PEPFAR Photos!

Just a quick post this evening full of photos. You can read the post below to learn all about my PEPFAR Experience, but I wanted to share a few photos with you!

Happy March! Happy (belated) Peace Corps Day (March 1st)! And by Ukrainian standards, Happy Spring...although it's snowing this evening.

Soviet Sanatorium anyone!? 

Roman, our Ukrainian Language Teacher

"Become Informed. It's Better than the Alternative"
My Ukrainian Language Group with Roman, our teacher

Volunteers speaking about Intravenous Drug Users

Participating in a Stigma/Discrimination Exercise 

Debriefing

One of my favorite cross-cultural sessions called "Placing Guilt"

The Ukrainian Student Group during "Placing Guilt"

Nadika, my student in the pink, talking about the activity

"Life Values" exercise where we had to rank qualities of life by importance   

Kolky Lyceum Representatives:
Mr. Benjamin, Nadika, my student (R)
and Natalia, the school Sociologist

Becoming Informed

This week, I had the privilege to attend a 5-day PEPFAR Conference in Kyiv with the sociologist from my school, one of my 10th Formers, and 20 other Volunteers and their Ukrainian partners. PEPFAR (President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) started in 2003 by President Bush to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. While some might be quick to criticize PEPFAR or the education of HIV/AIDS, I now know first hand what an incredible impact it is having in Ukraine to educate many, stop discrimination, continue to save lives and fight the spread of this deadly virus

What was nice about this conference was being able to dig so much deeper into the topic of HIV/AIDS. I've done trainings before but this allowed us time to focus on history, biology, ways of transmission, most at risk populations, stigma & discrimination, as well as project planning and goal setting with our community partners. We met HIV+ individuals and they shared their stories and gave us so much knowledge. We were able to ask them open and frank questions regarding their status and their lives, making the topic hit so much closer to home for all of us.  

There are so many misconceptions and myths all over the world regarding HIV/AIDS. Personally, the two most important things I think that should be taught are the ways of transmission and reducing stigma and discrimination. I know that Ukrainians aren't closed minded because I work side by side with compassionate and caring people every day, but if you lack knowledge about something, than certainly anything you hear can be true, especially if the topic is as serious and sometimes frightening, like the topic of HIV/AIDS. 

Knowledge is power people, as is evident from this poster I made in Ukrainian Langauge lesson at the conference.

Become Informed, It's Better than the Alternative

Facts that I think are worth sharing. All data from 2011

• HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine is one of the fastest growing in the world, with 1.3% of the population currently infected with HIV making it the highest population in Europe
• About half of those HIV+ individuals know of their status 
• The overwhelmingly common way of transmission, in Ukraine, is through the sharing of needles or syringes (An estimated 278-378,000 intravenous drug users in UA)
• An estimated 360,000 HIV+ persons in Ukraine 
• Only 22% of those living with HIV/AIDS are receiving antiretroviral treatment

It's good to be back in Kolky and I'm ready to be back in the classroom. I hope my weeklong absence will be a good conversation starter for some and I'm able to share my experience and the knowledge gained. The three of us from Kolky came up with so many simple, but effective plans to help educate others, because on a fundamental level, knowledge is the most sustainable things I feel I can leave behind. 

On the note of leaving things behind, I want to say THANKS YOU so much to those that are supporting me with my Book Drive. I have had a lot of positive feedback from friends and family all over. Books and funds are being gathered by congregations, work offices, non-profit organizations and connections are being made with so many people from all over the States. If you are interested in supporting me and my community with this project, I'd be happy to answer any questions. Contact me on Skype (ben.hogue), Facebook, or email!

Ben, Nadika, and Natalia
The Kolky PEPFAR Trainers!

The Final Chapters

For some time now, I've been thinking about the ways that I wanted to leave Kolky. Of course I've given so much of myself to this place and have been given so much in return, that it's close to impossible to just leave. The only way I could truly thank my community and school would be to stay and work here forever, but since that is not a possibility, I've been thinking of some other ideas to start to wraping-up my time here. 

For Lent this year, I'm going to read. I read often and especially with the mass exodus of many of my friends, I have some more free time to do that. But for lent, I'd like to be intentional and thoughtful about my reading habits. I'd like my reading to take more of a focus during these 40 days, and sacrifice other digital-activities for reading time (e.g. reading on the bus rather than listening to music, reading during my off lessons, rather than using the internet, falling asleep to a book, rather than a movie, etc.)

