Perpetual Change

Training Post Script – The Blue Bench

Yesterday, I noticed that the few planks that passed for a bench on the doorstep porch of my apartment building had been replaced with a bright blue bench. It is really nice and well loved, as I am sure the planks had been so loved and subsequently warn out. People, especially babusyas, sit often on the doorstep benches now that the weather is getting so nice. Everyone greets everyone. (My apartment building was built in Soviet times. My family was given it 16 years ago by the government and they claimed ownership during independence.) And the bench captures the sunnier, brighter mood that people have been in lately.

The English volunteers start their training in October. I am very glad that I was not in that group; it gets colder and darker every day for them. For us the weather continues to get better and better. We got the idea of what is to come next year, and we have 9 months to brace for it. If our language or nothing else is going well some day (or many) at least through no fault of our own, the weather will continue to get better.

The other major advantage of arriving in March is that winter takes the edge off the fishbowl effect. Everyone knows who we are and where we live, truly. My host mom is the vice principal of one of the three schools in town where she has worked for 12 years. Another host dad is the principle (and in Ukraine administrators also have a few classes to teach). And Kate’s internship is at the local community college (or similar equivalent), and one of her students called her home to invite her out; she hadn’t given anyone the number or name of her host family. But in winter at least people aren’t yet sitting on the apartment porch benches. The kids and babusyas are inside more and paying just a little bit less attention; so it is nice that as we see more people and are confronted by more questions, are language has made enough progress to allow us to answer.

Post Script to the Post Script.
PS. It seems that the English volunteers in country already have many summer camps planned and as new volunteers we are supposed to staff them, but I believe there may also be an opportunity for some of you to come work. They are volunteer positions for 1 or two weeks, so only your accommodations (and food) would be taken care of, but as you can see the exchange rate here is very good. Let me know if anyone is interested. Enthusiasm and you foreign cultural views are a much greater requirement than any prior experience.

posted by jjs @ 7:46 AM