I are starting to get some direction for my position here. The university is located on about 22 acres of land. Part of this is used by the buildings and parking lots but the majority is unused grassland with sparsely populated trees. The current plan is for me to till up a small piece of land in the spring and plant a large vegetable garden. The majority of the vegetables will be used by the school's cafeteria, but we will also look to maybe sell some at the market and analyze the possible revenue.
I grew up on a farm, but have very little experience in the area of gardening. Being the nerd that I am, I have been reading books and websites devoted to the topic in hopes of learning the basics. Everyone writes that the key is experience. I hope to experience at least a little success. Many people on campus have small gardens and several of them have already helped me find places to buy seeds and other supplies. I hope they continue to advise me in proper times to do things as well as techniques so I don't end up with a big garden full of dry grass in the fall. I am getting really excited about the task and have started inquiring about starting a compost pile with the scraps from the cafeteria. I also want to start a miniature greenhouse in our living room. We have almost nothing in there right now (and Laura is ok with the idea). I hope to grow some herbs and other small things in there. I will also need to do a lot of seed starting in coming months.
Next semester there is a league of businesswomen coming to campus to teach a basic business class. We gave the instructors a list of business possibilities for the students to explore. This will be the first, most basic type of such business ventures.
We hope that this will lead to the construction of a small greenhouse in the summer months. The goal is to get a lot of student involvment in the planning as well as the labor so they can get some practical business experience. We will continue to write about the progress as well as other possibilities.
Dave
Friday, December 31, 2004
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Christmas Holiday
We are back from our Christmas holiday in Zaporozhye. Zaporozhye is about 3.5 to 4 hours away by marshrutka (small van), and is home to the MCC Ukraine central office, as well as several MCCers. This was our first trip out of Donetsk by public transportation, and all went smoothly. We traveled with a fellow SALT worker who lives in Makeevka, a town close to Donetsk. We stayed in the apartment of our country director, who was away for the holiday, and hosted three other MCCers for a traditional Christmas dinner. Otherwise our time was spent relaxing, walking around town, watching movies and spending time with other MCCers. It was fun, but didn’t really seem like Christmas. Both of us were able to talk to our families on the phone, which made us feel a little more connected to the festivities that were taking place in the U.S. Now that we’re back, the staff at DCU is preparing for their holiday break, which begins tomorrow and lasts until Jan. 10. We’ll use this time to prepare for next semester, as we will both be teaching English – Laura to university students and Dave to community members.
Staff members here at DCU received some MCC material aid just in time for Christmas. Yesterday Laura walked past a classroom in the administration building and witnessed much commotion and excitement as staff and their families sorted through MCC clothing bundles. This morning the rector announced that staff will be given cans of MCC meat just in time for Orthodox Christmas. It is exciting for us to see those on the receiving end of MCC material aid, especially after we toured and helped at the material aid warehouse during orientation. Dave was especially excited about the meat distribution because in addition to helping on the canner, his family hosts the meat canners when they come to Mountain Lake.
Our experience in Ukraine has showed us a different kind of need that isn’t always recognizable at first glance. In the past, when we thought of people in need, typical images of children in rags living in dirt huts came to mind. Here, people are very concerned with appearance and dress well – better, even, than we might in the U.S. Winter coats, for example, are frequently made of leather and trimmed with fur, with hats and gloves to match. At first glace, these people seem well-off. But when we realize that their monthly salaries amount to less than $100 per month, we know there is need here; it is simply concealed by external appearances. Because of this, it is easy to forget. We are inspired by the faith of the people here, who trust God to provide no matter how large the need.
Dave and Laura
Staff members here at DCU received some MCC material aid just in time for Christmas. Yesterday Laura walked past a classroom in the administration building and witnessed much commotion and excitement as staff and their families sorted through MCC clothing bundles. This morning the rector announced that staff will be given cans of MCC meat just in time for Orthodox Christmas. It is exciting for us to see those on the receiving end of MCC material aid, especially after we toured and helped at the material aid warehouse during orientation. Dave was especially excited about the meat distribution because in addition to helping on the canner, his family hosts the meat canners when they come to Mountain Lake.
