19 September 2013
I didn’t feel that well this morning, so I didn’t have much
breakfast, which looked really good (eggs, ham, cheese, granola, yogurt). Then
the whole group when to our first meeting which was a welcome meeting, talk
about money, a talk from the Country Director (who gave us his tips for
survival in the Peace Corps and gave us some things to remember).
After that, I had my medical meeting, where I signed some
forms, gave one of the PCMOs (Peace Corps Medical Officer) my information, and
got the Typhoid vaccine. Then I got my medical kit, which will fit no where in
any of my suitcases. It’s huge, and very well stocked. I had well over an hour
before the next meetings – our money and our photos for our official papers –
and lunch, so I tried to nap. Never fell asleep, but felt rested afterwards. We
got our money (for our first month, a cell phone, and for our host family). We
also got a picture taken, so that we could have our registration pushed along. Lunch
was good, some sort of cabbage soup and a beet salad. I ate some of the soup,
which was very good.
After lunch, the group learning Russian went to their “All
PST in a Nutshell” meeting, where we heard from the DMO, learned the
expectations about TEFL, and key policies enforced by PC. The DMO (Director of
Management and Operations), Dan Chang, is in charge of administrative
operations (bank accounts, ATMs, direct deposits, making sure we get our
equipment, making sure the medical department is well stocked, renting
facilities for training, and working with computers). Our TELF (Teaching
English as a Foreign Language) coordinator, T*., is responsible for the Russian
speaking half of Ukraine, and helping to identity sites for future PCVs (Peace
Corps Volunteers), and make sure that they meet the PC standards. She also
makes sure that we understand the purpose and goals of PC TELF Ukraine.
We learned how PC Ukraine plans to teach us what we need to
know – Language (Russian), how to be a TEFL teacher – in 11 weeks! Basically,
hands-on (host family), internships, planning lessons, starting English clubs
at the local schools, and co-teaching or team teaching. We learned that we will
be linked to another cluster, and that we will be taking public transport to
that cluster 2x/month. We also learned the key points necessary to be a PCV –
no drugs, respect the rules on alcohol, stay safe, blog safety, confidentiality
protection, politics, leave time, and what the PC are doing in response to the
rape scandal.
After a quick break (run up to the room, put down some
things, run back), our cluster (5 PCTs) headed to our Russian class, taught by
V*. We learned some important things about the language, went over the alphabet
many times, learned key words and phrases, and practiced them.
After our Russian class, we had our Cluster announcements,
where we were told where we were going, and how the clusters would be linked. A
cluster has language classes in cluster, but cross-cultural and technical
training with our link cluster, in one of our towns. Each link has 1 Ukrainian
group and 1 Russian group.
We will be meeting our host families tomorrow. Their English
levels will vary family to family. We are told to remember that they are
excited to meet us, that they are welcoming us into their homes, and (hopefully)
into their hearts. We learned that we have a long bus ride to our town, which
is situated directly between Chernihiv and Kyiv.
Next was dinner. A sliced fresh tomato and half a raw bell
pepper was the first course, followed by chicken and what the table thought was
barley. The chicken was a little bland, but otherwise dinner was very good.
After dinner, we had an optional session – “Introduction to
Ukrainian Mentality” – where we learned about important years in Ukrainian
history, and how that effects the Ukrainian people today. Ukraine is both
ancient (Kyiv celebrated it’s 1530th anniversary this year) and
brand new (it’s been independent for 22 years). We learned about the
revolutions, the famines, the wars, the purges, Chernobyl, the fall of the
Soviet Union, and the rocky road to independence.
We were told that we are not supposed to be guests in our
host families house, but family. We need to help them do chores, and help in
the garden. We will meet them tomorrow.
*Name redacted.
*Name redacted
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