T-2days: Operation Best Christmas Ever

Wearing Kevin's Hat at the New Year's tree in Lutsk.

Only two days now until I’m home in America. Last night at my flat, tomorrow morning I’m head to Lviv. I’ll stay in a hostel near the center and then Tuesday morning going to catch the trolley bus to the airport. I could have taken a really early bus Tuesday morning to Lviv, but don’t want to take any chances with missing my plane.

This week has been pretty eventful. Overall, classes went pretty well. However, my 11th formers were really rude and disrespectful to the point I just walked out of the class with ten minutes left. They can waste their time, but I’ll just go lesson plan in the teacher’s room if they are going to be like that. My counterpart had a talk with them. Hopefully in the new year, it will help with their bad behavior, but we will see.

Friday was the day my new site mate got here. Her name is Valerie and she will be teaching in school number 4. She is from Oregon and seems like a real cool chick. I’m really excited to have someone right in town to do programs with as well as just hangout. I also got to meet one of her link mates who lives just north of Kivertsi. So far group 40ers are a fun bunch.

On Friday night, I had a nice dinner party to welcome Val to the group. 5 Peace Corps Volunteers and 2 Ukrainians in attendance. It was a lot of fun and hopefully will be having more and more of them in the coming New Year. The funniest moment of the night came when I asked people’s opinions on how much they thought my bag weighed. The two American guy PCVs picked it up said it was heavy, but thinks it is right at 50lbs. Dima, the Ukrainian, picks it up and confidently says, I could fit two more bottles of vodka. Oh, too funny.

The party was over around 9ish because some of us had to help Saturday morning with the Olympiad (country wide English competition). My school hosted it for the Kivertsi District. Val came with her counterpart as well as other English teachers. It is a lot of fun to be around other Kivertsi English teachers. They were very interested in asking g questions to Val and I think she had a good time getting to know them. After the competition, we were invited out to a local restaurant with six of the teachers.

It was interesting to see how Ukrainians deal with a vegetarian (Val). They were like do you eat a little meat, is fish ok, will you eat it if it has a little chicken. Glad I’m a meat eater. So we probably spent almost 2 and half hours there, and three bottles of vodka. After bottle #1 and #2, Val and I would looked at each other and would be like yes we are done, and then magically another one would appear out of someone’s purse. Oh, Ukraine.

Then as we were leaving live music was getting ready to start to play and they asked us if we wanted to stay longer to dance. Afraid of the possibility of more vodka, the two Americans graciously declined. But we are planning to do a once of month, English Teacher Tea Evening. One teacher was like we should do it on Fridays so we can dance…I’m guessing tea won’t be the only beverage if that is the day we settle on.

This dinner was one of the most relaxed and enjoyable dinners that I’ve had in a long time here. I’m guessing because everyone at the table spoke one common language, and the fact that there were many toasts to Ukrainians and Americans being friends, love, tall men (me), to health, and pass that I can’t remember. Haha.

Friday was my year mark at being at site. I think it is appropriate that I can now take a vacation home. It has been 14 months since I last stepped foot in the U.S. I wonder if “freedom” still tastes the same? (as bored PCVs we come up with the most ridiculous sayings here, please don’t judge). Please pray for safe and smooth travel home for me. See you all very very soon. Merry Christmas world!

Kate

PS As my pops would say, “Remember Jesus is the reason for the season.” Do something Jesus like every day regardless if it is the holiday season.



Terry, Dima, Dominic, Tanya, Val, and Melissa eating deliciousness.

Barefoot in Snow

Everyone celebrates Christmas just on different days.

The title of this blog was inspired by a man that lives near my school. Today after 5th lesson, I was walking home and noticed a man walking to his mail box BAREFOOT in the snow!!!!! With how Ukrainians won’t open a window on a boiling summer day, because wind will make people sick,this scene has boggled my mind. The only thing I can come up with to explain it is that there must have been vodka involved in his early afternoon routine.

