Catch up- Feb. 3 and 4

Day 3 in Chernivtsi

I learned to count to 10 in Ukrainian today. This language is not easy but I am trying hard. I also lit the furnace for the first time on my own.

I met my 4th year students today and really enjoyed interacting with them. They seem sweet, enthusiastic, and eager to learn. I am teaching an overview of American History for my 4th year students. I also spent some time in the American Studies Center at the university today and saw 2 copies of Tindall and Shi’s America. Norton donated a bunch of Tindall and Shi materials to the center and they were sent via the diplomatic pouch that Fulbrighters get to (thankfully) use.

They should arrive in the next few weeks.

First Day of Class! Have to be early!

As you can see above, I made the mistake of not covering my neck with clothes. That will not happen again for quite some time.

Mykola continues to be so helpful. We looked for a vacuum cleaner and a TV today. I was really torn about the TV bc I rarely watch TV in the US but I thought it might be a good way to have the language reinforced. In Kyiv, for instance, I heard some of the expressions I learned from my guidebooks and language dictionary and it helped me to learn those expressions. I’m hoping the same thing will happen now. Furthermore, Lilliana (who owns this flat) will deduct it from the rent, so why not?

We also purchased cell phones today. I am the proud owner of a tiny Samsung phone and I have service through Life. In Ukraine, one purchases a phone and a plan, and then purchases more minutes as needed at various kiosks, which are located on downtown streets, in the markets, etc. Good system. Life allows it subscribers to talk free of charge, so that is convenient. It is also not uncommon for people to have 2 different cell numbers on the same phone, and to alternate between the numbers/companies depending on who one is calling. Slightly different system. Texting (SMS) is big here but there is no such thing as unlimited texts, I am told.

Here are some photos from a walk around town.

Today the high was in the low 20s and the low was in the single digits. Lilliana said it has been like spring outside (it has been sunny). I found this very amusing! Spring to me is not a high of 23 degrees! Dorothy, we are not in Kansas anymore. Everything is relative with weather, I guess.

Today, I couldn’t/didn’t wear long underwear underneath my shirt bc the shirt I was wearing under my suit was v-neck and my v-neck long underwear top was dirty. So, I thought, I'll wear long underwear on my legs and be fine. WRONG. My hands hurt they were so cold. From here on out, I will wear long underwear on top and bottom no matter what. It just isn't worth it.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Long underwear on top and on my legs. Balaklava on my face (I’ll come back to this), hood over my head, snow boots, mittens with half-gloves on the interior so I can fold back the fingers if I need to use them…it takes about 4 minutes to get ready to leave the house after I have all my clothes on. Not putting all this on, however, is simply not an option.

Today I went to go buy our plane tickets to Kyiv from a local travel agent. They have better rates than the ones online, especially the ones online in English! I have Fulbright Orientation next Friday and Saturday at the US Embassy, which I’m looking forward to. I have heard a range of comments in regards to plane travel in Ukraine. First, I heard that the planes were falling out of the sky every 6 months immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Then I heard that most Ukrainians don’t ever take planes and that train travel remains the primary method of travel here. When I asked some others here, I was told it would “probably be OK.” So I have done a few hours of research on air travel in Ukraine myself and either even the “objective” sites I have gone to don’t have the full 411 or flying in Ukraine is totally fine. The younger and more educated seem more encouraging of it, with the older people still very wary of plane travel. So we’ll see next week!! I feel super confident everything will be just fine. Here is a photo of the inside of the travel agent's office:

I have found that much of what I have been warned about is simply not true or a total exaggeration. This place is GREAT and that should be emphasized much more.

In the afternoon I met Mykola, who graciously offered to go get the vacuum cleaner and TV and bring it to the flat later on. I walked to the most impressive part of campus, the former residence of the Metropolitan of Bukovina. VERY impressive. It was designed by Josef Hlavka (who also did the Opera House in Vienna). I’m proud to be affiliated with this university…the people seem terrific and the campus is beautiful. Keep in mind that my expectations for what I consider a beautiful campus are sky high (gotta shout out to the fact that Furman is frequently ranked as one of the top 5 most beautiful campuses in the country). The university also seems to have a good reputation in Europe. It has 22,000 students, which is larger than I thought.

See the photo at the top of the blog? This is what it looks like now...or not. Can't wait for it to look like it does at the top though!

This is the building in which my classes are held. It is the former headquarters for the Communist Party of Bukoyna (the local region) during the days of the Soviet Union. As a Cold War baby (I was 12 when the Berlin Wall crumbled and 14 when the Soviet Union dissolved), there is a very satisying irony to the fact that I'm teaching American History, including a class that the department requested I teach (titled American Democracy: Ideals and Practicalities) in this building. I have to wonder what the walls are thinking when they hear me...

Then we went to lunch at Reflection, which I have been looking forward to for months (seriously, bc it is ranked 4th among the best restaurants in Ukraine and is featured in my Lonely Planet guidebook). It did not disappoint. The menu is extensive (and they have a version with some English in it), and the food was very good. It is owned by a British couple who live in town. This is where I will go when I am not feeling adventurous.

Came back to the flat after lunch. I always enjoy coming back here after taking a long walk through town. I am becoming more and more familiar with this city. I did some internet work, Mykola brought the TV by, and then I cooked vegetables and varenyky for dinner. I still haven’t been able to find salt and pepper for sale, even though we checked 3 more markets today! I think God is sending me a message to cut my salt usage…