48 hours of eyes wide open

We are safely in Canada. Our last days were spent in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. We travelled for a very long time and I have been up for 48 hours. I"m going to go to bed and try and overcome jet lag as fast as possible. It's very weird to be able to read signs and talk to people and have people know what you say about us.

But here's something I wrote a while ago and never posted.

Dear Blog,

Once again I don’t remember when the last time I Wrote was, except that it was before Tuesday’s Farwell concert. Time now is in fast forward. It’s exciting, and really I just want to get changing. But debriefing, further farwells, a lemon layered meringue cake, and one last trip to the spot still lie in the horizon.

But an update – let’s start with the Farwell concert. The night before and the rehearsal that day were events from hell. Everyone was stressed – especially the Ukrainaians who were balancing this with final exams as well ( Svitlana had here EAD the day after the concert too! ). Therefore, everyone was grouchy, snapping at each other at the slightest fault. And let me tell you that at the best of times, it’s hard to get all of our group listening to one person.

Fortunately the concert was a far stretch of greatness from the night before. Everything seemed to go smoothly. Here’s how the evening went:

Farwell Movie – a summary of our time in Ukraine. Shot by our whole group and well put together by Nat and Marty.

Eco-Fasion Show – all of us made our dresses to accompany some environmental facts. Svitlana made her’s of straws and talked about soft plastics. Inna had a frilly long dress of newspapers with accompanying facts. Sarah’s dress was made of Magazines with fact on paper. Marty pulled off a rain poncho and talked about the Newfoundland fisheries. Ilona’s dress was green and I think she talked about the environment as a whole. Iula’s dress was made of garbage and she played with this angel idea and how to be an environmental angel. Sam made a kind of diaper CO₂ suit with a garbage bag and cigarette butts. Lucretia had a dress of plastics and talked about plastics. I made a dress out of leaves and did crazy, scary HUGE make-up on my face and said I had escaped a pile of burning leaves and spout out some facts. We all had really unique styles with music from Britney Spears for Ilona to my walk to ‘Bird Flu’ by M.I.A. But it was pretty surreal.

Inna and John sang to Titanic Song, “My Heart Will Go On” – they both have exceptional voices and everyone was super impressed.

Ukrainian Dance – The Canadian’s learned a full Ukrainian Dance! We performed it wearing our Ukrainian shirts.

Country Dance – the Ukrainians performed a very original kind of country dance. They are all pretty great dancers and I enjoyed watching how they spun a line dance.

Ukrainian Song – The Canadians learned another Ukrainian song – this one we kind of acted out too. I love that we actually have these songs and dances to bring home with us.

Our Bilingual CWY song – Inna made up a song about our group and saying good-bye to Ostroh, It was in two languages and really special. We performed it and then said our good-byes.

The end.

Everyone loved the event. I’m sure you would two. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a copy of the taped version because it was pretty epic. I’ve never been in something like that before and I was really proud of everyone and the way it came together.

Wednesday was Svitlana and John’s EAD on water. It sparked some great discussion and I’m looking forward to when we get to Canada and can watch FLOW.

Thursday was a day off. I went to the market for the last time with Becca and John. Becca and I both bought more scarves and helped John look for a flannel. The market is just a special place and I’m going to miss going there. From there we met with Iryna, Sarah and Ilona to go to this concert that the orphange ( Sarah and Kate’s work placement) were putting on and to present them with some gifts from the University. I thought it would be a short and quick wrap up for the year and there was some talk that we would have to perform the Ukrainian song. But when we got there we just gave it to the women at the back of the hall and sat down to watch the show. The show ended up being a full out musical on bad and evil. Ukrainians like to perform! We had to leave before it ended. After, the five of us plus Nat, Marty, Ivan, Sam, and Ilsa jumped on a bus to Nitishien to watch their final concert. There’s was awesome as well. Then that evening we all went out to celebrate together in Ostroh.

Friday it began to get cold. I didn’t have clean socks and decided to wear sandal – you wouldn’t believe how many looks I receive from the Ukrainians. I’m pretty sure they thought I had escaped the mental hospital because one of their wives tales is that if you don’t wear shoes you get sick. When I met Svitlana and her sister they insisted that we go back to the apartment to get me shoes and Svitlana warmer clothers. Then, we shopped and I bought a Ukrainian shirt! They have these traditional embroidered blouses. I learned that blouses traditionally have both red and black embroidery – red symbolizes prosperity, love, happiness, peace, where black symbolizes evil. Both colours are there to symbolize how life involves both, but red always overpowers the black. Cool eh! Then, that evening I finally got to release some pent up energy and run to my heart’s content with Iula, Sam, and Becca. It was such a beautiful night and like nights in the evening seem to always include – full of great conversation.

I have to head, lots of love!

Ellen

Change

So my blog has been left to sit for quite a while. Lately I just havn’t been feeling a strong pull to sit for hours at the internet café and communicate with people outside of ostroh. I’m not sure if I voiced that yet, but life has become pretty normal here.

However, as I am a person constantly in the need of change, my mind is constantly wandering to the massive move that is quickly coming our way!

Here are some highlights from the last week:

- 3 Interesting Educational Activity Days ( EAD) run by couples in our group. The first was on Forestry, the second on Environmental Education, and the third on Environmental Disease. I learned a lot and appreciated the information.

- We have been Ukrainian dancing pretty regularly in the past week, trying to learn this dance like a pro for our final farewell concert.

- Inna and I have been preparing for our EAD on Environmental health which is going to blow everyone’s mind.

- John and I got pretty turned around on a Sunday adventure, and ended up following a Ukrainian man we found in the middle of no where to a familiar location

- We had a sunny market day where you could get pomegranates!

- I have been collecting leaves for my fashion show dress, where I’ll say some information on burning leaves.

And many more interesting moments.

Today will be a day of work at the town Council. They recently gave us a grant and we actually have some work to do. The problem with it for me is there’s nothing for me to do – it involves a great deal of writing in Ukrainian. So I will spend most of the time working on our EAD powerpoint.

Hope all is well and enjoy your weekend!

Love,

Ellen

Ps. Han – call soon but we are ahead by 10 hours..

Another morning blog entry

I think I’m starting to fit in. This morning I was asked for directions once, and asked how to get a hold of the women in the post office. Both times I was rather shocked that these people would talk to ME in Ukrainian! Both time I answered something along the lines of “I’m from Canada” – but I can ask in two different ways.

The sites have also become normal. I can wak through crazy old cemeteries or into stores filled with foreign goods and not just gawk – more of an appreciation. It’s not weird to have giant castles outside my window!

Yesterday I went to a Catholic church, and I sure wished I could have had my camera! Picture a half filled sanctuary with little grannies in head scarves singing old church songs in Ukrainians and polish. The old dome shaped temple makes for an eerie echo coming at you from all angles, voices singing with their breathe flowing out in a staggered stream of steam. Ten minutes late, the pope finally appears. We have watched his solemn helpers put the hymn numbers on the wall and light candles. The pope speaks and sings his way through the opening prayer, glimpsing up in our direction whenever he has a chance. Ilsa, Yulia, Dominic and I sit together. Ilsa has black skin and I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the first time this man has seen a women of different skin colour. The pope conducts his sermen in Polish. Dominic can only understand. We sit their in this freezing cold room, standing and sitting as signaled by the others in the room. I’m totally encapsulated by the scenery. A giant pulpet with a back drop of sculpted angels and prophets. On the top of the arched dome are words inscripted in Ukrainian. Circling the pews, hanging from the ceiling, is a sewn streamer of leaves. Grannies sit hunched over, singing off tune to the organ in the open room above. We decided to leave earlier, tired of sitting in silence without a clue of what is going on. We leave the sanctuary to burst of warm rainy air – I’ve never been in a church so cold. I’ve never been in a church like that.

