I got word yesterday that the library I have been doing community service with has won a very big grant from Bibliomist! When I first arrived here, I met with the director to introduce her to the program. She was somewhat interested, but wary because she had applied for another type of grant through this program and was turned down. I worked hard at trying to gather all the relevant information for her. I was in touch with the organization in Kiev because at that time the Bibliomist website was in Ukrainian and of course, I couldn't understand any of it. (It is now in English). She decided to fill out the forms for the grant and it proved to be a fruitful endeavor.
Bibliomist is in partnership with IREX International, Global Libraries (part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), USAID, Microsoft, and ULA (Ukrainian Library Association). Bibliomist seeks to bring Ukrainian libraries into the 21st century. They are attempting to model themselves after American libraries. I read that some Ukrainian librarians were invited to tour some of our libraries back home and were astonished at the services they offer their patrons. It's true our libraries are amazing places. Where else can you get free books, music, and movies, as well as sit in on a lecture or take a free class?
The LEAP (Library Electronic Access Project) grant will allot my library free computers, scanners, printers, and webcams. It will be a big boost for our town. It will help the unemployed find work, students to do research, and educate the community on local and national services offered. In trying to make over our library into a vital community center, I believe it can service the residents like nothing else has before.
What's the next step? Implementing a series of programs that will educate the library patrons on the use of the internet, basic computer usage, and how to use programs such as Word and Excel. The focus is on children, the elderly, and the handicapped. I am really excited to begin this new phase of my service
If anyone is interested in learning more, please visit:
http://www.irex.org/project/bibliomist-global-libraries-ukraine
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Update
Today is Valentines day and once again the lyceum is closed because of the severe cold...but it's 26 degrees out and not nearly as cold as it has been! I'm okay with another day off, however, and will make good use of the time.
I went to see the doc in Kiev on Friday, who gave me some new medicines to combat my sinus issues. Antihistamine tablets, Flonase, and some other nasal spray. He said that my sinuses are swollen and nothing is draining hence the deafness. The good news is, my left ear has since cleared up and I can hear a bit better now. It's a waiting game that I have grown accustom to.
In other news, when I came home from Kiev, Miss Mouse and I had a lovely reunion, but a funny thing happened later in the day. At 4 pm she became extrememly affectionate...so much so I had to step away and observe what she was doing. Impossible as it seems, Miss Mouse was in heat!!!! (She was Spayed last October). I went online and read many stories of cat owners who had a similiar thing happen. Then I began researching veterinary websites to seek some information. 100% of everything I read pointed to one thing...that a piece of an ovary must have been left behind! I can understand and appreciate how small a kittens reproduction organs must be, so I believe it's totally possible to miss something. A colleague of mine contacted the vet's office (we use the same vet) to inform the vet about the situation. The vet was not in but the assistants suggested that perhaps her suprarenal glands took the function of the ovaries and are produce sex hormones. I am not so sure this is a good thing. I researched this and found nothing. I did find out that anything to do with the renal glands, when left untreated, can be fatal. Well, now I am in a panic about this and am hoping to see the vet soon. She is not urinating like she normally dies either, although everything else seems to be working. I have e-mailed my vets office...hopefully I will get some answers soon.
.
I went to see the doc in Kiev on Friday, who gave me some new medicines to combat my sinus issues. Antihistamine tablets, Flonase, and some other nasal spray. He said that my sinuses are swollen and nothing is draining hence the deafness. The good news is, my left ear has since cleared up and I can hear a bit better now. It's a waiting game that I have grown accustom to.
In other news, when I came home from Kiev, Miss Mouse and I had a lovely reunion, but a funny thing happened later in the day. At 4 pm she became extrememly affectionate...so much so I had to step away and observe what she was doing. Impossible as it seems, Miss Mouse was in heat!!!! (She was Spayed last October). I went online and read many stories of cat owners who had a similiar thing happen. Then I began researching veterinary websites to seek some information. 100% of everything I read pointed to one thing...that a piece of an ovary must have been left behind! I can understand and appreciate how small a kittens reproduction organs must be, so I believe it's totally possible to miss something. A colleague of mine contacted the vet's office (we use the same vet) to inform the vet about the situation. The vet was not in but the assistants suggested that perhaps her suprarenal glands took the function of the ovaries and are produce sex hormones. I am not so sure this is a good thing. I researched this and found nothing. I did find out that anything to do with the renal glands, when left untreated, can be fatal. Well, now I am in a panic about this and am hoping to see the vet soon. She is not urinating like she normally dies either, although everything else seems to be working. I have e-mailed my vets office...hopefully I will get some answers soon.
.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Freeze is On!
Last week the lyceum where I teach closed its doors for 2 days due to extreme cold. I didn't have a clue as to the exact temperature inside the classrooms, but it felt like it was edging on 55 degrees. This week is more of the same. The school closed the doors today and will remain so until Monday morning. The buildings are old and they have really big windows so all the cold comes in right through them. I watched the news from home about the 100+ homeless people in Kiev freezing to death. I had thought it was always cold here like this but I was told that this is the coldest winter on record. I think the fact that it is so windy here makes it feel even colder.
