Monday. The last day of language as a cluster. It went really fast. It is nice to know that I will be learning Ukrainian in a less structured environment. Yet at the same time, I worry that I’ll get to my site, be speaking English the majority of the time and not get the chance to learn Ukrainian as much as I want to. I’m planning on getting a tutor so I can continue to learn as well as practice with any Ukrainian that will chit chat with me about the weather and really any subject.
After class, Allison and I were hanging out at her house. Trying to decide what we were going to wear and how we are doing our hair for swearing in. This is when we became life size American Barbies for her host sister and mother. It was too funny. Check out face book for photos.
Returned to my house to find out that it was Katya Day, I believe it is a saint or something. Not quite sure but since my name is Kate which would be Katya here and so is my house mother’s we toasted to ourselves. My babusci also bought me a towel as a present. It is very customary to give very practical gifts. It was just strange that she got me it because that day I had been to the market and not found one that I wanted to buy. I swear she can read my mind.
Tuesday. Trip to Kiev. We went with our link to see an English Language Institute. This will be a place that we can borrow and get resources throughout our two years of service. We can borrow books for our students, teaching manuals as well as educational videos and dvds. At this meeting, there was also two other clusters from other areas. People who I had never met or seen before. One of them was a Turkmen reject. It was nice to get to chit chat with him and see how he adjusted coming to Ukrainian after also thinking he was headed to Turkmenistan. It will be nice to have mingling time in Kiev to get to know some more people.
We also stopped by the Peace Corps office, which meant MAIL. I starting to think my cluster is jealous of my amazing friends and family because I got seven letters this time (2 from my pops and 1 from KS, Ruthann, Bre, Meg Holland, and Mandy. With last week and this one being such an emotional roller coaster it was nice to be able to read about home and hear some funny stories. Again, Bre Parra wins with the most amusing and inappropriate stories. Are we really surprised though, love you Bre.
Wednesday. Met with mayor of our village. This is the woman who selected our host families and facilitated things between Peace Corps and the schools. We thanked her for her work and said we hope that the relationship between PC and the villages continue.
After that I had a little break before my last 1 on 1 tutoring session with my LCF. We did a mock LPI and tried to refine the little Ukrainian I know. After I decided to stick around, my house all afternoon and attempt to study while also starting to pack.
For dinner, there was a big feast to celebrate my host brother’s birthday. It was funny because he was around before we ate but then headed off with his friends before we actually started to eat. Regardless, we had a nice meal and enjoyed shooting the shit about the very few topics I can talk about in Ukrainian.
Thursday 8am was the time that my LPI was suppose to start, but it snowed probably 3 inches over night which slows down transport so the interviewer was 45 mins behind scheduled. The man who interviewed me was very nice but his very wide open questions caught me off guard. So I felt I stumbled because I did not know what topic to choose. I was able to understand what he was asking and throw together some Ukrainian in improper grammar to fill the time of the interview.
Allison’s interview was after mine. When she finished she came over to my house and we shaved our legs in celebration of making it through language training. OMG I forgot the feeling of soft legs in a pair of jeans. Hopefully this new state of my legs will increase my chances of finding a Ukrainian husband. ;) Just kidding mom. Then we headed about to our language house to have written exams over safety & security, health, and PC policies. They were open book. It was more just a way of reviewing the material than an actually quiz.
Allison and I think headed in to Chernivhiv to buy supplies for our community projects aka 4 kilos of candy. After we headed over to the internet café for a little enjoyment of technology before catching a marsuka back to our village.
Friday. English Fair (our community project). Allison came over in the morning and we finished coloring the signs for the UNO and Bingo tables. Around noon, we headed to the school to eat lunch and pay off our lunch charges. At lunch, Laura had told us that she went into the school to hang up signs to make sure students remember the fair was today and our English teacher told her that he was not sure if we could use the gym. We had also heard rumors through Jon’s little brother that some students got the impression that we were throwing a party for the teachers and not the students.
So from first getting to school and setting up, we weren’t too confident how the English Fair was going to come off. But at 3pm kids slowly started entering. They were shy and hesitant at first but then with our prizes of candy it didn’t take them too long to get involved. We had a decorating booth with a huge paper Christmas tree that students could make ornaments for, Uno table, bingo table, slide show on my pc of our own photos showing our families, hobbies, etc. about the states, raffle table and the biggest hit of the night a cake walk like game where two students would try to beat the other in calling out the item on a flashcard in English.
