Peer Advisor Advice

I signed up to be a peer advisor to a new incoming volunteer and we've started to email back and forth. She asks me typical questions about work and clothes and language. In one of her emails she asked me about my work and how I feel that I've been in country for almost a year now. I gave a longer response than she probably wanted, but I just went with it. So, why tell you this? Well, because I though I would share my response with you about my "feelings" and stuff. I'll take the stuff about clothes and things out, but here's the gist of it:

My organization is a school (known as a Gymnasia, I guess cause it's suppose to be better than other schools, but it's not really) I have all grades there and my counterpart (CP)  is one of the vice principles. She is amazing, she organizes so many great things for the kids, even did a HIV/AIDS thing all by herself, it's almost like why am I here when you have her? But basically I have learned that my school wants me to share American Culture and to spread the can-do attitude to my students.  And, unfortunately, my counterpart doesn't really want to work with me, sad face. The woman who requested me is also a vice principle and she is so excited to have me here, but her husband said that I would take up too much of her time and wouldn't let her be my partner. Such is life. I'm still trying to work with her on individual projects though, so there's hope!

 So my work day, I usually have 3-4 lessons/clubs a day all in English and I come an hour early to sit in my CP's office, finish up details on my lesson, and attempt forge a relationship with this woman (she's young, hip and unmarried!) I teach "American" culture lessons with healthy lifestyles tied in so that I'm still fulfilling what Peace Corps wants me to do, but still doing what the school wants at the same time. For example, New Years-making resolutions and goal planning, MLK day-civics, Valentines day-Healthy relationships, you get the picture. I'm also starting a once a week young adults English club in my town's library for peeps out of school and really anyone who wants to come, and soon I've been told that I get to help start a women's soccer team( yay!)

Tips? Well, in training you will be teaching healthy lifestyles to kids (you might not be at a school at site) but stay true to the Peace Corps motto, and be prepared to be really flexible and be open to everything. Take you're time getting to know people, be warm and friendly, basically just be yourself and they will love you.

 I can't even believe that it's almost been a year. Training seemed like it lasted forever and went by so fast. It was hell at some times, but I became really good friends with my Russian teacher  and I visit her all the time. It's not really at all what I expected, but I'm happy to be here, I'm really happy with my site and my work, and can't wait to implement more projects ( there are super PCVs that have done it from day 1, my sites been more of a challenge, but I'm working on it). I have made some really good friendships with teachers, and neighbors, and kids in my village. No regrets. There are of course difficult times with the culture and language and general missing home, but I love being here.

My Ukrainian home!

Slippery Snowman Slides off the Snowy Skis

I think I’m going to try doing short entries and then backdating some later, probably over the winter break, but again, no promises.

My good friend Katherine was in the states visiting family and she needed someone to substitute for her for her English club on Saturdays at 10am for little kiddies. She emailed me a lesson plan and I made all the materials for it.

Getting to Kherson is usually a pretty east thing for me, busses run about every 30min to the city, it’s pretty cheap to go, and it’s only an hour ride. I knew from the last time that I could get off the bus earlier than the bus station and be right at the giant Library, no problem just have to tell the driver to stop. I saw the giant monument on the river that stands in front of the library and ran to the front of the bus and asked for the next stop.  However the next stop was not so close. Again, no problem I will just walk towards the river and then turn left and I should be able to see it. Wrong. There was a large factory of some sort lurking back there in a kinda sketchy area, luckily it was very much daytime, and I got a little lost. I asked a lady with a kid where the library was just to make sure I was in the right direction. Turns out she gave me directions to the kids’ library, so I looked for a baba instead this time to ask. I found one munching on sunflower seeds and politely asked her.  She laughed at me, called me some cute diminutive name and told me how to get there.  At this point it was 5 till 10 and I was definitely going to be late. It wasn’t too far, but still I was late, I asked the library ladies if I could fill out my form after the lesson and they said yes I dropped my coat off downstairs in the coat check area (cause they make you) and then ran up 3 flights of stairs of which I tripped on. Well, almost tripped, I started to fall but I was running so my legs stayed under me and I kinda tripped up the stairs. There were people behind me, but luckily they didn’t laugh. However I found that as I was panting and sweating coming into the English resource center, it was some of the kids behind me. Yay. Also, to top that off, when I entered, one of the ladies came up to me and said “I’m sorry but your zipper…” yup, my zipper was down. Even with all of that, we still had a good English club. I had only 6 kids instead of the normal 12 so everything went pretty quickly, so I had to improvise a lot of games with the material, but I I did get the kids to laugh and speak English, so I’m going call that a win.