With these thoughts of leaving (not so soon, but still...) and intentional reading recently swirling around my head, an idea came to me: my communities in the States could connect with my community here in Kolky and the people that I love could help me express my gratitude to the people here though a simple, yet very valuable Book Drive. 

Why a Book Drive? Well, authentic texts are very hard to come by here in Ukraine, and when they are found, many are too expensive for students to purchase. The limited money for our department goes towards necessities for teaching, leaving little to no money for ‘extras’ such as quality books for our students to enjoy. It was instilled to me at an early age that reading is one of the most important parts of learning, and books have helped me form my own creative and imaginative identity. In a fast paced, 'plugged-in' world, I know that a student’s enthusiasm and desire to learn English can come from many places, but only books can pair together enrichment and imaginative excitement.

Now I know what you're thinking, books are heavy and it's expensive to send heavy things in the mail. Yes, you're 100% correct. A box from USPS, weighing no more than 20lbs (which is lot of books) is going to be between $50-$75...but I'm not asking for 100 boxes of books. I'm hoping that maybe groups, organizations  congregations, etc can work together to help support me in this task. Maybe you work with 15 people who could each pitch in $5 and a gently used children's book. Or possibly your group is looking for an easy service project and has some easy chapter-books lying around. Rather than giving up sweets and coffee for Lent this year, give up a few novels and spend 40 days intentionally reading with me and supporting this project.   

If this is something you think you would like to do, or have any questions, please let me know. I'd be happy to email with you (benjaminaric@gmail.com) or Skype (ben.hogue) and give you any more details that you'd need. The "Customs Form" these days is a little bit of a painful process, but my parents have done it many times and have helped others through the process, leading me to believe that it is in fact doable. Also, I will be in Kolky until early July, so you have time! Ideally, I'd like to present the books to my school before May 24th, the last day of school. Getting them out early April, just after Easter, would be perfect. 

If you like, please read with me during Lent and meditate on the thought of possibly collecting some gently used books to help out this amazing community that has so warmly embraced me for two years.  If all you can send my way is prayers, I'm extremely grateful for that as well. I have had the most amazing, continuous support from my friends and family, and it's a blessing to include all of you into these final chapters of my experience!  

I Have a Dream...

As I hope most of you Stateside are aware, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was celebrated last Monday. Never before Peace Corps has this holiday meant anything more than a day off at the beach in California, and probably 2 swim practices while in High School. It's now amazing to me what I take from this day, and what I'm able to share with others. 

I decided to go away from the book in a few of my higher classes to teach about Rev. King. It fit in nicely with my USA Country Studies class, and also with my 'Leadership Lessons' with my Seniors, but I figured some of the older kids in the other forms would find it interesting and enjoy something a little different.

I sat down to prep for this lesson and watched King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. And wept. Alone, Sunday evening before bed planning my lessons for the week, weeping after watching this speech. 

Have you listened to Rev. King's speech recently? I mean sat down, with the words, and listened to what he was saying. I'll be honest, before this week I hadn't. A few sound bites and images of the speech have been with me since Middle School, but his passion, his sense of urgency and commitment hasn't ever hit me until now. Dreaming has never been easy, and I don't think it's supposed to, but Dr. King did it even in what seemed like an impossible time to dream -- and that's the take away. 

My kids can relate. Ukraine can relate. Division. Corruption. Greed. Hate. Hopelessness. But they still have dreams. 

The assignment was to write some dreams for Ukraine. What do you, as young Ukrainian leaders, dream for your motherland. Below I'm compiled some of my favorites (with permission of course). The parts in bold are from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech that we used as an outline. I wish you could hear my students stand up and dream these dreams out loud. Their passion, sense of urgency and commitment, just like Dr. King, is so alive in their voices and their spirits. Read these out loud and understand why this was one of the best days I've ever had in the classroom. 

Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It's a dream rooted in the Ukrainian dream. 

I have a dream that one day, the whole Ukraine will unite, that Ukraine won't be divided into the East or the West, that we will have our own native Ukrainian language and we will hear it everywhere. I have a dream.

I have a dream that Ukrainians will understand that we are a nation, that we have the right to exist, that we aren't apart of Russia or a Russian nation. I have a dream.

I have a dream that Ukraine will win the EURO Cup or the World Cup in football, uniting our country behind something other than dividing politics or a language fight. I have a dream.

I have a dream that one day we will undersand who are our national heros and who aren't. I have a dream that one day every Ukrainian will say, "Yes, Bandera is a hero!" I hope that one day we will learn our history, we will know who we are, who are parents are, what the pice of our independence is. I have a dream.

