Listen to Teddy...

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."- Teddy Roosevelt

Well last week was my first full week back at school. It actually went smoother than I initially thought it would. I got a new schedule for this term, because there is a new teacher for the younger students (2nd-4th form). I must say that I love my new schedule. Mondays and Fridays are light and the middle of the week I have more classes which makes the cold walk across actually seem worth it.

On Friday, I got to teach the 4th graders. They are super fun, because they are just so excited for me to be in their class. They asked the teacher if I was going to be teaching them when I first walked in the room and when she answered yes they all started screaming while jumping up and down. It is one way to be greeted warmly.

The cutest thing happened after I finished co-teaching the lesson. A little girl came up to me and asked if I knew something. I could understand the “did you know” in Ukrainian, but I was confused with what. I asked the new teacher and she told me that the little girl was asking if you know her grandmother (by name). I told her I didn’t think so. Then the girl said “but she lives in America you don’t know her?” I said sorry that America is a big country. “I thought you would know her,” the girl disappointedly responded.



One of the thousand of icicles around town. It gets a little warm and then really cold the next minute. The sidewalks are like bumpy ice skating rinks.

Another funny and not so brilliant on my part was when I went into teach my 10th form class. As I walked in the student greeted me with the normal “good morning teacher.” Then as I’m making my way across to the desk that is in the corner everyone (literally everyone) was staring at my crotch. Apparently, when I was in a hurry this morning I had tucked in my shirt, belted my belt, but forgot to close the barn down. Oh good times! Forgetting doesn’t really surprise me that much as the fact I walked all the way to school in freezing temperature and didn’t notice a draft.

Speaking of freezing temperature, the weather is cold as you would guess. The think the part that is driving me a bit crazy is that one day it will be freezing cold and the next day decently warm for Ukrainian winter. The problem is that the ice/snow will melt a little, but then refreeze which makes the town like one big lumpy ice skating rink. I’m so glad my pops sent me yak tracks. They truly make a world of difference. The teachers at my school think they are great idea. Maybe, I could make a little money on the side marking up the price by $10 and reselling. Too bad the shipping costs would be ridiculous.



Val (my new PCV sitemate) and our first attempt at Spanish rice.

Friday, I hit a new mile stone. I’m in the 200 letter club (I’m the founder). I sent #199 and #200 to my dad and Kimberly. Then #201 just went out today to the lovely Sandra Christ formerly known Wischmeyer forever known as “Swimmer.” Wonder if I’ll make it to the 300 hundred mark by the time I COS. I would say there is a good chance of it. And for my 201 sent, I’ve received 170. So my great family and friends please keep the letters coming. My mailbox loves the lovin’!

Well this week is going to be short teaching week. I have four lessons tomorrow and then in the evening catch an overnight train to Kiev. Woohoo for mid-service medical checkup. I’ll be there until Friday morning when I arrive back to my town by another overnight train. Alright hope everyone at home is happy and warm. I hear Illinois might get a lot of snow dumped on her. Now before anyone shovels go for a 30 minute walk when it is windy and you will know what every morning is like for me. Miss and love you all.

Kate



WARNING: Don't sleep on wet curly hair...this is what you will look like in the morning.

Colder Than a Bucket Bath

Convincing other PCVs that jumpin' in is a good idea.

Howdy all! Oh how the last week has been an eventful one. Tuesday morning, I headed to a Soviet Retreat to study Ukrainian for week. There were around 55 PCVs in attendance and many Ukrainian Peace Corps Staff. Each day we had numerous sessions about different topics as well in different groups.

It was great fun; because I got to see a lot of PCV friends I hadn’t seen in awhile as well as meet new people. I tried to change it up with people I would sit with at meals to really be a social butterfly. On Wednesday evening after dinner, I got back to the dorm we were staying in to hear about people who wanted to go jump in the river. It didn’t take much convincing and I was in thin long underwear ready to get my polar bearness on.


Me sprinting for the shore for a towel post polar bear dip. Coldest thing ever!

We all gathered outside. Took some before photos and then walked down to the river. The river was frozen accept for a little sliver right at the bank that was only a foot deep. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t about to roll around and get all sandy in freezing water. If I’m going to do a polar bear dip/dive I’m going all out.

While everyone was watching the crazies roll around in the little open water, I had my eyes set on a fishing hole square that had been cut in the ice. I took my coat off and then went out on the ice slowly. In my “expert” opinion (after jumping up and down on the ice a few times), I was convinced there was no danger, I started to persuade people to come out and jump into the little hole.

