September 8, 2013

In Kyiv and some other parts of Ukraine we are experiencing what is called “Grandma Summer”. During the last weeks of summer it gets rainy and cool but then the summer returns. (I think this is what then becomes the Grandma’s Summer or what we would call Indian Summer.) Grandma summer is a term to describe the period of post-holiday, early fall when the sun is still warm and the skies are cloudless, when the midsummer heat has moved on, ushered out by the gentle autumn breeze, when crowds of noisy children and their busy parents have moved back into their schools and offices, and the grandmas and grandpas can peacefully enjoy summer’s last sunrays on their porches. To understand the significance of this it is important to know that most families live together in the same flat and grandparents help a lot in raising the children. Yeah Grandma  Summer.

Grandma Summer

A little sun

A lot of rain

The last day of summer in Kyiv is August 31. The last week of summer the World Rhythmic Gymnastic Competition was held in Kyiv. Outside it may have been gray but the beauty and grace of the girls involved was spectacular. The only unspectacular thing that happened was that on Friday night  during the award ceremony when a Ukrainian girl won first place, the sound person accidently hit Russia’s National Anthem. Not a very happy audience when everyone started singing and then realized that it was Russia’s National Anthem playing. We all make mistakes, but hopefully this one didn't cost him his job.  

September 1 is “Day of Knowledge” in Ukraine is the first day of the new school year. Children go to schools; students go to universities and institutions, where on this day different celebrations are held. The biggest celebrations are held at the schools for first through eleventh grade.  (All grades are together in each neighborhood school.)

The children get to bring parents to school on this day and one of the first things you’ll notice are flowers, tons of flowers, as giving flowers to teachers is a time honored tradition. Of course there will be a speech given by the school director/principal and some light skits, singing of songs and recitations of poetry.

Uniforms for the students

flowers for the teachers

One of the most revered traditions of the first bell tradition is the outside school courtyard event in which a young first grade student, typically a girl, is hoisted up onto the shoulders of an older male pupil and all the kids fall in line to ring in the first day of school. In the classroom seats are assigned, parents meet teachers. Students wear uniforms so you get to see the little boys in ties and little girls with bows and ribbons making it a delightful day.  Generally the first day isn’t for intense academics, rather a celebration of the idea that education is important and it changes lives.

first day jitters

students with teacher

the older class

getting ready for the first grade (class) march

September 1^st fell on Sunday this year and for the first time ever the government decided to start school on Sunday. Since we live just a few blocks from a neighborhood school I was able to go to the celebration and get a few pictures before church. Some of the churches delayed church times so the families could attend both events. There were many adorable children in their school uniforms at church on Sunday.

later that day at church

Marina

uniform from a village school

Amazingly the first day of school was the only sunny day we had the whole week. It has been pretty cool with rain showers every day. These rain showers at this time of year are called “Mushroom rain” as after the rain there are thousands of mushrooms in the forests.  Mushrooms are dried and used in a lot of foods here and they are delicious.

 

Monday was Labor Day in the United States – we worked that day but took off early for a Labor Day Picnic hosted by our good friends the Barton’s. They invited all of the Senior Missionaries including the temple missionaries. We had a traditional Labor Day meal of grilled hamburgers, potato salad, watermelon, and lots of desserts. It was such a fun evening and we were lucky to have a great place to have it inside as it was a little rainy and cool outside.

the cook

the food

some of the men

the women (minus one)

the hosts

On Tuesday the sun came out for about 30 minutes so Jill and I hurried down to the puppet theatre only to find it closed and by the time we got there it was raining.  Later that evening Gary spoted  a beautiful rainbow out our front window.  

at puppet theatre

view of Kyiv from Puppet Theatre

rainbow out our window

Wednesday was my birthday and it is the birthday tradition here to take a lot of chocolates to the office for everyone. It wasn’t raining when I left home and I totally forgot my policy to never leave home without an umbrella if it looks like rain and by the time I got to the tram stop it was pouring down rain. I huddled with at least 20 other people under the small covered area. I was lucky to get the back row because those in front got sprayed with muddy water by the cars that were zipping along the road. When the tram finally picked us up and got almost to where the candy store was located something was amiss. The tram stopped and everyone was told to get off. There were about 20 trams in a row that were stopped for some reason. So on I walked in the pouring rain the last half mile to the candy store. By the time I came out it had quit raining. It was so fun to see everyone at work. The girls in my English classes had decorated our office with balloons and hearts with lots of kind things written on them. Then they sang my favorite birthday song in Ukrainian.

 

friends from work

Birthday dinner

Birthday surprise

Walking through the park on the way to the bus stop who should I see but four of my favorite missionaries inviting people to English Conversation Class. While I was talking to them it started to rain again and they grabbed their things (including their clothes drying rack that they were using for a table) and headed for shelter. Later that evening they had they called and had their English class sing Happy Birthday in English to me. It was memorable. 

Friday evening we took Svita to see the opera Yaroslav the Wise. It was a wonderful opera that we will probably never get to see again in America. I stopped by Svita’s on the way home as she had some beautiful lilies for me for my birthday and had some delicious apple and honey soufflé. By the time I left I had missed the last tram so we walked up the hill and then I caught the last bus the rest of the way home. I have often seen those late busses go by with just one or two people and I have wondered where they were going and where they had been, and now I know how it feels to be the only person on the trolley bus. 

at the opera

St. Andrews on the way home

St. Andrews Sposk in the rain

beautiful lilies
 from Svita

Saturday was another exciting day. It was Anya’s baptism day. Her husband Yuri baptized her and her daughter Marina and Evelyn sang. It was such a very special day for such a wonderful person that truly has the light of Christ in her life.

the musical number 

the honoree

always good food

and fun

 

Sunday we spoke in church and then Svita and the missionaries came over for an evening discussion.

 

Monday was birthday lunch day for Natasha. We had a wonderful luncheon and of the eight girls there, four were named Natasha. There is a joke in Ukraine that if you forget a girl's name you can just call her Natasha and you will be right about 80% of the time.

the girls

I’m closing with some thoughts by B. J. Gallagher:

The best way out is always through….

Our journey of life is about progress……not perfection

It is not about doing one thing 100% better

It’s a matter of doing 100 things 1% better each day.

Progress is evolutionary not revolutionary,

And most days we measure our progress in inches not miles.

What matters most is showing up for your life…..

whether you feel like it or not.

Ask yourself….

What two or three little things can I do today that will move me forward?

You’ll be amazed at how much distance you can cover…..

            By taking it in increments.

The little things add up………the inches turn to miles

And we string together our efforts like so many pearls.

Before long look what you have….a whole strand.    Beautiful.

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