Hmmm…what to share about the last week? Throughout the whole week, I’ve had Ukrainians in and out of my flat working on my flat. It was a five day process to get it fixed properly. First guy couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t work. The next guy fixed it and it was super warm in my flat. Third guy said that he could fix it, but didn’t have the right part. It wasn’t until Friday that it was fixed and set at a normal level. It is still a little chilly in my flat. I’m writing you while wearing the following: tank top, long sleeve shirt, turtle neck sweater, vest, long johns, sweat pants, and wool socks. Oh, I can’t wait to be wearing a normal amount of clothes and feeling warm, 8 days.

Last week at school, I was barely hanging on. Classes that are normally pretty good were on my last nerve; chatty, lazy and disrespectful. At one point, I quietly sat down and stopped teaching. Eventually, they could see that I was pissed. Eventually when they finally stopped talking, I went over to the board and wrote 4,000km (not quite sure if that is the right distance). Then I asked them if they loved their families. They were like yes. I followed it with do you think I love my family. They again replied yes. I went on to explain that I’m far from my family, volunteering, not getting paid to teach them. I think they were surprised to hear that I don’t make money for teaching them, but it didn’t really hit home because 5 minutes later they were up to the same antics. That is pretty much a good summary of how my week at school went.

On Friday, Lutsk received a volunteer from TEFL group 39. Dominic will be teaching at gymnasium in the city. He is from Indiana, has a good sense of humor, well read, and seems like he will fit right in with the Volynska Peace Corps crew. We went to dinner on Friday night to welcome him to the area. Then on Sunday, he joined us at the Windows on America community English Club for a presentation and discussion about Christmas. The highlight or maybe I should call it the lowlight was the five American volunteers singing the 12 days of Christmas while slowly remembering the correct lines. The Ukrainians who attended were nice enough to applaud after we finished.

After going to diner with the crew, I headed over to the local internet café. This is where boys from the age of 8 to 30+ congregate to play “Counter Strike” probably one of the most popular and violent of video games in Ukraine. The battled each other online while taunting each other from each little computer stations. I go to use the faster connection to Skype. This week I got to chat with my sister, brother in law and nephew. At one point, I was distracted when I thought two junior higher were going to fist fight. Oh, good times. Any who, I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with them for over an hour. Leo is growing so fast. I can’t wait to be properly introduced to him. I’m so excited!

But as for right now, I’m just trying to take it day by day until this week is over (4 more if you were wondering). Just have to survive the 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th forms and I will be home bound. Here is to this week flying by. Miss you, love you and see you all real soon!!

Kate

Funny moment of the week: I was talking to my linkmate Shannon, who lives four oblasts away from me, on the phone. She was walking back to her flat in the evening (pitch black after 4pm you know) after working out at a gym in her town. She was telling me how shady the area that she was walking through looked and saying that she had never been that way. She then stated “this is like straight out of one of the safety videos Peace Corps shows us. Then they ask the group ‘What were the three things Shannon did wrong?’” Oh, how Shannon makes me laugh even if she is KMs away.



Jon, Ashley and Melissa looking super excited for Christmas carols that we had never heard of.

Honor Defended

One of the churches in the V.V.

Funny Moment of the Week: On Monday leaving school some boys were playing outside in the snow throwing snowballs at each other. One kid ran up to me and handed me a big chunk of snow. They were trying to show how to throw snow balls like I’ve never done it before. I wanted to get in on the action, but I could predict it getting way too out of hand and me being a target the rest of the winter. So I told them I didn’t want to play. One kid who is a sweet kid softly tossed a snow ball at me, after I had said I didn’t want to play. Immediately, the kid gets pegged by three of the other boys yelling at him, “Miss Kate didn’t want to play.” Oh having my honor defended by 5th grade boys; too funny.

As you can see from above the cold weather is here. It is sad to think that it probably won’t be until March when I see the ground again. Oh, how I never thought going home to Illinois for Christmas would be a winter getaway, but it is true for this year.