My beloved cluster mate, Laura, was the first to take the plunge. It was sort of funny, because she was in all white long underwear and looked as if she was coming to be baptized. This started the jokes of me saving the souls of the sinful Ukrainian PCVs’ souls. Around 10 PCVs took the leap of faith. I was the last to jump in. I asked from a countdown from 10 in English for the group. It was around “4” that I thought “what the F am I doing,” but the peer pressure worked as I jumped in screamin’ at the top of my lungs.


Story time with yours truly.

I had ice baths up to my knee/thigh in college, but this was by far the coldest thing I have ever experience. After my head broke the service, I started doggy paddling thinking swim to the shore and get out. My good friend, Kelsey was yelling at me to grab her to be pulled out. Oh how the shock of it caught me off guard. Overall, I would say all PCVs should take a polar bear dip once in their service. (keep an eye out for a video to be posted on facebook)

I was surprised with how much I enjoyed the language refresher, but eventually Friday morning rolled around and it was time to pack up. Peace Corps had hired a small marsuka to take us to Lutsk since there were a decent amount of us. I grabbed a 107 back to Kivertsi to have some down time before our collaborative meeting on Saturday.


Dana, Maggie, Theodora, LCF Katia, Me and Emily. The group I studied UKR with.

Saturday morning, I was slow to rise with it being so freezing in my flat (heat not working again). Eventually got moving met up with Val and Ben (closest and newest PCVs to me) and we jumped a marsuka to the University in Lutsk. There gathered around 24 PCVs from my oblast and two boarding ones.Collaborative meeting is to share and discuss information about all different topics that are relevant to youth development, community development and TEFL volunteers. It is also nice to get to meet a lot of new people. (PC Ukraine brings two groups of volunteers a year; they get placed to their site in Dec. & May) So this last bunch of volunteers just got to their sites before American Christmas.

The meeting went really well. After we broke off in two groups, one headed to a pizza place while the group I was in hit up a Chinese restaurant a little further from the center. After dinner, I headed back to Kivertsi. Once at home, Melissa and I got talking on the phone about how we were losers and thinking of going to bed really earlier. We settled on it would be more fun if she came to Kivertsi to chat, watch Toy Story 3 and spend the night. It ended up being true. We hung out until late last night, made a small breakfast this morning before she headed back into Lutsk.


The snowy drive back to Lutsk. We had a brief warm spell; waiting for April weather now.

Now I’m just jamming out to my Christian worship music and waiting for my Ukrainian friend Tanya to call me, because I’m suppose to go over to her house for dinner. Oh, how I love her mother’s home cooking. I’m also going to put some “Friends” episodes onto her new desktop computer. Then later tonight, I plan on screaming at my computer screen while watching the digital updates of the Bears Packer game. GO BEARS!

Well I hope everyone at home is well and warm. It is strange to think just a little over a week ago I was in America. I’m sure these next months until the fall will fly, so I’m trying to absorb as much of this experience I can. Really lucked out to be 1 of 404 American Peace Corps volunteers in Ukraine. Miss and love you all.

Kate

"Dude You're Going to Have to Push Me"

Me, Merc, and Elite 8 Team.

It is Sunday morning here in the lovely Kivertsi, Ukraine. A cloudy winter day, but relatively warm compared to last winter at this time with a high of 34 F. I just got done taking my first bucket bath of 2011. It isn’t so much that I mind the bucket bathing process as how cold I feel when doing it. Luckily the temperature in my flat isn’t that bad compared to how chilly it was when I left to visit home.

Anyways, I’m back. The flights here weren’t bad at all. I realized that I prefer to have a window sit so I can prop my head against the window. The flight from Chicago to Warsaw I was on the aisle and the head rest didn’t pull up which ended up in me not being able to nap that much which was frustrating. But my connecting flight from Warsaw to Lviv had the adjustable head rest which meant I fell asleep before takeoff. I did however think the plane was crashing when I woke up surprised to have slept through the whole flight and was startled by the landing.


Me and Swimmer shopping on State St. down town.

I got my bag, grabbed a quick taxi to the outer bus station, bought a ticket and the bus departed less than 15 minutes later. Again, fell asleep on and off on the 3 hour bus ride back to Lutsk. Arrived to Lutsk around 6:30ish hopped bus 15 to Melissa’s part of town. Melissa greeted me with a big hug, warm bowl of soup and delicious biscuits. Glad I made the stopover in Lutsk I think coming back to a cold, empty flat would have been a bit depressing.

