Pig Fat Festival, Why Not?!

Yum yum, salo house.

As I mentioned in my blog last Saturday, I attended a festival that celebrated SALO! For those of you who don’t know that is straight up pig fat with very little if at all meat in it. It was in Lutsk the nearby city. My fellow PCVs and I enjoyed watching Ukrainian dancers and a band. It was very interesting to see people come out and taste test the different types of salo, salo spread and other misc. things that were being sold. The most unique item I saw was a house made of salo and other meat products. Don’t know if it really made me hungry though.

I sampled a thinly sliced piece of salo on a piece of dark bread and also the spread on the same bread. The ones I tried where heavy salted so it didn’t taste that bad. I still can’t get the idea of eating salo. It is fat. So I look at it and think I could just take it and slap it to my butt because that is surely where it is going to end up. I would much rather eat a piece of chocolate that tastes good and I don’t imagine going directly to my butt (even though it all ends up there).

Most eventful thing of the week: MOVING. I was under the impression on Friday afternoon that I would be moving Monday afternoon. Monday morning rolls around, I gently ask the babushka if I can shower. She starts yelling loudly. I can pick up ‘you can shower at your new place’ and then blah blah blah in Ukrainian that I didn’t understand. This just makes me so happy I’m moving. I get to school and ask my vice principle at what time I’m moving later in the day. She says oh, you can’t move today maybe Tuesday or Wednesday.

PROBLEM in my mind!! Monday is the day of the month that I normally pay rent. I explained to my vice principle that the babushka is not happy to be losing income with me moving out of her house and that I don’t think she will let me stay for an extra two days. My vice principle tells me not to worry that she will call the lady and everything will be alright. Later, that day my VP calls the babushka. Again I hear from my room yelling at my VP on the phone. I for sure understood ‘this isn’t my problem, this is her problem.’ They continued talking with a little less yelling.

I just sat in my room not fully understanding what is going on. Eventually an hour later my counterpart calls me and says at 6pm, I will come with a car and you will move. This is at 3pm so I awkwardly say in my room for a couple of hours before finally moving. Before leaving the house, I tried to smooth over the tension by saying after I have moved in that I would like to have her and the medical college boys over to my flat. It worked a little bit but she was still very sour about me leaving.


Thumbs up for the long awaited move.

So Monday night, I spent the night in my place without electricity, heat or gas which wasn’t a big deal if you let your pee mellow. Tuesday night not waiting to see if the electricity was actually going to come on, I headed into Lutsk to hang out with Melissa and use her shower (I hadn’t had a real shower in 5 days). Wednesday, I had my Ukrainian friend, Tanya, come over for tea and burned her some DVDs of Friends. Thursday, I enjoyed my first fully solo day in my place.

Friday, I hosted my first dinner party of my life. The volunteers closest to me (Melissa, Jon, Katie, and Terry) all came over for pelmeni. Dinner started around 6ish. It was delicious. Terry had made a Ukrainian salad with the main ingredient being beets. Jon pitched in with making us some very interesting mixed drinks. Melissa topped it all off with baking oatmeal cookies for dessert. Quite tasty if you ask me. Katie (who is COSing in 2 weeks) brought me some house warming presents. Terry headed out at 9:30 to catch the last marsuka back to the city. The rest of us enjoyed the remainder of the night by playing some games, and watching a movie. I was first to go to bed because we discovered that the second devon (fold out couch) of my place is a lot more comfortable than the one I had been sleeping on because of the lack of foot board (a plus for us tall people).


The socializing is always in the kitchen.

Saturday, I was woken up at 9am by my counterpart knocking at my door. She came over to show me how to use ‘the values’ aka turning on my faucet and being like ‘you have water.’ She also showed me how to turn the gas and water off. I already knew it because the first day I watched her do it. Oh, good times. I wish Ukrainians understood that just because I’m horrible at their language doesn’t mean I’m incompetent. Eventually, we got up and moving because at 2pm, we planned to have a writing workshop at Melissa’s.

