Paul's Ukraine Peace Corps Journal

Paul's Ukrainian Peace Corps Journal ll

5/16/16

“Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”

(William Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet)

Saying Goodbye

This will be my last blog as a Peace Corps volunteer here in Ukraine, as I finish up my tasks and wind down towards my departure from Ukraine back to the US on 5/19. It is with a heavy heart that I conclude was has been a real adventure for the past year, and one of those "life experiences" that I will always cherish and remember. I certainly have learned a bit of humility in my volunteer experience here. In one of my blogs from a couple of years ago I used the phrase about one drop of water at a time eventually fills the glass. I did my best to add a drop or two...

Following a training for grantees in the office

Ukraine has such a rich (and sad) history, and yet has so much to offer from its people and culture, and has high hopes for the future. It is the small things that I will remember and cherish - such as the laughs that Stacy, Yulia and I shared over trying to make Ukrainian (or Russian) text come together to make sense in English for a document or letter. Or the satisfaction my friend Grigoriy and I had while playing a simple cradle song together on our flute and recorder for the appreciative English Club members. Or watching the friendship and experience develop between Dmitry the local Rotary Club president and Vitaliy the head of one of partner organizations as they worked on an International grant proposal for homeless people in the Kirovograd region that is still pending. Or the delicious sensation of tasting Andre's special shashlik at the holiday party and on Green Day picking up trash in a local park. Or the sense of integration I would feel when people would stop me on the street and say how much they enjoyed the discussion at one of the English Clubs. Or the sense of friendship that I and my Ukrainian friends shared at the goodbye parties, with many invitations to "come back soon".

English Club
English Clubs are frequently a source of social integration and satisfaction for Peace Corps volunteers, and I was no exception. During the year we had many stimulating discussions on topics as varied as Tolerance, Favorite Book, Democratic principles, Abraham Lincoln and possible Life on Other Planets. I was able to form friendships with a number of the members as well as the Windows on America staff that I will always remember. One nice development was the volunteering of members themselves to be facilitators for the Club meetings - all in English! As I said my goodbyes to the members I encouraged this effort to continue, which will help the group to be sustainable and foster leadership and language skills even further among the members.

English Club at Windows on America in Kirovograd Public Library

Activities of the NGOs
One of the educational advocacy activities of the 3 NGOs in the office (especially the Territory of Success NGO) is the conducting of Flash Mobs that bring home an important point by small skits, passing out of educational flyers, offering free photos, petition signatures, and the display of large posters in public places such as in front of the City Council building, at the town center, etc. A previous topic before the elections was the topic "Don't Sell Your Vote for Buckwheat!". The most recent one was in the idea of "Change Your Life - Say No to Violence" (against women).

Projects with my Counterpart and office staff
Although we didn't get awarded any large grants during my placement, working with the staff has produced several useful results. My counterpart Liudmyla was planning on going to an international conference in Sweden for the NGO MAMA86, and asked me to help with translating into English a long, technical water purity study report done recently in Ukraine. Water purity and accessible drinking water is a huge problem in Ukraine. With the help of Yulia, the PR manager for the office NGOs, we were able to do a pretty decent job. My counterpart then used the English document at the conference, and it was favorably received. It helped develop the language skills of Yulia, assisted Liudmyla in doing an important presentation, and displayed a team effort in the office.

Paul and counterpart Liudmyla

MAMA86 Water Purity Study

Another side project was working with Stacy on an application for funding for a new NGO in a small town near Kirovograd. She was the actual writer and I provided technical and language support, some "American" ideas - and the application was approved! I believe the skills of the office staff were improved with this effort, not to mention the start up funding for the NGO which is really appreciated.

Fellow Colleagues!

School Presentation
I did a final discussion/presentation at the nearby Medical College that I had presented at several months ago. This was a brand new class of students who will eventually be medical staff in the city and small villages around Kirovograd. These classes are always interesting, and it is an opportunity to learn about each others cultures and share a few laughs as I use the wrong word in Russian or Ukrainian! The college also received some English medical books from the Big Box ll (see photos).

World Wise Schools Project
As I have mentioned in previous blogs, one surprising development from my volunteer experience was the cultural exchange that we were able to do between an English class for persons learning English as a second language in New York and the members of our English Club here in Kirovograd. Over a period of months, we exchanged emails and photos, and posed questions to each other. Our Club members in Kirovograd even read aloud a story "Girl from Kiev" (Rada Kalinka) from the English class in New York about a young Ukrainian girl struggling with social integration in America. A great example of how to learn about each others' cultures! They will also receive this blog as my way of saying goodbye to their class.

