Relatives and Neighbors

Amidst exams, graduations, and flowers, I was able to get away for a few days. I had a doctors appointment and meeting in Kyiv right after a Burty visit so I got an unplanned long weekend. Drew was in Burty with his American dad, his real dad. Jim Ireland is an awesome guy. He showed up ready to feast and listen and laugh. My kind of guy. It was so great to watch everyone in Burty react to his presence with great joy and welcoming arms. I know for Drew it was a beautiful, moving moment to have his two families come together and love being together. I was honored to be there. To sit and listen and laugh alongside. When our group first arrived in town back in September, we were stared at and talked about due to being so new, so different. But now, people are totally chill with foreigners wandering around to say, "Wow, look at that!" I love Burty. I love everything and everyone. I love the way they have adapted enough to allow visitors into their culture while introducing these visitors to what it means to be a real "Ukrainian'. Not those city folks. Real village, farming, rambling, working, dancing, singing, laughing folk. 

While in Burty, I got to celebrate my sweet friend's, Yulia, graduation from college, watch a community concert in which Grace, Ryan, and Vanessa sang and danced all Ukrainian like, eat dinner with a few amazing families, paint the school's gym, and, of course, let Mama Olea put me to good use in her field and kitchen and running her errands. Every day in Burty feels like a week. So much happens. Being in Burty is like going to bed exhausted and achy but waking up in a warm, soft bed. It's pure comfort and security. It's something one never wants to leave. Each visit deepens in meaning and emotion. Each departure is becoming vastly more difficult. 

Maxim, Drew, Grace, and I at Yulia's party 

Saturday Morning with the Boys 

At Mama Olea's House 

Grace, Mama Olea, Drew, Jim, and Luda (PC teacher) 

Guitar Traditions 

Dima showed off his best version of 'Mad World' 

Packing up all the treats to send to Texas. 

Slightly nerve racking. 

The Boys. 

Two Families Together! 

Wandering around town with Yulia 

Pond Swimming. (something scared Roman just a bit) 

Helping in the Garden

Baba Tonya's Backyard

My Best Papaw Friend. 

Baba Tonya: I adore this woman with a fierce passion. She taking care of her farm and family. She's tiny yet mighty. Her hands have scars, burns, and blisters. I want my hands to look more like her. She has earned her hands. 

Neighbor who dropped to ask why I wasn't having dinner with him. During my next visit, we will fix that problem. 

Dasha and Uyla decided they wanted to wave 'Hello' to America.  

Ryan, Jenny, Vanessa, and Grace being real good PCVs. 

This guy would hardly speak to us during English classes in the Fall. Now, he is volunteering to help out and be involved in PC activities. I am so proud of the progress Burty is making. 

Dinner at Ryan's House: Three Generations, Twelve People, One House! 

Sasha's Homemade Yoga. He is now accepting students. 

Graduation Bells

When the Ukrainian school year comes to a close, I've discovered, the process takes about a month. A month of Last Bells (aka Last Days), graduations ceremonies, parties, exchanging toasts and flowers, grading, recording grades, and delivering grades to homes. I've put all the photo from these events together in this entry to help summary the past few weeks. I've happy to report teachers get flowers at all of these events so my bedroom is vastly more vibrant than before and the celebrations gave me a reason to go shopping and buy up a few real Ukrainian dresses. 

The 11th form is the first class to have their Last Bell and Graduation. Schools here don't have a 12th form so after 11th form kids go to college or to work. In my village, the percentage is about fifty-fifty. At the 11th form Last Bell, they all entered down our double staircase into the three story lobby which creating quite a setting for such an event. They were speeches, awards, well wishes, and lots of tears. Of course, I found myself quietly weeping behind my lens due to the realization that so many of these amazing kids will leave our village in a few weeks and I don't know when I will see them again. Since everyone else was crying too, I rationalized that my tears were simply furthering my integration.  I never taught the 11th form so I was able to become a friend figure to them. A few of the girls promised me on my first day at school - I arrived at site right before the holiday season - that they would celebrate the holidays with me so I wouldn't have to be lonely. They kept their promise. 

