Especially for him...

I have heard some awful news this weekend. A very dear friend here in Konotop may have cancer. He is 70 years old and he knows everyone and everything in this city and he really cares about his people here. He was very much an active person when I first arrived and over the last few weeks he has gotten weaker and weaker. I barely see him in town. Last week I found out that he was in the hospital and over the weekend I stumbled upon him there sitting outside enjoying the sunlight. I talked to him for quite a while and he told me some of the things that were going on. I was so sad I almost started to cry. I have only known him a short time but he is a very important person in my life here. I will pray for him that he can recover but I certainly do not want him to suffer in any way. I will be truly sad. Keep him in your thoughts for me.

Under the Blue Sky

This is a Russian song that was sung to me this evening amongst many songs by a lovely couple I have just become friends with. This woman and her husband (Iryna and Igor) are English teachers at one of the schools in my town. I met them on the first day of school at the first bell. They invited me into their home that day and they were just such interesting people. They both went to America for several months many years ago with a program for teachers. When I was there the first time I noticed that they had a piano and a guitar and they said they would play for me some day. So I got the phone call Thursday night that they wanted to invite me over today so I went. I was very happy to hear from them. They speak excellent English and they are just very nice people.

So I went to their home and she had baked apple/pineapple cake. It was delicious! We had some cake and some fruit while we drank chai. We finished the cake it was so delicious. They mentioned how they don't eat meat, fish or eggs anymore and that their health has improved because of it. They also mention how they are always in bed by 10pm. Their daughter lives this lifestyle as well in Kiev where she works so they started doing it a few months ago and they are very happy. I explained to them that when I was living in the states I didn't eat meat. That I mainly ate fish and vegetables. So I understand about a healthier life.

After our cake and chai we went out to the living room where they sang songs and played the guitar and the piano. They sang many songs and then they even had me singing some English songs with them. We sung "Yesterday" and another Russian/Spanish/English song that means "Kiss Me A Lot" in English. Many of the songs were about love and romance. Very lovely songs.

It was interesting while they were playing for me I thought about how we just don't do things like this in America. Something so simple and so fun. We don't really do a lot of things anymore in the states where we are together and just happy being together. It is almost hard for me to enjoy these things because I am used to the states where we watch TV or we are drinking or just doing and not being. It was so nice to sit there and listen to the sound of the piano and the guitar and their soft voices. It was very sweet and they were so happy to sing for me.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner....

Today was just an ordinary day. There was absolutely nothing going on today. I used the morning to relax a bit and run. Took my time going to work today. I've been working pretty hard all week so I wanted to take it easy. I was supposed to have a meeting early in the afternoon but that fell through. I got dressed and went to the center of town anyway. My friends recently sent me a package from the states with a few jars of yummy peanut butter so I needed to pick that up from my office anyway. I stopped to chat with Jud for a while then I went to my favorite cafe and had a cup of coffee. I just sat and chatted with the man who owns the cafe...Venitzia. After that I went to work got my package and headed home.

I ran into a few of my neighbor friends on my walk home. We were chatting it up in Russian. I was telling Tanya what I was going to make for dinner and I wanted to invite her to my house for dinner. We have been saying hello for weeks now so I wanted to move our relationship along. So Tanya came over with her daughter and Yula brought her two sons. I made baked chicken, salad, grechka (buckwheat), apples and honey, kalbaca and cheese and of course bread. They brought over some rice with mushrooms. Everything was really good! They also brought some beer mix. Beer mix is pretty good if you get the right flavor. We had some chai after dinner and then they left. We had a good time.

You know I haven't mentioned this in any of my blogs and I can't believe it but I have a friend in Konotop named Lyda. She is my translator for everything. I wouldn't be able to do what I do in Konotop if it wasn't for her. She doesn't expect anything from me except to speak English and the other volunteers here in Konotop know her and they say her English is definitely better from her and I working together. That makes me very happy. This means that I am helping someone. I don't have to do some major project to help people. Sometimes its the little things that make the biggest impact.

Good night!

Rosh Hashanah

Today is a Jewish holiday and I take part in the festivities in my town. I love the Jewish center and the Jewish ladies but they don't come tonight. We had a service at 630pm and then we went to eat lots of food and drink vodka (of course). We played some games and just had a great time. There are some pics of the festivities. Dan was trying to get out of the pic but I got him. I didn't take any pictures during the service even though I wanted to. There is another Jewish holiday coming up and we get to build tents. I am so excited for that!