New York class on English as a 2nd language, topics for discussion

New York class members

Humanitarian Aid
You are all familiar by now with the humanitarian aid that is being sent by Ukrainians in Colorado (part of the "diaspora") to needy groups in Ukraine, including wounded soldiers, poor and disabled persons, to children as well as people who are IDPs (internally displaced persons). Although there have been some distribution problems, overall the first 2 "Big Boxes" have been very well received and much needed. Some of the aid finally arrived here to Kirovograd, and I went out with a RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer), a journalist, and the director of one of our partner organizations "Heart of Mother" to help with the distribution of Pampers and stuffed animals to local disabled clients. The director of the "Heart of Mother" organization returned several weeks later to share an award of appreciation to the Ukrainians of Colorado as well as some personal art work by one of the recipients. I will deliver these to the Nadja, the Ukrainians of Colorado coordinator in Denver, when I return home.

Humanitarian aid arriving in Kirovograd

She also writes poetry!

Personal art work by Big Box ll recipient

In addition, two microscopes were received for a medical clinic in Ustinovka, and a bicycle and helmet went to the son of my former counterpart in Donetsk - who now lives in Kiev! Not only was the aid warmly received, but we now have 2 local persons (including Stacy from our office!) who have volunteered to be the contacts with the Ukrainians of Colorado for future aid shipments. They will be able to communicate with the volunteers in Denver as to what pressing needs there may be in the Kirovograd region, helping to keep the effort sustainable and facilitate communication between the two groups .

Medical Director of Ustinovka clinic receiving two microscopes

Humanitarian Award of Appreciation to the Ukrainians of Colorado by "Heart of Mother"

Ilyas enjoying his bicycle!

Strategic Planning
One of the areas that PCVs with a community development emphasis are involved with is helping with strategic planning. Although I was not involved with this as much as I thought that I would, I did participate in planning/training sessions during my last few weeks on my site. It was interesting to try and help in this very important area for NGOs who are trying hard to become an even more important part of the development of civic society in Ukraine.

Discussions during Strategic Planning session

Working as a Team

Facilitator summarizing ideas

Having Fun

Being a volunteer isn't all work, work, work! We also enjoy get togethers. Before Easter my language tutor Yulia helped us do "pysanky" eggs, and also showed us how to make bliniy (small Ukrainian pancakes). I also ahd a chance to have a shott day visit again to Uman and attend several inexpensive concerts here in Kirovograd.

Famous Georgian dance group performing in Kirovograd Philharmonia

Final Words
I can honestly say that I have enjoyed my Peace Corps experience. Things frequently went in a different direction than what was planned - being flexible is essential. It is hard and there are times of frustration and confusion. However, I learned more about the warm heartedness of the Ukrainian people, and how fervently they hope for a better Ukraine. Many people here are poor and have experienced a decline in their standard of living over the past few years. They worry about the flickering war in the east, ongoing corruption and the difficulty in developing civic society in Ukraine. They also are determined to do it "their own way". They speak Russian as well as Ukrainian and can be equally dedicated to their country regardless of their everyday language. As much as they appreciate help from America (especially from Peace Corps) and other countries, they want to forge their own future, and use their own resources as much as possible. I have learned more about patience (or at least the attempt to be patient!) and to think small. I have been thankful for small successes and perhaps impacting a few people. I have enjoyed Ukrainian food (with the possible exception of salo!), the wonderfully talented musicians in all cities, the museums - but most especially to have had the opportunity to work on a team in an setting where Ukrainians are trying to have an important input into the future of their country.

Enough said! I do plan on coming back as a visitor, and to visit my friends.

“Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

This blog reflects my personal views and is not meant to represent Peace Corps policy or views.

3/10/16

Paul's Ukrainian Peace Corps Journal ll

To Everything There Is A Season...

After an English Club

Doing Better

Since my last blog, I have had some health problems. After the Christmas holidays, I was bitten by a dog behind my apartment where the trash bins are located. I am afraid that I was interrupting his lunch as I trudged through the snow on the sidewalk not far from the bins. I had to go to the Peace Corps medical office in Kiev to start rabies shots. About the same time I came down with a bad head cold that developed into a severe bronchitis infection, which I have been prone to since childhood. Luckily, my language tutor's husband Sergei was a doctor, and was able to help give me two of the rabies shots in my apartment (for which I am eternally grateful!). My doctor at the Peace Corps medical office gave me an antibiotic which helped to eventually clear up the bronchitis. It was an uncomfortable 5 or 6 weeks while I had to deal with these issues. I now have an electronic ultrasonic alarm that I can use if I have any further trouble with aggressive dogs. Unfortunately, there is not an animal control service in Kirovograd and there are many dogs who wander the streets and hang out where ever there may be food. Stuff happens...

