Ukraine Week 3

Another week has passed, and I'm reminded of how much I'm growing to love this country more and more each day.

This week, we had the opportunity to visit two stunning cathedrals. At St. Michael's, we encountered a group of friendly Asians who were also admiring the architecture. I waved at them, and they eagerly approached us to take a photo together. One of the girls had beautiful blonde, curly hair, which seemed to fascinate them - they were thrilled to take pictures with us and literally jumped for joy. It was an entertaining experience!

Teaching this week was an absolute blast! I'm starting to feel more comfortable with the ILP method and it's been a great experience. However, I was surprised by how often the kids didn't know basic words. For instance, during our 5-second game one of the questions was to name three movies. I was shocked when none of the kids knew what a movie was! I had to explain that you can watch movies in theaters or at home, which was shocking. Usually, they pick up on what I'm saying quickly, but this was a different experience

One of my favorite students is a little 3-year-old named German. He always arrives at class, stretches out on the floor, and lets out a big sigh. When I tell him it's time to start class and ask him to stand on his 'X', he often responds by moaning and rolling around. I can't blame him - he's been at school all day and just wants to relax! German can be one of the more challenging students in the class, as he has a strong need for control and can become upset if things don't go his way. For example, when we were making paper butterflies, he became furious because he thought they were 'girls' things' and didn't want to participate. But when I offered to let him make a boy butterfly, he calmed down and even had fun making one out of black paper.

Our local coordinator at the school is a hilarious person who always keeps us laughing. She's very laid-back and relaxed, which is infectious. One day, she drove us home from school and we asked her how her day was. In her broken English, she replied, 'Oh, I sleep... I was very tired.' She's also notorious for showing up late to school - five minutes before our teaching session was supposed to start! She arrived with our lunch in hand and said, 'Hello girls, I have your lunch. Eat very quickly - school is starting!' She's also not a fan of homework and told us not to give it out because the kids don't like it. However, the parents were complaining about it, so we're stuck giving them homework now.

The shake at the burger place was amazing - you have to eat it with gloves, which added an extra layer of fun!

This weekend, my friends and I took a trip to Lviv, Ukraine, a beautiful city located about six hours from Kiev, just on the border with Poland. We took a bus to get there, which turned out to be the wildest ride I've ever been on. We left at midnight, which meant we had to sleep on the bus. But just as we were settling in, a massive rainstorm rolled in, pounding the bus roof and making it impossible for us to close the top window of the bus. Some people were getting soaked, while others were huddled together trying to stay warm. The roads in Ukraine are notorious for their potholes, and our driver did his best to navigate them while blowing the horn constantly. We got pulled over twice, which was quite an adventure! According to my Fitbit, I only slept for about an hour.

Despite the chaotic journey, we finally arrived in Lviv and made our way to the Tunnel of Love - an old railroad surrounded by lush green arches. It was breathtakingly beautiful, especially since we arrived early in the morning after the rainstorm. The air was crisp and fresh, filled with the sounds of birds and frogs. It was like stepping into a dream world.

After we made our way to a castle. I don't actually ever remember hearing what the castle was called or how old it was. But it was pretty. Lots of plaques with what I'm pretty sure would have answered all my questions but it was all in Russian... But a great place!

When we finally arrived in Lviv, we were able to explore the city's charming streets. It was definitely more European in feel than Kiev, with its cobblestone streets, vibrant orange details, and old ladies walking around with scarves on their heads. The atmosphere was delightful, with a mix of old and new architecture, quaint cafes, and bustling markets."

We saw a live wedding at one of the stunning cathedrals. 

We indulged in the most decadent brownie at the Lviv Hand-Made Chocolate Factory, savoring every bite on the rooftop while taking in the stunning views of the city. And let's just say, I've been indulging in chocolate every day since arriving in Lviv - it's been a treat! We also had a blast dancing to live music being played in the streets, immersing ourselves in the city's vibrant atmosphere.

We got caught in a torrential downpour on Saturday evening, leaving us all drenched. We were standing on a hilltop when the rain hit, and the 40-minute walk back to our hostel was a soggy and uncomfortable affair. Unfortunately, I was wearing my backpack packed with dry clothes, but it might as well have been empty for all the good it did me. The only dry item I had was my nightgown, so I ended up wearing it for the rest of the weekend – even to church! It was a memorable, first-time, experience.

Ukraine week 2

This week has been an amazing one! I've dedicated a significant amount of time to lesson planning and teaching, which has been incredibly fulfilling and fun. Planning four lessons for four different age groups has been a challenge.

One of the joys of teaching is getting to know and spend time with the children. They can be so endearing and sweet, and I've particularly grown fond of one student, named Alina. She has the most adorable lisp and is extremely funny. I love that she greets me with a big hug every time I see her.