But before the workshop, we enjoyed a smorgasbord of sandwich materials that were great on bread along with Melissa’s homemade potato wedges. We talked about our experiences with writing. Then we all shared different things we have written. The most amusing part was when we acted out Katie’s short plays that expressed the craziest moments of her Ukrainian life. The one that had me laughing pretty good was when her host mother and dad were so worried that she had a pimple right before going home knowing that she was going to see her boyfriend. Oh, how funny Ukrainians can be.

So as you can see it was a very busy week. That is the reason I took today off which means besides showering I wasn’t too productive. I sat around in my pajamas. Well I take that back I have already started on my Christmas list and making a schedule so I don’t miss anything important when I’m home visiting. For example, I already wrote down the two Bears games that will happen. Oh, can’t wait to watch some American football soon.


Part of my life that makes me think of my pops.

Well I need to get moving. Allison is headed over and I’m looking forward to kicking off fall break (no school this week) with her. Hope all is well at home. Note: only 58 days until I’m home in the Land of Lincoln!!!

Kate

Щасливого один рік річниця до мені

(Happy One Year Anniversary to Me)word to word translated by this horrible Ukrainian speaker, probably wrong. Oh well, I tried.


Do I look a year older? (4-1 my beloved Bears record, woot woot!)

Facts and Numbers as of Late
Best thing about Ukraine: Ponchix (homemade jelly filled doughnuts)
Worst thing: tie- the lack of organized lines and mayo or sour cream being put on everything
Most watched TV show: Grey’s Anatomy
My Breakfast: two slices of bread with delicious peanut butter and water
Most watched movie: Hope Floats
Crazy thing I want to do when I get home: tattoo of something regarding my faith and want to get with my grandma. She wants a small flower
The 3 objects I use the most: computer, camera, books
The 3 objects I wish I had: clothe dryer, Whitey (my old car), an American library near by
Funniest moment of the week: ‘What country is this?’ I ask while pointing to US on an unlabeled map. Confidently from the back of the class one of my 5th graders yells ‘the U.S.S.R.!’


‘Hope you’re holding up okay’ from Bre. Handmade card from my favorite former resident Robin ‘Nations’.

Infinite: the kisses and cuddling that I’ll give my nephew when I’m home
1,000+: sunflowers consumed
225: Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson played on my iTunes and/or iPod
185: sent letters
145: received letters
66: days until I’m home in the great land of Lincoln
28: books read
26: packages
18: number of 8th grade students who can make you want to end it
6: inches that my bed is too short
3: number of dark chocolate bars I’ve had this week
2: days until I live in a babushka free zone
1: bottle of cooking oil I have yet to finish off


What a year worth of letters look like.

48 degrees overcast grey skies with on and off again drizzle. Much like the weather I arrived in. Oh how crazy it is to think that it has been a year since leaving home and coming to Ukraine. This week has been an up and down one but ended on a good note.

My classes this week were a little difficult and that just might be the understatement of the year. I was stressing because my vice principle was in the process of looking for a flat for me. I was hoping that I would find something by the 18th so I won’t have to deal with paying the current landlord/housemate another month’s rent.

On Wednesday, my vice principle had mentioned there was a flat that she wanted to show me that is near the school but wouldn’t be finished for another two weeks. She told me we will go look at it Thursday after school; Thursday comes and then she tells me maybe Friday or Monday. Thursday, I was frustrated to say the least thinking when and how is this ever going to happen. Friday I got to school to teach and after my second lesson, my vice principle tells me I will go look at a flat with my counterpart that is close to where I am currently living.

My counterpart showed me the flat it is very standard Ukrainian: entry way hall/room, small kitchen, closet, tiny bathroom and one big living/bedroom. To me this is the description of heaven. The woman who owes it currently only uses it a few times a week when she comes to work in Kivertsi. They are going to get it ready this weekend and hopefully by this Monday or Tuesday I’ll have moved in. As soon as it was officially a suitable place and that I could move in very soon, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted. Oh how I can’t wait to walk around my very own flat buck naked just because I can. (oh those will be some pictures to share).