I had to get get home pretty soon after that because one of my 8^th graders wanted to go for a walk and show me some of our natural sights in Gola Pristan. She and 2 of her friends met me at my house at 2ish and we walked to the sanitory, taking some sketch slide behind the fences way. She was super excited to show me all the places she had taken pictures at and to also show me where her favorite hideouts are. She loves nature and to take pictures and to just be outdoors. It was wonderful, really.  It was like when I was that age and I would go exploring through the woods. We looked at old soviet statues, found a gold Lenin and lots of Freedom statues. The best part was when we also went off the path to this tiny broken down building, room, not sure what you would call it, and we all climbed on top of it and looked over the salty lake and our village. We talked about travel and seeing the world, and what she wanted to do after school. It was a really good afternoon. I should have made her try to speak English, but meh, I think it was good just to spend time with her.

First Bell

I know this is super late, but hey, it's something:

The First day of school was on September 1^st. It was a big celebration, called the First Bell. I helped one of the Vice Principles, my “real” counterpart on paper, to decorate the week before. We made posters, cut outs of school like paraphernalia, and a huge balloon arch to hang outside. The day of, I came super early to school to help my counterpart (CP for now on) to set up. It was so exciting; especially to see all the kids come dressed in their best school outfits. All the boys were in suits and the girls were in black and white jumpers or dresses. The littlest ones were really adorable. They wear little white pompoms with ribbons in pig tails in their hair.  There was a big celebration outside in the back courtyard of my school, the Gola Pristan Gymnasium, with dancing and various performances.  I also had to give an introduction speech. I said it first in English and then in Russian. All the kids were excited about hearing me, but I could hear the collective “what is she saying?” when I was speaking in English, but then when I said it in Russian, I then heard a collective “ohhhh.” Besides all the singing and dancing for the celebration, there’s also a tradition of giving flowers to your teachers during a set time in the concert. Unexpectedly I did receive some flowers.  One from a girl that was at my summer camp and then after my speech the 11^th graders gave me a bouquet.   The last step is one of the 1^st graders to set on the shoulders of a man and then walk around the yard, ringing a bell to mark the beginning of classes. When the presentation was finished all the kids went to their classes with their class teachers. Class teachers are kind of like homeroom teachers, except they stay with the same class throughout their school career, from 1^st grade to 11^th grade, and then restart with a new 1^st grade. During the “1^st class” I was invited to a small lunch in with the school principle and a few others where there toasts congratulating each other and well wishes made. I also was asked several times if, in America, we celebrate this holiday, and when I sadly told them no they were very curious about what we did to start the school year. They were a bit disappointed with our lack of celebrations, but very enthusiastic to share their day with me. I look forward to next year’s first bell ( kinda because I want to see if I will get more flowers ; ] )

Summer With English!

This summer I also went to a summer camp called, you guessed it, Summer with English. I met other volunteers and hundreds of students from Ukraine, Russia and Poland. We had English clubs everyday and were fed 3 meals, had rooms, and a lot of beach time. At night there was always a concert, or variety show, put on by the kiddies and camp counselors, and a few times we came up with skits or dances on our own, much to the delight of the kids.  

The American Soccer team, i was the goalie of course and got filthy.

me and the asian, all the Ukrainians loved him, he also was the best dancer.

the beach in Zhelzny Port on the Black Sea

Our lovely soviet dormitories

the toilet, bez lid and the shower square

the stage

on International Friends day at camp

preparing for a skit, i was a ukrainian 

one of the little chickas singing 

beware of the jellies, they're everywhere!

MAN THONG

Crimea

Crimea was so beautiful; I had such a great time with my LCF (language teacher from training, Zhenya) and her family. I took a train at 6 in the morning and got there by 11. It sucked. There’s no ac, that’s expected, but I did expect that the window in my pluscart would open, but no. I was sweating my but off and my pluscart neighbor had a 2 yr old crying and jumping around the whole time. When I got in to Simferopol one of the first things I did was buy a fan to try to alleviate the heat some.   Zhenya and her son met me at the train station and then we went to her house where she lives with her parents. Her dad was amazing, he showed me around their garden and told me old war stories of the navy. I got the gist of what he told me but I was lost on most of the details. We had a huge lunch and just sat and talked for hours. Her mom is an English teacher and has a big personality, we got along great. That evening I and we went out to a disc- teka to dance the night away. They had a weird show with 2 large women ballerinas; we even got pulled into to dance with them.

The next morning we attempted to wake up early, failed, but still early enough to make our trip worthwhile. We went to Yalta and saw the Livadia palace, the post WWII house where Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met to organize the world. We took an elevator through and down the mountain to beaches on the black sea. It was beautiful, the water next to the mountains and all the trees. After we were done exploring Yalta we went to Sevastopol to stay with her kuma (godparent).  The drive along the coastline was breathtaking, even more so because the sun was setting.

