Reflections at Half Time

Привет! Well here I am, halfway through training! It’s honestly been kinda a whirlwind. It’s hard to believe that we’re already halfway through and I only have 4 more weeks till I’m an official PCV!
So the language is coming along nicely….I think for this point. I really need to continue strongly pursuing my SDL time (self directed learning). I have reached the point where I can easily convey simple things like my daily plans and I’m more comfortable asking my host family questions such as ‘how was your day’ and ‘what did you do today’ etc. I also have found that it’s easier for me to pick up words when listening to people speak. I still have to work on my answers but I can understand the basics of what people are saying….so long as they’re not speaking too fast! But I honestly love learning Russian and I’m super stoked for the time to come when I can easily converse and get around. I’m so glad that I was placed in Russian language so that I can use it later in life (ok, hopefully I get assigned to a Russian speaking community!)
We had our last teaching day last week. I’m pretty excited to be done with teaching for now. I’m just not too comfortable with it; although during my self evaluation my tech teacher said that I look confident and that I have a natural presence when I’m teaching (wish I felt that way, but I’m sure that’ll come in time with more practice).
Well, we are scheduled to help out in English class on Monday, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that falls through. It’s the end of the school year so a lot of kids ditch on class. In Ukraine there isn’t a high accountability for class attendance and it’s often not mandatory -like there’s no regulation or consequences for students missing class-. So sometimes students can just decide not to come to class; or they may go to the beginning of the day and then by the time they’ve been through 4 class hours they’ve had enough and just go home or go hang out somewhere.
We started working on our summer camp and community project. We are holding a 4 day summer camp the first week in June. Both of our training clusters are hosting camp in our respective schools and then coming together for the final day and community project. Our theme is “Equality and Respect”. We are working with a club for disabled children for our community project and so we are teaching for 3 days with the culmination of summer camp bringing everyone together to hang out with the kids from Club Hope. In Ukraine there isn’t a lot (really none) of support and tolerance for disabled children and their families. Unfortunately these people are often ignored by society, may not even be accepted into a lot of school systems, not to mention there is practically zero government support. Our PST group wanted to do something to reach out to these kids and families and also to try to bring about awareness in our community. It would be awesome if our project planted some seeds of friendship and the schools and Club Hope will work together in the future.
Ok, so my thoughts now at this time: I feel like I’m still feeling things out and getting my bearings. As I said, I love learning the language and I’m becoming more comfortable in this society in general, and of course I don’t like the teaching. We had self-assessment interviews this week and one of the things they asked us was to seriously consider our commitment to PC since we have site placement interviews next week. I understand their concern with people making sure they are committed before continuing on with placement, etc…I’m sure it’s tough for these communities to ask for and receive a volunteer only for that person to leave before their service is over. But for me, I cannot make any solid decisions at this point. Training is only for 2 months so I can’t justify basing a decision off 2 months of which are not even going to be what my service is like. On the other hand, I’m def not packing my bags just yet! Sometimes I still have days where I wonder if this is the right thing for me…again, 2 years of my life is a lot to give up; but I want to give it a chance. I’m sure once I get settled into my actual home and worksite things will fall into place. Until then I’m learning a lot of patience! Lol!
So we learn our site placement when we leave Fastiv on June 15 and go to Kiev for our Conference and Swearing In. Aggghhh!….that’s so long from now! I’m ready to know where I’m going now! Haha. Honestly I have no preference on geographical location of my site…I don’t want to be in a super remote village (I want internet access). The only request I have is that I’m at least within like 1 hr distance from another PCV. It’s been hard for me to adjust to this life and deal with the loneliness and right now I have 9 other people in my town…I most def would not be able to make it completely by myself.
On that note I plan on getting a pet…preferably a dog but I would settle for a cat just in case I do get super busy and have little time for a pet; cats can take care of themselves for the most part. I’ll need something to keep me company. Also, I know I would get so super attached to a puppy bc I love them sooo much. I’ve been told that it’s possible, as other RPCVs have done this, to bring your puppy home with you after service. But I’m sure that will be a huge hassle with the paperwork, shots, travel logistics, etc. and I don’t think that I would be able to just leave a dog behind after spending two years with it.
So last weekend was Victory Day here. (April and May are chock full of holidays!) We had some tech training but after that I went to a BBQ with my adopted host fam at the Botanical Gardens and met up with my host family later at their BBQ. Later I went with Anna to the fireworks. We just went to the edge of town and there was a ceremony followed by about 10 mins of fireworks…they were decent and I’ve def never been that close to fireworks! I’m really gonna miss 4th of July!
I’ve been thinking and compiling a list of things I miss from home in no order:
* English * Friends * American food * Thurs night din
* Driving * Family * Clothes dryers * 105.7 The Point
* Concerts * Wrigs * Going to Texas * Village People Party
* Borders * Diet Coke * TV * Consistent hot water
* the News * the Gym * Dance Class * BBQs and late nights
* Cards Games - beer, brats, baseball * Cheesecake Factory
* Being able to go to a bar
Things I def don’t miss:
* 40 hr workweek *Twin beds * The profusion of fast food
* Bills *Buying gas * Doing 4 hrs of laundry bc I have so many clothes
Things I don’t like about my new life (PST):
*Having to pay for/ride the bus daily * Not cooking for myself
* Curfew * No pets
* Uncertainty
Things I like about my new life (PST) and Ukraine:
* Borsch * Birthday Parties * Learning Russian
* Challenges * Walking everywhere * Tea Time
* the weather and landscape * Fashion - I’m gonna adopt a few things
K, that’s all for now. Peace Out!
Oh, I will be putting my pics online soon. I sent out some emails with a few pics so if you didn’t receive and email I’m sorry, it’s because I don’t have your address. You can get in touch w/ either my parents or Aaron and they can hopefully forward the email or you can wait for the link to view the pics online.
Love! Лювлю

