The Ukrainian Wedding

I crossed another thing off my "Ukraine Bucket List" on Sunday - "Go to a Ukrainian Wedding. 

There are lots of photos, so I made a public Facebook album. Click here! (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.626658140453.2067230.55201901&type=1&l=1cb8f5cfa7)

One of my Counterparts, Natalia Vasylivna (my Aunt in Kolky) invited me because her neice, Natalia was getting married. I had met Natalia a few times before, she toured me around L'viv once, and we've seen each other when she's visited Kolky. She wanted me to come to her wedding because she thought it would be interesting for me, but she was afraid I'd say no! Of course, I immediately said yes and made plans to head down to the Oblast just South.

The wedding was absolutely wonderful and I couldn't have had a better time. We started around 2 p.m. (actually around 7 when our minibus picked us up in Kolky) and the Wedding ended around 4 a.m. - I fell asleep in the bus when the breakfast party started and woke up just in time to be dropped off in L'viv to do some running around!

I stepped in for a Cousin to walked Natalia to be greeted by her Groom, Volodymy, so I quickly was being introduced by her and Natalia Vasylivna as the American Cousin! "He flew all the way to be here for this wedding!" We actually convinced a few people, and my Ukrainian passed the test! That was a lot of fun.

Other highlights included playing the drum as we walked up to the house, stealing some farmers wheat off the side of the road and then braiding it in the car, dancing, dancing, dancing, toasts, toasts, toasts, and meeting lots of new "family"! Check out the photos on FB for a little more clarity!

I'm in Kyiv at the moment waiting for my flight to Istanbul! Yep - I'm headed to Turkey for a week and then a few days after I return, MY PARENTS ARRIVE! Summer in Ukraine really doesn't get much better!

Goats in my yard!

Finally, apples in my tree!



The River Styr





Walking home from the river!



Camp ACT!

The amazing Camp ACT Staff!

One of the biggest and most rewarding projects that I've had the opportunity work on while in Ukraine has got to be Camp ACT! 

I've mentioned it a few times, but didn't really explain it in detail. I'll do a little explaining right now, and then let the photos below speak for themselves. 

ACT Stands for Action, Creativity, and Teamwork. Camp was for students in the 8th - 11th Forms to "Take Action in their communities, Creatively, using Teamwork". 

The week was centered around different regional themes (North and Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia) and Superheros from each of those regions. Campers learned about issues facing each region each day in their Multiculturalism Lesson. Examples include: Environmentalism and Deforestation in Africa, Micro Finance in Asia, Middle East and Democratic Reform, Saving Traditions of Indigenous Cultures in Latin America, etc. They also learned about amazing heroes solving those problems and the qualities that each hero has. They were encouraged to embrace those qualities and solve issues in their own communities.

In Action lessons, students learned how to take Action. Each day, teams rotated learning about a different way to create community action - through Flash-mobs, Street Art, Protest Music, Journalism, Fundraising, and PSAs. My favorite time each day was watching the teams present the results from their Action lessons - whether it was an interesting PSA about racism, a flash-mob about keeping cultural traditions alive, or even raising money for a cause by selling cookies! 

Creativity lessons were by interest and it was a fun way for the Campers to choose their creative outlet for the day - but it was also fun for Staff to teach about their own passions, interesting and show their creativity sides! Creativity lessons included, but certainly weren't limited to: Graffiti, Latin Dancing and Line Dancing, Photography, Impressionist and Abstract Art, Storytelling, The Art of a Poem, Found Writing, and on and on! 

Teamwork brought out everybody's competitive side and team spirit. The teams competed throughout the week in American Football, Ultimate Frisbee, European Football, Dodgeball, Kickball, Capture the Flag, Rugby, etc.

The week also included team competitions at Pow Wows (All-Camp Time), relaxing times at the lake, singing, dancing, tie dying, games, etc. 

I can't say enough great things about the incredible staff of 25 Ukrainian and PCVs that worked together to make this week so wonderful for the 74 Campers. My Director Team worked hard too and the week could not have been better! 

Check out the many photos below. Sadly, in the shuffle of everything, I lost my camera - but it was important to share these photos so staff all swapped! Some of these are mine from when I still had my camera, others are from some of my friends. Thanks to them for letting me share them!

Staff Meeting before the Campers Arrive

Goal Setting - "That's Awesome!"

The Do's and Don'ts of discipline!

Impressionist Art with Grace!

American Football

Atlee (C) in the huddle with Nick (L) and Roma (R)

Laura showing off some of her cheerleader moves

The Red Team creating ACTION through Fundraising!

Lake time - always a hit

Sara getting her Wiffleball on!

The Orange Team presenting their PSA about helping others

One INSANE, but amazing schedule!

Yellow Team - Represent!

The Director Team traveling "Around the World" to introduce Camp ACT!

"They'll call me freedom, just like a waving flag"

First time eating a S'more
If that's not sure joy, I'm not sure what is!

Tie Dye Queen Ice-V!!!

Lucha Libre Boot Camp during Latin America day!

Celebrating their Lucha Libre win!

