7/25/13

Getting Settled in the

Community

 

Presentation to 100 seniors 

 

 Playing Our National Anthem 7/4/13

Interpreter, Two Administrators, Myself and Counterpart Olena

 



Now What Do I Do

Since my last entry I have been getting settled in the community.  I have done two presentations in Donetsk at two senior hi-rises.  The reception has been very warm, with the seniors being intensely curious about life in America.  Their questions ranged form "who pays for medical care" to the more personal "how much money do you make"!  After one of my presentations, I had a very heartwarming experience when one of the older women in the audience came up to me afterwards and presented me with a very small (2" x 4") book in Russian of works by Alexander Pushkin, something that I will treasure always.

I know several of you had comments from my last entry about what my job actually is.  Well, I'll have you know that we have a plan!  I have sat down with my counterpart Olena, who has been a gem to work with, and complied a list of class topics for me to teach starting in September to the social work and sociology students at the Donetsk State University.  At first I was a bit intimidated, not having taught classes before, especially at the university level.  I hadn't done preparation for papers or classes for many years.  When I was in college it was before computers as we now know them (just after the "horse and buggy" age!).  However, after starting to discuss the expectations further and doing some internet searches, I adopted the attitude that many PCVs have,  - "I can do this!"   I now have drafts of my first several lesson plans, hooray!.  The Themes that we have include: "The People of the Third Age in Modern Society", "Problems Older People Face", "Role of the Social Worker", 'Professional Education Options for Social Work/Gerontology Students in the US", "Social Protection for Seniors", "Social Service Options for Seniors", ""Facilities and Care" among others.

In addition to teaching classes I will be facilitating at least 2 (and possibly as many as 5 - yikes!) English Clubs.  We are scheduling Clubs for the students as well as for instructors with the following topics to stimulate discussion:

1) Respecting the Right of Self determination 2) Starting where the client is at 3) Working with difficult clients 4) Advance Directives 5) Use of computer 5) Politics of Social Services 6) Active Listening 7) Working with people who have hearing loss 8) Working with people with vision loss 9) Using a social work assessment tool 10) Dealing with your own stress 10) What to do when it all falls apart 11) Peer support 12) Advocacy 13) When a client dislikes you 13) Creativity with resources 14) Rights and responsibilities 15) Except courtesy and respect 16) How to set limits 17) Attend regular training and seminars 18) To be determined by students and instructors.

Most PCVs are involved with English Clubs, and the goal is not so much "teaching" English as it is giving persons who are already somewhat conversant in English a safe haven to practice, as well as the cultural exchange that takes place during meetings.  In addition to the two Clubs that I have mentioned, there are requests for 2 more clubs at a local secondary school and from an instructor working with international students.  I know that when September comes I will be busier than a 2 headed rooster!

Experiencing Donetsk

 

Another experience has been getting "registered" which all PCVs need to do in order to remain as legal volunteers in Ukraine.  My regional manager Oleg, along with staff from my dormitory, have been instrumental in getting me registered through all of the appropriate channels.  I now have a registration card that I carry with me, in addition to my passport to show that I am "legally" here.  A very important document, indeed! 

 

I am starting to get to know my way around Donetsk, as I was only exposed to Chernihiv and Kiev until now.  I have found Donetsk to be a very friendly city, safe and with many attractive parks.  One of the first that I have visited is Pushkin Park:

                                                       Lovely Sculptures

Music

 

For my recorder friends, I continue to practice regularly at night in the dorm conference room.  I have found another PCV in the Donetsk area who is a singer and loves to sing madrigals!  We have found a couple of free websites with music and are currently trying to find a few other singers, recorder players, etc. that we can join with to create some interesting music, and have fun together.  It is the proverbial "work in progress".  More later...

 

Forged Figures Park 



 

Another park in Donetsk that I recently spent an afternoon in is the Forged Figures Park.  I took more than 100 photos of the various creations.  Since Donetsk is a location for steel mills, coal mines and other industrial sites, this park is very interesting and very unique.  I am only sharing a few photos here - let me know if you want to see more of them and I can email them to you.  Enjoy:

 
 

Language and Cultural Moment

 

I am still working daily on my language skills, but my tutor is off until the beginning of August.  I try to sit with the front desk dorm staff at night frequently to practice some words, listen to them and converse with them.  It is still slow going for me, although I do OK going to the store.  Speaking on the phone is especially difficult for me when you don't have any visual cues and where the reception may be not crystal clear. 

 

 

 

Tamila teaching us Russian during PST!



