It has been about 6 months since I last wrote, sounds quite crazy to think that much time has gone by in general. Thought I would write real quick and give an update about my work, myself, Ukraine, and I guess life overall.
As for work everything continues to go well. While at times I have been frustrated with the lack of things to do or the lack of speed, things continue to come together. The last few weeks I have really been able to focus a lot of my energy on work, I really feel like I am starting to accomplish some things, of course at a small level in a small town in Eastern Ukraine but its where I am. I continued to have my clubs on a regular basis, my sports clubs get the largest turnouts. It is nice to have around 20 kids come twice a week to exercise, play basketball, and play ping pong. My English clubs don’t get a whole lot of kids but the ones that do come are very motivated and great to work with. The last time I wrote we had started the first steps to a school newspaper, we now have completed 4 editions, the latest of which being a double edition entirely written by our students. It’s amazing how much students can do when they are given the basic resources. We have also started an exchange program with students here and students in the Black/Latino Achievers Program at the local YMCA in Rockford. I love working with my Mom, and program directors Antonio and Louis on this project, we are really able to cross cultures and kids through this work. At night after my sports clubs I have started an adult English class, helping young professionals learn Basic English. During school hours I have put in a lot of time helping with English classes, usually taking small groups and working with them during their English class. I also have been lucky enough to find a great teacher to co-teach healthy lifestyles and ecology with. Last week was Earth Day, we taught ecology classes all week and on Friday helped host an Ecology Festival in a nearby forest.
Away from my site I continue to work with the Small Projects Assistance grant review committee. We met 3 weeks ago where we funded around 25 projects, allocating $60,000 dollars to different volunteers who will then implement civic projects in their communities. I also am a part of the Environmental Working group, a collection of volunteers that focus on environmental issues within Ukraine. My friend Rachel and I will be co-directors of a summer ecology camp that is put on through the working group. I have a few other projects that are about to take off, but for now I will not jinx them.
Speaking of summer, I have quite a few plans as of now. I will be planning and directing a camp at my school for the first week or two of summer. I then am going to Umpire for the Ukrainian Little League tournament. I am beyond excited to umpire again and get to spend a few weeks helping out and watching baseball. After that I am not exactly sure, I will most likely work at my town’s local camp (same place I lived last year for the summer). Toward the end of July I will take students to two Ecology camps and a few students to an English Camp. When those camps are finished I will head to the capital to meet my mom. I am beyond excited that she is able to visit. So far we have planned to visit Kiev, Fastiv (where I trained and have the best Ukrainian family), the Black Sea, and then to my home here in Pryvillya for the first day of school.
Ukrainian’s weather is finally coming around. It has warmed up a lot but the cold breeze is still hanging on with all of its mite. However the change of weather and the longer days have been a godsend. The difference 4 more hours of light a day does for a person is amazing. So yea, I have been enjoying the weather greatly.
I also was able to travel to Istanbul about a month ago with my good friends Mike and Craig. The trip there was great. The city has 15 million people and tons of history to it. The night life was a ton of fun and the people were great. Istanbul was also where I got to watch the health care bill finally pass (nothing like staying up til 5 am with Mike and a bottle of wine watching CSPAN online) I will post pictures next time I have real internet. Not much else going on in my life, I am happy to say that I have quit smoking (yes the culture sucked me into its non healthy ways) but now that I can breathe again and am finally exercising again everyday, there is no going back. I have also started to spend my free time much more productively, studying Russian again and reading just about anything I can get my hands on. I recently finished two great books “Shock Doctrine” and “Game Change.” I am currently reading “The World is Flat;” a somewhat dated account of globalization by N.Y. Times contributor Thomas Friedman. So personally that is what is going on, I have slowed my life way down which is somewhat boring but way better, learning and teaching on as much as possible.
As for Ukraine, the country continues to transition from its recent Presidential election. The country recently elected a Yanukovich, a Pro Russia candidate who is from the Eastern Part of the country. It was a big decision for Ukraine, to basically elect a President that wanted to rebuild relations with Russia, as opposed to the opposition who were strong pro West. It will be interesting to see what all takes place over the next year, already the new ruling party extended Russia’s naval base lease on the Black Sea in exchange for a 30 percent discount on gas. This ruling lead to egg throwing and fist fights in the Parliament yesterday (check NY Times front page for details.) The country also is trying to work through budget reformatting, in order to get the rest of a 16.4 billion dollar IMF loan. Handcuffed by huge economic problems they are being forced to borrow money, however this may lead to the privatization of the water system and telecommunications, as well as a decrease in the minimum wage for Ukrainian workers. Needless to say big decisions ahead for the young country.
That is about all I have, not sure if that is 6 months worth but it will have to do. On a last and most important note my mother ruined the surprise of what sex my sister’s baby will be the other day, so I am proud to say I will be an Uncle to the future Tucker James. I am super excited for Tiffany and Tom, however I am not overly excited that Tom is a Packer fan and that I am going to have to battle for Tucker’s support. Hope everyone is well, I will post pictures as soon as I can.
Bob
My students and I at our Ecology Festival April 23 
Our school staff at a winery last Christmas 
Animals made by my students out of fruit and vegetables 
2nd formers at our schools New Years Party 
More from our Ecology festival, recycling relays
Went to Turkey with Mike (center) and Craig (right) 
Me and Mike and a Turkish guy after an amazing Turkish Bath 
In front of Sofia, once a Church, once a Mosque, Now a Museum 
My kids and I at our schools New Years Celebration