The 11th form graduation was a huge evening. EVERYONE is town showed up. No joke. Our House of Culture/Music Club was overflowing with people who mostly had to stand up during the 3 hour ceremony. All three of the households I have live with attended. It was wonderful to see all of them in the same place since they aren't in the same social circles and otherwise that would never happen. At once point, I was surrounded by multiple babas (about 6) who I have either lived with or been neighbors with. They were chatting away about how my dress looked, how clean my hair was, when I will starting dating, what I ate that day, etc. It was awesome. I adore Baba attention. All the students were introduced as 'Prince' or 'Princess'. The younger students performed songs and dances and gave small speeches thanking everyone for being such an example at school. Again, awards were given out. All the parents went all stage with their children to receive praise for raising such kind and smart students. When the students walked off the stage, they were smothered with flowers, kisses, and candies from family, friends, and neighbors. The girls received more flowers than they could hold. Some students had to have both parents flanking them to keep all their goodies together. The 11th formers also gave out gifts and gratitude to their teachers and parents. They choreographed a dance which included a waltz, a jazz circle, and lifts. The Star Wars theme song played as our directors took the stage to say final words and Ricky Iglesias led the graduates out of the hall. I have never seen such. When the graduation was finally over at 11pm, the students and parents invited all the teachers to celebrate at school. We ate and toasted for about an hour before I noticed the students sneaking away. My fellow English teacher, Kati, suggested we get some fresh air. 

Little did I know, right outside, there was a massive DJ stand, all 11th formers and their siblings dancing away. The other teachers and parents joined us shortly after. There were dancing circles all over the parking lot. Fireworks blazed though the air. All I could do was stand in awe and surprise. My high school graduation was memorable but nowhere near this evening. I danced from circle to circle - with parents, with friends, with my squealing 6th form girls - until 4 am. I went home early. The core of the crowd stayed until dawn. They were still eating and cleaning until the next afternoon. Among the dancing and singing and pounding bass, I was told my parents and students I am their 'American daughter' or 'foreign sister'. One father told me, "You are a miracle to us. You will give our children a chance." It would be nice to think I deserve such praise but I don't. What I do everyday is only a little of my school and my village needs. I'm not a miracle. I'm just a crack in the ice. A crack that, I hope, will spread and cause some serious change in the future. I love these people. Being swung from papa to papa during a folk dance or twirling with my little ones or practicing grammar during slow dances was the most fun I've had in this country. 

After the 11th form celebrations ended, our school got serious about testing and exams. The 9th form finished up soon and got their exams knocked out. My Ukrainian cousin, Ira, had her 9th form graduation on Wednesday. Many of the 9th formers choose to go to a technical school rather than return to normal school in 10th form. Some 9th formers are lucky enough to start college early. So they had a graduation too! The girls looked like super models while the mothers wept during a song to their kids. After tying their future dreams via a gold ribbon to a tree in the school yard, we had another celebration meal. Lucky for me, this one didn't last all night. 

Also, the 4th form had their 'leaving elementary school' graduation. They did some crazy choreography about their wild ways - 4th form is the toughest to teach but some of the sweetest kids - sang, danced, and looked all grown up in their suits and massive ball gowns. Especially at 11 am on a Monday! 

Lastly in this entry, my school had our Last Bell ceremony. (First Bell is also a big thing I will experience in September) It takes place outside since the weather is usually nice. We weren't so lucky this year. I borrowed a few coats from people but still went inside afterwards with blue lips. No joke. My lips were blue due to such extreme chill over 2 hours in the wind. Oh well. I'm just some brazen now. My fellow English teacher, Kati, received an award for being a Dignified English Teacher in our region. She was completely surprised and not sure how to control her excitement when most our students surrounded her with hugs and roses. Kati works long hours every day, doing everything with precise and creative flair. She earned every single rose and much more. I am so proud of her! Our students danced and sang all the traditional songs including a few songs about how great summer is. Finally, the shiny, silver bell rang for 10 seconds and we all got to go home! 

Enjoy all the photos! 

11th formers entering the lobby to start their Last Bell. 

Bringing out the Ukraine and Syhnayivka flags. 

The girls starting to get a little emotional. 

The younger students saying 'Good-bye' via jazz step. 

Hugging Ina and Okcana one more time.
I met these girls just a few days before American Christmas and when they realized the important of the day, they invited to visit them with the promise, "We will be your family for that."