At one point, I counted in between 50-60 students. In a small community, this was a pretty great turnout. We also had teachers of other subjects participate as well. We had two of our link mates from the next small village over who helped us run it. We were all very happy with the turnout of the night. We also presented 2 resource books to the ENG teacher of the school. We made it out of our lesson plans we had conducted as well as ways to spice up teaching ENG with fun and interactive games. We also purchased a book of short stories that included exercises and compression activities for him to use with different level of students.
After cleaning up, the group of volunteers headed over to my house to have a celebratory drink of beer or wine. It was also nice time to kick back, enjoy each other’s company because we finally have everything completed and soon will be spread all across Ukraine at different sites. Our link mates had to leave around 7pm to get the last marsuka back to their village. My cluster stayed for probably another hour and half. We watched some episodes of “It’s Always Sunny in Philly” tv show. It has become a cluster favorite considering Allison owes all 4 seasons that are out on dvd. A song from one of the episodes “Day Man” has become the unofficially theme song of our cluster. People headed back around 9, Allison stuck around for a few games of UNO with my little host sister before calling it a night.
Saturday. This morning we had our last official cluster J meeting to debrief our community project as well as our technical training. Our TCF said she thought our English Fair went really well and that she had a good time helping us run some of the activities. She told us that we have a very positive group and warned that the first two weeks at our sites will be challenging and to keep our heads up. Overall, I think I ended up in a very gifted cluster. We are all very different yet similar in ways. I think we all have our own styles but none the less make great PCVs.
The rest of the day, I’m going to head into Chernivhiv to print some photos for a small album for my host family as a thank you gift. Also might buy each of the ladies in my family a flower. Then going to hang out with Team America (self given nickname for our cluster) and other trainees at the internet cafe.
Tomorrow. Will be a day of laundry, packing and enjoying the last hours with my host family. Monday morning we will be picked up at 9am and bused to Kiev. I’m sure it will be emotional yet very exciting. Then on Thursday I’ll head out to my site without my cluster to find my new home. During training there have been moments when I felt on top of the world while other moments I questioned my ability to be able to contribute to my future site.
A few words that really sum up training for me are perseverance, flexibility and sense of humor.
Perseverance to keep trying even when it feels like you don’t know how to speak the language or simple things such as catching the right marsuka home.
Flexibility to roll with it all. Training provides you with amazing resources yet at the same time strips you of your independence. There are moments that go completely opposite of how you “think” they should. Don’t fight it just go with the flow.
Last one and probably what I would say is the most important is maintaining a sense of humor. There have been so many situations where I have been frustrated but been able to flip frustration into laugh. Like having “poop” issues and instead of being embarrassed just make it into jokes and cry with laughter instead of just normal tears. As well as times I tried so hard to use my small Ukrainian knowledge and horribly messing it up. Like trying to tell the bus driver thank you after getting my change and confidently asking him how are you instead.
So that’s a lot for right now. Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. It seems a lot more like Christmas time now that we have snow here in my little village. Dad wish we could snowmobile over here. I’m out for now, hopefully I will get to post while at the swearing in ceremonies. Later YOs!
Not enough time to proofread, don't judge.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Latest Facts and Numbers
Facts and Numbers as of December 10, 2009
100: + lbs amount of stuff I have to take to my new sites
55: pieces of mail I have sent out
21: pieces of mail I have received from the following: my parents, kimberly, bre, mandy, meg, robin, CD, ruthann, karen.
12: crispy crème crack like Ukrainian cookies I ate yesterday
10: am in the morning is the best time for hanging out at the store with the local babushkas
8: weeks I have survived here in Ukraine
7: chess games I have played on my PC
4: seasons of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” I have watched
3: inches of snow that are probably on the ground right now in my little town
3: birthday parties I have attended
2: books I have read so far
1: time I have shaved my legs (oh, I forgot how smooth my legs can be)
1: flashlight I had stolen from me on the Kiev metro
0: chess games I have won
0: the days I haven’t had potatoes
If I could have over 2 people tonight for dinner: my sister because she is making me an aunt and bre parra because she is just too funny
Favorite food here in Ukraine: still loving borscht
Food I miss the most from home: in this very moment a Portillo’s salad and hotdog
What I’m most thankful for: my amazing host family that has made living in Ukraine a fairly easy transition
Biggest frustration: not knowing if I’ll be living on my own or have another host family at my new site
Biggest challenge: being able to walk while carrying my two bags I came with, a number of manuals PC gave us along with a space heater and fire extinguisher that PC distributes to us before we head out to our site
If I could have anything three things from home: my other pair of favorite nike sweat pants, grey’s anatomy seasons on dvd, and my body pillow
Overall low: being stressed out about the language proficiency test as well as transitioning into my new site without my cluster.