I have to go now.

Love,

ellen

Checking in

I am sitting at home. I have just come back from an epic run in the country and taken a shower. I am feeling warm, energized, and very relaxed. A perfect time to write with a cup of tea.

I don’t even remember the last time I wrote. I’m not sure if I finished talking about the Carpathian Trip or what I have or have not said about our quarantine. So with that absence, let me tell you about this last week in Ostroh.

Monday was a day of rebellious ‘maskless’ chess playing and card games at the tea shop. Monday was a really odd day. It takes a little time to adjust to a deserted city speckled with the few adventures who dare to go outside, wearing masks. Then there are the Canadians who cannot help but venture into the cold, totally puzzled by the aspect of being required to stay in doors. The evening was spent at home with Svitlana, where we took it like a day off and watched episodes of an overly dramatic tv series.

Tuesday involved plenty more games of chess and lots of tea, rotating between Becca and my houses. We walked a lot too. During this quarantine I’ve found it interesting to see how our group splits up. Who we spend the most time with when it’s our choice and how we spend it.

Wednesday I woke up to Ostroh’s first snow storm. Not very much snow but dry and beautiful! I spent the afternoon at Sarah and Ilona’s house playing games with the hosts, Becca, and John. That evening John, Becca, and I played in the snow, and I came home soaking wet late with a ton of energy and feeling totally healthy.

Thursday, after talking to some amazing folks at the post office, Becca and I meandered our way to the tea shop and to John’s. The three of us explored in the rain before heading back to my apartment. Svitlana was there, baking up a storm, and informed us on the plans to have a bunch of folks over for dinner. Svitlana and I spent the rest of the evening getting this giant meal together – more like I helped with loose ends since Svitlana had already done just about everything. Svitlana is the most intense hostest. We’ve had people over a couple times and she just makes so much amazing food. It’s a shock after never prepping for people to come over. Instead, my invitation means that if we want food we’ll make it together and if not, we won’t have anything special. Anyways, the night was a good way to spend the quarantine. Marty and John orchestrated a poker game, and those who didn’t play poker played this crazy Ukrainian card game called Fool.

Today has been a great day. I did an old Biology test and decided I needed to steal some of Geoff’s homework. Then Becca and I decided to go running. She’s a hockey player and likes to be fit too – neither of us are though, so we did wind sprints, and went a long ways, and went swimming, and just wore ourselves out. I love running in the country around Ostroh because you easily step out of the life within the city – almost a step away from the minute routines we have.

Now I’m off to the post office to feed my internet addiction and download some more mock-exams/ send this letter. Tonight we’ll meet as a group and use our official 4 hours a day of outside time.

Lots of love and hope everyone is well,

Ellen

Monday - A finished report

So, to finish with The Carpathians.

Sunday was also amazing. We went to this bouldering area with this funny Ukrainian tour guide who spoke Ukrainian as fast as I speak English. He took us under giant rocks and let us explore a bit on our own - literally, I could of spent a week just exploring this one location, and the time here past all too quickly. In fact, that seemed to be the moto for this weekend - to little time and too much to see.

From there we headed to the Carparthian markets - literally full of wool, wood, and beads. I couldn't resist the socks - beautiful wool socks.

Our driver continued to surprise us on the 6 hour drive back to Ostroh, taking us to a dinner spot that reminded me so much of BC and the bike trips. It proved a great time to reflect on an unforgettable trip - a chance to say good-bye to the mountains!

Now back to the last week - after our return, we had a day of wicked Eco-Fashion show planning. I got to facilitate, and our group got to try the planning wheel. Legitimately, I feel like that thing is fool proof - our planning was the best it has ever been. This could be acquitted to a number of things, but secretly I give the credit to the sacred wheel.

Wednesday was a non-existent work day, so I tagged along with Marty and Yula to put together ancient pottery bowls with a witty old man. They have, by far, the best work placement. This man tells them stories, and they drink tea while putting together or sorting puzzles of old pottery in a small, dusty, warm room. Ending the day at three, we went to the thrift store with John to find Halloween costumes. Ukrainians don't have this and don't really know what to think about it. Our Ukrainians wanted to dress up and partake in the full festivities. John, Marty, and I played it easy deciding to wear togas and Yulapicked out a dress to make an Indian custume.

Friday Ostroh's disco club was planning to have a Halloween Party. Friday was also the day that we learned that Ukraine would be quarantined and all schools would be shut down for two weeks because of swine flu. Literally, within hours all of Ostroh's student population had cleared out and everyone was wearing masks in protection of this politically accentuated swine flu scare. Everything was canceled, and we went into the weekend a littler worried, and surprised. over the last couple of days we've gotten a greater perspective of what Western Ukraine is calling their biggest pandemic in 50 years. Schools have been closed, people are advised to wear masks, and told to stay inside and eat garlic and drink vodka. As of today, no one in Ostroh has even gotten swine flu and the number of deaths so far seem at a relative minimum. In the many eyes it seems a bit politically charged, with the upcoming election, but we are all still being careful.

Until then, group activities will keep us occupied because the community is currently hidden away in their houses. We are staying active and being cautious. In my opinion it's pretty interesting to be around something that's totally changing and effecting a community, while I well know that if a similar situation happened in Canada, the precautions would be approached differently. But Ukraine is very different from home.

lots of love,

ellen

continued

Jenn forgot which is understandable since she's also and CWY and it probably short on time, so I'm back to writing about our trip.

Imagine we've' just arrived at a bridge at dusk. We are told we must exit the bus in order for it to make it up this next stretch. Together we trudge on, knowing well by now that Ukraine is full o many surprises. We follow this typical Ukrainian road up this mountain and in the hills. I feel somewhat like we are entering a scene from the Sound of Music. 15 minutes later, we arrive to a house, large for Ukraine, with a huge yard full of apple and walnut trees. There waits a family of Ukrainians to greet us.

By now I've gotten accustomed to being fed apon any arrival to a Ukrainian household. Still I don't properly prepare for it, so when we arrived to this home and family in the mountains who are prepared to feed all 20 of us, I'm full.

Aside: When I came here bright and early it was sunny and bright with the sun rising - now it's wet rainy 45 minutes later. I hope it will pass in 45 minutes.

Sunday we wake early only to learn that the time is changed. This turns out to be quite an amusing experience as the Ukrainians rush around speaking Ukraine and the Canadians look stumped to what is going on. Then Anton comes over and say go back to bed the time has changed.

In the meantime, John, Becca and I decide to trek down this mud cliff that Yulia has just come jumping out of. It ends up being a great way to wash up in the morning. We scale the cliff on the way back. Becca bails. John says I told you so.

Around 10:00 am 20 very different people head for a trek into the mountains. I'm in the equivalent of one of Geoff and my running outfits. Some people wear suede boots or little weird sport shoes. John is in shorts and a t-shirt. Ilsa has on 20 layers. For some this is their first hike! Russell, our supervisor, tells me it takes 45 minutes to get to the top. I'm picturing s sitting in this treed area in the rain, and ask if some of us can run it once and then do it again with everyone once we meet half way down. The guide/bus driver says no with a smile. I was about to be impressed.