Dog Alarm

Update on Projects

Humanitarian Aid - At long last the Big Box ll (10 ft. x 40 ft.!) from the Ukrainians of Colorado in Denver arrived in Odessa, and after passing through customs for several weeks was distributed to various needy organizations in Ukraine. The much needed aid included medications and medical supplies, pampers, clothing, stuffed animals, microscopes, books, wheelchairs and other items for wounded soldiers, disabled children and a wide variety of needy organizations and NGOs. Unfortunately there were some snafus with the distribution and some of the aid was sent to wrong locations - including some of the things that we anticipated here in Kirovograd and the surrounding region. As of this writing, we are still trying to backtrack to locate some of the items. The best laid plans of mice and men...

Rotary Club - the application for assistance for the homeless shelters has been sent to the International Rotary Club Committee in Lviv and we are awaiting their final approval before it will be posted on the International Rotary Club site to request funding from Rotaries worldwide. The application was completed (with many revisions) by Dmitry from the Rotary Club and Vitaliy from the homeless program. The aid requested includes, among others: building renovation items, the drilling of a well, supplies for the centers, a van for transportation of people and supplies, a tractor and farming equipment (for improved food sustainability), as well as chickens, cows and pigs! My role has been to help connect the organizations and assist with the English translation of the final version. I believe that the process has been a learning experience for all involved - including this PCV! Once the application funding request is online, I will let everyone know, and encourage interested parties to make a donation through their local Rotary towards the project.

Document Translation - One of the areas of expertise that I have been involved with with my site has been fine tuning English translations. This includes everything from grant applications, website translations, Rotary Club translations, ecological reports, letters from my site to various organizations, etc. This part of my service has been not only useful but very rewarding. In one sense it involves putting on my Sherlock Holmes hat, as much of the translation is not straight forward, but requires some unraveling and discussion. I work closely with 2 English speaking office colleagues, Stacy and Yulia, to translate documents, usually from Ukrainian into English. Frequently I start with a rough translation from Google Translate online, then massage the English into a more understandable form, with lots of back and forth interpretation among the 3 of us to ensure that we retain the meaning of the original document, while also making it understandable for English readers. So far we have finished updating 4 NGO websites - Flora, MAMA86, Territory of Success, and New Generation charitable organization, to include an English option for the activities listed on each site. This can be helpful not just for local persons reading about the organization's activities from the social media (such as Facebook and Vkontakte), but also for potential donors, many of whom are communicating in English and want to read about what the organization is doing. Recently we have also finished translating a long, somewhat complicated technical document about water purity issues in Ukraine. My counterpart Liudmyla used the English translation at an international meeting in Sweden of MAMA86 chapters (founded after the Chernobyl incident), which was very helpful for the conference participants who were English readers.

Stacy, Paul and Yulia - our hard working translation team!

English Clubs - the two English Clubs are a real source of inspiration for me as well as an excellent venue for cultural exchange. Recent topics have included Tolerance, Diversity, Relaxation, and Womens Day among others. The World Wise School program in New York that I mentioned in my previous blog, has been exchanging photos and letters with one of my English Clubs which has been awesome! We discuss the questions raised by the English class in New York, send answers to their questions as well as posing our own questions. When the English class students in NY see their photos and questions discussed in our English Club in Kirovograd, it makes the communication much more personal. We communicate 1-2 times each month, and both classes enjoy and learn from the cultural exchange.

English Club of 3/9/16 Discussing Women's Day

Enjoying practicing English and giving their opinions

All of the Club's ideas that will be sent to the English class in New York

Information gathered was sent to the World Wise Schools English Class in New York in January

English Club discussion of life in Kirovograd sent 1/16 to English class in NY

English Club at Kirovograd Public Library that meets weekly

Travel Update

I had originally planned on a trip to India after the holidays, but had to cancel it due to my bronchitis. Delhi, Agra and other sites in India have some of the highest recorded pollution levels in the world, which would have played havoc with my bronchitis. Instead, I went on a short trip to the cities of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk in the western part of Ukraine and the capitol Kiev, and had a great time. Here are a few photos from my trip: