On Tuesday we experienced our second national holiday of the year (after New Years), International Women’s Day. Some have told us it is the second biggest holiday of the year after New Years, and it seems to be true. March 8 is Mother’s Day, Valentines Day and more all in one day – a day for all women. Women and girls of all ages receive gifts (candy, flowers, perfume, etc.) from the men in their lives and families gather for celebrations and feasts (which women have spent days preparing). Many schools and businesses were open on Saturday, then took Monday and Tuesday off for the holiday. DCU had classes on Monday, and that morning I was surprised to find a collection of gifts on my desk – chocolate, a pen, a tea towel, greeting cards – all from my fellow women colleagues in the English department. Apparently women give other women gifts on women’s day, too. I probably should’ve seen it coming last week when I went to the book market to buy some thank-you cards, and all I could find were a few birthday cards among racks full of Women’s Day cards. Next year I’ll know better.
So Dave and I enjoyed a day of relaxing on Tuesday – we experienced bowling in Ukraine for the first time, at a hotel with several other American families, then went out to eat at a Turkish restaurant. Each of us filled our traditional Ukrainian roles for the day – I made a pancake breakfast and Dave presented me with a bouquet of tulips and a box of chocolates. He had been told by our Russian teacher, Marina, in no uncertain terms, that he was to buy a gift for me, or else. So on Monday he enjoyed a “women’s day” shopping trip to the market with several other DCU husbands, where they each chose gifts for the women in their lives and helped him pick out his tulips. The vendor Dave purchased them from had grown them in his basement – planted and timed perfectly to be ready just in time for the big day on March 8, when flower prices are at least tripled. While at the market Dave wisely also chose a gift for Marina, which was well-received today at our language lesson.
Laura
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Friday, March 04, 2005
Education (Sweeping Generalizations)
When I was teaching math in Arizona, I was often frustrated with the increased importance of standardized testing and the “No Child Left Behind” act. At the same time I was frustrated with students in my class who had been promoted through their previous classes without learning any of the material that was foundational to being in my class. It seemed as though I was always thinking about the conflict: “Are we spoon-feeding them material that they have to memorize?” or “Are we teaching them to think for themselves?” I leaned toward teaching them to think for themselves, and I thought that distancing myself from the American education system would enable me to forget about the whole situation for a while.
However, the conflict seems to have followed me. In church and public settings it seems like people are always standing up and reciting long poems and chapters of the Bible from memory. It is amazing how much they are able to memorize. In talking to my students and other teachers here, I have found that the Ukrainian (and Russian) educational system has placed much of its emphasis on memorization. Trying to get my students to say what they think about a text is often like pulling teeth. Teachers who assign large written assignments also complain about plagiarism. Students give the argument: “Why should we analyze material that was written by experts? They can obviously say it better than we can.”
I have read that the former governmental system valued uniformity and discouraged thinking for one’s self. Reading censored history and related materials for almost 75 years probably caused people to focus on memorization and not on analysis. I am amazed at how many poems people have tucked away in their memory banks. I wish I had a better memory, I can hardly remember the password to my email account. At the same time, I am glad that my educational background stressed the importance of thinking for myself. And the conflict lives on.
-Dave
However, the conflict seems to have followed me. In church and public settings it seems like people are always standing up and reciting long poems and chapters of the Bible from memory. It is amazing how much they are able to memorize. In talking to my students and other teachers here, I have found that the Ukrainian (and Russian) educational system has placed much of its emphasis on memorization. Trying to get my students to say what they think about a text is often like pulling teeth. Teachers who assign large written assignments also complain about plagiarism. Students give the argument: “Why should we analyze material that was written by experts? They can obviously say it better than we can.”
I have read that the former governmental system valued uniformity and discouraged thinking for one’s self. Reading censored history and related materials for almost 75 years probably caused people to focus on memorization and not on analysis. I am amazed at how many poems people have tucked away in their memory banks. I wish I had a better memory, I can hardly remember the password to my email account. At the same time, I am glad that my educational background stressed the importance of thinking for myself. And the conflict lives on.
-Dave
Monday, February 28, 2005
Winter and tea
Last night we went to another American’s house to watch a tape of the superbowl and have a little belated party in honor of the game. We ended coming back to our apartment homesick – Dave for watching sports on TV and I for some fast food – the Taco Bell ads really got to me. Tacos are non-existent here. Today life goes on as usual, but though it was a balmy 40 degrees yesterday, today the wind howled and it snowed. Tomorrow is the first day of spring in Ukraine, and though the weather is less than springy, someone reassured me today that it will be spring soon and the only reason it’s cold today is because the seasons are fighting because winter doesn’t want to be done yet. Hopefully they’re right.