School this week was interesting to say the least. On Tuesday, I found out that my Vice Principle who is my go to person is retiring from working at school, because in the recent elections she was voted to some position in the city government. Most likely another teacher will resume her role; so having a high up who speaks English won’t be something I can benefit from anymore. My schedule will change. Teaching more classes with my counterpart and I’m sure times of classes will be switched around as well. Oh, how one week is never like the last.


Frosty, frosty tree.

Thursday was a big day for me. I headed into Lutsk to meet up with my PCV friend Melissa to do some Christmas shopping and to grab some coffee/hot chocolate. I got some great presents that I’m super excited about. The ladies who work at this Ukrainian gift shop had to have been entertained by Melissa and I. The ride home was interesting because I was on one of the most packed marsukas I’ve ever been on while carrying fragile gifts. At one point, I was holding onto my book bag like it was a million dollars and depended on the other people pushing so much on me to hold me up right when the crazy marsuka driver swerved all around the icy road. Marsuka surfing = good time. I suggest you do it without fragile items though.

I got back into town just in time to have dinner with my Ukrainian friend Tanya. Her mom is a fabulous cook and despite my horrible Ukrainian and her lack of English loves to have me over. She kept asking me about American parties and couldn’t believe people don’t drink vodka like Ukrainians do. We had some pretty entertaining conversation over the meal (potato/meat pancake hash brown like things and potato mushroom soup). Super, super delicious.


Melissa and I trying to stay warm on the way to English Club.

Friday after school, I headed to V.V. to hang out with Allison and Aidan. My favorite pizza in Ukrainian is from a place in their town. So we met up for dinner and drinks. Nice to spend some time with those guys because I’ll be going home for Christmas and they are headed to Egypt with a group of volunteers. We got back to Allison’s place and our jeans were soaked from pushing each other in the snow and tromping through it so we all took off our pants to put over the radiator with the intention of going over to another café. Sitting on Allison’s kitchen floor in our long johns was such a good time we spend stayed in the rest of the night.

In the morning, we did our share of file sharing. I can now say that I finally know what Jersey Shore is from personally watching it. Can’t say that I’m too impressed. I’m so embarrassed in what gains huge popularity in the U.S. But I’m sure as a run out of “The Office” and “30Rock”, I’ll finish off the seasons of it in the boredom of the freezing Ukrainian winter that I have in front of me. Also got some new books from them as well which I’m excited about. It is always good to be stocked on things to entertain yourself with because you never know when the weather is going to be so bitter cold that you don’t want to go anywhere.


Long walk home with hands in pockets.

Eventually, I got myself down to the bus station and caught a bus back to Lutsk. I was late for a dinner party that Melissa was having at her flat, but was still able to meet her Ukrainian friends and enjoy her delicious cooking. Yum!! Melissa is by far the best PCV cook. I like everything that she cooks and I am completely satisfied that I’m sort of thinking that it wouldn’t be that hard to be a vegetarian… maybe when I get home.

The next morning, we slept in and eventually had left overs for breakfast. Then in the afternoon headed to the community English Club for a presentation about AIDS since the 1st was AIDS Awareness Day. We have an old Ukrainian man that comes to this club and sometimes makes things really awkward with his statements. This week he eventually had to get going and as he was putting his coat on when stating, “The US should stop with its arms race and find a cure for AIDS.” Ummm, ok. After he left, we had some more meaningful discussion with the rest of the group. Overall, I would say it was productive.

Well I have 15 days until the land of Lincoln and couldn’t be more excited about it. Can’t wait to walk on sidewalks that don’t threaten my life, seeing Leo (& the rest of my family and friends), and American food. Hope everyone is well and staying warm. Miss and love you all.

Kate

Happy Chicken Day

Clustermate Laura, Becky, Melissa, Terry and Clustermate Jon gathered around the table for a Volynska Oblast Thanksgiving.