Overall high: i’m going to be sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on Thursday and as of late May 2010 I will be Titka (AUNT) Kate. So excited for both.
100: + lbs amount of stuff I have to take to my new sites
55: pieces of mail I have sent out
21: pieces of mail I have received from the following: my parents, kimberly, bre, mandy, meg, robin, CD, ruthann, karen.
12: crispy crème crack like Ukrainian cookies I ate yesterday
10: am in the morning is the best time for hanging out at the store with the local babushkas
8: weeks I have survived here in Ukraine
7: chess games I have played on my PC
4: seasons of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” I have watched
3: inches of snow that are probably on the ground right now in my little town
3: birthday parties I have attended
2: books I have read so far
1: time I have shaved my legs (oh, I forgot how smooth my legs can be)
1: flashlight I had stolen from me on the Kiev metro
0: chess games I have won
0: the days I haven’t had potatoes
If I could have over 2 people tonight for dinner: my sister because she is making me an aunt and bre parra because she is just too funny
Favorite food here in Ukraine: still loving borscht
Food I miss the most from home: in this very moment a Portillo’s salad and hotdog
What I’m most thankful for: my amazing host family that has made living in Ukraine a fairly easy transition
Biggest frustration: not knowing if I’ll be living on my own or have another host family at my new site
Biggest challenge: being able to walk while carrying my two bags I came with, a number of manuals PC gave us along with a space heater and fire extinguisher that PC distributes to us before we head out to our site
If I could have anything three things from home: my other pair of favorite nike sweat pants, grey’s anatomy seasons on dvd, and my body pillow
Overall low: being stressed out about the language proficiency test as well as transitioning into my new site without my cluster.
Overall high: i’m going to be sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on Thursday and as of late May 2010 I will be Titka (AUNT) Kate. So excited for both.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Week 7 (Really week 10 of 11 for PST): I almost ruined my chances at marriage…
I don’t even know where to start with this week. It has been my toughest one yet. Not so much from the activities of the week, I am just mentally and emotionally at a low point. I am worn out from attempting to learn this language what is at the slowest pace possible sometimes I don’t even feel like my brain retains anything meanwhile my cluster mates can drill through a list of 25 vocabulary words and then have it down. At a frustrated but funny losing it point this week, I proclaimed to my cluster and LCF that I might just be the dumbest PCT out of all 100 and something of us but by God my babusci (host grandmother) loves me! I have given up on achieving in the lang. class and I’m starting to measure my victories in laughter. I don’t hold super deep conversations but I can confidently say I make my host family and random people I interact with smile and bust a gut almost every day. My language isn’t universal but my sense of humor is.
This Tuesday brought our second and last self-assessment interview from the PC office. They asked a bunch of questions to see how far we have come in training and random information to share with us about our last week of PST (pre service training). Besides the anxiety and stress of leaving our current host families, relocating to a new village/city and starting a job that we have very little experience, my cluster and I face the challenge of a Language Proficiency Interview this coming week. This means I will sit down with a PC staff member who I have never met before and have the challenge of holding a 30 minute conversation with them about my life here in the village, my background and any random topic that comes up in the interview. Let’s just say this makes me want to cry. I am able to do what I have to survive using my broken broken Ukrainian plus a lot of charades (which aren’t welcome in the interview), but this just seems impossible. They will give us a ranking from low to intermediate mid to excellent with many levels in between those. Day one here they told me not to worry about my level just try to learn as much as I can. It still is frustrating to know that I’m going to score so low. The coordinator while giving us information about the LPI told us “Don’t worry about the LPI, life will measure you.” I’m pretty sure that is even more frightening to me. This experience for sure has been the most humbling and challenging task of my young life.
After our language lesson on Tuesday was over, I was beyond the point of frustrated. I was so worked up I couldn’t even cry. And that my friends was a perfect time to receive mail. I got 8 pieces of mail; I think my cluster hates me because two people haven’t gotten any letters yet. I got two from my pops and KS, and one from my momma, CD, Karen and RA. You have no idea how much mail means to me in this experience. It is a good way to distract myself from stress while feeling connected to home. So thank you to those who send mail. I’ll be getting replies back to you hopefully this weekend.
