The Beginning of the School Year

So, I was at school the other day looking out the window.  I saw the other building of my school and its corrugated roof, and remembered that while the novelty has worn off for me, this is still new and different to anyone who may be reading, and as such I should try to document it.  It is sometimes difficult to try to document without feeling as if I’m invading the privacy of my community, or acting a bit too much like a voyeur, but, as they say in Zhmerynka: “Whammy!”

Much has occurred since last I wrote.  The last things I wrote were about a trip in early August which was two and a half months ago.  Since then I have spent some time at a summer camp, celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day in Lviv, received a personal tour of a village close to mine, and the list goes on.  So, what to talk about is a considerable challenge.  Also, I’ve been home since I wrote last, spent a night in London, and a weekend in Kharkiv, the former capital of Soviet Ukraine. . . so,  I’m not sure exactly what is of interest here.  I’ll save the trip home for a different day, so I guess I’ll start from the beginning of school.

I think I’ll give you a quick crash course, and try to refocus my attentions on keeping this relatively updated.  The beginning of school:  The “Day of Knowledge” is the holiday that marks the first day of school on September 1^st, every year.  This is also called the “First Bell” ceremony.  The First Bell is a shorter day than normal.  It starts with the school assembling outside for a number of speeches, followed by the introduction of the new first graders.  The ceremony ends with a first grader being carried on the shoulders of an eleventh or tenth (whichever class is the oldest at the school) grader.  The first grader rings a ceremonial bell and this is, indeed, the “First Bell.”  Following the ringing of the first bell the young first graders are led to their classrooms by the members of the oldest class, and the first lesson of the year occurs.  The first lesson of the year is about the history and culture of Ukraine, specifically independent Ukraine.  There is a party for teachers after the students go home, complete with cognac and wine, dancing and singing, and usually salted fish.  I skipped out on the party this year, as I’m not a big fan of imbibing at school, but that’s just me.

The school year begins in earnest the day following the Day of Knowledge.  This is the first day of classes in the majority of subjects.  This period is a difficult period.  The reason is that no set schedule has been made.  It was not until the end of September that a real schedule had been created, a real schedule that would be as set in stone as things are here.  I still haven’t found out the reason for such a delay in creating a schedule, then again, maybe it’s something man wasn’t meant to know.

The days at the end of September and the beginning of October were, and are, some of the coldest days for me.  They are the days when fall is reaching her cold, clammy, gray hands on the country, and the body has not yet had time to adjust to the falling temperatures.  This is exacerbated by the fact that heat is, for the most part, central, and does not come on until someone actively turns it on.  This did not happen for me until October 15, when I had left site for awhile.  It did, however, mean that I was wearing long underwear at the end of September.  Luckily heat is now on throughout so I will not need long underwear for another few weeks, if the weather cooperates.

I think this will be a really brief post; we’ll call it a practice swing, a bit of a sound check, if you will.

The only other thing to report from this time is that I have moved again.  This is the fourth place I’ve lived in Zhmerynka, and the third apartment.  I did get it all set up with internet, though, so it’s in pretty good shape.  I even have a refrigerator and a shower!  The hot water in my shower here is better (at least temperature-wise) than the water back home, and there’s more of it!  If you want to hear the story about how and why I moved, email me.  It’s pretty funny, but I’d rather not post it here.  If you’ve spoken with my dad recently there is a good chance you would have heard it.

I think I’ll sign off there.  Next up: a trip to a bazaar and a castle.  Maybe I’ll write that today, maybe not.  Coming soon:  my trip home.

That’s all I know for now.  Be good,

Pete