On my way home me, Dan and Rose are speaking in our native tongue and they leave me as I enter the bus. When I get on the bus this young man sits down next to me and asks me in English if I speak English. He is so excited that I speak English. He wants to practice but he doesn't have anyone to practice with. I explain to him that there are actually 4 volunteers in this town and he doesn't know anything about it. Usually everyone at least knows Dan...Dan the Man! We had a great conversation. He lives a few buildings down from me so he walked me home. He has skype too which is unusual. He is very excited about our English Club! It was so awesome to see him get so excited about English.

Earlier today I met with the soccer coach. He is always around at sporting events and I introduced myself to him last week and we had our first meeting today. What is interesting is he is not only a soccer coach (other sports too) but his mother was deaf and didn't speak so he knows sign language. While we were having tea at our meeting an old woman was walking by who was deaf and he called her over and they had a conversaton via sign language. It was pretty amazing. I also saw some other people walking around - younger people - and they were signing as well. There is apparently a factory there where these people work and so most of them live in this one area next to this factory. The conversation was mainly about what all conversations are about which is the small amount of money that Pensioners receive here and how expensive things will be this winter, food and utilities, etc. He also told me about how much he likes America because America is free and we don't have a mafia to get through or have to pay people off to get things done.

The other really amazing thing that happened this week was when I went to the Blind Center. I went there on Wednesday to follow up with them on some questions they had about blind people in America and I met a few more people. I met 4 people who are completely blind 2 of which speak English. I was fascinated. Not only do these people have to overcome their disability but they speak English as well. It is truly amazing. I spoke with Alex for a little while after our meeting. He was so excited to speak to me but he wants to talk more so he can understand my accent. He has a short wave radio at his house and he talks to people in America. He was so nervous to talk to me I could actually feel him shaking as he held onto my arm to talk to me so he knew where I was. I was so touched. He is a very nice man and I can't wait to talk with him more.

It truly is amazing the things that happen as a PCV. Just when you think nothing is happening you meet all this wonderful people and you fall into all these wonderful experiences. I had to laugh today when I left my tutors house I was waiting for the marshrutka and it just took so long to come and I was unusually impatient only because I had a meeting that I had to get to. So when one didn't come I started walking and then sure enough while I am inbetween two bus stops the marshrutka comes and I just know I can't get to the next stop or back to the previous one so maybe if I wave him down he will pick me up. I've seen people do that. Well not this time. He drove right past me. It was just fantastic. I would be so mad if that happened in America and here I just had to laugh. In fact I am laughing about it now. Picture the American standing on the side of the road waving down a bus and the bus doesn't stop. Awesome. Eto jizin.

I heart Ukraine.

День города!

Yesterday was a rocking good time. I spent the entire day in the city for "City Day". I think it is a national holiday but different cities seem to celebrate it at different times. Sumi had theres on Saturday and Konotop celebrated it yesterday. It was kind of neat that it takes place the same day as Labor Day in the states so I still get this Monday off even in Ukraine.

I started off at 730am. Just like any other day in Ukraine I don't know what to expect. Too bad too because I found out later that the whole program was in one of the local newspapers and that Alla had one for me on Friday. Oh well! So I wasn't dressed appropriately but that is no surprise. I arrived at work at 8am and everyone was dressed in black. I thought maybe we were going to a funeral. I was in jeans and sneakers...no points for me! So after a lot of running around by my counterpart and the other people in my organization I find myself in the street in the middle of the Konotop parade right behind the band. I love being a volunteer sometimes! My organizaton works directly with the Mayor's office so events like this are planned by my director so we always get the good seats. So we start walking behind the band and the men of the armed forces...old and new and make our way down the streets to the WWII memorial. There we celebrate the veterans for all the things they have done for Ukraine. It is a great celebration. They receive the traditional bread and flowers and then we make our way over to the other side of the park where they begin to dance and put on a show.

Konotop was born in 1637. They tell us all the different things that have happened here since that time. It was a great story and I actually understood some of it and it was all in Ukrainian!! I hope to be trilingual when I leave here. Everone dances and the band plays it was great fun.