 

I did have an experience last week in getting my train tickets at the local boczal (rail station) in Donetsk.  I had been to Kiev last week for some urgent dental work (root canal) and needed to schedule a train to go back to Kiev again for a followup visit with the Peace Corps approved dentist there.  Before visiting the boczal, I did prepare the sentences that I was to say at the counter, when I needed the tickets, etc.  So I confidently went up to the counter thinking "I can do this myself!" with prepared sentences in hand with where and when that I was going, that I preferred a lower platzkart bunk, and when I needed a return ticket, etc.  However, when I tried to explain what I wanted, the counter person kept asking me another question that I wasn't prepared for which was "which train do you want?"  In the meantime the people behind me were getting anxious to move up in line...  Finally a friendly person behind me who spoke a little English explained that there were 2 trains leaving at almost the same time and the counter person wanted to know which of these that I wanted - either was fine with me!  So finally I walked away with the tickets, the people behind me in line grinning (at least they were grinning!) at my lame attempt.  Another work  in progress!

 



Future Project

 

I have another Project in mind that may take some time to see how it evolves.  I have spoken with some of the staff, a few neighbors in the vicinity as well as the commandant of our dorm and the Oblast person in charge of our building about a difficult project to tackle.  It is in general agreement that there is a problem with an overloaded garbage disposal system, graffiti on some of the buildings, some cracked roads in need of repair as well as 2 playgrounds with old play equipment.  If we develop community support from the residents of surrounding buildings and the students in the dorm, we may be able to pursue some community development options.  At present this idea is still in its infancy and we need to establish first that base of support and community initiative before proceeding.  It is an exciting possibility!  I'll keep you posted.

 

Friends and family, please keep those emails coming!  You don't know how important it is to here from all of you.  As Dorothy said,  "there is no place like home...".





6/18/13 - Now a Peace Corps Volunteer!

                                                                            6/18/13

Tests, Tests and More Tests!
Since my last entry, things have been proceeding at what seems like warp speed!  At the end of our 10 week PST (Pre Service Training) we all had our language proficiency exam.  I scored  in the "middle", and wish that I could have done a bit better in learning Russian.  Our cluster, all of us in our 60s, had a slower learning curve than some of our fellow "young whippersnappers"!  I say this tongue in cheek as we are encouraged to proceed at our own speed and not compare ourselves to each other.  In addition to the language test, we had final CD project reports, a Policy and Procedures test, Safety and Security test, Readiness to Serve report, among others.  All in all, our group of 44 feel that we have been well prepared for our upcoming placement as PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers), which is what we are here for.

 

Easter

             Tamila LCF and famous humorist

Cultural Happenings
Our Technical Assistance Trainer Masha has been very helpful in connecting us to the various cultural events in Chernihiv that helps maintain our sanity as well as help with our cultural immersion.  Many of us attended the May 8 victory Parade in downtown Chernihiv that included a huge parade of students, soldiers and citizens, along with a memorial ceremony honoring fallen veterans from WW II, or the "Great Patriotic War" as it is referred to here.  I was able to speak briefly through an interpreter with one of the surviving veterans, and mentioned to him that my father was also a WW II veteran who served in the US Navy at Pearl Harbor.  In recalling the horrors of battle, his one message was that he would "never want this to happen again".

 

 

 

                                                                   WW II Veteran

We were also able to visit the History Museum twice with our friendly guide Artom and the War Museum in Chernihiv.  We learned about the famine in Ukraine of 1932-33, the purges, as well as WW II when Ukraine suffered a the huge loss of life and damage to the entire country.  The effects of these events are still widely felt today and remain a part of the Ukrainian psyche.  It has only been since the 90s when Ukraine gained its freedom from the Soviet Union that some of the documentation of its own history have come to light. 

 

                   Memorial to fallen soldiers in Afghanistan


A number of us also enjoyed a wonderful concert at the stadium in Chernihiv by Ukraine's most popular rock bad, Okean Elzy - they were fabulous!

Goodbyes
It was time to say goodbye to the host families and many friends that we have all made during our training in Chernihiv.  For me it was especially difficult to say goodbye to my host mother Tatiana and the many friends that I have made from the English Club that I was active with at the Chernihiv Library during PST.  It was heart warming to hear from members about how we would be missed.  It was even more touching to see some of the members now speaking more openly and actually learning to speak English.  I hope that we have planted a few seeds...


