Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Novomoskovsk Youth Library: Mural Finished!
Finished the mural in the library with the help of a few of my friends from the Open Borders English Club. I have to admit...it came out better than I first anticipated. There is something about painting that is at once both enjoyable and frustrating, which is why I never became a painter and settled (quite comfortably, I might add) into mixed-media instead. I tend to focus too much on perfection and detail...which in this case is quite impossible, given the state of the pitted concrete walls in the youth library.
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Ukraine Revisited Part 2
So, day one in town was amazing, the only change being the signs of neglect everywhere. I did notice less strays and more cars on the road, however and vowed to keep an extra eye out before crossing Sovietskya Street. Later in the day I sent out a call or email to everyone I knew and the phone hasn't stopped ringing since. I've had non-stop visitors, phone calls and a renewed interest in my Facebook posts. I've resurrected the English Club from the library where they had previously vacated due to conflicts of interests. During all this time I've snapped lots of photos and worked hard on the mural in the library.
On day three I met with my (so-called) adopted daughter Julia and her sis Natasha. It was a joyous and tearful reunion. I've missed Julia more than anyone. When I lived here before, she was my right-hand gal. She helped me with a lot of translation and a lot of my community projects. I am so proud of her. Since I was here she went to France to get her master's degree in international something-or-other and when that was done she won a prestigious paid internship in the Republic of Georgia at the French Embassy. After this stint, she won a super competitive scholarship to the College of Europe in Bruge, Belgium. She received an all-inclusive fully funded scholarship with a stipend, no less! I could not be happier or prouder! Of course, she blames me for pushing her out the door, so to speak. I once told her that her brain was too big for Ukraine. Well, she followed my advice and off she went to learn more about the world. Now she is looking for a paid internship abroad to obtain some practical experience in her field.
Here are some photos from the Open Borders English Club.
On day three I met with my (so-called) adopted daughter Julia and her sis Natasha. It was a joyous and tearful reunion. I've missed Julia more than anyone. When I lived here before, she was my right-hand gal. She helped me with a lot of translation and a lot of my community projects. I am so proud of her. Since I was here she went to France to get her master's degree in international something-or-other and when that was done she won a prestigious paid internship in the Republic of Georgia at the French Embassy. After this stint, she won a super competitive scholarship to the College of Europe in Bruge, Belgium. She received an all-inclusive fully funded scholarship with a stipend, no less! I could not be happier or prouder! Of course, she blames me for pushing her out the door, so to speak. I once told her that her brain was too big for Ukraine. Well, she followed my advice and off she went to learn more about the world. Now she is looking for a paid internship abroad to obtain some practical experience in her field.
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| In my rented apartment with Natasha (left) and Julia. |
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Ukraine Revisited
Well! It has been a very very long time since I've written anything here...or elsewhere, for that matter. I don't know why but I thought it would be a good time to write some thoughts about what I am doing back in Ukraine.
I had always said I would return here one day but didn't know exactly when that would be. I got the notion from a gal I swim with who was taking a touring holiday to Ukraine in May and I thought to myself that it was high time that I did the same. After mentioning it to mum, she agreed it would be a good time because who knew how long it would be before I was unable to leave her along for any length of time? (Mum is 89 and healthy now but who knows for how long?)
So I made my plans and here I am. At first I wasn't too excited to be returning to my old neighborhood of Novomoskovsk...mainly because one of my dearest friends was working in France and wasn't expected to return home until September. I was planning to travel for the whole month of August and was sad at the notion of not having her to spend time with. Things changed, however, and before I began my journey I learned she would indeed be home in August! I was so happy I began to really look forward to my trip.
While I made preparations for the journey, I also made arrangements to do a project in the library while I was there. Not one to do a lot of nothing, I need a project to fill my time in between visiting with my Ukrainian families and friends. The library was my second home when I served as a PCV many years ago and I wanted to return to the scene of the crime. This project would have nothing to do with English, however (aside from facilitating the Open Borders English Club). THIS time I was going to paint a mural.
The time came to hit the road and I took off from Boston's Logan Airport on August 1st. I had no issues or complications and landed in Kiev on August 2nd. I got the Skybus from the airport, left off at the Central Train Station at 6pm and hit the road to find this disgusting little hostel where I had to spend the evening. I was no sooner there when I had a visitor! One of my English Clubbers has been attending university in Kiev and had come by to pick me up for an early dinner.