It's fine with me that the school is closed, as I am still fighting a virus in my sinuses. I haven't been able to hear very well for the past 3 weeks. It sounds like I am wearing earplugs or swimming underwater. I am heading up to Kiev tomorrow to see the doctor to try to fix the problem, although everything I have read on viruses states that they usually have to run their course. Bummer.
Other than the hearing loss, everything here is still pretty good. I am getting to know the English teachers at my school on a more personal level and I couldn't be happier. Previously it was purely professional but the tide has changed so I feel more a part of my school now. We started to have teacher meetings every week to figure out what we are all working on and to synchronize the lessons. Everything is running a lot smoother.
I am working hard at my projects and have begun a new one. My latest project will bring the English teachers of Novomoskovsk together for an English club every Saturday at 4pm, at School #1. This will be starting on February 18 with the first session set aside as a social time with tea and snacks. We will get to know each other and decide what we want to dicuss. I know some of the teachers want to simply practice their English speaking skills, while others are wanting to talk about teaching methods and ideas. I have a feeling it will be my most successful club to date.
On a lighter note, you will no doubt have noticed the change in the blog's background. I did my laundry today (by hand, of course) and hung it up to dry in my bathroom and I thought it looked so funny I decided to share it. Here is a better picture. Welcome to my world people.
It's fine with me that the school is closed, as I am still fighting a virus in my sinuses. I haven't been able to hear very well for the past 3 weeks. It sounds like I am wearing earplugs or swimming underwater. I am heading up to Kiev tomorrow to see the doctor to try to fix the problem, although everything I have read on viruses states that they usually have to run their course. Bummer.
Other than the hearing loss, everything here is still pretty good. I am getting to know the English teachers at my school on a more personal level and I couldn't be happier. Previously it was purely professional but the tide has changed so I feel more a part of my school now. We started to have teacher meetings every week to figure out what we are all working on and to synchronize the lessons. Everything is running a lot smoother.
I am working hard at my projects and have begun a new one. My latest project will bring the English teachers of Novomoskovsk together for an English club every Saturday at 4pm, at School #1. This will be starting on February 18 with the first session set aside as a social time with tea and snacks. We will get to know each other and decide what we want to dicuss. I know some of the teachers want to simply practice their English speaking skills, while others are wanting to talk about teaching methods and ideas. I have a feeling it will be my most successful club to date.
On a lighter note, you will no doubt have noticed the change in the blog's background. I did my laundry today (by hand, of course) and hung it up to dry in my bathroom and I thought it looked so funny I decided to share it. Here is a better picture. Welcome to my world people.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
"There's no place like home, Dorothy".
Brrrrrrr.......
Well, winter has finally arrived here in Novomoskovsk...it hit us a few days ago with single digit temperatures and the thermometer hasn't moved much since. I got up this morning and looked to see it was a cool 0 degees F... just like home in New England. I don't mind the cold, as long as it stays OUTside. Unfortunately, the school where I teach is anything BUT warm. It was so cold in there today and yesterday they closed early. As a matter of fact, the school will be closed from now until next tuesday. We have central heating in the building, but the windows are old and HUGE. They have these great big gorgeous windows that do nothing to keep out the cold. All of the faculty were shivering and half of the student body stayed home today. My first class had only 2 students, and the second and third had 5 each.
I'm actually really grateful to be able to stay home. I've been sick for a few weeks and although I feel better, I have a nastly viral infection in my sinuses and cannot hear very well. Everything sounds as if I am underwater. This made for an interesting challenge when teaching my classes. I will be traveling to Kiev next week for dentist and doctor appointments and hopefully they can figure out how to help me with this.
My apartment is at the opposite end of the spectrum. It's toasty warm so no complaints here, but for the fact that I don't dare put on my outside gear until I am ready to walk out the door or I'll pass out with the heat. It's a process that takes about 5 minutes because there are so many layers to put on. I keep forgetting to figure in the time it takes to suit up to leave for work in the morning and find myself running behind schedule quite often. One thing I'm happy about however...I don't have to clean the snow off the car.
Well, winter has finally arrived here in Novomoskovsk...it hit us a few days ago with single digit temperatures and the thermometer hasn't moved much since. I got up this morning and looked to see it was a cool 0 degees F... just like home in New England. I don't mind the cold, as long as it stays OUTside. Unfortunately, the school where I teach is anything BUT warm. It was so cold in there today and yesterday they closed early. As a matter of fact, the school will be closed from now until next tuesday. We have central heating in the building, but the windows are old and HUGE. They have these great big gorgeous windows that do nothing to keep out the cold. All of the faculty were shivering and half of the student body stayed home today. My first class had only 2 students, and the second and third had 5 each.
I'm actually really grateful to be able to stay home. I've been sick for a few weeks and although I feel better, I have a nastly viral infection in my sinuses and cannot hear very well. Everything sounds as if I am underwater. This made for an interesting challenge when teaching my classes. I will be traveling to Kiev next week for dentist and doctor appointments and hopefully they can figure out how to help me with this.
My apartment is at the opposite end of the spectrum. It's toasty warm so no complaints here, but for the fact that I don't dare put on my outside gear until I am ready to walk out the door or I'll pass out with the heat. It's a process that takes about 5 minutes because there are so many layers to put on. I keep forgetting to figure in the time it takes to suit up to leave for work in the morning and find myself running behind schedule quite often. One thing I'm happy about however...I don't have to clean the snow off the car.
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