After several days, I finally have internet access! We are well, very busy, and though homesick,
we will be sad to leave Novoukrainka tomorrow.
Novoukrainka is a village of 18,000 divided into several
neighborhoods (Sugar Factory, Moldavka, Hospital, Piatihatky…or 5 houses). Though the town covers a wide area,
much of this space is filled with kitchen gardens and wheat and sunflower
fields.
The sidewalks are often muddy paths and the main street,
Lenin Street (all towns at one time incorporated the name of Lenin as their
many thoroughfare), has no stop signs, stop lights, or lane separations. It often feels as if I’ve been dropped
into a town that stopped marking time several decades ago!
This entry is about Novoukrainka; the streets, houses,
people, and abandoned sites.
I love this place and am so happy to have received this
assignment though life here can be difficult. Enjoy the photos and captions.
The road to Novoukrainka!
One of the ubiquitous wells
Outside the hotel (it does not have a name)
Russian Lada
Lenin Street, the main street in Novoukrainka
Memorial to Lenin
Memorial to the millions starved by Stalin
Bird's eye view of the village
Angela's apartment...front of building on the top floor left. Angela is the Peace Corps volunteer who has been indispensable to us!
Ornate door in Angela's apartment
Decorative ceiling in Angela's apartment
The view from Angela's porch
Angela preparing tea and coffee
THE PEOPLE OF NOVOUKRAINKA
Luida, Cira, and Sveta...friends of Angela's
Sveta, Angela, and me
Animated shop lady
The women who sold me candy
Me, Oleg, and Luidmyla in their home
In my first Novoukrainka classroom
Meeting the mayor of Novoukrainka. There isn't anyone Luidmyla doesn't know!
The market
Fresh fish that floundered as we walked by
Sugar Factory
To paraphrase Everything Is Illuminated..."what happened here?"...."Independence!"
Hi Sharon!
ReplyDeleteWe miss you! Your photos are amazing, and you have made the trip fun for us. We look forward to your blogs each day, and missed them when you weren't able to go online. Can't wait to hear all of the details! You look great! You must be happy, and that makes us happy. MB and Larry :-)
Hey Ms. Harris,
ReplyDeleteDo people buy the baby chicks often? Why do they buy them? How is the technology in the classrooms compared to here? What all kind can you buy in the market? Do people live in apartments or houses?
From, Katilynn B, Molly D, Emily D, Sarah S, Angela B, Olivia S
Hi Girls! Yes, the baby chicks are purchased. There are also adult chickens, roosters and ducks. Some are bought for the eggs they will lay, some for mating, and many for, well, eating! Most people use this market as their grocery. It has everything from live chicks to freshly butchered meat, to fresh vegetables, deodorant, shoes, seeds, and tupperware! If you need it, they've got it!
DeleteAs far as technology goes, the school has intermittent internet and a few teachers have computers but not many. Interestingly, several of the students have 'friended' me on FB! I'll show you their FB sites when I get home.
In the larger cities like Kyiv or Odessa, most people live in apartments. In smaller, rural areas like Novoukrainka, most live in very small houses (but no matter how small and cramped, you are always welcomed into their homes...just take off your shoes!)