All 20 of us plus our guide head up through people fields and onto this little trail laidened with stinging nettle. As John, in front of me, does a little cat dance and regrets wearing shorts, we climb upwards. By this time we are on a clear, abandoned logging road and take a break after hiking for 15 minutes. This is when a few of us decide to head off ahead and give 'er for the next 30 minutes. We steadily climb up for an hour - John, Nat and I run for a bit, then stop by this snow mound, sweating and wait for the group. Once we have gathered again by a trail that forks both ways, our guide tells us to have a break and won't tell us which way to continue. I'm satisfied with taking in the view from this point. The trees are in their glory - red, orange, yellow, and green. We are starting to see into the valley, and it's a bright and sunny fall day - spectacular. With a grin on his face, the guide tells us at the top of this hill lies a cross that the girls can make a wish on. Here's what you have to do - make your wish, run around the cross, kiss it, then kiss a boy and your wish will be granted. if you get their first, your wish will definitely be granted. Ukrainians love this stuff and take the lead at a run. I am in deep conversation with Marty, John, and Nat as we start to plan a trip in the mountains for this summer.

This part of the trail is breathtaking - mist floats through the forest of tall colourful trees - it a bit wet and mystical. I'm captured and choose to walk by myself for a bit. Near the end of this stretch I join with Yulia, Sam, Ilsa, and Yvone. At the top we can see an open field and a field of snow. It seems like spring up there - like spring skiing. Yula and I book it towards the snow. It's definitely wet corn snow and perfect for snow angels and sledding. Also a perfect way to cool off on a very warm fall day. This was the first of many snow ball fights as Yulia and I sat high up in the snow firing snow balls down on the crowd below. We both can't throw at all and even with the help of gravity, our hits we minimal - but so were those that hit us.

We carried on to the top - ahead were Marty, Nat, and John. a second later they had whipped off their shirts and were tumbling down this giant snow hill shirtless. Then they booked it down. This was pretty magical - we were up high enough that the view was spectacular, it was hot and sunny, the fall trees surrounded us below, we had hiked here and here were these boys I had grown to love rolling down a giant hill of snow - it was meant for a Sigur Ros video.

At the top of the ridge gave way to a panoramic view of mountain upon mountain - growing to the west. When you looked east, you saw a sea of clouds leading to a house and a cow ranch along the hillside. Southwest you saw mountains - it reminded me of being on top of Fat Dog. Northwest was a forest a bit higher where the trail continued. Everyone was opening their lunches and I thought this was the finale - beautiful. I was in luck, it continued.

After lunch in the sun, the majority of us continued on to see what was past the forest. Sarah and Ilsa stayed and I could see why. The rest of us scaled the ridge into the forest - moss covered, vast, beautiful. 15 minutes later, we came across a moss covered rock slide that rose upwards. As we headed in a line upwards the trees disappeared it got dry fast. Soon we were all scampering up big rocks to a view like no other. This was clearly the cherry on top of our trip. As Anton put it, you felt free!

We had some interesting discoveries on top: more snow, circular rock snowball forts ( like the beginning of an igloo made of rocks ), and an old BOMB! I don't know much about it, except it was a bomb and John picked it up with a big smile on his face and everyone else told him to lay it back down carefully with jitters going down their spine. it looked super old and was lying in the middle of one of these forts. John and Nat noticed this after standing on it for half an hour engrossed in snowball fights. We spent a while on the top before heading back down. I stayed at the back of the group with Russell and had my supervisor check-in which was pretty great.

When we got down to the ridge, Sam, Marty, Nat, and John were preparing to launch themselves down the snow field again. Russell and I watched. Then they did it again. I videoed this time. When they returned and watched the video they were full of energy and were debating going one last time. On a spontaneous whim, I said that I'd go if they went again - then Becca joined me. A second later we were rolling down this giant snowfield. As the Ukrainians would put it - we were being crazy canadians.

The way down way filled with discussion and we arrived an hour before dinner, sleepy, wet, in need of a shower, hungry, and truly satisfied.

After dinner, Sarah, Becca and I led "Crossing the Line". A very reflective, intensive group activity that we three anticipated doing the whole trip. It went really well and brought about a great deal of group and personal reflection. At the end, I felt so much more connected with the group.

Then it was Ukrainian Sauna time. The boys went first and the girls had 'true girl time' and hung out together as a whole for the first time since training camp. Together, around 10:30 pm we headed to the sauna. This was the best sauna experience I've ever had. Powered with wood from the forest, water from the stream and filled with girls that I was bounding with on such a deep level, despite cultural differences, made this the best sauna I'd ever had.

I'm going to stop now, and I'll finish later - there's still so much more to tell. It was a full weekend!

Love,

ellen

The mountains move people

Well hello!

This is going to be one of those quick blog posts so my folks know I'm still alive. For the first time in this program, I feel truly busy and I havn't had a good chunk of time to write in my blog. But now, I'll share some highlights of the last week.

We went to the Carpathian mountains! This was the most spectacular part of Ukraine I've seen so far. Rolling mountains like those found in Quebec with the best fall colours I've ever seen! We left early Saturday morning and drove for over six hours south. Everyone was awake by the time the ground started to rise up and down - I started to feel like I'd found home. And let me tell you, Nat and I chatted the whole way from that point on about how unbelievable a bike trip could potentially be through this area - perfect for touring!

On Saturday after our arrival we hiked to a waterfall. Our whole group had agreed earlier to be 'mountain folk' and all hiking adventures were mandatory. This was pretty sweet. At times I missed the solitude of being silent with a couple of . But for the most part I was proud of how everyone approached this hike and the others - I loved seeing the Ukrainians get dirty!

To the waterfall we followed the river and I Becca and John would have done anything to jump in at our lunch spot. After that we al packed into the bus with our 'one of a kind' tour guide/bus driver and headed to Bucklovel - the Westernized ski resort. It was cool to see the differences between this place and home, but one message was clear, this used to be a little family run resort that had been corporatized. We took the ski lift to the top as planned as dusk took over the sky - beautiful views. Then it was on to our family run B&B type lodging to settle in and start some team building activities.

I have to run to a skype date with Jenn.. I promise this story will continues!

Love,

Ellen

Evolution

Hello,

Today was our second major CAD, an event dedicated to cleaning the forest on the opposite side of Nittisean and the powerplant. This area, called the 'damba', is laidened with garbage from an entourage of Ukrainians who spend the warm months picnicking by the water's edge. After a warm evening spent by the fire at the Damba, our group decided during later planning that cleaning would be an appropriate project for an "eco-Leadership/Sustainability focused group".

Well, it rained all day. We found many pounds of garbage. We had a lot of time to think and let our minds wander. But we stopped early - unfortunately. A couple of us continued for a bit, but our day was cut short.

Later that afternoon we met to plan our next CAD. Instead, we spent the majority of our afternoon discussing the concept of group trust. It made me so thankful for the leadership given at Naramata. At the time, I was thinking that sometimes it's better for people to make you do check-ins and debriefing and let you learn why later on instead of the other way around, but that's a confusing conversation.

Around six we had the opportunity to greet the prime minister of Ukraine into the Ostroh Academy. She's quite the woman and well supported in western Ukraine. She wears her hair in a braided wringlet around her head. It was a pretty huge event for the Ukrainians, especially Svitlana, which made waiting in the rain for an hour more enjoyable. I guess it doesn't matter where you are in the world, a good politician has to be late.

This evening I got into quite the chat with Svitlana about group dynamics, personalities, communities, cultures, and life both little and small. It got me looking at evolution in a whole new context.

All in all, it was a rad rainy day. It made me think about this experience in so many ways. And help me to realize the opportunity we have is so unique. We are getting to see Ukrainian culture in a way that's just one step closure to the people who live their. We aren't just crazy tourists who visit the castle. We get to eat like Kings and Queens with Ukrainian families. All in all, a rad day.

Personally...