If winter does end up lasting another month, the one good thing will be that we’ll keep drinking tea to stay warm. Dave and I have discovered a whole new world of tea here in Ukraine. Entire aisles of stores are dedicated to it, as are quite a few stalls at the market. There’s tea from all over the world, and in so many different flavors. Our current favorite we discovered at our language lesson when Dave wasn’t feeling well and Marina, our teacher, made him a cup of tea. It’s a loose black tea made in Denmark, and it’s translated “Earl Grey,” but it’s nothing like the English Earl Grey I’ve tasted at home. It tastes like berries and is full of all kinds of interesting things – the ingredient list includes red saffron, blue cornflower and red currants. Marina directed us to a tiny tea shop located inside a pharmacy near the center of town to buy this special tea, and we’ll be returning soon. Behind the small counter are jars full of all kinds of fun flavors of tea, most of which we can only identify by the pictures on the jar labels – all the more reason to taste as many as we can!
It’s no wonder there are so many kinds of tea available – Ukrainians drink tea like it’s their job. At every meal and social gathering, as well as many times in between, there’s tea to be drunk and cookies to be eaten. Jam is also common base for “tea” – just add a couple spoonfuls to a cup of hot water, and it’s ready. But we think the teas we find here will be just as good iced as they are hot, so perhaps it would be all right if spring would hurry up and get here.
Laura
If winter does end up lasting another month, the one good thing will be that we’ll keep drinking tea to stay warm. Dave and I have discovered a whole new world of tea here in Ukraine. Entire aisles of stores are dedicated to it, as are quite a few stalls at the market. There’s tea from all over the world, and in so many different flavors. Our current favorite we discovered at our language lesson when Dave wasn’t feeling well and Marina, our teacher, made him a cup of tea. It’s a loose black tea made in Denmark, and it’s translated “Earl Grey,” but it’s nothing like the English Earl Grey I’ve tasted at home. It tastes like berries and is full of all kinds of interesting things – the ingredient list includes red saffron, blue cornflower and red currants. Marina directed us to a tiny tea shop located inside a pharmacy near the center of town to buy this special tea, and we’ll be returning soon. Behind the small counter are jars full of all kinds of fun flavors of tea, most of which we can only identify by the pictures on the jar labels – all the more reason to taste as many as we can!
It’s no wonder there are so many kinds of tea available – Ukrainians drink tea like it’s their job. At every meal and social gathering, as well as many times in between, there’s tea to be drunk and cookies to be eaten. Jam is also common base for “tea” – just add a couple spoonfuls to a cup of hot water, and it’s ready. But we think the teas we find here will be just as good iced as they are hot, so perhaps it would be all right if spring would hurry up and get here.
Laura
Friday, February 25, 2005
Summer English Intensive
As I may have mentioned before, part of my job here is co-coordinating DCU’s Summer English Intensive program. Basically, DCI offers all-day English classes to community members for two two-week sessions in July. The mornings are structured English classes taught by trained teachers, and the afternoons are a mix of conversation practice, songs, games, crafts and other hands-on activities that all focus on English learning. Evenings are optional, and usually include an English language movie or free time. This program draws every age of student from late elementary school through mid-40s, and quite a few staff members at DCU take classes. My biggest responsibility is to line up teachers and assistants from the U.S. to come to Ukraine to teach. Almost all of our teachers and helpers come from the U.S., except a few native teachers who teach the lower levels of English.
Although July seems like a long time away, since Christmas I’ve been communicating with prospective teachers and church groups about coming this summer. There are several regulars who come every year, but there’s always room for new people. We still have spaces open for both teachers and assistants – so if anyone is interested, let me know! I’d love to see some familiar faces at DCU. If you want more details, go to http://www.dcu.donbass.com/eng/projects/intensive.htm on DCU’s website. While you’re there you can also learn more about DCU and see some pictures.
-Laura
Although July seems like a long time away, since Christmas I’ve been communicating with prospective teachers and church groups about coming this summer. There are several regulars who come every year, but there’s always room for new people. We still have spaces open for both teachers and assistants – so if anyone is interested, let me know! I’d love to see some familiar faces at DCU. If you want more details, go to http://www.dcu.donbass.com/eng/projects/intensive.htm on DCU’s website. While you’re there you can also learn more about DCU and see some pictures.
-Laura
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
A Milestone
I just wanted to post a quick note about our counter. I was stoked to see that it is now a four digit number. I am sure that my periodic checking the counter reading accounts for most of those 1001 hits, but the math nerd in me knows that I would have had to check 9.8 times per day to account for this. The probability of this is quite low, I have not spent (wasted) that much time working towards my goal. Therefore others must also be accounting for part of the quantity. That's g-rate.
-Dave
-Dave
MCC Staff Photo
We had retreat last weekend. One evening the staff went out to eat in a cafe. Most of our coworkers were on this photo. They are: (from left) Zlata, Lyuda, and Andrei Zolotaryov; Mary Raber; Doug Wrenn; Andrew Geddert; Laura; Amy Goerzen; and Elisabeth Harder.
MCC Staff Photo II
Here is the other side of the table. They are: (from left) Elisabeth Harder, Dave, Ionka Hristozova, Katie Hengeveld, and Zlata and Lyuda Zolotaryov. (missing from both photos is Alexandr "Sasha" Zhirov)
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