Sunday in Sevastopol was a big Navy holiday. Flags and sailors were everywhere. Zhenya’s son sported a sailor outfit too, complete with hat. They had a “war reenactment” with a parade of their battle ships on the water. The city was packed, it was like being at Disney world. After the boat procession, we went to Hersones (not sure of the sp), incredible Greek ruins on cliffs by the sea.  We hiked around and went swimming, although changing in our bathing suits was and venture too. We took turns going into bushes to change and when I went, a man was coming near, so I haphazardly threw my cloths back on and acted like I was taking pictures. So much fun.  Later that day I met up with Andrea! She lives in Sevastopol and we went for gelato and just walked around and talked until she had to go home.we walked by a boat club called “White People Club,” no joke. Apparently it’s not racist, you’re just supposed to wear only white when you go there, but still…   Zhenya dropped her son off at her Kuma’s and we walked around some more touristy places and shops. We also found earrings that her dad was going to pierce our ears with the next day. We stopped at a comic themed café and had a drink. Zhenya flirted with the waiter and got me a sweet menu as a souvenir =) We went back to Simferopol late that evening on a marshutka and stood for the whole 2 hours, in the stairs. I got my ankle stuck once when the driver opened the door. Funny, but definitely embarrassing.

Monday morning Zhenya’s dad wanted to pierce our ears first thing. He got out what he called Turkish needles, vodka, and stale bread. The vodka was used to sterilize the needles and earrings. The bread was to catch the needle behind our ears. He first rubbed our ears really hard between his fingers and then pushed the needle through the ear. Mine hardly bled, but Zhenya’s bled a lot. Don’t worry, we got it on video. It was then time for her class, she is teaching business English for tourism industry. I went to help out and to talk to the young women in English. It was fun, everyone had lots of questions for me as they always do and I hoped I was somewhat helpful. Zhenya was happy that I got one of the shier girls that never talks to speak up and answer questions.  In the evening we went to close by village and met another LCF there who gave us a tour of his village’s landmarks. We first saw an old Muslim castle/compound and then when up to the mountains where priests built a church and living quarters within the mountain side. So beautiful. Lots of old graves and overgrown buildings.

At breakfast before I left the next day, Zhenya’s dad sat me down. Told me how he was so happy to have met me and that he hopes I’ll always remember him, but in case I forget he made me a ring. He makes his own knives so he used some left over material and forged a ring. It’s very simple, but unique and I wear it all the time now. Whenever I call Zhenya now I always say hi to him. It was a awesome trip, it helps me adjust to living here the more close friends I make.

in the summer

I do have another entry for July, however it contains lots of pictures and I have not figured out how to make my pictures show up on other computers...Anyways I thought I’d write something. July started off busy but after a big festival, everything got very quiet.  I’ve spent a few days on a local green tourism farm, getting to know the people, but mostly just enjoying nature and their “master classes.” I also have spent a lot of time with my neighbor and her family.  She helps with my Russian by having me recite poems and memorize new words, but mostly we just talk in English and Russian sprinkled with some Ukrainian. Uber sergick. Her father-in-law is constantly trying to convince me that I will make a good Ukrainian wife and tells everyone that is introduced to me that I am an American volunteer from Florida and that I need a good boyfriend.  Even his son tells me that he admires the work I do with people, but life is not just work and that two years is too much time  to go without a boyfriend, but not to worry, they’ll help. Yea, fun…One time I was talking to a friend on Skype at their house and they saw him and immediately afterward, as if none of our previous conversation had happened, began to praise me on what a good boyfriend he must be. I told them no, just friends and then they argued with me again about how I’m such a good girl and so on. I looked at my neighbor and told her maybe I just should have said yes and she laughed with me and agreed.

Days have been hot, like 107 degrees, seriously. My land lady, proud 60 something-er, walks around in short shorts and with her tank top tied like a bikini top. She has guests over and works with the construction men, and is not bothered at all. Sometimes she even insists that I do the same because it is so hot, and tells me that I can wear my bathing suit around to feel cooler. Luckily my neighbors lent me a fan for the summer, and that seems to have pleased her so that she lets me wear my conservative “hot” clothes. She is also very interested in what I cook, (not very much) and is on me when I enter the kitchen to stare at me, but she’s just concerned and I try to remember this as I make my grilled cheese. She’s very sweet, but I am still excited about living on my own in the fall.

So over all, life is slow, but I am happy to be making good relationships at the green farms and with my neighbors. Next weekend I am going to visit my LCF down in Crimea and hopefully see a close friend! And then the following weekend I leave for a summer camp on the sea for most of August. Tan lines here I come.