                Host families

Swearing In
After 10 weeks of PST all 44 of us PSTs (soon to be PCVs) were bused to Kiev on 6/9/13.  Together we met our Ukrainian counterparts and attended together the final 2 days of training on HIV/AIDS, Peace Corps grants as well as orientation to our sites.  On Monday, 6/11/13, we had the official swearing in ceremony at the US Embassy, which included the US ambassador, Peace Corps Country Director, Ukrainian government officials, trainees, friends and host families.  It was another time for tearful goodbyes among all of us who have become so close during our training, especially the 5 of us clustermates. 

 

Another highlight was meeting my new Regional Manager, Oleg, who is very knowledgeable and has already been extremely supportive.

                                                                                   Country Director                                            

 

                                                                                           

Zack, one of the PCTs, started things off with a lovely rendition of the Ukrainian National Anthem on his trumpet.  It was then my turn to play the United States National Anthem on my soprano recorder.  Under the circumstances it felt like playing in Carnegie Hall!  All of us swore our oath, and immediately after the ceremony started the next phase of our adventure, going to our sites.  In my case, I went with a fellow PCV and our counterparts on our first train trip.  We travelled 3rd class and had bunk arrangements for the 12 hour trip to Donetsk.  All the PCVs noticed how much more "stuff" we were lugging along, which included a huge winter heater, medical kit and all of the myriad (that's Myriad with a capitol M!) paperwork that we have accumulated during PST.  Upon arrival in Donetsk, I was transported to the teachers dormitory of the Donetsk State University.  I have a lovely room with a small kitchen, bathroom and storage area, all of which has been recently remodeled - a pleasant surprise after a long train ride.  The staff at the hostel have been extremely helpful in figuring things out in the building, calling the internet company when my computer goes gaga, and also practicing Russian a bit with me.  I am learning the local marrshruka bus routes and have only gotten lost once!



 My New Digs (Hostel for University Instructors)

Cultural (humorous) Moment
Part of the Peace Corps process that I mentioned in my previous blog involves cultural immersion.  In this case one of the first events of site placement is a visit to the local militia (police) office. which I did with my counterpart Olena and an instructor on 6/13.  We met the chief inspector who was very cordial and explained that he would have one of the local officers close to my dormitory contact me.  Thinking that this would probably be weeks in the future, I returned to my apartment and blissfully practiced my recorders in the evening in the building conference room.  As I was finishing my practice, I encountered one of the instructors standing with a militia officer by the entrance.  The officer had a stern look and held a paper in his hand.  I was paniced, thinking that someone in the building had registered a noise complaint about my playing (probably all those missed E flats!).  My next thought was that he was about to issue me a ticket - definitely not a good way to start my Peace Corps placement!!!  It turned out that this was the officer from the local militia office who had come by to introduce himself and give me his phone number - hence the paper in his hand.  Needless to say, I breathed a huge sigh of relief!

My Job
At present my job is the proverbial "work in progress".  I will be working with an NGO (non governmental organization) of sociologists.  I am currently doing joint tutoring with one of the professors who wants to practice English, and I my Russian.  I will be doing a presentation to the local teachers and have discussed developing an English Club, possible grant writing for a development center and cofacilitation in social work classes.  For the moment I will be getting to know my environment, the local needs, and developing a rapport with the community - including drinking lots of chai tea!

      New office partners and counterpart Olena (to my right)   




P.S. My computer is very ill so my next blog may be delayed unless it can be cured.  Stand by for future developments and keep those emails or comments coming!


This Blog is my view and is not meant to reflect Peace Corps views or policies

Preservice Training

                                                                         5/4/13                         
          

                                                                     

The Start
Hello Family and Friends, this is my first blog since leaving home on 3/24/13 for my Peace Corps venture.  It has been more than 5 weeks and has been filled with lots of memories and experiences already.  There were 45 of us who all staged in Washington D.C., and spent several days of orientation with the Peace Corps staff.  We discussed our reasons for commitment, Peace Corps values, policies and procedures as well as our schedule for Preservice Training.  Most importantly we had an opportunity to meet our fellow volunteer trainees and learn a bit about each other.

In I Go
On 3/26/13 we boarded our plane for the long flight to Kiev, the capitol of Ukraine, where we were warmly greated by the Peace Corps staff, including the country director.  There had been a recent huge snow storm in Ukraine, so when we stepped off the plane we also "stepped into" about 20 inches of snow!  At a hotel in the nearby city of Chernihiv, we were pleased to have an official Ukrainian welcome!  We spent several days of orientation, and were assigned to clusters of 4-5 persons who would be our "clustermates" for the duration of the 10 week Preservice training.  We also learned which of us would be learning Ukraine or Russian.  In my case I was assigned to learn Russian.  The cluster that I am in is composed of 5 of us, all of whom are over 60, and we are in the Community Development section of the training modules.  We also met some of our instructors.  The Peace Corps assigns a language instructor (LCF) as well as a technical instructor (TCF) who works closely with particular clusters to help develop the skills that are necessary to be successful Peace Corps Volunteers.

