This is a good article from The Economist about the current HIV/AIDS struggle in Ukraine.
"There's a line in the national AIDS programme budget for prevention," says Andriy Klepikov, head of AIDS Alliance Ukraine, "but its value is set at zero."
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Spider Webs and Sketching
I'm really tempted to start writing down people's names and filling in the lines with how they're related or connected to others in my community. I've been here long enough now that sometimes when I figure it out, I go, "Ohhhhh, that makes so much sense now."
I'm also really tempted to start doing a rough sketch of the lay out of my village. It will probably be difficult because my village is so spread out but that will also be part of the fun.
I'm also really tempted to start doing a rough sketch of the lay out of my village. It will probably be difficult because my village is so spread out but that will also be part of the fun.
Logic
Does anyone remember if during their time in high school, it was common for students to have extra lessons or one-on-one tutoring with special math, science, language, etc. teachers after their normal school days? Extra paid lessons, that is. I can't really remember that being a popular or common thing.
It seems like a good number of students in my school have these types of lessons on top of regular lessons. I can't help but think that 1) if class time was used more efficiently and effectively, there wouldn't be the need for those lessons and everyone would have more time, and 2) that widens the divide between the kids/families who can afford to do that and those who can't, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
It seems like a good number of students in my school have these types of lessons on top of regular lessons. I can't help but think that 1) if class time was used more efficiently and effectively, there wouldn't be the need for those lessons and everyone would have more time, and 2) that widens the divide between the kids/families who can afford to do that and those who can't, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
Friday, December 2, 2011
December 1
I remember feeling like December was so far away about two months ago, and now I can't believe it's here.
My village has had a couple very weak, almost invisible snow flurries but nothing significant. Then during my lesson with the 6th formers, it started snowing pretty heavily which sent them into giggles and screams of "New Years is coming!" (usually their favorite holiday). Another student was convinced that because we had been talking about holidays during our lesson, that we caused it to snow. It's hard to be miserable about winter with all that cuteness flying around.
World AIDS Day! Molodets to my school for having information sessions with the older forms about this issue, especially since it tends not to be talked about here.
It was my landlady's birthday and she had a feast for her friends. She spent literally the entire day cooking because there was so much food, it was incredible. I always wonder how Ukrainians afford to do this, both with time and money, but it's tradition. It was nice to spend the evening with her and her friends and eat too much food and drink in her honor, and she looked so happy.
On an unrelated note, teaching is the same ups and downs and starts and stalls as always. The main difference is I'm better at brushing things off when they go wrong, and I (usually) don't let it ruin my entire day. I just try and focus on the times when I feel like I'm making a very small change in someone's mindset. For example, I have a student in my 11th form who was a bit of a pain last year and doesn't really know English at all. He's one of the students who has been told since he was in 2nd form that he's stupid and lazy, so why would he bother to try? While he still doesn't really know English, he has a much more positive attitude towards me. Today, my 11th formers played Hangman in pairs, and he didn't have a partner so I went to where he sits in the back and played with him. I think it helped that I started with a word he knows (stupid, because he thinks it's funny sometimes to call other people or himself stupid, to which I always say, "No, Dima, you're not stupid.") Once he figured it out, he thought it was hilarious and was so excited to play. It's probably the most animated I've seen him. Anyway, I try to make little things like that happen everyday.
My village has had a couple very weak, almost invisible snow flurries but nothing significant. Then during my lesson with the 6th formers, it started snowing pretty heavily which sent them into giggles and screams of "New Years is coming!" (usually their favorite holiday). Another student was convinced that because we had been talking about holidays during our lesson, that we caused it to snow. It's hard to be miserable about winter with all that cuteness flying around.
World AIDS Day! Molodets to my school for having information sessions with the older forms about this issue, especially since it tends not to be talked about here.
It was my landlady's birthday and she had a feast for her friends. She spent literally the entire day cooking because there was so much food, it was incredible. I always wonder how Ukrainians afford to do this, both with time and money, but it's tradition. It was nice to spend the evening with her and her friends and eat too much food and drink in her honor, and she looked so happy.
On an unrelated note, teaching is the same ups and downs and starts and stalls as always. The main difference is I'm better at brushing things off when they go wrong, and I (usually) don't let it ruin my entire day. I just try and focus on the times when I feel like I'm making a very small change in someone's mindset. For example, I have a student in my 11th form who was a bit of a pain last year and doesn't really know English at all. He's one of the students who has been told since he was in 2nd form that he's stupid and lazy, so why would he bother to try? While he still doesn't really know English, he has a much more positive attitude towards me. Today, my 11th formers played Hangman in pairs, and he didn't have a partner so I went to where he sits in the back and played with him. I think it helped that I started with a word he knows (stupid, because he thinks it's funny sometimes to call other people or himself stupid, to which I always say, "No, Dima, you're not stupid.") Once he figured it out, he thought it was hilarious and was so excited to play. It's probably the most animated I've seen him. Anyway, I try to make little things like that happen everyday.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sweet Things
This is a cute article about l-o-v-e in Peace Corps.
Today, all my 11th form students got their class yearbooks right before we had English. Which essentially meant that they were going to be distracted the entire time looking at them so I scrapped my lesson and let them have the time to sign yearbooks. I mean, it's their last year of school! It was sweet how many of them wanted me to write messages to them (and I wrote in English). Even though they sometimes drive me crazy with their laziness, I'm so excited to do the traditional dance/party celebration and then head to the river to watch the sun rise with them for graduation at the end of the year!
Today, all my 11th form students got their class yearbooks right before we had English. Which essentially meant that they were going to be distracted the entire time looking at them so I scrapped my lesson and let them have the time to sign yearbooks. I mean, it's their last year of school! It was sweet how many of them wanted me to write messages to them (and I wrote in English). Even though they sometimes drive me crazy with their laziness, I'm so excited to do the traditional dance/party celebration and then head to the river to watch the sun rise with them for graduation at the end of the year!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
You Know You're an Experienced PCV When
You know you're an experienced PCV when you stop lying to yourself that tomorrow will be better.
It will just be another day.
It will just be another day.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
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