I only wish I had a washing machine… from Kimberly. ‘I may have “gone green” but I’m still thinkin’ chocolate!’ from my mom.

Today I’m just hanging out and trying to get my stuff organized for the big move. Hopefully start reading Catch22 later today all curled up in my sleeping bag. Tomorrow I’ll head into Lutsk (near by city) to meet up with the local crew of volunteers for brunch and then get ready for this… a SALO FESTIVAL! Let me remind you that salo is straight pig fat. I can promise you some interesting tales from that. Then at 2pm we will all head over to the local library for our community wide English club. Has the makings to be a really fun day.

After being here a year, you would think that I would have all these great in depth thoughts about life. All I can really say is that old lessons are being relearned. I’m still learning new things but I can say that the more I learn the more I also realize I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. Here is to keeping an open mind and heart for another year in Ukraine. Growing is sometimes painful but always worth it in the end. Hope everyone at home is well. Know I think of you often and always love you.

Kate

The List:
Be fair.
Woosah… let it go.
Remember to smile.
A sense of humor can get you far.
Days are long, but years are short.
Listen closely, and think before you talk.
Patience is virtue and silence really is golden.
Give without limits, give without expectations.
What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
Most importantly for this experience, live like you are never leaving.


Myself and the bride to be Casey Graham(cracker)!! So exciting.

Almost forgot if me moving into my own flat is great news, I have even better news. My very good friend Casey will be getting married to one of the nicest guys I know Corey this coming Spring. She has asked me to stand in the wedding so I’m in the process of trying to get the money together to buy a ticket. Oh, how exciting this is. Congrats to them.

ten.ten.ten.

My favorite marsuka stop on the route toward Lviv. Spudnik inspired.(sorry pops it isn't level, took it quickly from a moving marsuka)

First and foremost, I wish Juanita R. Stone a very happy birthday. Grandma, I hope I’m as cool and interesting as you at 85 years young. No average old lady here, just one hell of a grandma. Be ready to go get tattoo when I’m home for Christmas.

Currently, I’m exhausted. My friends were here early in the week and I feel like I have been going nonstop since last Wednesday. This week school has been busy and also a little stressful. Yesterday, morning I got up to go into the nearby city to catch a two hour bus to another volunteer’s site. There were around 12 volunteers at a meeting to exchange ideas for teaching and English clubs; called a collaborative.

After another 2 hour bus ride north back home, I had dinner at TamTam (equivalent to Wal-Mart) with Terry, Melissa, and Jon. Later, Melissa and I headed back to her flat to hangout, eat some popcorn and watch a movie before falling asleep. This morning we lounged and watched ‘Into the Wild’ while waiting for Film Club at 2pm. At the library near the center of Lutsk, we viewed and discussed ‘Endless Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.’ It was a little confusing for the Ukrainians who attended but I think overall they enjoyed the film. I returned home a little after 6 o’clock.


Me being a cheeseball in front of the biggest church in Radehiv.

Right now I’m just trying to get stuff ready for another busy week. Tomorrow I’ll go into my lessons completely blind because one of the teachers wasn’t around to get instructions and the other teacher couldn’t located the book I was suppose to use. Mondays are also English club in my town and Ukrainian tutor session. Here's to a 'Manic Monday.' Oh how I'm going to 'wish it were a Sunday.'

Incoming mail is at an all-time low. Me sending it out isn’t at much faster pace. Right now I’m trying to save pennies where I can so I can have some money to do a little Christmas shopping before getting on the plane to the Land of Lincoln. As porky the pig would say ‘that’s all folks.’

Kate

Scariest Prediction of the Week: This winter is suppose to be the coldest Ukrainian winter in the last ‘1000 years’ (that’s how it was actually reported on the news).


Last letter of ABCs of Happiness; sign from Ashley's school (where the collaborative was).

'People universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. If you don't, you will leak away your innate contentment. It's easy enough to pray when you're in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainments.' - unknown

Elona, Alona, Alina, Ahhh!