Greetings on a snowy Ukrainian night. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. I was able to celebrate with five fellow volunteers. Our Thanksgiving wasn’t the most traditional with eating chicken, but we did have some festive dishes like mashed taters, stuffing, and the oh so delicious pumpkin pie as well as pumpkin koshi. My contribution to the dinner was a cold vegetable pasta salad. It was alright, but I thoroughly enjoyed the stuffing for the first thanksgiving in my life. I think I was always freaked out by the idea of the stuffing, but I was actually in the kitchen while it was being prepared and thought I should try it. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!!


With my presence there is a good chance of being entertained (the wine helps with that as well).

This week was a short week of school because Peace Corps gave all the volunteers Thursday off and my school being generous also told me to take Friday as well so it has been a long weekend. Very relaxing. Read two books and working on the third. Also I watched a lot of new movies this week. I borrowed some from the ‘Windows on America’ (English library at the normal library sponsored by USAid). One that I have absolutely falling in love with is “The Apartment,” the 1960 Best Picture with Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon. I’m pretty sure it has entered my top 5 favorites. When I get home I definitely need to track down the old movie poster for my wall.

So besides Thanksgiving with the crew, nothing else has been too exciting. I’m a week closer coming to home at 23 days. It seems like forever ago that it was over 100 days until home. I have a very organized calendar for my visit home. Just trying to fit in seeing all of people that are ‘near and dear’ (one of the many strange phrases I have picked up from English speaking Ukrainians).


And winter has arrived...God help me!

Sorry for a short blog; I’ll try to make it more exciting next week. But before signing off, I want to congratulate the North Central football team. They are in the “elite eight,” if you will, of the division three playoffs. Go cards!!

Hope everyone has a great Sunday. See you all very, very soon. Oh, I can't wait. Miss and love you all.

Kate

25 Feathers on My Bird

This week I’ve been making hand “I’m thankful for…” turkeys with my students to share the traditions of Thanksgiving. A lot of the kids put their parents, grandparents, and pets. Some kids put things like their football (soccer ball), computer, etc. I got thinking if I really did one for myself what would my feathers be. Since this year Turkey Day falls on the 25th , I thought that 25 sounds like a good amount of feathers. So here I go the 25 things I’m thankful for this year in Ukraine (in no particular order):

1.My health.

2.Oreos arriving in Ukraine.

3.Awesome fellow PCVs.

4.My own baba-free Ukrainian flat.

5.The almost weekly letters I get from my dad about gas prices, weather, what he had for lunch or who he saw at church.

6.Becoming an aunt to the cutest Leo ever born.

7.My dysfunctional but fun and supportive family.

8.Having a four day weekend to celebrate turkey day.

9.The ability to communicate over the internet with people back home.

10.The ticket my sister bought me to come home for Christmas.

11.The fact that I’m 1 of 8,719 Peace Corps Volunteers.

12.Vitalik, a 6th former who was the biggest trouble maker last year who now is super interested in participating in class even if he isn’t very strong in English.

13.The jar of Skippy peanut butter sitting in my kitchen cupboard.

14.The lunch ladies at my school who are always nice to me and use the endearing ending on my name that means they like me.

15.Being an American and having opportunities that not every person in the world has.

16.Having Kimberly as my Peace Corps Guru.

17.The rest of the mail I get.

18.“Our Daily Bread” that my Grandma Schmidt sends to me every 3 months.

19.Kivertsi getting another volunteer in a couple of weeks at another school.

20.Slower pace of my Ukrainian life.

21.My cooking abilities slowly improving.

22.My huge ‘inner’ circle of amazing friends.

23.Having 4 non teacher, non student Ukrainian friends in Kivertsi.

24.The fact that Eat, Pray, Love has been released and I’ll get to watch it at Christmas with my sister.

25.Being blessed by God with a great life.

