Update Email

This is an email I sent about a month ago. It's my most recent update and, since most people reading this blog probably got the email, I'm adding it just really for my own benefit to recap before writing the second half of blogs.

Hi all,

I am sending you this email because you’ve shown interest in my Beyond Borders experience. Since I have recently passed the half way mark, I figured it is about time I let you know what I’m up to. I hope you will enjoy the glimpse of Ukraine I am sending you in the descriptions below and the related https://picasaweb.google.com/111885642834451600425/AGlimpseOfUkraine?authkey=Gv1sRgCKm4hveB4on6kAE#. If you would like a more entertaining version with day-to-day rtials, thoughts and funny stories, please visit my blog, http://jlvanden2011.blogspot.com/

Strong roots make for a messy transfer.

My first week in Ukraine is characterized by motion sickness, projective vomit and heartache.

I knew learning a language and alphabet to match would be difficult but I significantly underestimated this challenge. The Ukranian alphabet contains some letters that look and sound like English ones, some that look but don’t sound like (backwards) English ones, and some symbols and sounds that were totally new to me. When looking at a written page, it seemed like the Ukranian letters danced around, daring me to read them and translate the meaning of the string of sounds. When, on my first day of school,  I was bombarded with new symbols, words, reading (school was much more intense than I expected), plus new food (a normal amount but less than I am used to), and a very crowded bus, it seems pretty reasonable that I felt nauseous. I hadn’t been in Ternopil for 32 hours and I was already projectile vomiting all over my bedroom floor! My physical symptoms kept me up all night and my heartache over being away from loved ones kept the tears rolling. I did make it though the night, though, and got myself to school the next day. I seemed to have missed that ‘honeymoon’ stage of cultural adaptation to Ukraine as I was ill and homesick for most of the week. However, I pushed on, hoping this placement would get easier and knowing I would complete it either way. This is when I really noticed that both running and listening to music are my preferred coping strategies. I continue to cherish the ways that hobbies, such as sports and music, are able to unite people globally.

I had been doing my best to enjoy the Ukranian culture since I arrived, but it was the Sunday that brought to life for me a huge positive aspect of Ukranian culture: religion. Here, the church is packed more tightly with people and emotion  weekly than the Air Canada Centre would be if it saw another NHL  playoff game. No matter the religion, this is refreshing thing to see coming from a community where religion is often a cautious topic and where places of worship are seldom full. Gatherings like that make me happy because they are an opportunity for people to set aside their own daily struggles to connect with others, forming community. Community is something I value and miss deeply so it was a relief to find that community does exist here too.

 Stadium: Where I run, work out, and feel community

Doing okay

At first, I tried really hard not to be a tourist – I just wanted to jump in and live the Ukranian way. However, I really am a foreigner and people feel the need to treat me as a guest. Even in school here, I was enrolled in a Ukranian language and culture course so naturally my days were filled with culture-crash-course activities like the traditional sightseeing and crafts. It was useful to learn the history and how this culture came to be but somehow sport seemed to be left out of the culture aspect. Thus, I (the personal trainer in me) took it upon myself to take note of work-out regimes (many on outside monkey bars), and watch the locals play soccer. I’d odd for women to join in to any sport here so I managed to stay on the sidelines and do my own thing -while thinking about and appreciating the recreational sport available to women in Canada. The soccer field is near a set of monkey bars so I had (and still have) the luxury of enjoying  spontaneous high-bar routines. It seems like soccer and gymnastics are Ukraine’s version of pond hockey.

Survival Ukraine

Beyond Borders is more than a field term. Besides fundraising and logistical preparations, I was required to take two Religion/Humanities courses for emotional and intellectual preparation. Throughout the year that these courses took place, I was reminded to let the experience be what it is – to not try to change things and to just accept, understand, and learn the culture through experiencing it. Well, I really wanted to learn about the culture by experiencing it – I wanted to get my hands dirty, to share the successes and turmoils of daily Ukranian life. After a few weeks,  I realized that it is  impossible for me, a Canadian – and thus an educated, wealthy guest in Ukraine – to truly be treated equally. I also struggled trying to find a healthy diet, organizing a time to exercise, and wondering if I was spending enough time with people to understand their lifestyle (or if perhaps the luxury of internet at my home as cutting into socializing time). Then, I came to the conclusion that I will not live or understand fully the life of a Ukranian people because I could never meet them all, experience what they’ve experienced or have the matching mindset that has been passed through generations. It was about the third week in when I decided to do what I need to in order to stay happy and healthy, while being engaged in whatever experiences that come my way. My courses have advised me to know and partake in cultural norms but I think I took that statement to the extreme. I don’t worry about fitting in in Canada so why should I believe I need to fit in in Ukraine? I bring what I can to Ukraine by being myself and will take whatever lessons crop up.

"Divchatas"

Lessons that have cropped up (not emailed)

Detail actually is important:

I am usually a big picture person that would rather know the main idea and figure the rest out on the fly. I cook without measuring tools, rarely match my shoes to my outfit, and would rather derive a formula than memorize it. In Ukraine, a culture where rules are still usually dictated, things are to be done the way they have been and are supposed to be. For example, no matter their income or activity, people are supposed to look respectable – right down to their high heels or freshly polished loafers. The crafts, whether they be meticulasly waxed easter eggs or beaded clothing, only come together after hours of detail-work. After seeing these masterpieves that can only come out of the extra care and time of detail-work, I am learning to appreciate these little touches.