North Central Cardinals in the house! Kelsey, Sarah and I on a drizzly day in Lviv.


The girls and I with our hottie soviet soldier/host at the password restaurant.


My favorite 6th form class. (please notice the Bears beat the Pack again this day, hope that holds true for the real second meeting).

Howdy all!! Sorry for the non-Sunday post. I have been quite busy this last week. Let me give you the run down.

Monday- Normal schedule at school. Ukrainian tutor for an hour. Evening English Club
at the library.

Tuesday- Another normal day at school. Read about the Bears win over the Pack, woot woot!!! Happy 57th Birthday to my pops. Announced that I’m coming home to Chilli for Christmas.

Wednesday- Morning classes before going to Lviv via marsukas and buses to meet up with Kelsey and Sarah (two NCC college friends).

Thursday- Exploring the city with major stops at a really cool restaurant with a Soviet theme where you have to say a password to get in and you take a shot as soon as you walk in the door. Later in the evening we watched a performance of Swan Lake at the Ballet and Opera House.

Friday- More sites: Castle Hill, Markets, and old but very cool Cemetery outside of the city center. Then in the evening headed to Zolochiv.

Saturday- Girl’s Weekend at my link mate’s (Kelsey) site (Zolochiv) where we had a book share and Mexican food cooking.

Sunday- The long trip back to Lutsk via marsukas, trams and buses. Hung out with the local Lutsk volunteers for dinner.

Monday- Sarah and Kelsey got to visit my school and teach some of my 6th and 7th grade formers before venturing back into Lutsk to check out another Castle.

So compared to my average week this was a pretty eventful one. Monday I had a really great day at school. I explained how the Chicago Bears were playing the Packers and the whole idea of a rivalry to my favorite 6th form class. It only came natural to select team names in a vocabulary competition that we use Bears and Packers. The battle of transportation vocabulary was intense but the Bears captured a 7-6 win over the packers. (Looks like it was a preview for what happened on Monday Night Football).

Getting to hanging with my college friends was really great. They were my first visitors and will be my only ones until the spring. I enjoyed showing them around and trying to share the average day of my Ukrainian life.

Girl’s weekend at my friend Kelsey’s place was awesome. There were seven volunteers and then my two friends. My visitors and I went to explore a castle Saturday afternoon because it was quite gorgeous after some rainy and drizzly days in Lviv. We traded books, art supplies, cooking ingredients and some other misc. stuff. It was a lot of fun because I got to see my PCV friend Shannon who I hadn’t seen since swearing in last December.

Overall, this past week was great, but I’m super worn out. So this week and weekend is going to be about relaxing and get things organized around my room. Hope everyone is having a great start to their autumn and that your weather is less dreary as mine.

One of the most challenging things of the week: keeping Alona, Alina, and Elona names straight in my 6th grade class. It probably doesn’t help that they sit in a row together.

Love and miss you all.

Kate

77 days until I land in Chicago!!


A very illegal photo of Swan Lake.


Super cool and old mural in a church near the center of Lviv.

Autumn Flower Day

Trapped beauty.


Soft landing.


Easter colors.

This past Friday was the day of Autumn Flowers. Each class at school makes a composition of flowers. Then they are all displayed in the foyer of the school. At 11:30, students gather to do different readings and performances with the theme of autumn. They then were dismissed at 12:15 for the day. The older students would be coming back at 7pm for a disco in the school’s sports hall. I haven’t yet been brave enough to experience one of those. I’m sure I will sometime this winter.


Pond on the south side of town.

The school week was a pretty average one. I did have some issues with my 8th grade class. They don’t seem to understand rule number one of respect. It is enough to make me want to throw something. I don’t which is probably the reason I have discovered gray hair #2 this week. Oh, what I’m giving of myself to do this experience. I will give them a few more chances before I just say screw and teach other classes who listen and actually want to learn.