Ukraine Has Been Invaded

Over the last month, Oreos have been spotted all over the country of Ukraine; information gathered from face book statuses.

Past Week in Blurts

School is still crazy. Even more crazy when kids try to change into their gym clothes while you are still in the classroom. Makes for real awkward moments. Tutoring is a lot of fun. 9th and 10th form girls really seem to enjoy it as well as slowly improve. Also I’m falling more in love with 6th B and 5TH A. I absolutely love teaching those classes. Only wish I felt as strongly about some of the other not so awesome 45 minutes, I spend in front of a class.

Thursday, reconnected with two friends of the former PCV in my town. The two girls and I went to a local pub/pool hall/restaurant/strip club (only on Saturday nights). Again, we went on THURSDAY evening to catch up over a beer and talk about life. The funniest part of the conversation was about their ‘men of interest.’ Oh, how people like to talk to big mama about their love problems.


If you look really close you can see a huge mound of beets! Dwight from “The Office” would be very impressed (they are partially being covered by blue tarps).

Saturday was an official cleaning day. Did a good amount of laundry by hand as well as gave the kitchen a good scrub. I still haven’t figured it out why in some cultures people sweep their floors with a broom that doesn’t have a long hand. Really how much more expensive can a stick be so you don’t have to hunch over. Some things I will never understand.

Sunday, I went into the nearby city to help out with English club. It was a non-film day; we discussed Thanksgiving while enjoying pumpkin pie, ginger snaps, and Ukrainian cakes. Oh, and over coarse it goes without saying over a couple of tea. After, the American convey (myself and the 3 other PCVs closest to me) went out with a group of Ukrainians that had attended the club for dinner.

The Three Most Interesting Sidewalk Sightings of the Week

1.I was walking to English club and noticed that a person had fallen and was lying on the ground at the corner on the opposite side of the street from me. I thought “Oh my gosh, an old babushka.” It reassured me that a man had taken her arm and was trying to help her up. As I approached, I was surprised to discover that it wasn’t a woman, but a huge dog. Literally, this dog was the size of a person. It was lying on its back wanting its belly to be rubbed. Meanwhile, the man is yelling at the dog to get up and yanking at its collar with no success of budging the dog.


Weeding through all of the mail that has been sent to me throughout my time here. I’m going to bring the keepers home with me.

2.Walking home from the Thursday market, I saw probably the most dangerous mode of transportation. An old man probably in his late 60s early 70s was riding his bike. Normally, in a small town like the one I leave in I wouldn’t categorize this as a dangerous way of getting around if it weren’t for one small or big reason. The man had a circular saw blade the size of a bike wheel through his handle bars. So if for whatever reason, he stopped quickly or God forbid his chain broke his face, chest, even neck would be the first thing to be sliced. Oh, Ukrainians…

3.Sunday, I had gotten off the marsuka at a stop to then get on a city bus to make it to the library for English club. Normally, I can wait anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes at the bus stop. Getting off the bus, I noticed that two dogs were tail to tail. I thought that’s sort of funny, but didn’t really think much of it. Then with my back to them as I faced the street waiting to spot my bus, I heard one of the dogs whimpering. I glanced over my shoulder to see the dog trying to pull away from the other dog still tail to tail. My first thought was “Did some cruel person tie the dogs tails together?” Then watching for a few more seconds it became very clear what was going on; let’s just say somehow in their ‘love making process’ they became stuck together and this was no longer a good time for the shorter male dog.

Well that’s about it for this week. 29 days until home and couldn’t be more excited about it. Miss you and love you all.

Kate

Wish I Had Jugs

The title of this blog is inspired by this photo.