On a more practical note, our WiFi situation here has been quite challenging. With all of us in the room using it 24/7, it's not surprising that it runs out quickly each day. I'll attach some photos from this week for you to enjoy

The Best First experiences

Ukraine Week 1: A Thrilling Adventure Begins!

This week was an unforgettable experience, filled with firsts I'll always treasure. I am grinning ear to ear about my adventure!

The highlight of my week was crossing the globe to the other side of the world for the very first time. The excitement was indescribable as I stepped off the plane. I can't wait to experience more.

As I caught a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower from the plane window, it finally hit me - I was actually in Europe! The initial shock was replaced by excitement and anticipation as I embarked on this new adventure.

My first week in Ukraine has been nothing short of wonderful. I'm living with a lovely host family and three amazing roommates - Roxi, Olivia, and Rachel - in a cozy yellow house just a few miles outside the city. Our home is surrounded by nature's serenity, with a picturesque pond visible from our window and lush trees stretching towards the sky. It's the perfect setting to soak up the Ukrainian culture and make unforgettable memories.

My host family, Vova and Tonia, has been an absolute delight! Vova, in particular, is a culinary mastermind, whipping up delicious Ukrainian dishes that never fail to impress me. Despite not speaking English fluently, he's managed to say a few phrases I understand, including "Bon appetit," "good morning," and "it's good." His willingness to cater to our every culinary need is touching. Whether we're craving a snack or a full meal, he's always happy to oblige.

I'm also incredibly grateful for my roommates, Roxi, Rachel, and Olivia. We've quickly become like sisters, sharing laughter, stories, and memories that I'll treasure forever. I feel like I've hit the jackpot living with such wonderful companions. Unfortunately, not everyone has been as fortunate - I've noticed that some of the other girls are feeling quite lonely. It's heartbreaking to see, and I hope they soon find their own sense of belonging.

I love our yellow house! The backyard is filled with fruit trees, and we've been indulging in fresh honey from our very own beehive.

Teaching has been an adventure so far. While it's been chaotic at times, it's not what I expected. I've been teaching older kids, and sometimes I feel like they're more knowledgeable than me! However, it's been great because we have real conversations all day. Our main goal is to get the children to talk, especially the little ones. To achieve this, we often need to repeat phrases for them to mimic. One of my favorite moments was when a clever girl told me, "Teacher Mallerie, why do you keep saying 'say this' and 'that'? I'm tired of it!" It was hilarious! The kids are adorable, but they also have a lot of spunk.

My teaching schedule is Monday to Friday from 3 pm to 7 pm. Before each school day, a local teacher brings us snacks from the street market. Half the time, I'm not even sure what I'm eating, but so far, everything has been delicious! The kids adore playing Simon Says - it's their absolute favorite game.

 

I've fallen in love with the artwork from the kids on the walls.

Getting to school is quite the adventure, as I ride bus 472. Let me tell you, Ukrainian buses are a unique experience! The ride can be quite intense, but it's part of the fun of living abroad. Since my house is right near the bus stop, it's convenient, but unfortunately, the bus itself is tiny and cramped. It's more of a mini bus. The driver, however, is a master in his skill. As soon as someone gets on, he hits the gas, expertly navigating the manual transmission while sorting change and handing it back to passengers all while avoiding obstacles in the city streets. It's always an exhilarating ride.

The other day, an already full bus pulled up to our bus stop. People were pressed against the walls and windows with not an inch of space to spare. My roommates and I squeezed on just in time for the doors to close. We were squished, as we bumped along the road with foggy windows and all started laughing hysterically. I couldn't believe how tight it was! And just when I thought there was no more room, he picked up even more passengers. It was utter chaos! I was laughing so hard that a lady kept speaking Russian and poking me with her elbow - it was madness!

This week, we had a hilarious experience at the Lavra, one of Ukraine's stunning cathedrals. We desperately needed to use the bathroom, but since it costs money to use the facilities, we went on a hunt for a free one. And, believe it or not, we found one! It was a squat toilet, aka a hole in the ground. Well, there's a first for everything! Of course, there was no toilet paper, we were supposed to provide our own which we didn't have... After our, ahem, unique experience, we headed back to the cathedral to meet up with the rest of the group. As we approached the gate, the guard asked for our tickets to re-enter. We were frantically searching for them when we realized that someone in our group had used their ticket to...ahem...take care of business. We burst out laughing and couldn't stop for about 5 minutes before we could explain the situation to the guard.

Ukraine has some truly breathtaking cathedrals!

I included a picture of a delicious but ridiculously expensive meal we had. We had no idea how much it would cost until the bill arrived, and to make matters worse, they charged for water abroad. A custom I take for granted in the USA! I'm still getting used to ordering food here - there are no pictures and everything is in Russian. I usually point to something and ask if it's good by holding up my thumb or if it's bad by putting it down. It can be challenging, but I wouldn't change one thing.