Communication, trust and time are essential to relationships:

It has been a struggle to make friends here because of the language barrier but, though time and other methods of communication, I have become friends with a few people. Even though we cannot all converse, noticing how they react to different situations has helped me get to know them and I trust when I can predict these patterns. I have had ample time to get to know people here and trust many to act to their personalities but it is the lack of verbal communication that really stalls the process. I truly cherish the relationships that I am a part of at home and recognize communication, trust and time as important building blocks for them.

                                                                                        Tutors and Field Trips

On the way to the Carpathians

Kamianets-Podilskyi, L’Viv, Kiev and the Carpathian Mountains are a few of the various sights and cities I have visited with my tutors and classmates this summer. Through our gallivanting experiences, I have discovered that what I like most about travelling is the natural and athletics-related activities, the food (as long as I don’t get sick from it), and the people I encounter. My tutors, classmates, and I have become friends through sheer time spent together and I enjoy growing closer through discussions, humor and shared experiences.

Internat

Luba helped me find my Centre of Mass :)

Internat is the reason I am in Ukraine and I am excatic to have funally begun volunteering here! After travel preparations, and then the language training with culture shock and very little information about my placement, I am relieved to be doing what I have looked so foreward to.

Before I began volunteering at at Internat, this is the extent of the information I knew about the organization:

-         Internat is an orphanage for disabled women and children

-         Some live there because they have no parents, some parents do not have the resources to take care of their children, and some girls are unwanted by their families – particularly due to their disability.

-         The placement is extremely emotionally draining

-         The girls like taking pictures

-         I would need to jump through a lot of hoops to do anything out of the ordinary with the girls

-         Not everyone would be pleased that I am there

-         The goal of this Beyond Borders placement is to bring a little light, hope and fun into the lives of the women/girls there

I was not sure which ages I would be most involved with or which abilities/disabilities I would encounter, but I kept an open mind by preparing for the worst while hoping for the best. I was excited, nervous and curious about what my experiences would be – would my daily activities include helping with hygiene or leading summer camp?

 Well, Internat is a cleanly place with gardens, a playground, shared bedrooms, gym class and decent food. Some of the residents struggle with activities of daily life whereas others appear to be normal functioning individuals. Although I don’t always agree with their techniques, staff and residents take care of discipline issues. My roles is to simply be a mentor and friend.

I wouldn’t say living at internat is ideal for these young women but , from what I have seen, it’s better than I imagined. I hope that as Ukraine develops as a country, so do its resources for social services. Until then, I will help the days pass and teach/learn what I can thgough sports, crafts, and general quality time.

Week at camp

  Some of the older girls were allowed to go to summer camp this past week and, since camp has been such a huge part of my life, I was really excited for these girls to have this opportunity.  

 Walking the Stations of the Cross at Zarvonisky

I was also excited because Brieanne (my Beyond Borders classmate) and I were also welcome. The camp turned out to be a Greek Catholic overnight camp close to the Zarvonisky (Mother of God) Cathedral. All week, we did crafts, played games, worshipped, ate well and napped. Our time at camp was a fantastic opportunity to get to know the girls on another level. At Internat, there is a group of older girls who often keep to themselves, but they were totally in their element as leaders at camp! One of the highlights of my week as seeing one of these girls, who is usually quiet, let loose and enjoy herself as a leader at mass, mother-hen at dinner time, and fun-loving kid during the rest of the day. This new environment seemed to freshen up the girls and leave them smiling. It was amazing to see that spark of excitement in their eyes!

On a more personal level, I am happy to have learned more about my own religion through my experience with this one.

Camp was great, as always, and it’s the people who made it so. Thank you!

Coming Up

I still have ~ 4 weeks until I go home and have much more to experience! Coming up, I hope to make ‘goop’ and play more outside sports with the girls at Internat. Outside of Internat, Brieanne and I are planning a trip to Poland to renew our visas. I would also like to visit the Black Sea, if possible.

I enjoy traveling, especially because it reminds me how sweet home is. I hope you are enjoying what Canada has to offer!

Take care,

Jess V

Braids

Here in Urkaine, I can’t help but notice how everyone seems to have their own style and how that’s perfectly okay. For example, if I wanted to wear a semi-formal dress to school one day followed by short-shorts and other ‘beachwear,’ and traditional Ukranian outfit the next, that would be perfectly fine. Additionally, people in their fancy dresses don’t think twice about hanging out with beachgoers or those who look like they’re wearing their grandma’s Sunday best. I think people in North America could learn a lot from this boldness – embrace yourself and stand out a little. We’re all different anyway and we all go through different phases and moods so we might as well show it.

What unites all these looks is the care taken to acquire them, from fantastic shoes on their feet all the way up to the many species of braids in their hair.

I’ve never been one to wear stilettos up loose cobblestone hills but these women do it with ease – and have the calves to prove it. (Maybe I should open up a physio practice here – I’m sure I could have a career’s worth of knee, ankle and back ailments to keep me busy!) The braid are a little bit more functional: with practice, they don’t take too long and they keep your hair out of your face. However, I think I originally overrated these braids . . .

At the orphanage (that’s not exactly just an orphanage) - Internat – the girls enjoy having their hair braided and doing the braids. Since I’ve never had my whole head braided, I asked if they wanted to braid my hair. Now, I won’t call that a mistake because it was definitely a learning opportunity, but I will say that it will not be happening again. Brace yourself - here is the resultant blackmailing fuel, for your viewing pleasure: