Seein Ukraine

Hello my friends,

I have now been at site for over 3 weeks.  If you read my previous posts, you would know that it has definitely had it's ups and downs.  This was expected but still crazy.  I have spent that last week researching possible projects, figuring out how I can help, and traveling to visit Amy in Balakleya.  As expected, I will definitely have my hands full as far as work is concerned though it is kinda funny because the majority of my time is spent figuring out how to do the work that needs to be done with little time actually doing the work.  For example,  I will be starting a website to promote tourism and community awareness for the 2012 football games that will be hosted in Donetsk (hundreds of thousands of people are projected to attend).  In America, you would simply pick a free service provider and go.  Here I need to find a free service provider that allows me to use both English and Russian, uses software that I am familiar with, and I need to check with various people to make sure I don't step on any  toes by starting this website.  Should be interesting. Every possible project has issues similar to these that seem to slow things down a bit.  I understand now why so many current volunteers, previous volunteers, and PC staff have warned us that you might not get a lot done during your first year at site.   I am going to take it a day at a time and try not to get frustrated.  It will work out as long as I don't act like an American and want results immediately.  Be there at 8:00 means 9 or 10:00,  now means tomorrow, and the word urgent does not seem to exist.  Why is this difficult?  It seems laid back. What gives?

Other than work, I am starting to feel more comfortable in my city.  I have learned how to get around, how to shop, figured out a few good meals that I can actually cook, and have been working on "being here now" and just taking it all in.  Anywho, visiting Amy was just what I needed.  I left late Thursday night by bus to Markeevka by bus and was dropped off way on the outskirts of the city.  Every time I go to Markevka I take the same bus but am dropped off at a different location.  Oh Ukraine...way to keep me on my toes  :-)  .  I did not know how to get to the center and must have looked a bit lost because before I had time to ask random people how to get to the center - someone came up to me and spoke in English with a thick Ukrainian accent, "I will help you".  I was surprised to say the least because I have not met anyone in my city that speaks English that well.  He rushes me into a small van that we manage to catch while it was rolling.  We each pay the driver 2 Greven ($0.25), we sit down, and we start chatting.  Very interesting guy.  He is a 24 year old surgeon in Donetsk and has traveled to the US (Nebraska for 2 weeks) for some sort of exchange program.  He was very interested to see an American this far east.  That seems to be the reaction from most people - "your American?  what are you way out here?"  followed by either a confused look or a fit of laughter.  lol  I enjoy these conversations.  He asked me a million questions about what I though of Ukraine and I explained in a haphazard mix of Russian and English that I am a volunteer working in the area of Community Development in a city outside Donetsk. When we got out of the van, he pointed me in the direction of the bus station.  I had a couple hours to kill before I needed to take a bus to the train station then get on my 10:30 pm train so I offered to buy him a beer at a nearby bar.  We went inside the bar and ordered a couple beers then he proceeded to explain to me that when he got back from American he was motivated to change Ukraine and develop it's infrastructure but that within a year he realized that that is impossible.  Not the most encouraging thing for a community development volunteer to hear but he had some interesting points.   We discussed some of the possible projects that I have been working on to develop my community and he agreed that change is possible but it will take a long time.  I realize this and don't expect to change the world overnight.  I just want to have some sort of positive impact on my community.  We say our goodbyes and eventually make my way to the train station and get on the correct train car - no problem.  On the way out to Balakleya I was in Koopay (2nd class) which means 4 beds to a compartment (2 bunk beds) and a small window.  When I arrived at my compartment, people were already sleeping so I attempted to be quiet and make my bed (top bunk), and go to sleep.  This is where things got out of control - lol.  It was dark and I managed to bump something with my backpack that made a crashing sound, a little girl that was sleeping with her mom in one of the bottom bunks started to cry, I then bumped into someone else when I turned around to say excuse me,  the train attendant knocked on the door but I was unfamiliar with the locking mechanism so I was unable to open the door so they continued to knock over and over again, the list goes on and on - it was a circus.  And when I finally got into the top bunk, I managed to knock down some clothing hangers that fell on the person below me.  Complete and utter chaos but that was nothing compared to the ride back from Amy's place in Platzcart (3rd class - all the 2nd class bunks were taken).  Platzcart:  Aka a dim and stuffy train car filled with as many bunk beds as possible - no compartments, no doors, and no privacy.  On that particular train from midnight to 6:00 am - almost no sleep.  Hands constantly checking pockets and backpack.  Thin mattress that is 1.5 feet wide by 5 feet long - only 2 feet from the ceiling of the train car.  Awesome experience.  Not sure why....?

Wow,  kinda went off on a tangent.  Back to the visit with Amy.  I arrived at 3:30 in the morning on Friday and met Amy at the train station.  We walked the 30 min back to her apartment.  It was already getting light out - sun is up from a little before 4:00 am to around 9:30.  She has a nice little apartment that is comparable to mine (soviet block housing).  We had an awesome time:  walked around the city, tried out the Uzbekistan restaurant,  cooked many awesome meals (mostly Amy tho I did try to help), and swam at the beach (sandy area on the river - lol).  B-town is smaller than my town and has some nice countryside only 10 min from Amy's place.  It is a pleasant little town and it was a nice relaxing weekend.  Now back to work.  

Conor's Noteworthy Noteables:

1.  Visited Amy in Balakleya.  Night trains, buses, and taxis - I am exhausted but it was an awesome visit.

2.  Got my first package in the mail.  Made my day.  Thank you sooooo much.  I finally have spices!

3.  Platzcart.  

4.  Exploring Balakleya with Amy.   

5.  First sunburn in Ukraine.  Check

6.  Probably heading to Kiev for a training mid august then off to Krivoy Rog for a week so that I can help a fellow volunteer run a camp.  

7.  Did I mention I recieved my first package!  Hint hint

Stay classy America!

 *Click on the photos to see the large version*

Beach in Balakleya

 Area around Balakleya

 

Uzbekistan restaurant 

My Train Tickets