Our experience in Ukraine has showed us a different kind of need that isn’t always recognizable at first glance. In the past, when we thought of people in need, typical images of children in rags living in dirt huts came to mind. Here, people are very concerned with appearance and dress well – better, even, than we might in the U.S. Winter coats, for example, are frequently made of leather and trimmed with fur, with hats and gloves to match. At first glace, these people seem well-off. But when we realize that their monthly salaries amount to less than $100 per month, we know there is need here; it is simply concealed by external appearances. Because of this, it is easy to forget. We are inspired by the faith of the people here, who trust God to provide no matter how large the need.
Dave and Laura
Friday, December 17, 2004
Financial Issues
This morning we attended the last chapel of the semester (chapels are held every Monday and Thursday morning for staff and students), and although there was a feeling of relief as the semester comes to a close, concerns were shared about the financial situation of the DCU. Currently the university is $5,000-$7,000 in debt, and certain basic needs such as electricity have not been paid for in some time. Thus, the powers that be have threatened to shut off the gas to the university on Monday. No one knows if it will really happen, apparently non-payment of utilities is a common problem throughout the country, and in some cases much threatening takes place, but little action. Salaries of the national professors and staff here also have only been paid through October.
About finances at DCU: from what I’ve gathered from the bits and pieces I’ve heard is that when communism fell in 1991, Ukraine and its neighboring countries in the Former Soviet Union had the world’s attention, and money flowed in freely from the West. DCU was founded, new buildings were built, and students came from all across the country. Slowly, though, funds from the West have diminished, as have numbers of students, partly because now there are many Christian universities to choose from, and partly because being a pastor or a missionary, the professions which the students here are studying for, generally do not provide enough income to support oneself in Ukraine. That’s a whole other complex situation (lack of monetary support for pastors and missionaries) and at this point I don’t know enough to speak intelligently on the subject. So many students choose to go to a trade school or national university where they learn a profession with which they can support themselves. Can’t really blame them for that.
Thus, DCU is exploring ways of becoming financially self-sufficient. To raise funds, our English department offers Saturday classes to the public for a good price. For the past two years DCU also has offered the public two-week intensive English classes in June and July, taught by English teachers and volunteers who come from the states for service trips. I have agreed to coordinate this summer’s English intensive classes, so by the way, if anyone is interested in seeing the sights of Eastern Europe and stopping by DCU to teach/help teach English for a couple weeks, please let me know.
Dave’s job here is tied to financial issues as well – he is exploring options for teaching students a trade to earn a living by once they graduate, and possibly establishing a similar project for the university to use to support itself. These options include a garden, greenhouse, woodshop or various other projects that all need some experimentation. Having been here for so little time, there is really so much we have yet to understand about this complex situation, but there is a general overview. We can only hope that our work here will help facilitate growth and change. Please keep DCU in your thoughts and prayers, especially during the holiday season.
Laura
About finances at DCU: from what I’ve gathered from the bits and pieces I’ve heard is that when communism fell in 1991, Ukraine and its neighboring countries in the Former Soviet Union had the world’s attention, and money flowed in freely from the West. DCU was founded, new buildings were built, and students came from all across the country. Slowly, though, funds from the West have diminished, as have numbers of students, partly because now there are many Christian universities to choose from, and partly because being a pastor or a missionary, the professions which the students here are studying for, generally do not provide enough income to support oneself in Ukraine. That’s a whole other complex situation (lack of monetary support for pastors and missionaries) and at this point I don’t know enough to speak intelligently on the subject. So many students choose to go to a trade school or national university where they learn a profession with which they can support themselves. Can’t really blame them for that.
Thus, DCU is exploring ways of becoming financially self-sufficient. To raise funds, our English department offers Saturday classes to the public for a good price. For the past two years DCU also has offered the public two-week intensive English classes in June and July, taught by English teachers and volunteers who come from the states for service trips. I have agreed to coordinate this summer’s English intensive classes, so by the way, if anyone is interested in seeing the sights of Eastern Europe and stopping by DCU to teach/help teach English for a couple weeks, please let me know.
Dave’s job here is tied to financial issues as well – he is exploring options for teaching students a trade to earn a living by once they graduate, and possibly establishing a similar project for the university to use to support itself. These options include a garden, greenhouse, woodshop or various other projects that all need some experimentation. Having been here for so little time, there is really so much we have yet to understand about this complex situation, but there is a general overview. We can only hope that our work here will help facilitate growth and change. Please keep DCU in your thoughts and prayers, especially during the holiday season.