Flash forward...after a restful evening I left the hostel and walked back up to the train station to begin the next leg of the journey, which was a 5 1/2 hour train ride to Dnipropropetrovsk. My friend Nik was meeting me at the end of the line because he was the one who found me an apartment in town and he needed to make sure I could find it. When I got off the train the heat hit me like a sledge hammer...it was mid-day and the sun was unreal. When Nik walked up to me he had a puzzled look on his face and he said "What are you doing here"? I just about peed my pants. He has a dry sense of humor and the way he said it just cracked me up. As if he had just happened along and spotted me out of the blue! After a visit to the ladies room (cost: 2.50 G's) where I got reacquainted with squat toilets and the smell of peed-soaked toilet paper (no flushing paper here, people) we walked to the central bus station and I practically melted on the sidewalk.
We bought tickets for the mashrutka ( a mini bus with only the roof window opened for air) and I proceeded to bitch and moan about how disgustingly hot I was and could someone PLEASE take me out of the oven? I looked over at Nik and asked "Do I sound like a spoiled American yet"? He just laughed and said of course. I had forgotten the hot rides in the mashrutkas. When I lived here before I never traveled anywhere in the summer unless it was very early or very late. Everyone at home thought I was nuts for coming in August but I explained that Novomoskovsk in August is like RI in September. Things cool down and it's really quite comfortable. Well, not this year. Apparently the region had experience cool weather all summer until right before I came...then the REAL summer hit as soon as I arrived! So, has it been hot here? GOD YES. Every single day and not a drop of rain since I arrived.
So, 50 minutes after cooking in the mashrutka, we get to Novomoskovsk and walk to the apartment. I arrived at 3:30 Thursday afternoon. That's 2 full days travel folks. Phew. Was I ever hot! But, low and behold, the apartment Nik found me was beautiful and spotless! I was and continue to be very pleased with my rental. For $200 I got a modern apartment, complete with exhaust fans in both the kitchen and the bathroom! Who knew there were such places here? Novomoskovsk is not a high-rent area and most people are working class poor...pretty much like me. I am situated right above the library where I have been painting the mural and that sure cuts down on travel time!
Right, so back to day 1. The first thing I did was take a shower and then run down to The Center to call on my good friend Natasha. She had NO IDEA I was coming. (She knew I was coming this week but didn't know exactly when). I made my way down to my old apartment block (Lenin Square) and as I was walking I noticed things were quite a bit shabbier than when I was last here. There are a lot more holes in the streets and on the sidewalks. Lots of missing bricks from the walkways and missing manhole covers where one can trip and break an ankle or worse. It made me very sad. Since this time I've learned that there is no longer a mayor in the town and the war has sucked up a lot of the money so things have been pretty much neglected since I left.
Onward to Natasha's. (I could walk this route blindfolded!) I arrive at my old apartment block and notice how big the trees have gotten! Also the signs of neglect are evident here too. The 2 benches where the old babushkas sit and gossip are a wreck. The backs have been fashioned out of what looks like an old door that was cut up the center. So sad. Anyway, I climb to the 3rd floor and knock and I hear "kto tam"? (Who's there?) It's Joanne! And I hear loud yelling "Joanne! Joanne!" and a rush of rapid-fire Russian that of course I cannot understand. We cried and hugged and oh what a reunion! It was wonderful. Natasha fed me and made me take food home of course, with a promise of more to come. Her daughter Vala and granddaughter Masha came over as well and it was a grand time. Masha has been studying English quite a bit since I was last here 4 years ago and has learned a lot so it's pleasant to be able to have some translation between Natasha and myself. I also went up to the 5th floor where my old apartment was and knocked on my old next door neighbor Galena's door but she wasn't home. Galena and Natasha fed me regularly while I lived there. In return I baked them breads and cookies.
Afterwards my Ukrainian family and I went to the Kyivstar store to buy a SIM card to place in to the borrowed cell phone they have given me to use. On the way out of the store we went through to Lenin Square (now renamed after some poet I cannot pronounce) and it was simply heartbreaking. The once beautiful park which bisected the town is a mess. Lenin has been torn down (a good thing) and the monument now had a painted picture of the poet on the base. The grass is overgrown and the fountain no longer flows. The walkways are nothing but sand where there were once decorative tiles.
I had always said I would return here one day but didn't know exactly when that would be. I got the notion from a gal I swim with who was taking a touring holiday to Ukraine in May and I thought to myself that it was high time that I did the same. After mentioning it to mum, she agreed it would be a good time because who knew how long it would be before I was unable to leave her along for any length of time? (Mum is 89 and healthy now but who knows for how long?)