It's 2:30 pm on a Monday. Both Becca and I are done work and Becca's putting more water in the kettle. It may seem like we aren't do much, but I'd like to think differently. Becca has just done a Myers-Briggs test and we are about to explore what the internet has to say about her personality, mine and others. This is one of my favourite things to do. To try and learn more about how people work.
.........
The End because Ellen has ran away from the computer and
Ellen, I(Becca) and Nat are now going to go on the hunt for some wonderfully tacky thrift store goods.
Much Love
Becca

Preparing for another weekend at the cottage

Hello folks,

Wow! I just finished reading the blogs of Kara Sheppard-Jones and Allison Jones..haha.. ironic- they aren't related. These two blow my mind and the intensive programs which they are participating in remind me of how great intercultural intensive programs are, United World Colleges and the one I am participating in. I'm not going to lie, reading about these two and their phenomenal schooling experiences makes me a little bit jealous, but also reminds me that integrating many different aspects of life together makes a truly healthy education. Reading their blogs also reminds me that involving oneself in more opportunities makes life better, even easier.

As I ponder over what I just read, I'm starting to think about what I can do with the rest of my day, after a 10 minute work day at the town council. I've got my ankles back so maybe a run. I need to finish fixing a bike and pick up some winter shoes! I'd love to finish off a letter I'm drafting to Ida Chong too. I think I'll also start another book - maybe tackle Darwin's "The Origin of Species". But who knows. As I've read from the two UWC students, take whatever opportunities come your way and don't enter with too many expectations!

As for life over the past two days, Thursday was our EAD and John will tell you about that.....

So on thursday We had an EAD by Sam and Julia and I had seen some of it already before and I was stoked to see how they would do all their presentation about Old Ostroh and todays Ostroh and the effects they had/have on the environment. So it turned out theyhad a person from the city come in to talk about cleaning up the city and we got to go on a tour with this crazy old museum guy. Think of a eccentric and opinionated short balding uncle with a big mustache who made history his life and then you have our guide, who is also Julia an Marty's boss. Anywho its was a good day with lots of interesting acts about ukraine then and now. The end.

And that's John. John and Marty are sitting beside me in the post office. ONce I'm done wih this we'll head off. LAter today it will be a trip off to the cottage for some guaranteed good times.

love,

ellen

A big update

So this is a blog entry I wrote on Tuesday, but due to some snow, I havn't been able to post it until tonight when the stars came out in all their magnificents:

Following suite with my hopes, I had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

Saturday was absolutely gorgeous – one of those days where it’s sunny and warm with a light wind. It was almost ideal for an ultimate Frisbee game as well, so that’s how our group spent our morning. Literally everyone came out. Not everyone played and none of the Ukrainian girls would play, but that’s pretty typical in Ukraine – girls don’t play sports or do physical labour if there is a boy around. This is pretty odd for me as a girl whose always in shorts and runners, but it’s a culture difference that doesn’t change my cultural background and behaviour. After an intense, equal and fun ultimate game on the ‘School 1’ field a group of us split a watermelon before the Candians started to prep for Thanksgiving dinner. Then Sarah, Lucretia and I trekked home to plan out pies. Svitlana came home shortly after and offered to help us pick out ingredients – this was the first of her hospitality that just continued throughout our preparation for dinner.

We went to the grocery store and bought everything for pies and stuffing, plus a couple extras. Our bill was 103 rph – approximately $13. We headed to Sarah’s host family’s house to bake where I met Sarah’s host mom and dad (Ilona’s actual parents (a Ukrainian participant in our group)). Ilona’s mom reminded me so much of my own, just I couldn’t understand a word she said. I finally got to experience “Trish” from the friend’s point of view – quite an experience! After she made us eat, we started pie preparation and since they don’t have pies I’m pretty sure they thought we were mad.

Sunday was our first CAD. It was wet and cool – Vancouver kind of weather for an ultimate tournament. The 20 of us arrived at the field at 8:00 am to set-up for the tournament. Setting up proved to be a time of thorough frustration with cultural differences for me – the Ukrainian girls ignored our first attempts to get them to help get bulletin boards from the other building and move goal posts off the fields. Half of them had worn high heels to the stadium as well. It just didn’t make sense to me! My feeling was shared with the other Canadians and after complaining ( as Canadians do ) to each other while doing these jobs, Ilsa was finally the one who had the guts to go tell them how we felt. Within a couple minutes they were all up to help - I actually don’t think they saw our frustration until we told them. But they understood and we were good to go!

The tournament only brought in around 25 participants – half of those being from our group. Ultimate was a blast. I hope we play it more because the game is like no other and I love it! I limped my way through the first one, but the second I just couldn’t do with my ailments. The event went well, and everyone enjoyed it, small but still a success. As we later discussed, the small turn out could be for a number of reason, but the main one was clearly because of our poor planning sessions. After a talk about it today, I got to bring our the planning wheel. I hope it will do the trick!

After the tournament, it was back to Ilona’s house with Sarah to prepare those pies! We raided their kitchen again and were fed again and again, and were even invited over to her Aunt’s house for tea. I ended up spending the whole day inside this charismatic family’s home, and I thoroughly enjoys the rest of pie prep! On a whim, Sarah and I decided to make the family chocolate chip cookies as a thank-you for their help. They’d never had them before, and boy did their eyes light up as they indulged in these chocolate speckled treats. In fact, they recognized these cookies from Shrek and thought they were pretty ‘cool’. Sarah and I felt like some crazy baking sensations – they didn’t know we’d been working on these skills since we were five. I brought them home to Svitlana’s family that night and they were equally thrilled.

Monday the Canadians made the best turkey dinner I’ve ever had! We rented out the canteen and lived in its kitchen from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm, making many things for the first time. I wouldn’t be surprised if half the creations we cooked were first time endeavors with partially made up recipes. Many of the ingredients in Ukraine are different and all the packages are in Ukrainian. We were lucky though, because Svitlana basically spent the whole day in the kitchen with us. She made life a whole lots easier for us and I am so thankful she was there. By the end, we were friends with all the cooks, even the grumpy old lady who collected money. Communicating with Ukrainians is so amusing to do and to watch – it’s like a charade scramble where you end up agreeing with the other person because you give up trying to communicate what you want to say! By the end, we knew what ‘yeesh!’ meant (eat) as all the cooks were trying to feed us and we were trying to feed them. In the end, everything worked out better than expected. The food was unbelievable. Turkey was so tender, stuffing was unbelievable, and the pies stole the show. Our pumpkin pies from scratch were like nothing I’ve ever tasted before and half the people there asked us for the recipe – Sarah and I have been offered about 4 pumpkins in hopes that we would make them pies! I kept thinking of Eva and how she may have exploded if she’d been there – I nearly did! After a John, Ilsa, Yvone, Sarah and I walked around outside to let our stomach’s settle and later played the most confusing Ukrainian card game. The Canadians swore Yvone was making up the rules as we went.

That was my weekend of Thanksgiving. It also marked the one month mark in Ukraine – Wow! To show a little corny show, I can’t believe how much I’ve learned from being here so far – so much to be thankful for! I’m starting to understand how CWY is truly a life changing experience.

Another hole

Greetings!

Svitlana and I are about to head to the market in search of a couple items, so I will make this short, but I have quite a story.

Yesterday was Nat's birthday and what a day! Thirty degree weather, sun shinning and a great and shorter than usual EAD by Lucretia and Kate. I took off the ankle bandage for the first day and spent my lunch break walking with Ilsa and basking in the sun with a pretty interesting book, Molecules of Emotion by Candance Pert.