Laura
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Christmas Preparations
As the token American couple on campus, Dave and I have been asked to give a presentation about American Christmas traditions for the Saturday English classes held here at DCU. Such a presentation has prompted us to think about what we do to celebrate Christmas, and makes us realize what really is different here during the holiday season.
One important difference in Ukraine that you might not realize if it wasn’t explained to you is a remnant of years of communist control. In an effort to quash religious celebrations of any kind, the communist powers transferred the traditional Christmas festivities of giving gifts, decorating the tree, baking goodies, gathering with family, etc. to the New Years holiday. Therefore, people could still celebrate a holiday and enjoy themselves, just not associate it with any sort of religious celebration. In this way, Christmas here really is a celebration of Christ’s birth only. The glitz, gifts and Grandfather Frost (Santa Claus’ Ukrainian equivalent) are all a celebration of the New Year.
Another difference is the calendar. Because of the high Orthodox population, Christmas is generally celebrated on January 7, according to the Orthodox calendar. In places like DCU, where Westerners and nationals mix, celebrations may span from December 24 through January 7th, and even beyond (someone just told me today to expect celebrations to last through January 14). The best of both worlds, perhaps. So far we’ve happily participated in an elaborate decorating contest among departments at the university, and witnessed a Christmas program, complete with vocal ensembles, skits, riddle-solving, lots of cookies and candy, a sermon and the Christmas story read in Russian. (We witnessed much more; the list above is simply what we understood more or less).
As our understanding increases, so will our involvement in the festivities – and people are always very interested in how we celebrate during this holiday season. I’ve already received a suggestion to for us to organize an American Christmas party for the whole university, as has been done by other Americans in the past – maybe next year!
Laura
One important difference in Ukraine that you might not realize if it wasn’t explained to you is a remnant of years of communist control. In an effort to quash religious celebrations of any kind, the communist powers transferred the traditional Christmas festivities of giving gifts, decorating the tree, baking goodies, gathering with family, etc. to the New Years holiday. Therefore, people could still celebrate a holiday and enjoy themselves, just not associate it with any sort of religious celebration. In this way, Christmas here really is a celebration of Christ’s birth only. The glitz, gifts and Grandfather Frost (Santa Claus’ Ukrainian equivalent) are all a celebration of the New Year.
Another difference is the calendar. Because of the high Orthodox population, Christmas is generally celebrated on January 7, according to the Orthodox calendar. In places like DCU, where Westerners and nationals mix, celebrations may span from December 24 through January 7th, and even beyond (someone just told me today to expect celebrations to last through January 14). The best of both worlds, perhaps. So far we’ve happily participated in an elaborate decorating contest among departments at the university, and witnessed a Christmas program, complete with vocal ensembles, skits, riddle-solving, lots of cookies and candy, a sermon and the Christmas story read in Russian. (We witnessed much more; the list above is simply what we understood more or less).
As our understanding increases, so will our involvement in the festivities – and people are always very interested in how we celebrate during this holiday season. I’ve already received a suggestion to for us to organize an American Christmas party for the whole university, as has been done by other Americans in the past – maybe next year!
Laura
Monday, December 13, 2004
Posting Photos
As you can probably tell, I was finally successful at posting photos. I am so excited that it finally worked. I can't tell you how many times I failed before it finally worked. I promise to continue to post photos periodically (if our camera continues to work).
I posted five photos from the past month. Three of them have direct connection to previous blogs. There are a couple from our trip to Chortitza island near Zaporozhye. The island is famous for its connections to the Cossacks. They are sort of the founding fathers (or historical heros) of many Ukrainians. Supposedly they held their meetings under this tree before chasing the Poles out of Ukraine (with Russia's help) a long time ago. Anyway, it is a historically significant location that some of you might like to see.
-Dave
I posted five photos from the past month. Three of them have direct connection to previous blogs. There are a couple from our trip to Chortitza island near Zaporozhye. The island is famous for its connections to the Cossacks. They are sort of the founding fathers (or historical heros) of many Ukrainians. Supposedly they held their meetings under this tree before chasing the Poles out of Ukraine (with Russia's help) a long time ago. Anyway, it is a historically significant location that some of you might like to see.
-Dave
Shakthar-Barcelona
For those of you who are soccer fans, here are teams from the soccer game. Notice that Barcelona is playing without their three most well-known players.
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