Speaking of mail as much as I don’t want to say it, don’t send me any new mail right now. If you forget or don’t read this until later it is no big deal. I will still receive that mail but it will be quite some delay. Because in two Mondays, I’ll be switching my site and I will have to set up mail there. PC will receive any mail you send and get it to me the next time I car is in my area or I’ll pick it up the next time I’m in the office. So continue writing it just stockpile it until I have my new address. Believe me when I say the first thing I’m plan on doing after unpacking on the 17th or 18th is locating the post office to set up a PO Box so I can receive snail mail and finally packages.
Thursday was my first solo teaching experience. I taught the 5th form about present and past simple verbs while introducing new reading passages and vocabulary. I was a little nervous so at the beginning, I read some things too fast but overall the lesson went well. I had some children who don’t normally want to volunteer to speak raise their hands and participate so I count that as a victory. Their textbooks aren’t the best and as PCTs we have to create all of our in class material which means no photo copies or provided worksheets, all of that is done by hand. So let’s just say it forces the creativity which is a good thing but there is a lot of prep work. If I ever decide to teach in the states, I am going to feel like I have every resource at my figure tips. Lessons taught: only 3 and I’m headed off to my site in a little over a week…oh, it is going to get interesting.
I must say that Fridays are my most favorite day because I have the whole weekend to not be stressed about learning the language. It also means a lot of chill time with my host family. They invited me to a family friend’s birthday party. Can’t believe it but I can’t remember the lady’s name. Anywho, she was turning 49 yesterday and I got to be there to celebrate. For you outsiders, this means a lot of vodka. When having a big get together it is very customary here to start with a toast before shooting the first shot. Many people sit around what normally seems like an incredibly too small of table with food on every inch of it. Everyone has their own small plate. You load it with food. When people’s food is gone this means another shot. This continues for a good while. Let’s just say by the time we were eating Tort (cake) everyone minus the one weak American had at least 8 shots. The bottle of vodka never really seems to lessen. I’m starting to think that instead of water, vodka flows from the tap.
At this dinner, there were 12 adults and 4 children. Across the table from me there were three sisters. They all looked very similar and had the head scarf which means they are official babushkas. Age here is something that is not taboo to ask about so I found out they were 51, 55 and 60. The all looked a few years older than their actually age. It was amusing to watch them interact with each other. The youngest sister was social and often combated with the oldest sister for the table’s attention. She had the softest face and looked the most youthful. The oldest sister was the jokester and full of energy. Her years showed on her face by the count of many earned wrinkles. After telling a joke or story, she would nudge one of her sisters who were sitting on both sides for their reaction (this would be me if I was Ukrainian and 30 years older). The middle sister was very reserved and mostly just observed all that was happening at the table. But throughout the course of the dinner, we would look at each other and smile almost in agreement about whatever crazy interaction was happening at the table.
Last night, I also had the chance to experience the most “interesting” dish since being in Ukrainian. For lack of better explanation, it was chicken jello. It was pulled apart chicken meet with little flavoring in gelatin. When my host mother offered me the dish and very closely examined it, the entire table was curious to see what my reaction would be. Without the table’s pressure, I probably wouldn’t have tried it. I put a tiny portion on my plate and an even smaller portion of that in my mouth. Again “interesting” is the appropriate it word to describe that experience. After swallowing it, I made the statement chicken jello. Apparently, they have jello here and the table erupted in laughed.
And if you are wondering where the title of this blog comes from sit down it is time for a little cross cultural lesson. Normally, at family get togethers/dinners many people are crowded around too small of a table. My host grandmother wanted me to sit by her at the table and realizing that there were still many to sit down I pulled my stool a little closer to hers which landing me in the most taboo place a woman could sit: the corner. It is said that if you sit in the corner you will have bad luck and you will not get married. The three sisters across the table started talking loud, really fast, and with a lot of hand gestures it took me a moment to understand that they want me to marry and that I should sit on the side of the table. There then was a joke about how I must marry a very, very tall Ukrainian man. Regardless what country I visit people seem to understand that couples should match in height. So here is to finding a tall Ukrainian husband.