When the day ended I got had an hour to read more perched on top of this old castle at the high point in Ostroh, eating walnuts. At 5:30 pm, after a variety of the famous 8 minute work-outs, I went to a last ultimate training. This time we had quite a showing. Everyone is getting a lot better at the game and our scrimage - Naramata skyle, 'last point ties' - was really great. Finishing at Sun set, the boys ( Marty, John, Nat ), Becca and I went down to the market. Marty and I picked out a fat watermelon from a Chinese Ukrainian, and we ate it at our spot outside the post office while nat made a couple birthday calls. Five Canadians, sitting on the ground, cutting up watermelon with a pocket knife, and laughing. That was the scene.

Nat's choice to for the night was to go to this disco place called "the Brama'. Before that we all dressed up ( our whole group ) and met at the Pizzaria. Around 11:00pm made our way down to the Brama.

Now is where this get's interesting. If I havn't already told you, the ground/pavement in Ostroh is very irregular - full of pot holes. When we go places with the Ukrainians they take a bajillion shorts cuts. As I wrote about earlier, on one of those short cuts at night earlier I fell in a hole with Becca. Well, it happened again! This time the whole was so large, if I had jump in it I would have gone down a long ways. Luckily, going in left foot forward, I came in on an angle and was stopped by my left thigh. Unlukily, I was stopped by my left thigh.... and punctured my skin with quite a large scratch about as long as my pinky to my thumb. I just lay there on the ground, in shock from what had just happened, and evern in more schock that it could happen moe than once. Svitlana took me home, and cleaned it up. I went to bed, frustrated with myself and my luck that stopped Svitlana from a night out.

It's funny how I've become the person who has begun to be known for hurtin themselves. A part from occasional faints, I havn't hurt myself/ been left with a physcial injury for many years. In Ukraine, it seems to happen weekly. Two ankles, two holes, what's next?

I am pretty happy that I didn't hurt my ankle again though - that means I'll be able to play ultimate on Sunday. Svitlana and I are going to search for some Vitamin E ointment and hopefully this leg wound will be gone in a week without scarring.

On a different note. I'm really looking forward to this weekend. Monday is Thanksgiving and the Canadians are making a giant feast. Mom, I need your apple and pumpkin pie recipes!

Saturday is our prep day. Sunday is our Ultimate tournament in the morning followed by cooking in the afternoon. Moday we spend the whole day preparing our grande meal. Marty and Nat are going hunting for a turkey! Sam and John are peeling a lot of potatoes. Sarah is doing everything and helping me make pies. Lucretia is making something great with turnips. Ilsa is making a vat full of rice! And Becca will probably do a bit of everything but is in charge of rice duty!

That's the plan stan. I'd also love to hit up that lake again and bring some more folks with us this time. It's going to be a great weekend.

Love,
ellen

Intruder

Hey all, this is Marty Johnson, a member of Ellen's CWY group, here to co-author a blog post.

Ostroh has been a blast so far, very beautiful and with a rich history.

My work placement is with the museum; right now all I do is write on broken bits of pottery, but very soon we will be digging at an archeological area by the New Academy (they are building a second building). There is a tunnel 20 feet underground there; last year they found two skeletons in it, one missing a head and the other with a broken skull (eek!). The director insists the grounds are cursed.

Today we went shopping for a birthday gift for our friend Nathaniel; we bought him some small trinkets as well as underwear with a hammer and sickle logo as well as big block CCCP letters (Russian Cyrillic for USSR). His birthday is tomorrow and we are all excited for a big get together.

This weekend we are planning an Ultimate Frisbee tournement with some locals; should be loads of fun. Hopefully the weather works out; we are currently saying "rain or shine the game go's on" but we will see how this works out when it is pouring buckets.

Ellen says "give a shout out for me" so, shouts from Ellen.


Marty

A day of volunteering in Ukraine

Listen to my Monday work day:

7:00 am - woke bright and early to move my way down to the post office for a skype date with the folks. Ended up with a chance to speak with others until Inna came by to get me for work at 10:30 am.
10:30 am - worked on our brochure
11:00 am - finished work, sent a letter, and decided a needed a bicycle ride! I had to make some finishing tune ups to the USSR bike of Svitlana's sister. It ended up taking more time than i thought. Plus I managed to loose a washer along the way, and had no clue how to convey that I needed to get a new one to svitlana's Grandma. Svitlana's Grandma and I communicate through random hand movements..sometimes full acting out descriptions. We end up laughing at each other most of the time, more amused than frustrated. But I ended up picking up walnuts off the ground for her for a while - not really sure if I was asked to, supposed to, or asked not to do it.

Nanny - Just to let you know, I've finally got the opportunity to spend a while cracking walnuts. They are brain food - literally! They remind me of minature brains with a left and right hemisphere, and a very definely split forebrain.

12:30 pm - Found a perch on the side of the castle over-looking Ostroh. It's a pretty awesome spot I discovered with my friend Becca. I sat there, in the bright sun, reading, while the wind blew on every spot I could see except where I was sitting.

As an aside - Becca and I went on an adventure yesterday to a lake about 5 km out of town. I forgot how great swimming could be. The water was cold - not ocean cold, but cold - but we couldn't resist jumping in this blocked off river lake below a beautiful old monstary. It was definitely a funny scene for the locals - every person who walked by stop and rattled off something in Ukrainian to us! We just nodded in agreement and they usually nodded their heads in disagreement or laughed.

2:30 p.m. - returned to Svitlana's. Cracked some more walnuts and drank coffee and read all afternoon.
6:00 pm - writing in here
7:00 pm - going to our biweekly dance class at the university. Expect us all to know crazy Ukrainian dances when we return. When I finish this I'm going to head out and take in that last bits of sun on a walk. my ankle is getting so close to being healed - but it is still pretty painful to walk on for too long. I can't wait!

I think by this time I've fully realised that my work position is going to run pretty slowly for the rest of my stay. I'm experiencing the difficulties of creating change in a community that isn't your own first hand, and I have to say I'm learning a lot. It's giving me a whole new respect for Victoria.

But right now, I don't think this is a bad thing. I've got lots of time to read books I love. To start smaller scale projects outside of what our volunteer employer offers us, and to just soak up Ukraine - maybe even learn some Ukrainian from Svitlana's grandmother.

We'll see. Overall, great day.

love,
ellen

A visit to Rivne and a lesson on radioactivity

I have gotten into the habit of checking e-mails before writing in here, and the truth be told, after reading messages, I usually have to stop using the computer before I get a chance to write in my blog. This time I'll do this before anything else to keep the eager beaver parents in the loop.

This week in general was pretty awesome, and so far the weekend has been full and exciting as well.

Thursday we got a dose of radioactivity. We visited the Nittisien powerplant during our first EAD ( Educational Activity Day). Once a week a pair from our group organizes an educational day on anything of their choosing which is pertenant to eco-leadership, sustainability, Ukraine, and Canada. You and your partner hold one of these days in both phases of the program. Out first EAD was on nuclear power and presented by our two project supervisors - they are also lucky enough to get a turn in the spotlight.

I know "getting a dose of radioactivity" shouldn't be something to joke about as Fran Nano told me many times leading up to this trip, but after the knowledge we received (on top of some Chemistry 1000 lessons last year on the subject) I felt perfectly safe during our tour. Here's how the day went:

1. Check-in - literally a form of group therapy given a different name, where each individual shares how they are feeling.
2. Energizer
3. Language lesson - a combination of French and Ukrainian on words and phrases to do with the subject. Do-bry!
4. A crazy movie on Chenobyl - really informative and I learned a lot about the time and the power system.
5. Visit to powerplant. We were all a little spooked...except for Marty who wanted to visit Chernobyl. Literally, I felt pretty safe from the chemicals. I was more worried about the security guards who followed us at all times, looking for people from our group who may stray from the tour and set off a bomb or something. They warned us before we started that are rights were restricted while in the facilities! I wanted to jokingly yell, "camoflage" which is a hiding game our group plays whenever someone yells that magic word. However, I didn't thing the big burly security guards would find it as funny.
6. A video on Canada's Uranium and Vd ( vadium? ) industry. Did you know that Canada is the leader in Uranium mining?
7. Disussion

After Thursday's work day we went to a stadium to hold our first ultimate training for our first CAD ( Community activity day ) - an Ultimate Tournament. It's clear that Ukrainians would rather play soccer than ultimate, because we only had a 1/2 dozen people show. John, Marty, Nat, Becca, Tolik, Ivan, Becca, Sarah, Sam, and I practiced our throws instead, which was a good idea.