11th From Graduation

Misha in 10th form looking very Ukrainian and very grown up. 

Dima in 5th form (right) going to town on his French horn. 

Ina and Roman accepting bread to bless their futures. 

Everyone looking like models. 

Ina and her array of gifts. 

Alina got lotsa of kisses! 

Roman got the more affection from younger students because he is always helpful to little people. 

Okcana was breathtakingly beautiful. 

A bit of Baba love! 

Thanking their families. 

The Waltz. 

Our headmaster finishing the evening with her final advice. 

The party begins! 

4th Form Graduation 

Crazy boys showing off what they really do in class. 

Valeria was brought into the room in style. 

A Thank You Mom song. 

They look so thrilled, right? 

Most of the families. 

  9th Form Graduation 

My little cousin, Ira, getting her gifts. 

The whole class. 

My extended Ukrainian family. 

Ira, Anna, Sveta, and Natsya being their supermodel selves. 

 Last Bell 

School and Village Administration starting the ceremony. 

Igor in 8th form was honored for his Oblast Judo Championship. 

A little dance on the cold, cold ground. 

Tanya in the 5th form (up top) finishing out the school year with a high note. 

Make a Photo Day

Throughout the school semester, I've held photo club sessions. The first one was a great session with an overflowing room of eager students. Soon after I realized they were only showing up to look at my photos, especially my photos of life in America. Not the worst thing ever but no one was actually taking pictures on their own. Turns out, most of them don't have cameras and/or access to computers. So I changed my game plan. I waited for the ice to melt and the rain to stop. When the sun appeared, I gathered up my 8th form girls - who are smart, trustworthy, and eager for anything - and invited them to a photo outing. The plan was to meet up during our May Day break and wander around. 

It was a grand success. I had four girls show up at my front door ready to go. None of them have cameras but, luckily, I have two. Pairs were made and cameras handed out. I'm not usually the type to just hand my cameras off to anyone and the girls were stunned when I shoved the large black boxes into their hands. Walking down the street to our village pond, they were coming to terms with the weight of it all. They carried the cameras like each piece was an infant. Gingerly and protectively. After putting all the settings on auto (figured for the first day this was best), giving a few instructions, and showing a few examples, I stood back to watch. I watched them climb trees, hide in bushes, lay in flower beds, jump off benches, etc. for about 5 hours while they captured as many frames of our village as they could. They mastered buttons and settings I gave no instruction about. Using each other and myself as models, everyone got to see what it felt like to be in a frame and to create a frame. Video was taken too. Interviews were made. It was amazing. 

The entire day was something I've hoped for since arriving in Syhnayivka nearly 5 months ago. Two of the girls that attended are girls I haven't had a good relationship with at school. They are sweet but sit on the side and prefer play with their cell phones over listening to me. On photo day, I had their complete attention. Our time in the classroom has greatly improved since. My favorite part was watching my girls hunker down or climb on things or do whatever they had to do to get the picture. They looked so serious yet funny while they worked. I have to laugh since I know I look just as silly when I work. As we worked our way across town, Yana Danilko said to me, "People look at us like we are crazy now." I smiled and said, "That's how they look at me every day." She replied, "Well that's because they don't know how cool this is." Once again, I love my job. 

Now, please enjoy a selection of frames from the Syhnayivka Photo Club. 

All the ladies at the lake.

Yana Keshanco felt a little overwhelmed at first! 

Photo of Yana Danilko by Sveta Lotisman 

Rolling through town. 

Photo of Yana and Yana by Sveta Lotisman

Sveta Lotisman working on some depth of field. 

A very happy teacher! 

Alona  Pachna working on a few details. 

And this is what she got! 

Alona multi-tasking like a pro! 

Yana Keshco mastered the action frame quickly. 

The ladies gladly documented my first ice cream of the season. 

Photo of Sveta Lotisman by Yana Danilko

I had a second photo outing a few days later with Sveta and Yana? due to their skill and willingness to learn. They are now experimenting with pushing and pulling aka changing the setting to places the setting shouldn't go. They like to make intentional blur. They like to find something happening on the street and follow it. I couldn't be more proud. I just need to find them a better model but until then, they gladly photograph me! 

The classic 'mirror portrait' a bit stirred up. 

Photo by Yana Danilko