4th of July Fireworks while listening to the "Star Spangled Banner"

Independence Day Carnival!!!

North America pageant finalists!
(I wonder who won!? Most spirited and it was that country's birthday!?)

Practicing our Staff Dance!

S'more patrol!

Silly Ukrainians need Sm'ore instructions!

Lake + Camp Songs = Amazing

ACTION Lesson of "Protest Songs"

Atlee showing off the ever important Camp Rules!

If they are going to sing you into dinner, why not dance!?

Presenting their Reform "Street Art" Idea

Each Room was designated with a different International Hero from around the world
Some of my favorite times of Camp were saying, "Meet me in the Hillary Clinton Room!"

The Gandhi Room

Creating some protest music

Grace and I may, or may have procured a shopping cart!
WELCOME!

The Director Team with Lady Liberty welcoming us to Independence Tavern!

More Sparklers and freedom singing!

Who wouldn't want to throw sponges in a Staff Members face?

The Red and Green Team showing Sportsmanship after American Football!

Presenting their Newspaper from the ACTION Lesson on Journalism

The Purple Team finishing Friday's Final Team Relay in style!

Orange Team hurrying through the relay!

Blindfolded Madness during the Final Team Relay!

Camp ACT 2012!!!

ETC...

Hap-hap-happenings abound here in Ukraine for this wannabe Cossack. 

At the 11th-Formers Last Bell with Volodymyr Mykolyovitch, my Counterpart
May 11, 2012

Favorite Pizzas. Favorite Numbers. Favorite Friends. Beer.

Summer Summed Up.

Summer is flying by and I can only try to hold on. I've been enjoying the perks of no school and living close to a river, but last week I was invited by a dear friend to teach at a English Teachers Camp that she put together. 

First, I need to tell you a little bit about the rockstar, super-Volunteer, all-around amazing person that is Melissa Krut. She has, from the first day I met her, been on top of her game and then some. She's the Volunteer that we all wish we could be; she makes you wonder how she has 40 hours in her day. Melissa is a kindhearted person, an inspiring mentor, and an even better friend.

So when Melissa asks you to teach with her at a Camp she's doing, you are not only flattered and intimidated, but you say yes.

Fast Forward to ETC (English Teachers Camp)! It was held in Lutsk, the biggest city closest to Kolky and the site of Melissa. Perk of living in the city for a week: hotels with continental breakfast! That was awesome. 

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, I taught Ukrainian Teachers of English with some other amazing Volunteers from my Oblast (read: state). It was strange, really, teaching teachers. The entire week, I couldn't help but think of the knowledge I was gaining from listening to the conversations in the Methodology Lesson I was leading or the strategies about classroom management and big class sizes. Who was I, some mid-20's, recent college grad yapping about random topics.

But that wasn't it at all. Melissa gave us the freedom to teach what we were passionate about or information we were interested in sharing. I'm sure I could have crammed information about the present perfect tense and told it to those teachers, but they know English grammar 100-times better than I do! Instead, on top of the Methodology Lessons about Student Engagement that Melissa wrote, I taught about my passions and interests. The Communication Major in me chose to teach: Constructive Criticism and The Communicative Method, twice. The Peace Corps Volunteer in me chose to teach lessons from "TOBE: Teaching Our Boys Excellence" twice, "GLOW: Girls Leading Our World" and "Operation Respect", and the American in me chose to teach: Holidays in the States, and Slanglish, twice. All of them were really well received, and it felt good to hear such positive feedback about my lessons. 

Unfortunately, I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked, but I'll be sure to share some of Melissa's and any that pop-up from the other teachers!

Atlee cutting. Sign-Up Sheets hanging.

GOOD MORNING, ETC CAMPERS!

Melissa is feeling faint?

Nothing like Camp Songs!

The after-party!
(Andrew loves party hats)

Gifts, love, hats, champagne, flattery...
It was all too much to handle!

Now, it's time for a camp of my own - Camp ACT!!! The wait is almost over, and I couldn't be more excited! A HUGE THANK YOU to Kyle, Casey, Wes, Burris, and my Mom and Dad for donating to support Camp ACT. You'll get something special in the mail, hold tight!

I'll arrive to Shatsk for preparations with Staff on Friday, continue on Saturday, and Sunday Campers come! The entire staff has worked tirelessly to put this camp together and it's going to be pretty incredible to see our hard work pay off! The next post from me will contain wayyy too many camp photos and exclamation marks about an amazing week...just you wait.

And finally, a shout out. One of my best friends from college is getting married this week. Ms. Bailey Gable will become Mrs. Bailey May come Saturday and marry the love of her life, Sean. Bailey and I had the chance to Skype last week while I was in Lutsk to catch up a little. Everything is ready for the big day and her excitement is radiating. Bailey and Sean - best of luck and enjoy the day! I wish I could be there to celebrate in person, but I'll be thinking of you both on Saturday. Prayers for the two of you!

At the Avocado Festival with our Avocado Ice Cream
Senior Year at CLU

On my 'Friends and Family' Wall