Wow! An aside: I just tried these strudel thingsthat Svitlana made and they are absolutely amazing!

Friday was a work day, but more so a day to appreciate Ostroh, since the town council met with Inna and I for 30 minutes! I keep taking second glances at this place. To see the differences in dress, food, history, language and tradition makes Ukraine seem so different from home. But then, the values, and day to day lifestyles are quite similar. I also don't know how to 'place the season.' I feel like from growing up on the west coast that the full season of fall is totally foreign in itself. Apart from my experience in Ottawa, the dry cool weather and changing colours are new. Victoria does have fall, but I just can't remember it being so enhanced.

Saturday our camping trip was canceled and we went to Rivne for the day. The day went fast, as most days go with our group. We visited Rivne's one skating rink that was the size of a pond with a mini zambonie and spent the afternoon at Rivne's giant market. I couldn't skate because my left ankle still features a growth the size of an orange. In the meantime, Svitlana and I went on a hunt for peanut butter - it's just non-existent here! Then John and I searched again with no luck. The items there are so different - the styles make me laugh sometime. All in all though, the canadians tend to stand out just by their clothing - running shoes, jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts compared to high heels or pointed dress shoes, designer looking jeans, and fancy shirts!

Overall, our team is becoming an connected organism! I can feel a switch from feeling somewhat alone in a new environment to feeling fully supported by the inidviduals around me. So much so that some of the Canadians and I may start writing combined blog entries sometimes. The canadians' parents, especially the boy's, found this blog, searching for information! That's great to hear! Hi Marty's mom!

Now I must go back and help svitlana with some baking. Sshe wants me to decided what to cook next for carbs for tomorrow. She literally can't accept that I just want bread, finding it extremely odd that I don't really like potatoes or pasta, or rice. The funny thing is, wait til she sees how many more weird eating habits I have!

Just a heads up, I'll probably be on skype most evenings at 10:00pm Victoria time, so if you want to chat, try then!

love,

ellen

two ankles in two weeks

So it seems that the way I go through culture shock is by physical abuse. This last weekend, I got the chance to go home with Svitlana to her family's cottage - around 15 minutes outside of Ostroh. Every month the Ukrainians, and their counterparts, get the chance to go home for the weekend. No folks, this won't be something that happens in Canada - it is a special aspect of the Ukrainian phase. The trip was full of highlights: a long adventure in the ponderosa pine forest outlining the cottage, time with a large, fun, and very hospitable family, a Ukrainian sauna, tasting and elaborate meals from the 'garden', playing with Svitlana's little 4 1/2 year old nephew. And one lowlight - I managed to sprain my ankle, jumping out of a tree. Why I jumped - I don't really even know. I think i just wanted to do something a little bit risky - my version of culture shock. But now I have another sprain that's bruising like crazy on my other ankle. Hopefully it'll be gone soon because I hate limping!

I'm going to make the rest of this note short because my fellow Canadian, Becca, and I are freezing it outside the post office as Ostroh embarks on a late fall. We are rocking out to Michael Franti, but freezing.

Today we had our first CAD ( community activity day ) - a discussion day for the Ukrainians at Ostroh Academy. They seemed to really enjoy it and many of them commented in their feedback sheets that they thought it was awesome and well planned out - we planned it by the skin of our teeth! So it made us feel confident in our skills.

Ostroh has been as beautiful as always. I found another bike to work on at Svitlana's cottage - a Raleigh Tarantula ( a lot like my scrambler ). I was going to ride it back to Ostroh before I sprainged my ankle. There's a little seat on the top tube for Nazar (svitlana's nephew) and it has an old seta - made in Canada too!

Everyone is at the pizzaria right now watching the soccer game - Becca and I are going to stop in soon. I'm making her wait until I finish this letter.

Love everyone lots and looking forward to a Jenn skype date either today or tomorrow..?

love,

ellen

An easy work day

Working in the town council has turned out to be pretty simple. After returning, we were given a duotang of information and asked to make a brochure on recycling for their town - they told us to read the duotang and come back on monday! When do we need to complete the brochure by - oh, just as fast as you can. Now, I don't know if they realise we could make a brochure in a few hours of hard work, but this sure seems pretty simple so far. Most of our peers work were similar in difficulty - cleaning parks, writing a number on a pottery bowl broken into a thousand peices, drawing. We heard a couple times in the past little while that Ukrainians are used to the concept of volunteers, so I guess they will test us 'on easy' until they see that volunteers work!

We have been making use of our free time. On Tuesday, I went with 3 Canadians on an adventure into the country side. What gorgeous landscape and people with the endless rolling hills. I'm still not sure how to place the landscape - it's like nothing I can remeber ever seeing before. More like a combination of many places. After treking for about 5 km, we found ourselves standing in an open caked dirt land plot, long and skinny, with a panoramic view of village, farmland, old USSR buildings, a lake, a nuclear power plant, and another town in the distance. With the setting, the sun, the people, and the mood, it felt like we were perched in one of those magical places, while a helicopter with an imax film maker circled around us. Wow!

On the way back, we ate apples and detoured around, following windy dirt roads, until we hit fmailiar ground. The rest of our night was spent at the pizzaria as we attempted to order food - without a ukrainian at our side. On a large meal, we each spent oer $2. Then I went running and 8 minute abing at the stadium under the stars.

Sometimes living here feels like a dream.

"Hi!"..."who areyou?"..."your volunteers!"..."our what?What are you going to do?"

So that's how our first day at town council has gone. It's now 10:50 am and I'm sitting in the internet cafe, about to return to council. Inna and I don't really know what to expect.

Here's the story:

After dressing in fancy pants and a new shirt I went to put on the only black pair of heels I own, and was surprised to feel and squishy feeling on my toes. I looked inside, and it was full of soap. I realised this must of been a place I hadn't noticed was subject to the multiple soap explosionsin my backpack during travel ( you would think after the first time, I would have thrown it out...but who expects those things to happen twice! )

Frantically, I worked to clean it out. still, after a walk down to meet my work partner, Inna, I had one foot heel and one foot carwash! That was interesting experience one.

The second, I couldn't understand as Inna and who I expected to be our supervisor rattled on in Ukrainian while I smiled. I could tell by Inna's face that something was off, and when she eventually translated for me, I discovered that this women had no clue who we were. She was asking Inna what we were going to do as volunteers, and after a while, told usto come back in an hour. Now it's almost time to return.

It's a beautiful day out and I kind of hope we do get sent home so I can put on my runners and explore the country side.

What a comical morning. But I guess you could call this a typical first day-something always goes wrong. Murphy's law.

love,
ellen

somethings weird with the milk

so I'm feeling really lazy, except full of energy and distracted. It's midnight in Ostroh, and I've spent the last hour getting distracted from writing in here.

Before I share some information of the fascinating stories of the last couple of days, I think I'll check-in:
- I think I'm really starting to miss people from home. Not all the time, but just when I'm buy myself or at my host families house, without any canadians around. Usually it doesn't last long because then I get absorbed back into the amazing people and place around me, but it's something I'm constantly analyzing - am I homesick or just normal. I also am crazy a bike ride or a swim - both are currently unreachable. I am really considering buying a bike for my stay here because they are only around $60!