'You talkin to me'

Yesterday, I had a great experience in the post office with two girls who work there, 20 & 23. I checked my mail: nothing. Then I went to the counter to buy some avion envelopes. One of the girls said, “you drink pivo…with man… in Kivertsi. Is that you boyfriend?” She was referring to my PCV/ clustermate Jon. He came to town this summer to hang out and grab a beer. Apparently, we were being watched. I said no. I tried to explain just a friend but I’m not too sure they believed me. Since it was a slow Saturday at the post office, they were asking me a billion questions. I told them I would walk home to grab a small photo album. I came back in the next 10 minutes; we probably talked for another half hour. I invited them to my English club tomorrow night. I guess I’ll have two more Ukrainians watching 30 Rock and Friends. Oh good times.


"hey guys! I got a halfa watermelon."

Thursday, I went into Lutsk to meet up with Jon and Melissa. While Jon was finishing up with classes, Melissa and I took the opportunity to browse the second hand stores. I scored a sweat pair of Nike sweat pants (I’m sure my mother along with Sarah Perrone is thrilled I owe yet another pair) for less than $2. When Jon finished we headed to a restaurant before we all headed back to our houses. I must say that borscht and other Ukrainian soup are really hitting the spot as the weather slowly drops. Oh and most importantly in this visit, I picked up ‘Eat Pray Love’ that Melissa grabbed for me from the Peace Corps office. So it is round number two for this book. I can’t wait to see the movie.

Well that is about it for this week. Hope everyone is great and your autumn is starting off as well as mine. Miss and love you all.

Kate


Jon takes getting his man mug very serious over a woman's glass.

Fresh Cut & Flames

Becky and I. I'm sporting the new curly look.

I don’t know if it is the fall weather but I’ve been in a great mood this past week. It is cool and sometimes rainy, but on the days it isn’t it is absolutely beautiful. The leaves are slowly starting to change color. Today, I thoroughly enjoyed my marsuka ride back from the nearby city while looking across a field with trees off in the distance as the sun went down. Beautiful.

This Saturday I went in to Lutsk (25 mins away city) to hang out with my local Volynska oblast volunteers. We celebrated the belated birthdays of Melissa and Katie. We were originally going to go to watch the local football team play but unfortunately we mixed up the dates and it was the night before. We didn’t let this dampen our mood. Still went to two of our favorite Ukrainian restaurants for dinner and drinks.

When we got back to Melissa’s apartment, we busted out the Cranium (thanks Tink). My team (Ashley, Jon and myself) won the first quick game. Soon after that game rapped up, we decided to just pick from the clues and have anyone shout out the answers. It was pretty entertaining at this point in the night. I just want to put out there that I think more cookies were consumed than alcoholic beverages.


Jay & Ashley doing their best Sears & Roebuck catalog impression.

This morning woke up early considering how late we stayed up the night before. For at least an hour Melissa, Ashley, Becky and I chatted in Melissa’s bedroom while others still slept in the living room. I don’t know if it is because I’m slap happy in the morning sometimes but we were just cracking up about the most random things. I haven’t belly laughed so hard in awhile. Eventually when people got up and moving, we made breakfast before people started heading out.

In the afternoon, Jon, Melissa and I headed to the city library to participate in a film club. My Ukrainian friend, Tanya, came in from Kivertsi for the first time to check it out. We watched ‘The Princess Bride’ for the most part the Ukrainians liked it; the best part of the movie for me is the little kid who is wearing Chicago Bears gear in the beginning of the story. After the club, I hit up Tamtam (Ukrainian Wal-Mart like store) before grabbing my stuff at Melissa’s flat and heading back to Kivertsi.

The weekend just capped off what was a really great week for me. My classes went pretty well this week. I actually feel like I’m getting through to my students and they are more interested this year. Also I had an awesome English club Monday evening. I had a group of 7 young women from ages 16 to 24. We pretty much decided this week that I’m going to bring magazines that I have read them and chat. They like to keep it more informal and just hangout instead of a really structured meeting like power points that I had done in the past. Hey less prep for me so I’m not going to argue about it.


