Swimming inside the elephant

swimming inside the elephat you say? Well, the clouds constantly covering Port Alberni are called 'The elephant' and since there's been more rain pouring here than I think I've ever seen in my lifetime - a lot coming from a kid from Victoria - I literally feel like I'm swimming while coasting down a hill on my bicycle.

This note will be short- my hands are starting to hurt from typing out letters to prospective speakers for the Fair Trade Conference. That said, if you know of any individuals who walk and talk fair trade, please e-mail me at fairtradepa@gmail.com

Today was a busy day. The morning was spent with announcements - like usual during a CAD. Before lunch our group of fair trade conference folks booked it through the rain to a couple meetings at schools. Now we are in charge of making a 20 minute presentation to all the students at EJ Dunn Middle School! I love how opportunities unfold like that some times. The afternoon was spent with our group at one of the local native reserves - I forget the tribal name. They have a beautiful hall with a ceiling the height of the surrounding trees. A tribe leader told us about the tribe, residential schools, life of the tribe now and what we could for the community. We should be going there for activity nights twice a week now, and I'm looking forward to the stories to come.

My night was spent on the computer, writing letters to potential speakers, reminicing on amazing adventures in the wild, and admiring the crazy idea of the Buried Life - what 100 things do you want to do before you die?

lots of love. Have a great sleep!
Ellen

Happy Belated Ukrainian Christmas

Well..time flies when you are having fun. I remember that moment wrote almost a month ago very well. And things sure have changed. But I fondly remember and mss the default Ukrainian website that used to pop up everytime I'd write in my blog.

I finally decided to write after many hours 'exploring' Univeresity information. I'm happy I did it - it makes me feel secure, like I'm not going to miss the strict deadlines. And luckily, I'm far from those horizons. In fact applying this year is by far the easiest of the four confused, missmashed countless hours spent on these sites. Maybe that means I'm a little more decisive on m choice. Nevertheless, its pushed me to a school 'formatted' mind for a while and I decided to give an update.

Update one: I love Port Alberni. It's inticing a long time dream to live in a small mountain town. On clear days Mount Arrowsmith beacons my full attention. It's unbelievable beauty, strength, and power holds a mystical presence over the valley. However, Port Alberni is deep ina valley, constantly socked in by te 'elephant' - a barrier of clouds that keeps the community from seeing the sun or months at a time. However, there's always a way to see the sun if you can get up high enough. I experienced this a couple weeks ago and vowed to do my best to find it ever since - John and I climbed out of the valley's giant hole to find vibrant rays, absolutely fabulous panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and the 'elephant's' backside.

I just realized that if I list 'updates' this e-mail would be longer than anyone would want to read. Not to mention, it would keep me up all night! So I'm going to roll through what's on my mind right now.

This weekend our group is at the Abbeyfield - a prime example of what a seniors home can be and one of our main meetings spaces. We are receivin a workshop on playing writing and water issues in Port Alberni. Tomorrow, I beleive we'll attempt to write a plan and begin to act it out - one which brings these issues up in a very conscious 'naramata type feel' way. The plays focus is on water issues. Today we did a whole load of trust activities designed by david.....something . I really liked them, and most of them were new. One of the women in charge was actally a teacher of Tsuki and Desta's from the Kelowna Waldawrf school. Ironically, "Edna Cox", is also one of Tolik and my supervisor types at our PA workplacement - promoting cycling with City Hall.

I really enjoy ll of the work here so far. On top of having a work placement where I have to ride on and off-road around town, go to bike shop meetings, and work to get more bike paths, racks, and maps, I"m also working on a Fair Trade Conference, plans to literally build a Recyling Depot, volunteering at a Free Store, and planning to try and get solar panels for the PA Middle school and to help Tolik with a donation thing for the hospital. I'm remembering how great it feels to be busy.

I also have an awesome host family - a British couple celebrating their first year in Canada. So I'm still the lone Canadian in my host family! I got to experience an English Christmas, and eat very English food all the time. Plus, Bob and Di can literally speak in a British slang language that I cannot even understand. All in all, we joke most than neccesary and have a great ol bloody time. They have two energetic big dogs too, which mke Reggie look like the tamest dog in the planet.

Thursday was Ukrainian Christmas and the Ukrainian made a grande feast for our group. I'm pretty sure all of us felt at home with the food, traditions, and songs - even if we couldn't understand them. It brought back many good memories. To let you in on a little Ukrainian secret, they are OBESSED with wives tales for future husbands and wives. "Eat the end of the bread and you'll have a good future husband." "It's the first night in a new place. If you dream of a boy, he's your future husband." On Christmas we added a new one to the books - " Girls, go outside in the pouring rain. Take off one shoe. On the count of three, throw your shoe into the air. Which ever direction the foot part of it lands is the direction that your future husband lives in." This just make you love Ukrainians more. Then I and a couple Canadians took off our other shoe and went running through a flooded field in bare feet and fancy clothes. This is why Ukrainians love us. Differences are great.

Di and Bob took us to Uclulet last week. It was wet and beautiful. It was extra special because it marked Svitlana's first swim in the Pacific ocean. On a burst of energy, we stripped down to bathing suites and ran in. As we stripped, a ton of people walked down to this little secluded beach in the pouring ran. They watched us run in. The dogs barked. And as we safely imergy from the wave of the sea, they all clapped. It was great. Svitlana and I both had crazy glints in our eyes. And as Svitlana jumping on the old wooden staircase back up to the trail - almost falling off in the proccess - I finally got to cal her a crazy girl . "come backing " that statement to my counterpart!

Anyways, I must head to bed now.

Have a wonderful New Year - 2010.

I'll probably write soon. My application isn't quite done yet...

Ellen

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