After the 3 hour ceremony and parade we head back to the center for festivities, arts/crafts tables, food (lots and lots of food), petting zoos, big bouncy tents (that unfortunately adults can't take part in...boo) beer and vodka and just about whatever else you would picture as part of the birthday of our town. Speaking of vodka I just happened by a babushkas table and there were about 6 of them all singing around their table and I noticed as I was taking a photo of them that they had a bottle of vodka and they were doing shots. That is not the surprising part. What happened next was more interesting. This woman, who I could possibly know, comes running over to me, Rose and Dan and I just know she wants us to do a shot. So I mentally prepare for this and when she comes over she has only one cup and she comes straight for me...crap! This is why I think I know her although I can't place her. I take the shot of course.

We walk around a little more I buy the Lord's prayer in Ukrainian and a Ukrainian weapon (looks like a spiked numchuck with out the numchuck) a little container for my salt because that is so popular here and a little button that says "My favorite friend" that I plan to give to my best friend when I see her.

We eat a lot of food some oily plov, some interesting home made sausage that wasn't very tasty, something that resembled a cinnabon, some popcorn and a хот дог yes that is "hot dog" in Russian.

We watched some dancing and singing and walked around some more. I didn't stick around for the fireworks. I had been out all day and getting home on public transportation after a big event is never easy. I learned that living in NY. If a marshrutka comes that isn't crowded you should play the lottery because it is your lucky day! I didn't want to be squooshed up on my neighbors or pinned to the glass for the ride home. Maybe next year!

(pictures to be posted soon)

Chernihiv: The Return

So this weekend I went back to Chernihiv to visit my host family. Now this is where it really started. It is cold now which is not how it felt when I left but it was certainly cold when we arrived. I rolled into the train station around 1pm on Saturday. I took the electrichka into Chernihiv because it was the cheapest and fastest option. Not bad either it only took 4 hours to get there and I didn't have to change trains. Score!

So I roll into the Vokzal (train station) and take a picture of the Chernihiv sign because I have never been to this train station. I didn't visit it while I lived here. Not sure why really. I am certain that was one of our assignments. I remember passing it all the time when I rolled by it on bus number 1 on the way to the city but I never went there.

I met Polina at the train station, bought my ticket for my return to Konotop and then we waited down the street for bus number 1 to take me back to Stari Bilous! Oh Stari! Polina is my mom's friend and co-worker. Funny thing she lives here but doesn't know where the bus stop is or which bus to take to Stari nor does she know where to get off the bus and where Ira's house is (Ira is my host mother). So I lead us on which is fine because I like to do that. It is so fun being in Chernihiv. It is nice knowing my way around and it is even nicer that nothin has changed in the three (almost) months since I left. The trees and the grass are overgrown but all in all it is still the same Chernihiv. It is kind of weird being alone in Chernihiv without the group but it was so nice to see my mom!

I arrive in her korridor and she is so happy to see me and I am so happy to see her! Katia and Yana are there too. It is like I never left. My Russian is definitely better now though. I can understand her better too. I ask where Kolia is (yana's boyfriend) and he is working and then he has a soccer game. I am not here long enough to go see his game and spend time with my mom but I will be back soon.

So the first thing we do is EAT. She is mad at me that I am so skinny. She doesn't think that I am eating. I am eating but not like she feeds me. I can't believe all the food that woman makes me. I eat it too. We had a lot of tea, olivie (an egg salad with mayonaise - the only thing I like mayonaise on), blinchiki (crepes), baked chicken, grechka (buckwheat), mashed potatoes, and I think that was it for yesterday. Of course today is all the leftovers. She has pigs now...as you can see in the picture above.

Everyone is doing real good. Yana started at technical school. She is studying hotel management. She is taking English and German language class as well and she was talking to me with her new words. Finally, she speaks to me in English! She had a bad English teacher in high school. I met this teacher and she is horrible. It's too bad because her town is only 2500 and they only have 2 English teachers.

I definitely appreciated my experience more so this time around. Something about leaving and coming back. I know my mom really cares for me and she is concerned about me which is really nice to have. I certainly appreciated her at the time but now it is even more. They are definitely my Ukrainian family! They will be in my life forever.

Tomorrow is "City Day" in my town. I need to be at work early tomorrow morning. There will be festivities to participate in. I will write soon about them.

On another note...as my emotions continue to spiral around and all over the place someone told me recently that..."You are writing a story right now and you can write a positive one or you can write a negative one". This is something I think about all the time and when I am down and out in Beverly Hills I think about how I want to write a positive one.

The First Bell and other Random updates from Ukraine!

So today was quite a typical day for a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine and I need to share my experience. This is the first time this happened which is the surprising thing. So I woke up this morning not particularly interested in going to work and it was raining cats and dogs so I really don't want to go to work now. I wait for the rain to stop and I set off to walk to work. It is still warm out so I want to walk to work while I still can. It also saves me 3 UAH a day on marshrutkas. So I get to work and well they are painting my office so I can't work in the office and the only reason to be there is to work on the computer. So since I can't do that I guess I go home...

Later in the day I am supposed to see the kids at the disabled center like I do every Tuesday and Thursday. So I head out and walk to the center to get there by 2pm. I get to the center and no one is there. I talk to Ira the doctor and she tells me that everyone is out cleaning the park today for the holiday on Monday. Oh...I say, well I would have helped do that if I had known. Not sure how that didn't come through I just saw them on Tuesday and no one mentioned it. So I guess there isn't anything for me to do here so I will leave. I am supposed to meet my tutor at 5pm so no sense in going home.

At 430pm I set off on the bus to head to my tutor's house and when I almost get there she calls me and says she can't meet with me today. Oy!!! Well I am 0 for 3! This hasn't happened yet but I am not surprised that it did. All you can do is laugh about it.

Now...this week started off very interesting. Last week at the blind center I spoke with a woman named Valya who wanted me to come to her home this week so I could see how the disabled people in Konotop lived. I went to her home on Monday morning. She lives in a hostel or dormitory. It is the equivelent of a room and everyone shares a kitchen and a bathroom on each floor of the building. Her room is not very big and she has to share it with her husband and her daughter. This is not adequate housing for anyone. Granted the room was nice and they seem to have what they need but they have to take baths in their kitchen and they sleep on the same bed. Their is a waiting list for apartments in this city and if you are disabled it takes even longer for you to be approved for housing. And once you get housing it is very possible you can afford the rent or the utilities. This is a major problem in my town. Valya and her daughter Nadia are just the sweetest people too. I hope I can figure out a way to help them out. There is picture of me and them in their home with their cat.

I met with Alla on Monday to do our English/Russian tutoring. I made some roasted vegetables to take over there for dinner and she was impressed. This is good that I was successful in transfering some skills. It is one of the goals of PC. I also was able to bring a little bit of America into her home. Which is yet another goal of the PC. We looked at some more pictures of her time at the bazaar near Poltava. It is a big craft bazaar where you can buy a lot of souvenirs. It is a big market and it was very interesting she said. There is a picture of Alla, Bogdana (her daughter), Lyda (my translator) and of course Britany the cat.

Tuesday I went to see the kids in the afternoon instead of the morning. More kids come in the afternoon. I think I mentioned a while back that my center has a karaoke program on their TV. So I find myself singing The Beatles and a few other American favorites. I just love it when I am the center of attention...singing...not really! The only time karaoke is fun is after a few drinks! But it is good to know that I am not good at singing...I can cross that one off the list.

Wednesday was September 1st and the first day of school. The first and last days of school are quite important in Ukraine. The first bell, the last bell, you get it. Well yesterday was the first bell and all the schools in town (I think we have 15) have a ceremony in the morning and they ring bells. They get dressed up and there is music...it is really a good time. I couldn't find the school I was supposed to go to so I ended up there a little late but again such is life! I still got to see the kids ring the bell. And then of course after the ceremony all the kids go to their classrooms and the American (who should know by now she will be thrown into an awkward speech) has to stand up in front of the class and tell something about herself. By now I don't really need time to prepare that would just be too easy. I just get up there and say a few words. They are happy with anything...thank goodness.

I have also included some pictures of the place where I work and the office in which I sit in and the computer that I use....sometimes. It has been a while since I posted this info so for those of you just joining my blog this is where I go most days.

I am headed to Chernihiv this weekend to see my host family. More stories to come. Stay tuned.