Tuesday, July 04, 2006
We made it!
Well, we're here, alive and well. Hollie and the girls like it even more than we thought. My friend here, Jeffrey Wells says, "Everything works out in Ukraine as well or better than expected. And everything runs according to schedule--because we write the schedule afterwards."
For example, we missed our connection, Warsaw-Lviv. They had confirmed me and Hollie, but not the kids. So we spent a day in Warsaw at a very nice hotel for free with a food allowance (that worked even for room service). Warsaw is a beautiful and user-friendly city. The old city on a Saturday afternoon is full of locals strolling with ice cream in hand. The kids did not want to go to another country, as Poland and the hotel were really nice. The highlight was when they got their own soap and shampoo!
In Lviv our arrangements are very nice. We are staying about 100 yards from the school. The bus stop is even closer for going to the city. Now Ukraine has a private bus service that *competes* for service, so buses come along constantly. Beer is abundant, costing less than about anything else; at a nice cafe it costs about $1.25 for a 1/2 liter. The family can eat in a restaurant for appx. $6, and the delicious food in the school cafeteria is half that.
We found a babysitter for this week. Yesterday Nellie heard us talking about calling a babysitter, and she wailed until we shut her out of the room, when she decided to gnash her teeth. Then the girls' attidtude changed. The woman came today, and the girls asked if she could be their babysitter. "Better than expected," as Jeffrey said.
The school has a great atmosphere, honest and pious. Every day there is liturgy at the school before lunch, and the tendency is towards congregational singing. Yesterday there were at least 150 people at the liturgy. There are lots of nuns and (fewer) monks here. And everyone greets each other not with the "secular" greeting of Kiev, "Good day!" but, "Glory to Jesus Christ!." While this may sound religiously exclusive, Jeffrey told an antecdote about the previous Hebrew teacher. He was Jewish, and he actually felt more comfortable wearing his yarmulke (skull cap) at the school than around the city, where he felt much more anti-Semitism. The school gently encourages religious expression in general.
I scared my students pretty bad yesterday with the amount I expected. However, I have every confidence--more than they have--that they will learn a lot if they stay with me.
I haven't been able to post pictures yet. Stay tuned! They will be coming.
Love to all!
For example, we missed our connection, Warsaw-Lviv. They had confirmed me and Hollie, but not the kids. So we spent a day in Warsaw at a very nice hotel for free with a food allowance (that worked even for room service). Warsaw is a beautiful and user-friendly city. The old city on a Saturday afternoon is full of locals strolling with ice cream in hand. The kids did not want to go to another country, as Poland and the hotel were really nice. The highlight was when they got their own soap and shampoo!
In Lviv our arrangements are very nice. We are staying about 100 yards from the school. The bus stop is even closer for going to the city. Now Ukraine has a private bus service that *competes* for service, so buses come along constantly. Beer is abundant, costing less than about anything else; at a nice cafe it costs about $1.25 for a 1/2 liter. The family can eat in a restaurant for appx. $6, and the delicious food in the school cafeteria is half that.
We found a babysitter for this week. Yesterday Nellie heard us talking about calling a babysitter, and she wailed until we shut her out of the room, when she decided to gnash her teeth. Then the girls' attidtude changed. The woman came today, and the girls asked if she could be their babysitter. "Better than expected," as Jeffrey said.
The school has a great atmosphere, honest and pious. Every day there is liturgy at the school before lunch, and the tendency is towards congregational singing. Yesterday there were at least 150 people at the liturgy. There are lots of nuns and (fewer) monks here. And everyone greets each other not with the "secular" greeting of Kiev, "Good day!" but, "Glory to Jesus Christ!." While this may sound religiously exclusive, Jeffrey told an antecdote about the previous Hebrew teacher. He was Jewish, and he actually felt more comfortable wearing his yarmulke (skull cap) at the school than around the city, where he felt much more anti-Semitism. The school gently encourages religious expression in general.
I scared my students pretty bad yesterday with the amount I expected. However, I have every confidence--more than they have--that they will learn a lot if they stay with me.
I haven't been able to post pictures yet. Stay tuned! They will be coming.
Love to all!