I think we arrived to the friend’s house around 5:30 and did not leave until 9pm. I think they left so early because they have the American with them who had training in the morning. I find it so interesting and amazing that my level of Ukrainian is probably that of a 3 year old but so much can still be shared between people. Ukrainians at first glance aren’t the warmest of people, but when you are brought into their inner circle you are warmly received. At the end of the night, I was walking down the street arm in arm (acting as a brace because you never know when you will trip up in a pothole) with my host sister, mother and grandmother sinking only one verse of a Ukrainian pop song that I know. I’m going to be really sad to leave in a little over a week.
Hope everyone is well. Have a great December and Holiday Season and remember Jesus is the reason for the season.
Interesting fact: perfume, when translated, here means toilet water. It made for a very amusing moment in English class.
Also check out face book I have posted some videos of life here in the village.(Don’t judge error didn’t have time to proofread)
This Tuesday brought our second and last self-assessment interview from the PC office. They asked a bunch of questions to see how far we have come in training and random information to share with us about our last week of PST (pre service training). Besides the anxiety and stress of leaving our current host families, relocating to a new village/city and starting a job that we have very little experience, my cluster and I face the challenge of a Language Proficiency Interview this coming week. This means I will sit down with a PC staff member who I have never met before and have the challenge of holding a 30 minute conversation with them about my life here in the village, my background and any random topic that comes up in the interview. Let’s just say this makes me want to cry. I am able to do what I have to survive using my broken broken Ukrainian plus a lot of charades (which aren’t welcome in the interview), but this just seems impossible. They will give us a ranking from low to intermediate mid to excellent with many levels in between those. Day one here they told me not to worry about my level just try to learn as much as I can. It still is frustrating to know that I’m going to score so low. The coordinator while giving us information about the LPI told us “Don’t worry about the LPI, life will measure you.” I’m pretty sure that is even more frightening to me. This experience for sure has been the most humbling and challenging task of my young life.
After our language lesson on Tuesday was over, I was beyond the point of frustrated. I was so worked up I couldn’t even cry. And that my friends was a perfect time to receive mail. I got 8 pieces of mail; I think my cluster hates me because two people haven’t gotten any letters yet. I got two from my pops and KS, and one from my momma, CD, Karen and RA. You have no idea how much mail means to me in this experience. It is a good way to distract myself from stress while feeling connected to home. So thank you to those who send mail. I’ll be getting replies back to you hopefully this weekend.
Speaking of mail as much as I don’t want to say it, don’t send me any new mail right now. If you forget or don’t read this until later it is no big deal. I will still receive that mail but it will be quite some delay. Because in two Mondays, I’ll be switching my site and I will have to set up mail there. PC will receive any mail you send and get it to me the next time I car is in my area or I’ll pick it up the next time I’m in the office. So continue writing it just stockpile it until I have my new address. Believe me when I say the first thing I’m plan on doing after unpacking on the 17th or 18th is locating the post office to set up a PO Box so I can receive snail mail and finally packages.
Thursday was my first solo teaching experience. I taught the 5th form about present and past simple verbs while introducing new reading passages and vocabulary. I was a little nervous so at the beginning, I read some things too fast but overall the lesson went well. I had some children who don’t normally want to volunteer to speak raise their hands and participate so I count that as a victory. Their textbooks aren’t the best and as PCTs we have to create all of our in class material which means no photo copies or provided worksheets, all of that is done by hand. So let’s just say it forces the creativity which is a good thing but there is a lot of prep work. If I ever decide to teach in the states, I am going to feel like I have every resource at my figure tips. Lessons taught: only 3 and I’m headed off to my site in a little over a week…oh, it is going to get interesting.
I must say that Fridays are my most favorite day because I have the whole weekend to not be stressed about learning the language. It also means a lot of chill time with my host family. They invited me to a family friend’s birthday party. Can’t believe it but I can’t remember the lady’s name. Anywho, she was turning 49 yesterday and I got to be there to celebrate. For you outsiders, this means a lot of vodka. When having a big get together it is very customary here to start with a toast before shooting the first shot. Many people sit around what normally seems like an incredibly too small of table with food on every inch of it. Everyone has their own small plate. You load it with food. When people’s food is gone this means another shot. This continues for a good while. Let’s just say by the time we were eating Tort (cake) everyone minus the one weak American had at least 8 shots. The bottle of vodka never really seems to lessen. I’m starting to think that instead of water, vodka flows from the tap.
