiny apartment. I guess this experience will just make me appreciate it that much more when I do get my own place in my life plus I would miss out on the random vodka drinking that happens probably 3 to 4 days of the week.

Well I am going to make a fruit/yogurt salad with the fruit I bought from the market today. Didn’t proofread because I’m hungry, please forgive me. Hope everyone is well and know that I miss you all.

Kate

Oh, if anyone has read any good books and would like to send them to your favorite volunteer I would greatly appreciate it. I have three books left. One will be done this week. The others since they are light paperback books will probably accompany me on my back pack trip in August if I don’t read them before.

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

It Does Get Warm in Ukraine

Allison and Inna, her student and daughter of another teacher, hanging out near the crick.


Baby Duck wanting to get her photo taken.


School #3 parading in for the field day competitions.


Dasha, landlord lady's grand daughter, lining up near her pre-school before the parade started.


Only girl sax player. You go girl!

Last week flew by. The warmer the weather the faster the week goes. Here is a breakdown of the week.

Monday- No School because it was Children’s Day. I did get to go to my friend Tanya’s house and get feed too much as always.

Tuesday- Celebrated Children’s Day with a parade around town of all the school children as well as a ‘Field Day’ competitions for all schools in the district to participate in. Craziest thing I saw was a girl running a 50 meter dash in a jean mini skirt and flats.

Wednesday- Camp at my school officially started. I hung out with the younger kids before teaching the 9th formers for an hour in preparation for their big English exam that they will have on the 14th. In the afternoon, I had English club. Small turn out again but none the less fun. Later, I got to chat with my sister for over an hour and saw many photos of Leo that Erik emailed to me. Definitely the highlight of my week.

Thursday- School again. Hour with the 9th formers. Teaching now that it isn’t officially the school year makes things a lot more laid back and I have enjoyed the students being calmer (you would think they would be hyper since it is warm and they are technically done, but Ukraine always surprises me). Later in the afternoon I headed to the V.V. to Allison’s place.

Friday- No classes at my school because of Ukrainian exams, so I went to Allison’s school’s camp. We hung out and watched them do different activities (see FB for hilarious photos). After we did some second hand shopping as well as planned our trip. Allison talked me into going to Budapest, Zagreb, Vienna, Prague, and Krakow in August when her sister comes. I’m excited for 5 new cities in 5 new countries. Grabbed pizza for dinner and got some drinks at the bar across the street from Allison’s place. All and all a pretty good girls’ night out.

Saturday- We headed over to one of Allison’s co-teachers house to visit and go to the nearby crick. I got to fish Ukrainian style with a net. Pretty much just enjoyed the day and worked on getting some sun.

Sunday- Headed back to my sight. Always an experience on the marsuka. I want to say the one I rode to Lutsk was more cramp packed than any Kenyan matatu or Ghanaian trotro I’ve ridden in. The most frustrating part is that despite being jammed to the brim with people the bus driver still makes unscheduled or unneeded stops to pick up more people. I’ve learned to take the inside seat when possible otherwise your space is being taking by someone who is standing in the isle. Once I got back had a lazy Sunday of sitting outside reading and journaling.

Today- I went to school at 9am. On my way I stopped at the post office. Booyah! I got a package from my pops. My favorite pair of Adidas as well as much needed khaki shorts for summer. But the best part was it also came with a small jar of peanut butter. Got to school and shared with some of my teachers because peanut butter can’t be bought here. They enjoyed apple slices with PB. Taught the 9th form class and then headed home. Now I’m just trying to get stuff done and organized.

Future- On Wednesday, I will head north to Kovel and there meet up with Allison and Aidan. Next all three of us will take an overnight train all the way down to Chernivtsi where I will be working at a camp from June 10th – 30th. I think I will have some internet connection (depending on how well my modem works out in the middle of nowhere). But most likely won’t have a lot of time to post blogs. So don’t worry if I’m missing for a few weeks. I will have many Kodak moments I’m sure to post after getting back to the old homestead.

Hope everyone’s summer is starting off well. To all of my graduating North Central friends, I congratulate you on your college careers and wish you the best in all that you have ahead. Miss you all. Much love YOs.

Kate