So I made my plans and here I am. At first I wasn't too excited to be returning to my old neighborhood of Novomoskovsk...mainly because one of my dearest friends was working in France and wasn't expected to return home until September. I was planning to travel for the whole month of August and was sad at the notion of not having her to spend time with. Things changed, however, and before I began my journey I learned she would indeed be home in August! I was so happy I began to really look forward to my trip.
While I made preparations for the journey, I also made arrangements to do a project in the library while I was there. Not one to do a lot of nothing, I need a project to fill my time in between visiting with my Ukrainian families and friends. The library was my second home when I served as a PCV many years ago and I wanted to return to the scene of the crime. This project would have nothing to do with English, however (aside from facilitating the Open Borders English Club). THIS time I was going to paint a mural.
The time came to hit the road and I took off from Boston's Logan Airport on August 1st. I had no issues or complications and landed in Kiev on August 2nd. I got the Skybus from the airport, left off at the Central Train Station at 6pm and hit the road to find this disgusting little hostel where I had to spend the evening. I was no sooner there when I had a visitor! One of my English Clubbers has been attending university in Kiev and had come by to pick me up for an early dinner.
Flash forward...after a restful evening I left the hostel and walked back up to the train station to begin the next leg of the journey, which was a 5 1/2 hour train ride to Dnipropropetrovsk. My friend Nik was meeting me at the end of the line because he was the one who found me an apartment in town and he needed to make sure I could find it. When I got off the train the heat hit me like a sledge hammer...it was mid-day and the sun was unreal. When Nik walked up to me he had a puzzled look on his face and he said "What are you doing here"? I just about peed my pants. He has a dry sense of humor and the way he said it just cracked me up. As if he had just happened along and spotted me out of the blue! After a visit to the ladies room (cost: 2.50 G's) where I got reacquainted with squat toilets and the smell of peed-soaked toilet paper (no flushing paper here, people) we walked to the central bus station and I practically melted on the sidewalk.
We bought tickets for the mashrutka ( a mini bus with only the roof window opened for air) and I proceeded to bitch and moan about how disgustingly hot I was and could someone PLEASE take me out of the oven? I looked over at Nik and asked "Do I sound like a spoiled American yet"? He just laughed and said of course. I had forgotten the hot rides in the mashrutkas. When I lived here before I never traveled anywhere in the summer unless it was very early or very late. Everyone at home thought I was nuts for coming in August but I explained that Novomoskovsk in August is like RI in September. Things cool down and it's really quite comfortable. Well, not this year. Apparently the region had experience cool weather all summer until right before I came...then the REAL summer hit as soon as I arrived! So, has it been hot here? GOD YES. Every single day and not a drop of rain since I arrived.
So, 50 minutes after cooking in the mashrutka, we get to Novomoskovsk and walk to the apartment. I arrived at 3:30 Thursday afternoon. That's 2 full days travel folks. Phew. Was I ever hot! But, low and behold, the apartment Nik found me was beautiful and spotless! I was and continue to be very pleased with my rental. For $200 I got a modern apartment, complete with exhaust fans in both the kitchen and the bathroom! Who knew there were such places here? Novomoskovsk is not a high-rent area and most people are working class poor...pretty much like me. I am situated right above the library where I have been painting the mural and that sure cuts down on travel time!
Right, so back to day 1. The first thing I did was take a shower and then run down to The Center to call on my good friend Natasha. She had NO IDEA I was coming. (She knew I was coming this week but didn't know exactly when). I made my way down to my old apartment block (Lenin Square) and as I was walking I noticed things were quite a bit shabbier than when I was last here. There are a lot more holes in the streets and on the sidewalks. Lots of missing bricks from the walkways and missing manhole covers where one can trip and break an ankle or worse. It made me very sad. Since this time I've learned that there is no longer a mayor in the town and the war has sucked up a lot of the money so things have been pretty much neglected since I left.
Onward to Natasha's. (I could walk this route blindfolded!) I arrive at my old apartment block and notice how big the trees have gotten! Also the signs of neglect are evident here too. The 2 benches where the old babushkas sit and gossip are a wreck. The backs have been fashioned out of what looks like an old door that was cut up the center. So sad. Anyway, I climb to the 3rd floor and knock and I hear "kto tam"? (Who's there?) It's Joanne! And I hear loud yelling "Joanne! Joanne!" and a rush of rapid-fire Russian that of course I cannot understand. We cried and hugged and oh what a reunion! It was wonderful. Natasha fed me and made me take food home of course, with a promise of more to come. Her daughter Vala and granddaughter Masha came over as well and it was a grand time. Masha has been studying English quite a bit since I was last here 4 years ago and has learned a lot so it's pleasant to be able to have some translation between Natasha and myself. I also went up to the 5th floor where my old apartment was and knocked on my old next door neighbor Galena's door but she wasn't home. Galena and Natasha fed me regularly while I lived there. In return I baked them breads and cookies.