Since I last wrote many things have happened, and it's been too busy to write - here's the interesting points:
Thursday - Went and visit Svitlana's sister's house, where her grandma, sister, bother-in-law, and nephew live. They have this beautfiul house on a patch of land surrounded by working gardens, meaning they basically grow all of their own vegetables and fruits there. Here grandma is awesome - I wish I had gotten a picture of her! She's so kind and full of complementary words, but in ukrainian because she doesn't speak english. I just smile ande laugh lots and say 'do-bry' lots which means 'good'. In fact, every word I knew how to speak in ukrainian I basically used with her, like counting to 10, and she couldn't believe, guaranteeing I could speak fluent ukrainian in three months...we'll see! Svitlana's nephew is so cute - about five and very very shy. He loves watermelon too, so we have something in common, but he's pretty scared of me because I speak a different language - sometimes he cries and runs away, but hopefully we'll become buds soon! Her sister has done the program before and we talked until late.

Friday - we went underground.... there is literally a crazy ancient tunnel network under the church at the ostroh academy that's two levels deep. A historian took us on a small tour of it, but supposively it goes up to 3 levels deep under the town. Orignally the one under the academy was a cemetery and they still keep some very small coffins with bones down there - I felt like I was in a video game. We also went on a scavenger hunt around the town, followed by the tedious yet important discussions about policies and our program. At the end of the day, we learned and decided on our work placements. What I'm doing probably won't surprise you - working at the town council on their solid waste city project. To tell the truth I'm really not that excited for it - probably because it doesn't appear new and exciting to me at first....I swear politics just follow me! What I really wanted to do was volunteer in this forest park and do research on different trees, and feed animals, and explore the country side, but it didn't work in my favour. I'm sure there will be lots to learn from this experience in town council and I'll probably be pretty stoked on the whole thing by Monday!

Saturday - more work in the morning. After Svitlana and I bought a watermelon in the market. I did the Hunter trick of knocking on the melons, and I thought that the ukrainian watermelon lady would think that I was crazy - apparently i was wrong, and this totally normal here! I still am a gawking mess in the markets and stores because everything is just so different and intriguing. The stores are filled with so much chocolate, bread, produce, and cheese and sausage, and alcohol, but very little milk or nuts. Everything is super cheap too. I bought quite a few groceries for svitlana and I today and it was around $7! svitlana and I basically lazed around in the afternoon and then went to the stadium in the afternoon.

The stadium and the lunet have become our groups main hang-out spots over the week. Our group's really active, and the stadium in basically an outdoor gym with an odd turf track, chin up bars, basketball court, and lots of room to do abs. I ran with John, the canadian, under a sea of stars - super beautiful, and something i could literally do every night. The lunet is like a convient store with an outdoor patio where lots of young people go to hang out in the afternoons.

Mom, here's the description of food: LOTS OF IT! breakfasts are weird - you are often served toast with meet, mustard, and cheese. On the first morning I was here, Svitlana's mom, Svitlana, made pancakes with apple slices inside them - they are probably one of the top ten things I've had while being here. lunch is usually some sort of borche ( there's hundreds of kinds), and bread or other random things. Sandwichs are also common. Dinner - a fresh vegetable salad with very little leafy greens ( more mexican ), some minced meat, bread, soup, buckwheat or rice, some other type of vegetable. leftovers are common and fresh food is the norm. A lot of chocolate, sweats, and fizzy drinks are consumed as well.

Despit all the food, ukrainians and usually very fit. Most don't drive, and many are out and about - active - throughout the day. The stadium is a popular hang-out for students at the Academy. But I have noticed that it's common for people past 30 to be a little larger. I think living in a university town has skewed this impression a bit, but all seem pretty fit and healthy to me.

Most Ukrainians are fairly good looking too, and they all dress up for shool at the academy. Extravagant outfits to the point of being tacky. luckily everyone knows of the "canadians' since CWY participants have been coming to this area for 13 years. So it's perfectly alright for us to stnad out as not dressed up. Overall, you get many smiles from individuals who hear you ramble on in english and many people swarm to meet you - some particpants descirbed feeling like movie stars. It's interesting to observed!

Well that's the update, from the now tired writer. Hope all is well with whoever is reading this, and want to let you know that I would love to hear from you this weekend!
love,
ellen

fell in a hole, got lost with a watermelon and sprained my ankle...a great day!

Man I am enjoying this place.  Today we had a day off.  My counterpart, Svitlana, had to take a 5 hour train into Kiev ( 300-400 km away - it took us 9 hours by bus!), so I spent the day with others from the program.

it was time to explore the area! Becca, Katr, and I went in search of a bank, and once we had money, becca and I basically wanted to stop at every ukrainian shop and just stare.  Everything is different: brands, clothes, drinks, social norms, the layout of the city.  And watermelons are 50 cents! Exploring, we ventured to areas that Katr hadn't even seen and ended up getting lost, with a watermelon in tow. We did find our way back and found the others for a basketball game.  I hadn't played in so long and I'd forgotten how fun it can be! No one knew how to play except me, but that didn't matter and we just all played hard - I managed to sprain my ankle, but after watching Mr.T elevate many ankles, I think I've treated it well. Went back 'home' and had a shower and some dinner.  Later tonight, a bunch of us are meeting up to hang out and watch a soccer game! Can't wait to see them all again.  We are all really forming a strong comunity and once again, the joy of working  and living with others is giving me so much drive.  Many thinkgs about this experience here so far remind me of Naramata.

For all of those interested in calling me, here’s my host family's number:

0 ( or 00…check with operator ) – 38 (country number) – 03654 (area number) – 23896 ( house number)

For a cheap rate, I would suggest buying a phone card online at the ‘phone card website’, making sure that it will call to Ostroh Ukraine.

The time change in Ostroh is 10 hours ahead, which means don’t call past 12:00 pm! Haha…or before midnight!
Remember father…you won’t just be waking up me, you’ll be waking up their whole family!
 
As for skype….it may be a little random when I’m available. It’ll usually be between 7:00 am and 12:00 pm. There’s an internet café that’s pretty close which I can use.


Now for the whole story....there's a moaut around the Ostroh Academy track.  We were there last night. It was pitch black and I was going to someones house from there.  I literally dissappeared in this giant hole with my friend Becca falling in right behind me.  The ukrainians and everyone else found it hallarious, and I couldn't stop laughing myself~!
Love you lots and look forward to talking soon!

Ellen

first time washing clothes by hand = pink shirts

Hello Ukraine!

I'm on my third day in this beautiful country.  We left from Toronto on Friday afternoon and arrived after midnight on Sunday.  We were greeted by tradionally dressed young Ukrainians, eager and excited to grab our suitcases and move us through a an evening full of events. I wish I could show you this first encounter throughmy eyes.....  I was sleeping on our 'seventies band tour bus ( which is the Ostroh Acedemy bus )'  and woke up just before we arrived at our training location.  I remeber looking outside the buses window to a sea full of stars inthe pitch black while 20 new friends slept around me on the bus. We were in the middle of nowhere - aka, rural Ukraine. The bus turned onto an old cobble/brick road, slowing from it's already 'turtle speed' to a stop in front of old rickety giant gates that we iluminated by our buses headlights.  There were 20 soon to be friends, standing in front of this old church camp and home for the next 3 day orientation.

