Dear ___________,
If you're reading this after 6:30 PM MDT on Saturday, then I am either in an airplane flying far away from Ukraine or even already home. What?! Did the past four months even happen? It all seems so surreal. Yet nothing seems more real than the past four months.
I really don't know how to describe my experience here. Not well, at least. But let me try.
Arriving here, I don't think I experienced any culture shock. The food was mostly potatoes cooked in a million different ways, so my stomach could handle that. The weather was very similar to what I left at home in Idaho, except a little more humid. I guess my skin did freak out for the first two weeks, but it was nothing that a whole bunch of moisturizer couldn't handle. Learning the public transportation was nerve racking for me, but it became second nature in no time. Just think of it this way: if you never use it, you'll never be comfortable with it.
At first, teaching was extremely difficult for me. There were 4 and 5 year olds running around everywhere and they didn't understand what I was saying! But if you write lesson plans (yes, a total drag, I know, but absolutely worth it) and listen to advice from your head teacher, you will improve. It might take some time, but teaching is just like anything else in life, you have to practice to be good at it. When it comes to writing lesson plans, Pinterest is your best friend. I don't care if you're a dude. Get over the idea that Pinterest is a female only social media site, and use it. I planned maybe two or three lessons without Pinterest. For cereal. Use it.
Don't be scared of your kids. I was so worried that they would hate me, or be scared of me, or just wouldn't listen. But these kids want to love you. They're just waiting for some little, teeny-tiny indication that you might be interested in them, and they will love you. Like, dog pile hugs that knock you to the floor love. You can be strict and serious (actually, I really recommend that tactic) and they will still love you. Although I came here for the vacations and break from real life, my kids became my favorite part of this experience. They are what I am already missing and probably crying about as I fly away from Ukraine.
Host families are another thing I worried about. I got stuck with the best host mom ever, and anyone who knows Olia would agree with me. But that's not always the case. You might get placed with a family who isn't interested in you at all, except for when you come home each month with the money for them. You might get to live with a family who is really really well off, or you could be living with people who live in conditions beneath what you are accustomed to. How this aspect of your experience goes is completely up to you. My advice, have the mindset that this is a growing experience. Growing isn't always painless or fun. But this is your chance to learn about a culture and people not your own. And that means dealing with the weird bathrooms and lack of normal showers.
I had no idea how big of an impact my group would have on my experience. But when you think about it, these 6-10 people are the people you will probably spend the majority of your time with. You teach with them, you live with some of them, you hang out with them, you go to church with them, you go on vacations with them... It's hard to perfectly mesh that many different people together, but it's just like the rest of you life will be; you need to be mature and keep an open mind. Don't let first impressions and assumptions rule your opinion of someone. These people could become some of you best friends. Or not. Communication is key.
You are in a foreign country, eating foreign food, and spending 15-20 hours a week with children. Children who never wash their hands after using the bathroom. Children who hug you, sneeze on you, cough on you, and wipe their noses on you. Take Vitamin C and immune boosters as much as you can. Actually, just become a living orange. And know that you will get sick. Probably more than once. Also, you might get a worm. Even if you don't get a worm, your insides will probably not feel normal. It's not like you eat a healthy, balanced diet with regular exercise. Just be aware that your body rhythms will probably get off track.
This was a growing experience. I was stretched and pulled in ways that I didn't think possible. I've learned more about myself that I definitely wouldn't have learned if I had stayed at home. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to come to Ukraine and for all the people who helped me get here. I am also so thankful to be an American citizen; you really can't fathom what a blessing that is until you spend an extended amount of time somewhere else. It truly is the Promised Land.
Peace out, Ukraine!
I had no idea how big of an impact my group would have on my experience. But when you think about it, these 6-10 people are the people you will probably spend the majority of your time with. You teach with them, you live with some of them, you hang out with them, you go to church with them, you go on vacations with them... It's hard to perfectly mesh that many different people together, but it's just like the rest of you life will be; you need to be mature and keep an open mind. Don't let first impressions and assumptions rule your opinion of someone. These people could become some of you best friends. Or not. Communication is key.
You are in a foreign country, eating foreign food, and spending 15-20 hours a week with children. Children who never wash their hands after using the bathroom. Children who hug you, sneeze on you, cough on you, and wipe their noses on you. Take Vitamin C and immune boosters as much as you can. Actually, just become a living orange. And know that you will get sick. Probably more than once. Also, you might get a worm. Even if you don't get a worm, your insides will probably not feel normal. It's not like you eat a healthy, balanced diet with regular exercise. Just be aware that your body rhythms will probably get off track.
This was a growing experience. I was stretched and pulled in ways that I didn't think possible. I've learned more about myself that I definitely wouldn't have learned if I had stayed at home. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to come to Ukraine and for all the people who helped me get here. I am also so thankful to be an American citizen; you really can't fathom what a blessing that is until you spend an extended amount of time somewhere else. It truly is the Promised Land.
Peace out, Ukraine!
I think it's great that you had such an open mind about this trip and had the courage to go. Glad you had such amazing experiences.
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