До Свиданя!

Bugs, Water, and Beautiful Cities

Priviet!

So I now know what the real PC experience is allll about: big bugs, lack of water, etc. As of last week the water in my host home officially only works at night. I don't know why this is and most of the time the water is freezing. Last week I had to go without a real shower for like 3 days. Meantime I was able to take freezing cold sink baths and run my hair under the faucet. Only as of yesterday did my host family introduce me to the 'summer shower.' For some reason we get water out in the garage for showers but not in the home. Hmmm...don't know what's with that. Now I just have to find out when I can do laundry. I guess this will be the time I learn to handwash.

And last week a huge bug invaded my room and tried to eat my face off! (Those of you who are familiar with my bug phobia may find this story interesting...just image what I was doing!)

I was just sitting there minding my own business and doing my homework while enjoying the cool breeze flowing through my window when this massive bug tried to enter my window! I freaked out and shut the window. I stood there for a several seconds contemplating what to do. Normally I would cry for my mom or Aaron to come and kill and dispose of this bug for me. But I have not yet learned how to say "save me from this huge bug!" in Russian.
Since I had my first self-evaluation coming up I decided to grow up and take care of the bug myself. My mom would be so proud! :) So I smashed the bug in the window and tried to shoo it outside. But that didn't work bc he fell into my room! aaagghhh! What to do?! I thought about calling my host sister to help but again decided that my host family would tell the PC that their volunteer is afraid of big bugs and cannot handle them on her own. So I grabbed the nearest shoe and smashed him! Then I was looking around for some paper to use to pick up the guts when my host papa came out of his room and saw what I was doing and came to investigate. Only then did I try to describe the invador and his intentions. Papa thought it was hilarious and ran to tell mama and Anna before being a great host dad and getting rid of the bug carcas.

Anyhow...last week we also took our first trip to Kiev. (Yes, I swear this time that pictures are coming!) We visited the PC office, a couple of churches, Independence Square, and the Dnipro River. It was a great day!

We had our LCF rotation this week - aka we got a new Russian teacher for the next 3 weeks. She's great. It's hard to believe that we're halfway done with training! We also are done teaching in the schools next week which I'm super stoked about! Teaching is hard enough for me bc I have no experience...you can't even imagine how crazy it can be being a rookie teacher and having to teach in another language that you've been studying for only a month! But all things considered it's been going well. I'm excited for us to start working on our summer camp and community project next week.

We had another adopt-a-cluster (current PCV) visit our site this week. I think that that is the best program that PC has during training. It gives us a chance to speak with PcVs and get real stories about their experiences, not just the amazing flowery stories that PC tells you.

Well my computer is having low battery and I'd better go. On the agenda for tomorrow is (seriously) getting my pics posted online. I know everyone is anxious to see them!

Love!