I have a dream that one day we won't be obsessed with how much money we should pay to become someone in this country, we'll trust and believe in our authorities like we believe in ourselves. I have a dream.

I have a dream that one day no Ukrainian will strive to live abroad or work abroad because of their dissatisfaction with they country where they live. I have a dream.

I have a dream that one day there will be no division into Eastern and Western Ukraine and all Ukrainians, knowing that we are one, will join hands under a peaceful, clear, Ukrainian sky. I have a dream.

I have a dream that Ukrainians will understand that it is ok to dream. I have a dream.

And when this happens, Ukraine will flourish and we will, too. We won't hear, "Oh, that's a bad country. I don't want to live here. USSR was much better!" We will be a united and strong nation and we'll build a happy future for our descendants. 

And when this happens, when we'll understand that nothing comes in a second and WE are the ones who have to make changes here and when we start doing it, no matter how difficult it seems, true Ukrainians will awake from the deep sleep in our souls and that's how our real Ukraine will rise! 

And when this happens, Ukrainians will be united, Ukrainians will be prosperous, and Ukrainians will be proud. 

And when this happens, Ukraine will be be an even more amazing place to live. 

Two Thousand Thirteen!

Maybe I was a little premature to title my last post "Celebrating in Snow" because, well, the snow is practically gone! We got a few flurries last night, but really, it's melting a lot faster than it's falling. I'm back home in Kolky after a wonderful time in the "mountains" celebrating New Year's and ringing in 2013 with 26 Ukrainian friends! 

Secret Santa Cards from one English Clubber to another! 

Of course, Santa comes to Ukraine on St. Nicholas Day, but he also came in the form of an amazing care package too! Not pictured is a wonderful down-blanket my Grandma Jerry sent! I got to open it via Skype Christmas morning in America! 

Santa strikes again! 

It's not Christmas without cookies! 

Notice how I only rationed a handful of Candy Corn for the cookies. 

As I mentioned before, I celebrated New Year's with Ukrainian friends in the Carpathian Mountains. We arrived the evening of December 31st and took off back to Lviv on the 2nd. It was a wonderful time, full of new friends, lots of Ukrainian (even though 2 of my good friends from L'viv speak amazing English, so they helped me out!), food, drinks, dancing, and games. We even managed to take an excursion into a nearby village to sip from its natural spring and explore the 200+ year old church there. We also had some time in the sauna, some frisbee throwing, and movie watching. All in all, it was one of the best New Years I've had to date! 

Only the start to our New Year's Eve table
(Notice there aren't any drinks yet!)

A semi-candid shot by my friend Pavlo

Dancing to prepare for 2013!!!

Counting down near the bonfire outside with champagne toasts! 

A few of my friends - Pavlo, Luda, Mariana, and Maria!

Where's the snow!? 

My favorite photo from New Year's Eve!
A Santa Claus, a Snow Princess, a few New Year snakes, and an American. 

Happy 2013!!!

Celebrating in Snow!

If you haven't heard, Ukraine has received quite a bit of snow. Especially in my region and the L'viv region just South of me. (Some photos from Aljazeera, here) School was canceled yesterday and Monday due to the heavy snowfall, a bridge falling, and terrible roads. Unfortunately it's not quite the right type of snow for making a snowman, but as soon as it is, I'll make a big one outside my house and post a photo. With all this snow, it seems like the best thing to do would be to celebrate some Winter holidays, so here are some brief explanations about some celebrated in Ukraine! 

Some of the students artwork for the Ukrainian Winter Holidays!

Winter holidays last for over a month over here, this year beginning with Hanukkah which began on December 8 and lasted until the evening of December 16th. Although a very small minority consider themselves Jewish in Ukraine, it was once a flourishing religion, with some 2.7 million Jews in the territory of modern Ukraine. Although some anti-Semitism (and lack of knowledge) still remain, Jewish communities are strong in their faith and celebrations took place in bigger cities, such as L'viv and Kyiv.

Today we're celebrating St. Nicholas Day (similar to Boxing Day if the Queen is your thing)! Last night, St. Nicholas left sweets and presents under the pillows of children and they were were quick to show off (and share) at school. Everybody was in high spirits, talking about St. Nicholas and spreading the holiday cheer. He is, after all, the patron saint of children, so how can you not have fun today!? Also, my English department really made me feel special today, collecting different things to make sure I wasn't forgotten on St. Nicholas Day! 

Always good to be on St. Nicks "Nice List!"

