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