Afterwards my Ukrainian family and I went to the Kyivstar store to buy a SIM card to place in to the borrowed cell phone they have given me to use. On the way out of the store we went through to Lenin Square (now renamed after some poet I cannot pronounce) and it was simply heartbreaking. The once beautiful park which bisected the town is a mess. Lenin has been torn down (a good thing) and the monument now had a painted picture of the poet on the base. The grass is overgrown and the fountain no longer flows. The walkways are nothing but sand where there were once decorative tiles.
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| Lenin Square Revisited |
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| Natasha and I in the square |
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Renovation (Rooms 1 and 2) Complete!
Phew!
It's been a long journey but I have finally finished renovating the first 2 of 5 1/2 rooms. (The 1/2 referring to the hallway, which is finished except I'm having trouble getting the doors back on!) How stupid was I not to take 'before' pictures of the living room?? I found some old photos and posted them instead.
It's been a long journey but I have finally finished renovating the first 2 of 5 1/2 rooms. (The 1/2 referring to the hallway, which is finished except I'm having trouble getting the doors back on!) How stupid was I not to take 'before' pictures of the living room?? I found some old photos and posted them instead.
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| Dining Room Before |
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| Dining Room After |
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| Dining Room (Mom in the kitchen) |
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| Living Room Before (with my nephew Matt and sister Lauren) |
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| Living Room After |
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| Living Room Before (with my sister and sister-in-law Kathy) |
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| Living Room After |
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Renew - Revitalize - Redecorate!
I've been bugging my mom for years now to let me update her house and she has been against it from the beginning. Since I am now in full possession of said property, I've finally worn her down to the place where she said "Do whatever you want...it's your house now". With the green light, I set about making plans and decided to renovate just one room at a time, as I didn't want to completely freak her out with upsetting the entire house, plus it wouldn't overwhelm me quite so much. Since I'm an amateur it can be a daunting task ripping down and replacing parts of a 100 year old house! So far mom has been pretty okay with it, even to the point of helping me to move furniture and doing small tasks that make my life easier.
The first thing I had to do was remove the drop ceiling and did so with no problems what so over...a really amazing outcome, considering I always do everything the hard way. Unfortunately, the ceiling itself is about to fall in! Apparently the leaks in the roof we had in the past continued without our knowledge. A drop ceiling hides a multitude of sins. What a huge mess. I had to call my contractor Joe and have him come and give me a price. As I write this he's ripping down the old horse-hair plaster ceiling. He'll then check to make sure no further leaks will be happening in the future. He'll also rewire for a ceiling fixture with was non-existent in my lifetime. (There is a light switch on the wall that's never turned anything on).
After the removal of the drop ceiling, it was time to get rid of the dark mahogany paneling. I needed help with that so my brother Dave came by on Sunday to help me rip it down. That too, came down without a hitch...along with lots of the wall! I wasn't surprised and knew I was going to have to do some patching. The next day I got a 20 lb. bag of joint compound and started mixing and patching the huge chunks of wall that fell out. These holes were deep and went right through to the lath and really needed to be mended before the new walls went up. This was a bit tedious because the more I touched the walls, the more they crumbled and in the end I asked the contractor to patch and skim-coat the plaster so now I'll just have to deal with the final finishing.
A little side note: There was lovely surprise underneath this all this old dark paneling...lots of graffiti from when we were kids! We've date this between 1968-1970.
The first thing I had to do was remove the drop ceiling and did so with no problems what so over...a really amazing outcome, considering I always do everything the hard way. Unfortunately, the ceiling itself is about to fall in! Apparently the leaks in the roof we had in the past continued without our knowledge. A drop ceiling hides a multitude of sins. What a huge mess. I had to call my contractor Joe and have him come and give me a price. As I write this he's ripping down the old horse-hair plaster ceiling. He'll then check to make sure no further leaks will be happening in the future. He'll also rewire for a ceiling fixture with was non-existent in my lifetime. (There is a light switch on the wall that's never turned anything on).