Traditionally, Ukraine's minority Roman Catholics (and protestants alike) celebrate Christmas on December 25th according to the Gregorian calendar while a majority -- Greek Catholics and Orthodox -- use the Julian calendar and celebrate on January 7th. That means I'll get to celebrate Christmas twice! Of course, December 25th is a workday for me, so I'll be teaching lessons, but I know my school won't let me forget that it's a day for celebration. Also, I'll be Skyping my family and friends around the world, opening my presents under the tree with them and celebrating together the birth of Jesus! 

Ukrainian Christmas (Jan 7) is much quieter, less commercialized, and more religiously oriented. New Years and St. Nicholas Day are the 'gift giving' holidays, but Christmas is a time to be at church and spend with family. January 6th will be a big evening meal with 12 "Lenten" or meatless dishes. Of course every Ukrainian has their own traditions for this meal, (and even every region/state) but I know that for sure Кутя  "kutya" - cooked wheat, with honey, poppy seeds and nuts - will be every table, as will Узвар “uzvar” - dried fruit compote. Christmas Day consists of going to church, and Колядники (kolyadnyky) -- caroler's (usually small groups of children) going house to house singing and collecting sweets and small amounts of money. 

Not surprisingly there are two New Years to celebrate as well! We'll celebrate with the World on December 31st/January 1st and then we'll celebrate Old New Year on the 13th/14th of January. I love Old New Year's because children will come to my house, singing again, but this time they greet each home by forcefully throwing sprinkling the floor/corridor with wheat seeds for joy and prosperity with the New Year. This usually happens pretty early in the morning, and you can't clean it for 3 days!

Happy New Year!

Fun fact: Carol of the Bells is a traditional Ukrainian song, usually sung on Old New Year's! It comes from an old Ukrainian folk song, and the original lyrics describe a swallow, flying house to house, proclaiming the plentiful year that each family will have. The title comes from the world Щедрий "shchedryi" which means generously -Listen to a simplified version: "Щедрий вечір" ("Bountiful Evening"). 

Of course, I'll be taking photos to post along the way. I'll be celebrating New Year's Eve/Day with Ukrainian friends in the mountains of L'viv, which I'm really looking forward to. It made me feel pretty good being invited! This will probably be my last post before Christmas, so I hope everyone has a very blessed and merry Christmas wherever, whenever, and however you celebrate! 

Христос народився! Славімо Його! (Christ is born! Let us praise him!)

Relaxing...Legally.

This is the first weekend I've been at home in the last couple of months, and it feels really wonderful! This past 8 weeks or so have been spent with friends, as our moments together were few before they left to go home to America. In fact today, December 14th, would have been the last 'official day' of my Peace Corps service in Ukraine had I not extended...and, if anything, this week has reminded me that I am so glad that I've stayed and yes, the goodbyes were difficult, but my work just wasn't quite finished.

The snow started in Kolky on December 1st, and hasn't really let up since. There have been some blue skies occasionally  but I've braced myself for another bitter, grey Winter. I'm more and better prepared than ever, and this third time around, I am 100% confident in saying that the warm weather will come back! 

My chilly front door!

The orchard to the side of my house

The "Furnace" as I like to call it - this is what heats both schools, and my house!

This week, the conclusion of my 'Water Project' was posted. You can check that out here: Kolky Lyceum Water Project! There's a little story of what we did with our grant money and the impact that it's been making! A fantastic cause worth supporting if you're feeling extra generous this holiday season! 

Also, as of today (the last possible day...) I'm legally registered for the next 7 months in Ukraine! The registration process began back on Halloween in Moldova and finally concluded today with a lot of stamps, a lot of back and forth, and a lot of patience. My school was so wonderful helping me out and supporting me with all of the necessary paperworks, letters of guarantees,  etc. They really showed me that they're willing to go a long way to keep me here in Ukraine just a little bit longer! 

Done with this paperwork FOREVER! 

Of course, it wouldn't be December in Kolky without the annual "Hello, We are Looking for Talent" contest! Students from 1st-11th form took the stage this last week, performing their little Ukrainian hearts out. There were 3 concerts, totaling about 8 hours over 2 different days. A few photos from my phone are of my 5th and 7th Formers!  

5b doing their thing! 

The 7b Ensemble

A group of 5th-7th Formers

Now I'm just waiting for Christmas and New Years! Christmas will be another day of lessons, but I have a feeling my school won't let it go unnoticed! I put up my tree earlier this month and although it doesn't have lights or a start (I've since put a Santa on top), it does have it's first package, which arrived early December! Thanks Grandma Jerry! 

Soon I'll post about a Teacher's Seminar I took part in planning and implementing, and some more plans for 2013! And of course, more photos from the White Winter Wonderland that is Kolky these days!