What to blog about...

I'm a bit under the weather right now which is why there was no post yesterday.  So...today's post is going to be all sorts of randomness, including some iphone pics I've taken the past few days (because I've been too lazy to get out a real camera).  

I know my brother loves seeing shirts and other things in Ukraine that have things written in English.  On Monday, I went to school #14 here in k-grad with Olena (counterpart).  She was going to do an activity with a class on Euroclub which is one of the things she is in charge of at work.  I'm still not exactly what Euroclub actually is...hopefully will be able to tell you soon.  However, she wanted me to go and speak about government in the United States.  I, Lydia Frost, who has no interest in politics when talking with someone face to face, let alone to a class of students who don't know English very well.  I told her I would go and see what level they were.  As it turned out, we ended up in a performance hall with about 60 or 70 students from 5th grade to 10th grade.  Needless to say, I didn't talk about government (thank goodness).  I did a brief chat about what I'm doing here with Peace Corps, where I was from in the states, etc...and about 15 kids had their cell phones out taking pictures of me or videoing my speech.  Too funny.  But, back to the picture above.  This kid stood in front of me for a good 20 minutes doing an activity and I stared as his shirt trying to make out what some of the sentences (if you could call them sentences?) said.  They made no sense whatsoever.  So, I slyly got out my iphone to take a picture...barely captured this, when another kid came over and asked me how much my iphone cost.  Iphones are incredibly expensive here in Ukraine...and it makes me feel guilty to get it out and have kids see that I have one.  However, they're also incredibly intrigued by them, so it usually ends up that they are just curious and want to touch it (ew, germs).  Don't worry, I wipe it down once I get back to my office and disinfect my hands too.  Ah, the joys of working with kids... :)

On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, I had my first introductory English Club meetings.  The main idea was to meet anyone who showed interest; I also wanted to have a conversation with each individual to see where their English level was.  I've observed and taught in too many classes since I've been here to know that even though all the kids are in 7th form, they do not have the same English skills.  I decided I would be more than willing to do lots of English club levels as long as the kids and adults were interested in learning.  That may kill me in the long run and I may change my idea somewhere on down the line, but right now, I'm going with it (mainly because I have no schedule whatsoever and need something to fill my time with).  Tuesday was for adults and Wednesday was for kids.  I think I had 14 adults come and I'm not even sure how many kids...however, I'll tell you about my favorites :)

The schedule and information that is now posted on my office door.

On Monday and Tuesday, I had a few different mothers and babushkas come in with their child or grandchild who happened to be 5 or 6 years old.  The purpose?  They want their kid to start learning English before they even go to school.  These kids are ADORABLE.  Olena looked at me like I'm crazy to want to teach these little munchkins, and I probably am...but if I can teach them a few things and get them interested in the language, why not?  Another plus is the fact that these kids have about the same Russian level as I do.  Awesome :)  And they speak slowly and annunciate...two things that I fully appreciate in a Russian speaker.  It's a win-win situation!  There are 5 of them that will come on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 am.  That time may kill me...I'll let you know after our first meeting next week.

In other news, I got my SECOND care package from my parents.  My mom not so sneakily asked me how often I go to the post office and I said...it's out of the way.  I only go there if I know something is waiting for me.  I might go there once a week to check, but it's highly disappointing to walk all the way there and come home empty handed.  She was being very awkward about it though, and said, "Well some people might want it to be a surprise!"  Ha.  Good job mom :)  I haven't told her that I kind of figured it out then...but I was ecstatic to walk to the post office and find something I'd been waiting for since I moved into my apartment here in Kirovograd...

a bath pillowwwwwww :)

I know that may seem like a trivial thing, and it is, but I feel the need to justify it.  I have looked high and low here in k-grad and in Kiev and other places I've been.  Apparently, no one takes baths here for relaxing!  Strictly business.  So, I've been begging my parents to send one...and the nagging paid off.  Voila!  There are three things you should know about my tub before you judge me for wanting a bath pillow:

1)  It is metal.  Therefore, it is very, very, VERY cold.  I literally had to give myself a pep-talk every time I decided I would try to relax and lean back, bracing myself for the freezing metal.
2)  The back of it is completely straight, meaning it's not exactly meant for lounging.
3)  I have to sing the Kit-Kat song every time before I turn on the shower...oh wait, that's another one of my friends who will remain nameless :)

Okay, so really just two :)  The other thing you should know about my bathtub is that I now take bucket baths.  I had a wand attachment, but it decided to spring a leak two months ago.  After flooding my bathroom a few times (and neglecting to tell Catharine when she came to my apartment this past weekend not to use the nozzle...), I now use one of my kitchen bowls {strictly as a bathtub bowl} to dump on my head when I wash my hair.  I use the phrase, "when I wash my hair," because I've discovered that I can now go three days without shampooing.  I also feel like I need to explain myself on this note because you people in America are probably judging me right now....however, I'm going to save that post for tomorrow.  I promise, it will come with a picture you won't want to miss.  Three words: old dance recital.

I'm going to make another cup of tea (so Ukrainian...) and watch more reality tv.  The only thing that would make this better is if I had my bed from home...here in Ukraine.

OH, and a special shout out to Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Frost for the pictures and Halloween card I got today.  My kids will love seeing an American Halloween card!  We're going to do a Halloween party at English clubs after Halloween...go figure!  Night night blog world.