                                                               My Room (Host Family)

                                                Our Cluster and Language Instructor

                                                                        Russian

Host Family
At the end of our orientation a key experience happened.  Each of us met our host family, and left the hotel by taxi to the host family's home where we will be for the 10 weeks.  I my case I have been assigned to be with a delightful middle aged widow who lives in an apartment in the Chernihiv area.  She speaks Russian only, so the total immersion in the culture started immediately.  The communication process started with (and continues to a lesser degree) with a lot of pointing and pantomime to communicate!  One humorous (although not humorous at the time) event occurred when I on my second day of class I went on on the local marrshruka (minibus - more about those adventures another time!)) with my host mother.  We got off the bus together and she said something to me in Russian that included the word "dva" which means "two".  I had smiled at her as if I understood the conversation, so she promptly walked away from me into a nearby shop.  I thought that she was telling me that the walk to my instructor's apartment would take two minutes, so I confidently walked into the underground in what I thought was the right direction.  Within a short time I was lost and feeling a bit paniced about being late for my class, and having no idea how to ask for help - with my language skills being approximately three words of Russian at the time.  I eventually backtracked and found my way to my instructor's apartment.  She informed me that my host mother had been anxiously calling her saying that she had left me at the bus stop and told me to wait there for "two minutes" while she made a brief stop in the shop.  As trainees, we call this a "cross cultural moment"!  The cultural immersion includes not only learning a new language, but learning about a whole new culture - food, religion, the "does and don'ts", etc.  It is a humbling experience at times, but also richly rewarding.

                                                                    More Russian

                                                             
                                                              Party and Relaxation

Classes
We have language and technical classes 6 days a week and my Russian is coming along slowly.  As my friends and family know, patience is probably not my strongest character trait, so I wish I could learn faster than I am.  Our cluster meets each morning at the apartment of our language instructor where we learn new words, phrases, and use various games and exercises to make the learning process more enjoyable.  We also have technical classes where we discuss the  skills and organizational experience relating to a community development project that we all have been assigned to.  Many of us trainees had been skeptical that we could do all the necessary steps to get our project proposal in on time.  In our cluster's case, we had decided to do a training workshop with a local league of professional women.  This is where the cluster concept really kicked in.  Our group was already getting to know and trust each other.  We went into overdrive mode and developed task assignments based on our skills, helped each other out, met with local community persons who are key to our project.  Miraculously, we got our assignment proposal done in time and felt like we were developing as a group into a "lean, mean,fighting machine", (tongue in cheek!).  This has been the most crucial experience for me so far.  Developing trusting friendships with your clustermates is essential to making it.  We have all had times so far when we think - am I really able to do this?  It is the team that you work with (which includes the Peace Corps staff) that can help you get through those times.  Sort of like boot camp in the Marines?

 

Fun
On a lighter note, the Peace Corps staff ensures that we have fun activities as well.  We have been exposed to several wonderful concerts in Chernihiv, a day trip to Kiev (where we used our language skills to read street signs, order in restaurants, etc.), two educational walking tours in the historical area of Chernihiv and a trip to the local history museum.  Today several of us went for a lovely walk over a nearby bridge and into the woods along the river.  We also are encouraged to exercise regularly and keep up our hobbies.  For my fellow recorder players, I'll have you know that I brought 5 recorders (s, S,A,T,B).  I don't play everyday, but at least several times a week.  I haven't yet met any Ukrainian fellow musicians yet, but it is on my to do list when I receive my placement.  Bill and the Marlybone Players gave me an alto recorder (my weakest instrument) as well as some advanced music to practice.  I have volunteered to play our National Anthem (on the soprano) at our swearing in event in 5 weeks.  One of the other trainees is going to play the Ukrainian National Anthem on his trumpet.

                                                        WW II Partisan Memorial

                                                            Church in Chernihiv

                                                                                Kiev

Wrap Up
I hope to keep up this blog regularly, but I'm not sure yet how often.  Thanks for all of your support.  Jody continues to be my rock, and gives me a kick in the pants whenever I start moaning and groaning and doubting myself.  Feel free to email me or send comments to this site if you like.  I would ask that you keep your comments constructive - this site will probably be seen by numerous people.

 

This site represents my viewpoint and is not sponsored by the Peace Corps and is not meant to reflect Peace Corps views