Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Isolated

It's been a while. ..well, it seems that way to me. Time moves slowly when you start a new life. There is much to learn and each day is thoroughly lived. That's not to say there's no time off, but time spent away from study and work is still not spent away from culture. Please do not take that as a complaint. Life here is as good as it is different. I have been placed in a village called Hermanivka. It is over 900 years old and claims 3000 residents. We are 2 hours out of Kiev and 30 minutes from Obuhiv (the closest proper town). There are five of us here. We are in school 6 days a week (5 for language and 1 for teaching) It is a 20 minute walk for most of us to our teacher's house. It is made through sound and smoke. The roosters alert us to wake, study, and sleep. Since it will soon be time to farm, each plot keeps a pile of burning leaves, branches and/or trash that has been cleared from the fields. The village pearl is the gymnasium (specialty school) It is a historical building (100 years) known for producing historical people. In a few weeks we will teach there.

My family is not rich, but their warmth and hospitality is not something money can buy. The father is an electrician and the mother works the grounds at the gymnasium which the daughter attends. They know no English and my Ukrainian is lacking. A month from now I hope we can have a conversation.

Identity Theft

It is stange to have so much routine taken away. It's difficult to imagine being without something you've had your entire life. You think that what you do is what defines you.. but when it is all taken away and replaced, then just who do you become?

Distilled to your basics and as vulnerable as you are, you can choose to either hibernate until you again find known comfort (internet, running water, language), or you can forge foreward and find comfort in new places. If I wish to survive here with a smile, then I must seek new comfort. I'll let you know when I find it.

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