In-Service Training

A benefit to being a Peace Corps Volunteer is the In Service Training (IST) that we can attend to gain technical and language skills while networking with other volunteers. This summer IST was broken down into 2 groups based on geography and held in late June and July. Our region, Ternopil, had the pleasure to attend IST in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. We left in the afternoon on June 27 on a train to Kharkiv with 2 backpacks and a large bag of food and water for the 25-26 hour train ride. Our tickets were for platscar, third class, with temperatures in the high 90’s and no air conditioning. Basically platscar is a car that has beds/seats throughout, without separate compartments. Everyone is together in one big room, eating, drinking, and sleeping. Where we were sitting the window could not be opened and thus, we sweated even more. After about 12 hours Beth decided it was like an all day spa treatment in which the body was moisturized from sweating the whole time! We played cards, scrabble, read, slept, ate every once and awhile, and splashed water on our faced frequently.
The site for the training was at a sanatorium called Elat, about 2 hours from the city. Elat is a very nice training site because of it’s location near a lake with a beach, the nice meeting rooms, outside gazebos, and delicious food. We arrived at IST on during the Russian language refresher, a day early since our train to Kharkiv only travels on odd days, and attended some Russian classes. On Friday the technical part of our training began and for 3 days we had classes on lesson planning, grant opportunities, HIV/AIDS workshop, Training for Trainers, etc. The technical component was very well organized and helpful. On Monday the Russian speakers left and the Ukrainian speakers had refresher classes for 2.5 days. Subjects taught included: at work, interviewing, common errors, sentence structure, nouns, adjectives, resumes, etc. Our Ukrainian teachers were great and we were able to learn new words, phrases, and sentence structures. Each day clubs were offered, such as knitting, card games, planting, cross stitching, etc. We both did knitting one afternoon and have decided that we will most likely do lots of knitting in winter!
Peace Corps Ukraine was great in helping us celebrate the Fourth of July. We had a fun contest, campfire, hot dogs, chips, and Coca Cola on the beach near the lake. To start off the evening we listened to a Jimmy Hendrix version of the Star Spangled Banner. Then Scott and Rebecca emceed the contest where volunteers had to perform various humorous tasks like dancing, pick-up lines, etc. The judges were our Ukrainian teachers, so it wasn’t biased.
Our last afternoon in Kharkiv was spent exploring the city with friends. Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine with more than 1.2 million people, a metro system, several large parks, and several shopping districts. Kharkiv is considered an international and educated city because of all of its universities and large international student body. We strolled through the main park, saw some monuments, and had dinner at a nice restaurant where we were wrapped in blankets if we were cold.
At 11:31 on Wednesday night we boarded the train and traveled back to Zalischyky, arriving at 1:50 am on Friday. Coming back, was not as hot because the weather was cooler and we had seats in kupe, second class, which meant that we could open the window in our compartment. Exhausted from the travels we slept until after 10 am on Friday and began our readjustment to life in Zalischyky!
The photo contains friends of ours from PC Group 30 during our tour/exploration of Kharkiv. From the left, Meredith, Andrea, Beth, Paul, Charlotte, and Scott.

Summer in Zalischyky

After returning to Zalischyky we were fortunate to meet with the mayor of our town, Volodimir Stanislavovich. He was elected Mayor this March and is eager to improve many aspects of city. The meeting was helpful to us because we were able to hear the plans of the administration, so that we may work to help achieve their goals. Before WWI and WWII, this town was a getaway for Polish families during the summer. The Dneister River had a great beach and there was a resort and hotels throughout the city. While it will take time and money, which the administration doesn’t have at the moment, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the potential of this quaint city. We hope to initially translate the unofficial website for the city into English so that non Ukrainian travelers can learn about the area. It is really amazing to see the amount of effort being put forth now while the weather is good.
At the end of May the schools hold their “final bell” ceremonies. After this ceremony, all students are done with school for the summer except the students in the 9th form, ages 13-14, and 11th form, ages 15-16. These students have 2 weeks of studying and then another week and a half of tests before graduation. We were invited to the ceremony, which was definitely different from anything we had experienced before. The students were dressed up, similar to prom, and all had flowers that they gave to the director of the school, their class-master, and their parents. Each separate class performed a skit and also sang and dance. The most interesting was the skit involving a group of kids who were all using their cell phones, each taking a turn and pretending to be on the phone with the director. It’s pretty common for the kids to all have the most expensive phones and to have no shame in using them during classes. We were happy to see the kids all dressed up and ready to party with their parents and teachers after the ceremony. A little bit different twist from the scenario in the states where the kids graduate and their teachers are happy for them and also happy they won’t see them partying later.
The above picture is of our host mother, Oksana, and her fun loving dog, Elsa, who reminds us of a Sesame Street character.

Romashka

It’s July and the weather is finally hot! The average temperature is high 80’s to mid 90’s with clear skies. Since we last wrote we visited a “rest camp”, met the mayor, attended graduation, and went to Kharkiv for Peace Corps technical training and Ukrainian language refresher classes.
The “rest camp” was exactly that, a camp where children go and have rest. The name of the camp is Romashka, which translates to daisy in English, is located about 40 minutes from Zalischyky. Romaska sits on a section of land in a picturesque valley surrounded on all sides by rolling hills and is within a five minute walk to a powerful waterfall. The waterfall was once part of an electrical station that powered the area. Sitting outside at night when all the children were sleeping we could hear the rush of the water against the stones. Before Romashka was ever a thought, a magnificent castle stood on the land. Remnants of the castle and of a church still exist to explore. We imagined a castle where a large family lived off the land, surrounded by the beauty of nature. Romashka truly sits in a magical place.
We spent four days at Romashka going on excursions to the waterfall, playing football (soccer), attending concerts and helping staff with activities. Every night from 8:15 until after 11:00 the camp used the main pavilion to host a disco that all the children eagerly attended. Basically 4 songs were played over and over again as we danced in a large circle holding hands. How the disco worked was 6 children with scarves would choose their partner by presenting a scarf. Then the couple would do a little arm in arm dance in the center of the circle while everyone else danced in a circle around them. A kiss on the cheek completed the dance. Whomever was asked would then get the scarf and choose their next partner. It was quite cute to see Scott dancing arm in arm with girls that barely came up to his waist!