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.

Номер двадцять чотири (Number 24)

Just some of the mail I got this week.

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday dear meeeee, Happy birthday to me!!! I am officially 24 years old. Don’t necessarily feel it. I can say with confidence that I’ll always be young at heart, or at the very least inappropriate.

So this is how my birthday week went:

Monday & Tuesday:

Last official summer days. Tried to settle back into site after traveling around on my trip.

Wednesday:

First Bell. It is a Ukrainian tradition to have the 1st graders announced and presented with gifts from the 11th graders who are the oldest in the school. Education officials made some speeches. At the end of it all, an 11th grader boy hoisted a 1st grade girl on his shoulder walked around while she rang the “first” bell of the new school year.

School year kickoff party. I went to a local restaurant with 26 teachers (I think there is 30 in all at my school) to celebrate another school year. We ate and drank for the first two hours and then hit the dance floor. At this point, some of my school teachers are a little tipsy and ready to bust a move. I satisfied them calling me to the dance floor with a little shakin’ what my mom gave me. I eventually requested Lady Gaga, “poker face” then followed. It was too funny to see teachers from late20s to late 50s getting their grooves on all at 3pm in a brightly lit banquet hall.


The Ukrainian circle that they love to dance in.

Thursday:

Got a small run in during drizzly weather in the morning. Then for the rest of the day organized my room and had a fabulous time doing that because yes mom I’m that anal. (I didn’t have school because my vice principle told me not to come in until Monday because the schedule wasn’t ready yet.)

Friday:

First dry day of the week so I took advantage of the sunshine by doing 3 weeks worth of dirty clothes by hand and then getting them out on the line.

I got into Lutsk by 5pm met up with my most local volunteers went out for some drinks then dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Drinks at Madagascar in a very African setting and then home to get a good night’s rest.

Saturday:

Chocolate pancakes for breakfast. A little second hand shopping. Gathering of volunteers coming into Lutsk at the cheapest/most tasty pizza place. Pre-gaming with birthday vodka. Awesome Ukrainian restaurant for dinner. Energy drink at our rented flat before the madness of a Ukrainian club. Bed 4amish.


Meet your very friendly Ukrainian Peace Corps Volunteers.

Sunday (my actually birthday):

Plenty of sleeping in. Ukrainian lunch. Turned in the key for our rented flat. Birthday Brownie surprise at Melissa’s apartment. Home at 7pmish for palmente cooked by yours truly and a movieathon before bed.

Today:

School for tea, cookies and candies with my teachers. Figured out my schedule with my vice principle. Got an amazing package of board games that will work awesome for ENG club from Tink. Now just hanging out and might possibly go for a walk since the sun is actually peaking through the clouds.

Thank you everyone who sent me a package, card, or face book message for my birthday. Being away from home isn’t preferred on birthdays but this one was definitely special in Ukraine. Miss you and love you all.


Me and My Best-y (Allison) here in Ukraine.


Highs of Birthday: brownies, being told I was very Liz Lemon, dancing, & great crew of people to spend it with.

Kate

Euro Trip 2010

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Kate

Cheese Braid, Chaco Tan & the "Red Phone"

Super salty and oily but wonderful.

Thoughts:

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

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

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

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


Think this looks bad, it has faded alot.

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

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


My house has a straight line to the Kremlin.

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

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

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

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


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

Numbers

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

169: mail sent

125: mail received

100+: pages I read yesterday

66: Ukrainian verbs made into flash cards

36.5: % of service I’ve completed

24: days til school starts

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

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

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

0: real haircuts I’ve gotten


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

Learned

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

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

Peace Corps Learned Flexibility

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kate

Africa, America, Ukraine: Everyone Loves UNO

Hey Everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

Kate

WRITE BOTH ADDRESSES
(otherwise it takes an extra time)

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

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