Welcome to Naked Harbor

 

The past couple of weeks have been such a whirl wind of experiences that I thought it time to update a bit about what is going on.

On June 13^th I left Oster and said my goodbyes to my host family. My host mom had me leave my winter coats so that I’d have more room for all my PC books and papers and so that I would have to visit to come pick them up before winter sets in. They were so good to me, loving, and they fed me (very important). My host mom is worried that I might lose weight and become small Cassi because I don’t know how to cook for myself. I told her that I agree; weight loss plan here I come.

My Luggage to site, plus one more big blue bag with my emergency kit in it.

My host sisters saying goodbye =(

As soon as we got to our dormitories in Kyiv, we received our language test results…I got intermediate-mid, which means I am at where the PC wants me at, so YAY! I didn’t fail. After that we checked in, had lunch and then to site placement announcements. I am in region 2 (only means something to PC) and in the south in the Kherson oblast in a smallish city called Hola Prystan, which translated means Naked Harbor =) The YD coordinator came up to me and told me that I will love my new site because of the marine life and nature, so I guess the site placement interviews do actually mean something cause that’s kinda what I requested. L’andrea is in my same region, so yay I’m not alone (even if she is 7 hours away by train)! None of my group members are near me, but it’s ok.

The next day we met our counterparts. Mine is a 25yr old single woman who is very bubbly and excited to speak English with me. She is an English teacher at the Gymnasium (same thing as a school, all grades) and she just wants to do everything with me.  The rest of the day and the next were full of meetings and seminars and spending some quality time with other volunteers.

Swearing in day, we had to make it to a theater in the center of kyiv, luckily I had my counterpart. It was hot outside and inside, but still full of excitement. We had some great guest speakers and speeches by some fellow PCVs. When we swore it, everyone was silent and smiling.

Me and my ginge after swearing in.

The next step was an overnight train ride to Kherson, the biggest city near my site and the capitol of my oblast. It was 13 hours long and a lot of it was spent sleeping and the rest was my counterpart asking me things in English and then practicing some small Russian phrases with me. It was kinda strange, one because it was my first time on a train, two because we had a plutscart which is four seats (PC bought them all 5 suitcases) kinda bunk bed style that is open to the rest of the train car. It was new, but all was ok, didn’t bother me enough not to sleep. As soon as we got into Kherson, some current PCVs met us with maps and toilet paper and I was whisked away a car in which we crammed my luggage into. I think it took like 30-40min to get to Hola Prystan, but not really sure, a lot happened that day, or at least I experienced a lot of emotions. We went to the Gymnasium first, said hi to the director and them was driven to my house I’m at now with a land lady. I had like 6 people talking at me and not sure what anyone said, but I paid rent, remembered to get my land lady to sign a form that I paid, was told to sit and rest 6 times, and then told to shower, sleep and then to unpack. I slept for about an hour, and then took a wonderful outside shower. My neighbor invited me over for tea and to meet her family. She’s an English teacher too, but she’s on maternity leave with a 5 month. She also has a 7 yr old who I spend a lot of time with playing games and legos. We’re besties. She also has a large extended family who has brought me in as one of their own, they regularly force feed me borsch and tea and I love every minute of it.

Welcome to Hola Prystan

My room

My outdoor shower=)

My bestie!

Me and some of my neighbor’s family members

From there, the last week has been full of meetings, tours, and getting acquainted with the town. I’ve gotten to see some of Naked Harbor’s beautiful nature and have fallen in love with the city. The symbol of the city is a lily and I got to see why on a boat tour in one of the delta rivers, the Chika. Lily pads were everywhere with blossoms and frogs, it was magical looking. We also have a small beach area; it’s small, but with brackish water and sand. Makes me feel at home.  I meet with directors of green tourism locations and they want me to help them write grants and to help translate some information into English to improve their areas. I’m nervous about this, but excited to make a difference, hopefully I can.

6 days left in Oster!

3 days until my LPI =language proficiency interview! so nervous and so so excited to learn my new site in 6 days! packing and saying goodbye to my host family is going to be hard. 

summer camp is over, thank goodness. I would go play/teach my kiddies and then go play with the other group's kids. We taught about not smoking, healthy teeth and staying active, and then we just played a bunch of games, including soccer! the boys loved it when i played with them and the girls all giggled when i talked to them about boys. 

lots of language review and family time and preparing!

love you and miss you all

 

Easter

I know this is late, but it's still really cool. This was at 3 am Easter morning. We gathered around the church with baskets of food that had candles and then the priests waleked around and splashed us in the face and blessed our food. this is the one good pic i got.