I went to bed a little before midnight and slept straight through until 10am. When Melissa started talking to me to wake me up, I was a tad confused to why my sister was at my dad’s house waking me up. Oh, wait I’m back in Ukraine. We might up with Val, my new site mate, and then headed to the center to meet up with the boys. We all enjoyed catching up over tasty Ukrainian cuisine.


Rockin'Out in Da Bears Apparel.


After we headed back to Melissa’s place, Val was nice enough to help me get all my bags back to my site. We probably stood at the marsuka stop for thirty minutes. The 103 came but since it was decently full and stops on the other side of the stairs in town I opted to wait for the 107. Around 10 minutes later a 107 comes along. It was so full and saw us standing there with my huge bags that it didn’t even stop. Then probably another 15 to 20 minutes another 107 comes along.

The driver motioned for us to go to the back door. So imagine me with my close to 50lbs hiking back pack on stepping up two feet to get on to the back of a very, very crowded bus. There was only one handle that was on my left side. I tried to hoist myself up, but only get half way there. I would run out of umpf to make it. I turned back to Val and was like “dude you are going to have to push me.” With a little help from my friend, I made it on. Since I still had my back pack on, it didn’t allow much room for Val to get on. I’m knocking into people and apologizing, but people at the back of the bus didn’t seem too phased by it all. I only wish I had moments like those on video.


Tob and I getting down with Kinect, oh how crazy technology is.

I got back to my flat. Unpacked my bags while visiting with Val. We made an easy dinner and she peaced around 6ish because I was so tired. I got a second wind around 8 then couldn’t fall asleep until 1am. Woke up around 9am, cooked eggs for breakfast, took a bucket bath, now just chilling until Val comes over. It isn’t even noon and I’m already for a nap. We are going to run some errands are town and maybe watch a movie later in the afternoon.

Tomorrow, I’ll swing by school to say hello, but then Tuesday morning I’ll head to a nearby town until Friday for a language refresher with my local volunteers. It is nice not to be thrown straight back to the wolves (Ukrainian school children). Hopefully I will easily transition back into my Ukrainian life.


Can a kid get any cute than this, I think not!

It is so crazy how you board a plane, ride for however many hours and then you step off in a completely different world. I had a great three weeks at home. It was a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster, but none the less a good time. Seeing my family and friends was definitely the best part of it all. But here are the high and low lights of the trip for me.

Some of the many highlights:
Leo Walker (the cutest little man to ever exist), taking funny photos with my brothers and sister, laughs in my sister’s theater, seeing all the high school teammates, Cherry Lounge, shots with RA crew, driving, mini chocolate doughnuts, Mexican food with Pat and Swimmer, and really just all the small moments of hanging out with family and friends.


Fun morning of taking random photos with Kevin, me posing at the old railroad station in Chilli.

Few of the low lights:
The Bears lost, not getting to see Theran, not having enough time to visit everyone the amount I wanted to, and having to board a plane knowing it will be around 11 months until I’m home again.

Well I’m going to hang with Val this afternoon and probably nap a little too. Hope everyone is well. I had a great visit in America. Thanks for making it special. Here is to a great 2011 in Ukraine for me and in America for you. Love and miss you all.

Kate

(Sorry really too tired to proofread might do it at a later date; still a little jet lagged right now)

The Thoughts in My Head

Best way to start the day: Mr.LW and Titka Katya time.

2:25am. I should go to bed, but have lots to say. Glad to be home yet at the same time overwhelmed. Sometimes in a good way. Sometimes in a bad way.

Cottage cheese is better than I remember. Underwear out of the dryer are so soft. I love DA BEARS more than I thought. It is nice to 'realize to read' again. Love being small town and bumping into people around town and they welcome me back.

There are a shit ton of kinds of toothpaste. Seems like overkill. Walmart: minor freak out. Babies don't stay babies for long. People still laugh the same. The Schmidt kids do the best photo shoots: quick look Ukrainian. M&M and theater gift card is an awesome white elephant gift.

Beating someone off the line at a stoplight is priceless. Rubber chocolate doughnuts are and will always be my favorite. American beds were made for me. I should be beat for my hot water consumption, but I finally feel clean.

I love having alot of tennis shoe options. Beer tastes so good. And I have no desire to drink any of the 4.5 liters of vodka that I illegally brought into America. I wake up and don't know where I am. Touch phones are too advanced for me (sorry if you accidentally get called). When a baby reaches their arms out for you, there isn't quite a feeling like it.

First week has been a good one dispite not feeling caught up on sleep. Hope the days slow down a little, but excited to see more important friends and family in my life. Keep lookin' up. Chicago get ready because here Schmidty comes!

Kate

(my dad's computer doesn't have spell check sorry for the mistakes)

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