At this dinner, there were 12 adults and 4 children. Across the table from me there were three sisters. They all looked very similar and had the head scarf which means they are official babushkas. Age here is something that is not taboo to ask about so I found out they were 51, 55 and 60. The all looked a few years older than their actually age. It was amusing to watch them interact with each other. The youngest sister was social and often combated with the oldest sister for the table’s attention. She had the softest face and looked the most youthful. The oldest sister was the jokester and full of energy. Her years showed on her face by the count of many earned wrinkles. After telling a joke or story, she would nudge one of her sisters who were sitting on both sides for their reaction (this would be me if I was Ukrainian and 30 years older). The middle sister was very reserved and mostly just observed all that was happening at the table. But throughout the course of the dinner, we would look at each other and smile almost in agreement about whatever crazy interaction was happening at the table.
Last night, I also had the chance to experience the most “interesting” dish since being in Ukrainian. For lack of better explanation, it was chicken jello. It was pulled apart chicken meet with little flavoring in gelatin. When my host mother offered me the dish and very closely examined it, the entire table was curious to see what my reaction would be. Without the table’s pressure, I probably wouldn’t have tried it. I put a tiny portion on my plate and an even smaller portion of that in my mouth. Again “interesting” is the appropriate it word to describe that experience. After swallowing it, I made the statement chicken jello. Apparently, they have jello here and the table erupted in laughed.
And if you are wondering where the title of this blog comes from sit down it is time for a little cross cultural lesson. Normally, at family get togethers/dinners many people are crowded around too small of a table. My host grandmother wanted me to sit by her at the table and realizing that there were still many to sit down I pulled my stool a little closer to hers which landing me in the most taboo place a woman could sit: the corner. It is said that if you sit in the corner you will have bad luck and you will not get married. The three sisters across the table started talking loud, really fast, and with a lot of hand gestures it took me a moment to understand that they want me to marry and that I should sit on the side of the table. There then was a joke about how I must marry a very, very tall Ukrainian man. Regardless what country I visit people seem to understand that couples should match in height. So here is to finding a tall Ukrainian husband.
I think we arrived to the friend’s house around 5:30 and did not leave until 9pm. I think they left so early because they have the American with them who had training in the morning. I find it so interesting and amazing that my level of Ukrainian is probably that of a 3 year old but so much can still be shared between people. Ukrainians at first glance aren’t the warmest of people, but when you are brought into their inner circle you are warmly received. At the end of the night, I was walking down the street arm in arm (acting as a brace because you never know when you will trip up in a pothole) with my host sister, mother and grandmother sinking only one verse of a Ukrainian pop song that I know. I’m going to be really sad to leave in a little over a week.
Hope everyone is well. Have a great December and Holiday Season and remember Jesus is the reason for the season.
Interesting fact: perfume, when translated, here means toilet water. It made for a very amusing moment in English class.
Also check out face book I have posted some videos of life here in the village.(Don’t judge error didn’t have time to proofread)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Last Chance
Hey All. If you are reading this please send me your email to me (kateschmidt_@hotmail.com). So I can register your email because next weekend I'm going to pass word project my blog. Hope all is well.
Week 6 : A Lot to Be Thankful For!
Monday was my first day of teaching. I co-taught 5th form (grade) with Allison. We did a review session themed the Olympics. The students responded really well to our lesson plan and I mean who wouldn’t we gave candy to the winning and losing team. Overall, it was wonderful to get to do my thing in the classroom.
Tuesday was our cluster field trip into Kiev. We left our zoopinka (stop) at 7:15am headed into the nearby city to catch a marsuka to Kiev. It was around hour and 45min, two hour ride. I slept pretty much the whole way. We went to the train station to get familiar because most likely we will be using it to get to our site or visit the PC office in the future. After, we did around a 15 minute walk to the Peace Corps office. I had been there my very first hours in Ukraine but for the rest of the cluster it was their first time. We talked to one of the coordinators about our community project, used the computer s real quick but most importantly we got to chit chat with current volunteers as well as PCVs who just ended their service. They gave us some insides and told us that it only continues to get better after training. After the office, we did a little walking tour of sights and monuments of Kiev (check out facebook for photos).
Wednesday would have just been another day of class and tutoring besides the fact my stomach did not want to be nice to me. I’m sad to say that I probably spent way more time than one person should in our LCF’s outhouse. Let’s just say even if you try not to breathe, one can taste the horridness. I eventually just went to home where I hangout in the bathroom for a good while before just laying on my bed asking God why? By early afternoon, I felt much better.