Today was a good day. I went into Lutsk for the 2 o’clock film club at the local library. We watched ‘The Break Up’ as a group and then discussed. I still can’t believe they actually don’t end up together in the end. I originally saw the movie in the theatre with my mom. It the end of the movie I was teary and said, “I can’t believe they didn’t get back together.” My mom replied with something like “hello Kate it was in the title.” I choose to see the ending as them having the possibility of them getting back together because of the way they turned and looked at each other in the end. Yes, I know I’m a hopeless romantic. You can see this from my most watched movies are the following: ‘The Break Up,’ ‘Under the Tuscan Sun,’ and ‘Hope Floats.’ But don’t worry I get weekly injections for it.

After English Club, I went over to the local internet café. I had arranged Skype dates with Bre and my sister. Bre enjoying sleep like she does slept a little late but it was good because I got to catch up on some videos about North Central athletics. Eventually, Bre got on. Oh, how her inappropriate comments crack me up. I’m just glad I had a headset on; regardless I don’t think the smelly teenage Ukrainian boys who filled the café playing ‘Counterstrike’ probably would have understood.

Eventually, Bre and I’s time was up which meant talking to my sister. Oh, how good it is to see a familiar face. Crazy to think how communication has changed since when my parents were my age. I saw an interesting comment on another PCV’s face book page. To preference it, first understand that as volunteers of the 21st century, we get a lot of comments about how Peace Corps was so much harder back in the day and how we have endless luxuries. I agree it is obviously different but I would just argue that there are different hardships. Any who, she has been posting something she is thankful every day for the entire month of November and this particular day the comment was “Thankful for skype....for all the old PCVs who say Peace Corps isn’t like it was in the 70's, yea well you guys also had weed :p.”


Yum, yum a pile of hot cakes!!!

Anyways, chatting with Tobey was great. Got my flight all worked out so I can attend the induction of my basketball team from senior year into the IVC Sports Hall of Fame. I know someone is probably thinking big deal, but being a part of that team especially with the girls that I had grown up playing with will forever remain as a very fond memory. Also talked about plans for Christmas, but the best part was getting to see Leo on video chat. I don’t know who enjoyed it more we both were talking and making faces in the camera. Oh, how I can’t wait to see him again.

This week I started tutoring two girls: 10th and 11th form. They come to my flat after school and I prepare a power point about a topic that is likely to come up in the “Olympiad” which is a country wide competition for skills in English. I pose questions on the topic, and then have them both answer before giving examples of how to create more interesting sentence structures. I also give them home tasks of responding to creative writing prompts. The last one: you are heading into Lutsk on a normal Friday afternoon after school has let out. You are riding along and then suddenly…! Hopefully their responses are creative and funny. We will see.

Friday, I had Jon (my clustermate) over for breakfast dinner. I made delicious pancakes from scratch, because Bisquick doesn’t exist in this country. Even though much of the things, I’ve been cooking lately are breakfast foods I am pretty proud of myself considering I don’t have much experience in the kitchen. Tomorrow, this will continue when I make a mushroom pasta sauce, pasta, and garlic bread for my English teachers who I have invited to come over for a late lunch or early dinner depending on how you look at it. I just hope that they bring wine and not vodka. Things can get crazy with Ukrainians real quick. I’m hoping I have the out since I have to tutor at 5pm. But you never know if you’re safe or not.


One of the few things I've purchased so I can play Santa properly when I go home.

Well that is about it to report from the week. Just been trying to keep things low key so I can save money for Christmas presents. It is hard to buy on budget and remember how much space I have with only taking one piece of luggage home as well as every time I got out I see something I want to buy for Leo. I just can’t help it buying for a cutie is so much easier than picking out something for my 21 year old (love you Kevin). Hope everyone is well and that your autumn to winter weather has been as nice as mine. Miss you and love you all. See you in only 37 days!!! Oh, how I can’t wait!!!!!!!!!

Kate

PS Funny moment of the week:
I answered, "No, not really. I guess I'm just excited about Christmas" when her counterpart asked, "Are there any changes in your personal life? (while she winked two inches away from my face) Your eyes look sparkling." I guess my counterpart things I’m taken advantage of having my own flat. I only wish it were true. Oh, good times in the Teacher’s Room.