Flame throwers/dancers in the center of Lutsk.

Oh, and my biggest news I got my hair did. I finally took the plug and let a Ukrainian cut my hair. One of my 11 form student’s moms has her own little salon. Well it is more like a one room little shop in the basement of the cultural building but none the less it was a pretty legit set up. The lady spoke just a little English. I made sure that before she started my student translated that I DIDN’T want Ukrainian bangs nor did I want a lot taking off. She trimmed it up and gave me some layer so my curls would lay better. Overall, it was a great experience for 20 UAH (Less than $4). I tipped 10 UAH and had to insist that she take it. I’m thinking next cut I might throw in money for some color.

So life is all good from Ukrainian. The middle of this week, I hit a spill of homesickness where I really just wanted a hug from someone. It is strange to think that if I don’t see another American, I can easily go a week or two without real human contact. But I loaded up this weekend when I was with my American crew. I hope everyone is well at home. Know that I love and miss you all.

Kate

PS Happy 11th month anniversary of being in Ukraine to me.

September.

September is a time of remembering. On September 11th, 2001, I was merely a freshmen going to my second period class when a friend mentioned something happening to the towers in New York. I can remember walking into a classroom watching the footage of the first smoking tower with Katie Couric’s voice in the back ground. That day lives were tragically lost. Forever on this date, I’ll keep the families and friends of all the victims in my prayers.

September is my favorite month. When I was a kid this was the time of year that I felt settled into the routine of school. The weather cools down as well as the humidity normally disappears. In high school, my Friday nights would be consumed with cheering as loud as possible at whatever high school field the battle was taking place at. Oh, how I miss football games and cheering on my teams: Grey Ghosts, Cardinals, and Da Bears.


In Ukraine, it is also the time of the year for alot of canning and jarring. This is apple compote in the making.

September is the best month to mow the yard (one of my favorite things to do). All you need is a pair of old shoes, crappy jeans, and a t-shirt. Leaves start to change colors on the trees. A drive up Route 6 is very beautiful as well as up 29 along the river. Sitting outside and watching leaves fall and blow by is great in late September.

September is my birthday month. I get to celebrate being one year older with family and friends. Birthdays have been quite hopping for me this year. I had a great time celebrating last weekend with Peace Corps friends. Then yesterday, was a teacher at school’s 55th birthday. That is at the age one can retire from teaching if desired and that means one big birthday bash. Next weekend is another two PCVs’ birthdays so there will be another get together while cheering at a local soccer game. My pops’ birthday will wrap up the month on the 28th with a big 57th birthday. Don’t worry dad you will remain 52 at least until you hit 60.


The large spread in the cafeteria for the big 55th bday party.

Currently it is sunny Sunday morning here in Kivertsi. I have enjoyed my bowl of cereal, read a little in my B-I-B-L-E (like the kid’s song), and now just rocking out to some Christian music as I update the ole blog. I need to get some lesson planning done for my classes tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll have my second meeting with my Ukrainian tutor. He was a friend of two previous volunteers in my town and will hopefully be able to help me step it up when it comes to my skills with this tough as nails language.


My 5 rules and Phone Jail that helps me keep my students in line.

I had some classes this week. My normal schedule will start tomorrow with 5th-11th forms. I will also make some guest appearances in the younger classes because they are so curious about the strange American that eats in the cafeteria unlike most of the other teachers. The classes I did have this week went surprisingly well. I’m excited about this new school year and plan to get more involved. As soon as the gym repairs are finished I want to start an afternoon sports club for girls. I also want to have two groups for English clubs as well as continue working with the town’s social program and putting on English club for people who are above 11th form.

Feel like I’m finally settling in, about time considering I have been here almost 11 months. Well I hope everyone is fabulous back in the states. Now that my summer traveling is over, I have more time to write letters especially during free periods at school. So keep those letters coming. Love you and miss you all.


An early Happy Birthday to my good friend Brianne "Maria" Parra. Hope you don't get to 'hammered' on Tuesday. Welcome to the 24 club.