Thursday Den Podyakey (day of thanks aka thanksgiving)!! PC gave us the day off of lesson but we still were scheduled to teach and observe classes at our school. Again Allison and I co-taught the 5th form. They enjoyed learning about Turkey Day and making hand turkeys (check out fb to see a couple great photos). After, Allison and I ran home to change real quick before heading into the city. We also picked up couple of pevo-s (beer) to have a celebratory toast on our way in. We met up with a group of PCTs at a pizza restaurant and enjoyed just kicking it with fellow Americans. Then headed back into our village before it got dark. Overall, a pretty enjoyable thanksgiving.
Friday is funday only because the weekend is here after I finished technical tutoring at 3:30pm. I came home to an empty house, read a good 70 pages to finish “Running the Amazon.” Typed up lesson plans for the resource book we are making for school’s English teacher to use. Chilled with the family in the kitchen for a good hour and half, eating searnick (fried little dough patties) with homemade jam while watching “The Poseidon Adventure” dubbed in Russian.
This is the end of my 6th week in country but really the end of the 9th week of training which means we only have two more weeks before heading out to our sites. I’m excited (probably more excited about finally being able to shave my legs than being sworn in) but at the same time I worried about adjusting all over again and without the help of my amazing cluster. Please pray that I’ll not be too stressed in the next coming weeks and that I’ll be able to transition smoothly into my new home. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and is gearing up for Christmas!!
Kate
Tuesday was our cluster field trip into Kiev. We left our zoopinka (stop) at 7:15am headed into the nearby city to catch a marsuka to Kiev. It was around hour and 45min, two hour ride. I slept pretty much the whole way. We went to the train station to get familiar because most likely we will be using it to get to our site or visit the PC office in the future. After, we did around a 15 minute walk to the Peace Corps office. I had been there my very first hours in Ukraine but for the rest of the cluster it was their first time. We talked to one of the coordinators about our community project, used the computer s real quick but most importantly we got to chit chat with current volunteers as well as PCVs who just ended their service. They gave us some insides and told us that it only continues to get better after training. After the office, we did a little walking tour of sights and monuments of Kiev (check out facebook for photos).
Wednesday would have just been another day of class and tutoring besides the fact my stomach did not want to be nice to me. I’m sad to say that I probably spent way more time than one person should in our LCF’s outhouse. Let’s just say even if you try not to breathe, one can taste the horridness. I eventually just went to home where I hangout in the bathroom for a good while before just laying on my bed asking God why? By early afternoon, I felt much better.
Thursday Den Podyakey (day of thanks aka thanksgiving)!! PC gave us the day off of lesson but we still were scheduled to teach and observe classes at our school. Again Allison and I co-taught the 5th form. They enjoyed learning about Turkey Day and making hand turkeys (check out fb to see a couple great photos). After, Allison and I ran home to change real quick before heading into the city. We also picked up couple of pevo-s (beer) to have a celebratory toast on our way in. We met up with a group of PCTs at a pizza restaurant and enjoyed just kicking it with fellow Americans. Then headed back into our village before it got dark. Overall, a pretty enjoyable thanksgiving.
Friday is funday only because the weekend is here after I finished technical tutoring at 3:30pm. I came home to an empty house, read a good 70 pages to finish “Running the Amazon.” Typed up lesson plans for the resource book we are making for school’s English teacher to use. Chilled with the family in the kitchen for a good hour and half, eating searnick (fried little dough patties) with homemade jam while watching “The Poseidon Adventure” dubbed in Russian.
This is the end of my 6th week in country but really the end of the 9th week of training which means we only have two more weeks before heading out to our sites. I’m excited (probably more excited about finally being able to shave my legs than being sworn in) but at the same time I worried about adjusting all over again and without the help of my amazing cluster. Please pray that I’ll not be too stressed in the next coming weeks and that I’ll be able to transition smoothly into my new home. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and is gearing up for Christmas!!
Kate
Saturday, November 21, 2009
SEND ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
Hey Everyone,
I have to password protect my blog to follow Peace Corps protocol. I'm going to do it in a week. So please email me your email so I can register you for my blog. My address is kateschmidt_@hotmail.com. I'm going to set up the password. So please do it by next weekend.
Love you all,
Kate
I have to password protect my blog to follow Peace Corps protocol. I'm going to do it in a week. So please email me your email so I can register you for my blog. My address is kateschmidt_@hotmail.com. I'm going to set up the password. So please do it by next weekend.
Love you all,
Kate
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