After the removal of the drop ceiling, it was time to get rid of the dark mahogany paneling. I needed help with that so my brother Dave came by on Sunday to help me rip it down. That too, came down without a hitch...along with lots of the wall! I wasn't surprised and knew I was going to have to do some patching. The next day I got a 20 lb. bag of joint compound and started mixing and patching the huge chunks of wall that fell out. These holes were deep and went right through to the lath and really needed to be mended before the new walls went up. This was a bit tedious because the more I touched the walls, the more they crumbled and in the end I asked the contractor to patch and skim-coat the plaster so now I'll just have to deal with the final finishing.
A little side note: There was lovely surprise underneath this all this old dark paneling...lots of graffiti from when we were kids! We've date this between 1968-1970.
Friday, May 27, 2016
TSO in the TSA
Okay, so you know I'm in government territory when acronyms are used in a blog title. Why am I using these and what do they mean? Transportation Security Officer in the Transportation Security Administration. This is my latest job application.
They need a great many screeners around the country at various airports due to the clogged airways so I applied for a job opening at my local airport, T.F. Green. The jobs are all part time and don't pay very well but I need something. Immediately after applying I was informed I was qualified and the next step would be to take a test. Ugh. I hate tests.
SO yesterday I took the test. It was in 2 parts...the first being an English test with various exercises in comprehension and the like, which I aced. The second part was really scary. I was required to study a series of object and then look at x-rays of luggage and try to pick out the objects, if indeed any were included in the image. It may sound easy but it was really difficult. I left there thinking I had failed that part miserably but when I got home and fired up the computer, I had an email telling me I passed as well as a contingent offer of employment! Unbelievable. Next step is a background check which isn't a problem for me and then an interview.
I wasn't too excited until I went to the TSA website and looked into available careers with this agency and saw that there were potential possibilities of advancement and the pay grades are incredible! I started to think that after being a security screener (which I imagine can be quite boring) I may be able to move up the ladder.
Only time will tell.
They need a great many screeners around the country at various airports due to the clogged airways so I applied for a job opening at my local airport, T.F. Green. The jobs are all part time and don't pay very well but I need something. Immediately after applying I was informed I was qualified and the next step would be to take a test. Ugh. I hate tests.
SO yesterday I took the test. It was in 2 parts...the first being an English test with various exercises in comprehension and the like, which I aced. The second part was really scary. I was required to study a series of object and then look at x-rays of luggage and try to pick out the objects, if indeed any were included in the image. It may sound easy but it was really difficult. I left there thinking I had failed that part miserably but when I got home and fired up the computer, I had an email telling me I passed as well as a contingent offer of employment! Unbelievable. Next step is a background check which isn't a problem for me and then an interview.
I wasn't too excited until I went to the TSA website and looked into available careers with this agency and saw that there were potential possibilities of advancement and the pay grades are incredible! I started to think that after being a security screener (which I imagine can be quite boring) I may be able to move up the ladder.
Only time will tell.
Monday, April 25, 2016
Diagnosis: I'm Special
I saw the doc today and she told me I was a very special person. I had to laugh because I knew what was coming...ta da! I have an autoimmune disease that is so rare I can't even find any good information on it! Diagnosis: Chronic ulcerative duodenitis with duodenal stricture. Translation: Ulcers most likely caused by food allergens (gluten) with the result being my intestines are closing in on themselves. How nice for me.
So, rather than rushing to cut me open in that area, this will be treated through diet and non-invasive steroids (hooray!) In 3 months we'll meet again to see what's what. That's the good news. I still have to have surgery to remove the big apple in my bum, however. The docs afraid there may be cancer hiding behind it but I'm not too worried. I'll see the surgeon next week.
In the meantime I have to visit a nutritionist who is going to tell me "Do not eat flour". As well I will visit the geneticist who will tell me "You have Lynch Syndrome". (A genetic propensity to have cancers of the bowel and/or endometrial cancer before the age of 50). Needless to say, it's a "been there, done that" moment.
End. Of. Story.
So, rather than rushing to cut me open in that area, this will be treated through diet and non-invasive steroids (hooray!) In 3 months we'll meet again to see what's what. That's the good news. I still have to have surgery to remove the big apple in my bum, however. The docs afraid there may be cancer hiding behind it but I'm not too worried. I'll see the surgeon next week.
In the meantime I have to visit a nutritionist who is going to tell me "Do not eat flour". As well I will visit the geneticist who will tell me "You have Lynch Syndrome". (A genetic propensity to have cancers of the bowel and/or endometrial cancer before the age of 50). Needless to say, it's a "been there, done that" moment.
End. Of. Story.
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