Happy Thanksgiving! By this time next year I could be home celebrating with all of you! Of course, it is much more likely that I will be traveling in Western Europe for a few weeks... but don't worry, either way I will be home Christmas next year :)
So... I'm spending a Thanksgiving in a bit of a "non-traditional" fashion, aka doing nothing. Peace Corps gave us today off from work, but since I never have classes on Thursdays, it isn't anything special for me. I woke up this morning, had breakfast, cleaned my apartment a bit and came into town to use the internet. I'm meeting a friend for dinner later and that about sums up my Thanksgiving day. The actual Thanksgiving festivities will take place on Saturday. Annie is hosting at her site, Boryslav. It is about 30 kilometers away, which here in Ukraine equals two buses and just under two hours of traveling. Annie's boyfriend was able to find us a turkey (Molodets Nazar!) and as far as I know we'll have all the Thanksgiving classics... plus chicken wings and fried rice apparently. I was assigned to appetizers. Too bad I don't have Aunt Su here to help me out with the veggie plate and dip I'm preparing!
We did a couple of different Thanksgiving things at school. My English club has really taken off and I have between fifteen and twenty students every week (started with two about a month and a half ago...) We made turkey and pilgrim decorations and wrote on them what we were thankful for, learned a poem "Five Fat Turkeys" and played Thanksgiving BINGO. One of my students wrote that she was thankful for her "mother and father, especially my parrot for his kindness." The BINGO was by far the most popular. I gave them 24 Thanksgiving vocab words, for example turkey, cranberry sauce and Mayflower, and they each got to fill in their own board. Once they got the hang of the game they began chanting words they really wanted me to pull out of the envelope. One of my students began chanting "USA! USA! USA!" and I managed to get the whole group to join in before I pulled the next word. And Aunt Terry worries that my generation isn't patriotic :)
My friend Michelle has been having trouble at her site with behavior problems. She has a fourth former who constantly tells her to "suck his peh-nis" and other such ridiculous things. My initial reaction to this was to laugh hysterically and upon calming down tell her that my students would never dream of doing something like that. That very week one of my tenth formers decided to draw a penis on the blackboard before my class. Guess that's what I get for hysterically laughing. Karmas a bitch.
Outside of school I've been keeping busy with my aerobics class. I have been going twice a week since September and absolutely love it. Most of the time we do step, which I thoroughly enjoy, and the rest of the time we do dance, which, as most of you know, I am not quite as talented at. So far I have attempted Ukrainian dance, rock and roll and street jazz with little success. At least it keeps me and my friends laughing and helps with the depression that accompanys that start of another long, cold winter.
November 18th was our "one year until you can leave Ukraine" mark. Like I mentioned earlier I think Annie and I will do about a month of traveling in Western Europe (maybe Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain,...?) and then I'll be home in time for next Christmas. Not bad.
Love and miss you all and Happy Thanksgiving. Go Pats.
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3 comments:
Hey My Love, Sean is off at Lexington's football game. There is an article in the Globe today about Coach Tighe, and it says he may retire at the end of the season due to eye problems. Good grief! We are off to Aunt Terry's. Just 9 of us. Went to Boston last night. Dad and I attended Carl and Mike's fundraiser. I felt very old and out of place, but surprisingly had a good time. Dad caught up with former players and students and I visited with the Modoono bunch. Dad's 30th reunion is Saturday night at the Knight's of Columbus. Big weekend for catching up with old friends.The porch is coming along and so is the upstairs bathroom. So far very pleased with the look of everything. I know Annie will do a terrific job with the meal, and please tell her I say hello. Stay warm and keep in touch. Looking forward to our phone call this afternoon. Love you lots, Mom
Hi Caitlin! I am glad you will be able to get some turkey in for Thanksgiving. I'm excited that your English club has taken off. Your Thanksgiving activities with them remind me of me making turkey hands on paper plates at the mental hospital here haha. I have had my psych rotation this semester which has been a bit like working in a foreign country as well :) I am almost half way through with nursing school now! When you get back I will be a fully employed R.N. Yay! Well I am so happy to hear something from you again and I am glad to hear all is going well. I love you and miss you and can't wait to hear more of your stories!
-Jenny
Caitlin:
I loved reading your blog and your very creative way to introduce your students to Thanksgiving and American way. Maybe we should have you in the State Department bringing countries together.
Stay well and warm.
Mary Ann McKenna
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