The Ukrainians brought us to a court yard entrance, dressed in tradional white blouses for girls and white with red ribbon shirts for boys. We each formed these awkardly situated lines in front of them.  This girl with bright blonde hair held this giant loaf of gread, which I thought was angel food cake at first.  All of the others around her said some nice greeting words to us, followed with the passing of this welcoming 'wedding bread' to share and a bag of goodies for each of us. Wow!

Of course, us Canadians, having prepared a sentence in Ukrainian and gathered a couple gifts tried to give a decent response to this decidant introduction!

All of them had waited until we arrived to eat dinner - we'd eaten less than two hours ago!  But politely, we sat down to a second feast.... this is the first thing I noticed about Ukrainians - they make huge, homemade, beautiful, and tasty meals, and they eat a lot!  At each meal I've had, we've had at least half the food  left over.  It's a little overwhelming, but you are definitely eating very good quality food.  They really spend time on preparing meals.  I feel like they havn't become part of the craze of proccessed foods; therefore they aren't changing to the 'One Hundred Mile' diet. It's already the norm! But really, I can't eat that much all the time!

Then we stayed up until 1:30 am, having a big girl chat in the Ukrainian girls room. That was only 3:30 pm Victoria time, but by that point my internal clock was so mixed up!  I literally crashed that night, and getting up at 8:00 am during the camp was horrible!

We did lots of 'Naramata style' training activities, and had check-ins!  I learned a ton, and a couple Ukraine phrases too!

Ukrainians are extremely polite and hospitable.  They really work to include you and make you feel comfortable.  Allof our group speaks pretty fluent English, which surprised me.  We talked about some pretty deep topics, and the conversations with everyone made me so excited for the adventures to come!

But this first training was more than meeting people, for me it was meeting the environment.  It's absolutely gorgeous.  The climate is pretty similar to Victoria, and our camp's village was very rural, with no cement roads ( all cobble or dirt or grass ), it made a cool , quiet and comfortable environment.  Each house is very small, with a giant garden - most Ukrainians grow all their own fruites and vegetables, and raise livestock.  Their were lots of cats and dogs in the 'village', which is read a road with some houses and one store. There's no way I can follow the travel clinics advice by avoiding animals!

Yesterday, host families and counterparts were chosen ( the person you will live with on both pahses of the program ). I'm with Svitlana, who is AWESOME!  Her parents are both teachers.  Her Dad 'masters' a grade 10 class at the Ostroh high school and her Mom is the dean of english at the Ostroh Acedemy.  Her Mom has supervised the CWY/Ostroh Acedemy before and I think they will all be great resources for this experience and an awesome host family!

Well, Svitlana and I are heading over to another friends house from her families apartment to hang-out.  I love you all at home.  My phone number will probably come tomorrow!

Now, for a short explanation of the title of this.  When I first arrived, I was super nervous and felt pretty awkard.  They've basically given me their living room as my room, and I didn't know how to react to a new family and how to intrude on their family.  After unpacking my stuff - I really didn't bring anything - I wasn't really sure what to do.  I needed to wash clothes, but I didn't know how they did it.  I asked Svitlana and she got my started, washing them by hand in their bath.  I had these giant striped colour woolies from Han and Meg and I needed to wash them.  Well, I thought I washed them before, but it turns out I didn't because it turned their tub purple.  I felt horrible and didn't really no the proccesss. they helped me through the proccesss and it's alright now!  
They really are an awesome host family and I loved getting to know them better over dinner.

Got to go now
love,
ellen

The Journey

Today we finished our orientation. Tomorrow we begin our journey to Ukraine. We'll head to the airport at 2 pm for our 6 pm flight to Frankfurt. From Frankfurt we fly to Kiev, Ukraine. Then from the airport, we take an extremely slow bus to Ostroh, going around 300km, which takes around 7 hours!. I think our journey will take around 24 hours.

So good-bye, CANADA!

day one of orientation

Hello!

I have finally arrived in Toronto for my orientation, and after a day of intensive community building and culture exploration, I am eagerly awaiting the many days, weeks, and months to come.

A look into the life:

icebergs:

-think of a person as an iceberg. The top is their actions - what we can see as observers into their lives. The middle represents their thoughts - social norms, and the bottom stands for their feelings - where their values lie.

situation:

- after an 'experience' you and a peer react to a situation differently - the tip of the iceberg is different.

- normally, I would assume that since their action is different than my their thoughts and feelings may be different as well.

-however, their action is what I would place with very different t and f.

- think of it different. Think that they could have the same thoughts and feelings but different actions, due to culture.

ie.

(true experience of the leader)

- canadians on a CWY exchange in Uruguay bring snacks randomly to events and meeting during training in Uruguay. They individually eat their snack. Culturally for them this is totally acceptable.

- for Uruguayans, this is very rude. All food opened is always shared equally with all others in it's presence.

- This action is associated with totally different things in Canada and Uruguay due to culture.

We went over six areas where these norms very across the world. This was an example of the linear scale of collectivism and individualism.

I'm in Toronto until Friday. We fly from Toronto to Frankfurt, then Frankfurt to Kiev, Ukraine. After our flights, we hop on a bus to Ostrosh, which supposively takes 7 hours to go between 300 and 400 km! As long as our flight! It should be quite the experience.

Ukrainians are already beginning to interest me so much....soon I'll be living with them!

Orientation in Toronto

I just found out that my  Volunteer Orientation Camp is in Toronto  from September 8th to September 11^th, 2009. 

I also received a huge package of information about my exchange.  Here's some highlights:

Our team will consist of twenty members, two Project Supervisors, Iryna and myself, and eighteen participants, nine participants from across Canada and nine participants from Ukriane. The Ukrainian participants come from all parts of Ukraine and all are between 18 -20 years of age. 

My project supervisors will be Russ Mackenzie from Port Alberni and Iryna Petruk from Ostroh. . They will help coordinate group activities during both the Canadian phase and Ukrainian phase

Russ hopes to have CWY volunteers in the fields of First Nations, health care, alternative education, economic development, family services and the arts with a cross-cutting theme of environmentalism or sustainability while in Port Alberni.

Work on your Ukrainian.  Be able to recognize жінки and чоловіки to avoid potentially embarrassing situations – unless, of course, you have a bladder of steel!  This will be a multi-lingual program, so if you haven’t already, take some time to listen to spoken Ukrainian. Take out CDs or books from the library, enroll in a class if you’re really keen, and watch some Ukrainian language movies! You can even put up post-it notes around your house with the names of household items in Ukrainian (e.g. телефон , ліжко, плита, мило…).  Language learning can be tough at times, but it will be so worth it to be able to share in the language of our counterparts and to feel independent and capable when we’re in Ostroh. And even if you know nothing right now don’t sweat it, we’ll all be learning together, as long as you have the motivation you’ll do великий!  

Sending mail to Ukraine is somewhat reliable but expect non-airmail packages to take more than a month to arrive from Canada (parcels go missing much more often than letters).  

Exchange timeline

• Start of exchange: September 8, 2009
• Start of first phase: September 11, 2009 : Ukraine
• Start of second phase: December 10, 2009 : British Columbia
• End of exchange: March 15, 2010

guess what…I’ve found a new adventure – a Canada World Youth volunteer exchange in Ostroch Ukraine and Port Alberni, British Columbia.

Ukraine you say! yes, I've was accepted last month to the Ukraine:Port Alberni exchange. These are two places that until now, have been completed off my radar.  Two places I probably would have never traveled to or spent a great deal of time in. Now, they are constantly on my mind.

Intuitively, I've always wanted to live in a small, rural town and now I get to spend six months in two of them.  Who knows how I'll feel after that!

In both placements, I should be doing something around ecoleadership and sustainability, but until I have yet to receive information on these placements - I'll be sure to update you when I do!