And just like that

the school year is off and running
18.5 hours of teaching
environmental cleanup project
euroclub
ecoclub
lots to do, days getting shorter
lost our last soccer game
played poorly
out of shape and achilles shredded
skipped the end of the year party because i'm tired of people trying to make me drink
you would think that they would get it by now
home now because i've been in school for almost 10 hours
time for some bean soup

rain

pretty much got my apartment set up

lots of dust since it was not lived in for a while before me

trying to dry laundry in a one room apartment when it's been raining for 5 days and will for another 5 days is proving problematic

the laundry is becoming worse smelling than it was to start thanks to mold.

still no teaching schedule

we'll see on monday

still looking for tent

can't find any of the two models i want anywhere

maybe I will end up ordering one and sending it to liam

want to get some camping in when the babina summer starts (indian summer here is called grandma summer)

Apples are cheep now

got to make some apple stuff

I think trying to dry them would be futile

Blog block.

I have so many things to write about when I'm not around a computer or don't want to turn it on, but then when I want to write something, I have nothing to say. So, like any communicative situation when there's really nothing worth saying, I'll start with small talk.

         The old classic, weather. Every day this week is 50F and raining. The weather prognosis says there might be slight relief on Saturday. I have been on and off with running and the weather feels colder and wetter on days that I don't get my blood moving with a morning run.

         Achilles still hurting, got a prescription for physical therapy but haven't gotten over there to actually sign up. Part of me is waiting for a schedule because I want the therapy to be part of a routine, something that will fit with a disciplined life of stretching, yoga, abs, running and healthy eating. Why am I so dependant on routines?

         So how is work going? I don't have any work yet. Still waiting for a schedule. The assistant principle in charge of assigning me classes had a meeting in the district center on Tuesday, and a birthday party to go to yesterday, so, still waiting.

         Saw "The Barber of Seville" Rossini Opera in Lviv last night. No super musical skills, but good energy and pretty funny. My new phone works great for Ukrainian, but having some coding troubles getting internet. The only page I can access on my phone is facebook, and the only one I want is gmail. I'll get it fixed eventually, and then I'll get the bigger memory card to have 2gb of music and pictures. Look out ipod, you could be replaced. It's nice that the phone can read all types of music files, I can put them on and off without itunes, and get them from other people through Bluetooth. New gadgets are so fun.

         The internet at my school keeps getting better, so I am reluctant to pay for internet through my phone at home, even though I do want to figure it out, just to have the ability, especially if I decide to apply for grad school.

         Well there is about to be a class in this computer classroom, so maybe I'll go check one of the other two. Really hope I get the biology and health classes that I have been promised.

         Why can't I think of anything entertaining to write on this blog? I guess that I have grown accustomed to all things Ukrainian so that I no longer find them entertaining. They just are. My life just is, and why would anyone want to read about that? I really hope Nathaniel makes it out here on his Europe wanderings. Other than that, I really just need to start teaching so I have some stuff to work on. Starting to feel useless.

Still waiting for a schedule

In fact all of the teachers are still waiting for a concrete schedule
This is how it is every year, i'm told, everything is up in the air the first two weeks. It's not for want of trying, the asistant principles work late into the night. I just wonder why they bring the students back to wait through the disorganized half productive classes before anyone really knows what kids they will have during the semester. Patience

potato harvest time

Got my first chance to dig potatoes yesterday
i think that's where the term 'back breaking work' comes from
the constant bending over to pick up the potatoes is tiring
but it was nice to be out in the sun and wind working and being productive
I only worked for about 4 hours.
got about 50kg of potatoes
I got a lot of chaff for mentioning that potatoes came from South America
they then started listing off all the things that people from the Ukrainian part of the USSR invented or created.

Why do farmers burn their fields?
It seems so wasteful
can somebody explain?
It was one of my jobs yesterday to clear the field of all the previously mowed fallow and pile it up so that it could be burned. I don't understand. They need more nitrogen?

I noticed that many families hire a tractor to turn the field and then just go pick up the potatoes
I was glad that I got to do the actual hoeing, but even more glad that I don't have to bend over that many times every day
time for my bus...
josef

Who am I

to ask you why my new smaller and not as luxurious apartment costs the same as the giant super furnished twice as big great view one I had before?

Respectfully, let me explain.

As an American, I value honesty, openness and information.

Do I suspect you of asking the same price and then pocketing some on the side. I didn't, until you gave no reason why the price is the same, and refused to give me the phone number of the actual landlord, so all my interactions have to go through you. 

 

You and our school are supposed to provide housing free of charge, and PC will help pay for utilities. PC is not supposed to pay the full rent amount.  Why do you require the teachers I work with to buy gas, water and electricity. Do you really think it makes their life easier to work with me in the classroom? In effect they have to pay to work with me. Why can't you use some of the school's general funds.  Surely $6/month is not too much to ask? Of course what exactly those funds are for and how they are spent is also a mystery.  Why the secrecy? Because nobody else will stand up to you? Because the parents respect a strong leader and prefer order over fairness? I really don't understand the system. If you will tell me, I will believe you. I am a trusting person.

 

I hope you don't get too offended when you read this. It is not meant as a personal affront. It is meant as a cultural clarification to explain why I dare to ask such questions and be so upfront. I would be more comfortable if everything was out in the open.  This school is on the right track. The quality of our students and their achievments show that. I believe that we can achieve even more with an increase in openess, free idea exchange and flexibility. Not only in monetary matters, but in academics as well.  Your young and old Ukrainian teachers have valuable ideas. Are you willing to try new things? Willing to create a two way street?

 

Yes, this letter reflects my immaturity, and yes, I have no idea how things are done here, and I should really mind my own buisness and keep my mouth shut. If only I could...

 

PS, I managed to find out why the price was the same buy asking my host dad, who asked his wife, who asked the you, and the info eventually trickled back down to me. Thank you for aswering that the old apartment was actually much more expensive than we paid, we were just getting a deal because I was an American, and the new apartment we actually had to talk down the price to what we are paying now. Inflation in the housing market since we are so close to Lviv and people who work there can live here and commute. Get ready for Suburbia...

School has started, but I have not

I got a new phone which will let mу use gmail as soon as I set it up. It also understands Ukrainian, which means the end of blacked out texts. Goodnews. It may also let me get internet on my laptop if I use it as a modem. All these tricks require coordination between my mobile provider and the software on my phone which is sort of tricky because it is a brand new model, so my provider doesn't have the settings all worked out yet.

 

On sunday I missed a wide open goal from 2 meters out, just a supeк soft volley which the golie had no trouble blocking. It's better than slamming it over the cross bar, but still, come on. I'm pretty rusty, been skipping soccer practice because the less I play soccer the better my Achilles feels. I've been running this week and that seems to be helping my flexibility and the Achilles is no worse ofа for it. The auto correct feature on this version of MSword keeps making things into Russian words. Great.

 

First day of school was on Monday. Didn't prepare as much as I wanted, but I'll probably still have time this week seeing as I don't actually have a teaching schedule yet. In fact most teachers don't have a schedule yet, the kids are just getting their books, and man this would drive me crazy if I had any power.  Where is the efficiency, planning ahead and just do it attitude? Older americans say that stuff is slipping away in america too, but I am going to bring a boatload of it home with me, because it sure beats the alternative. Patience.