Recycling... and cycling

This week I observed an "open lesson" at the University of Food Technologies. This is like a demonstration lesson that a teacher prepares for their supervisor, but other teachers are welcome to attend. Good idea, huh? I was invited by a teacher who regulary attends my workshops, Galina (far left in photo; notice we are all holding a piece of trash). The theme was recycling and the students had prepared presentations on how to use different pieces of garbage (that was just one part of the lesson). It is always fun to observe teachers and also get a feel for the students they teach.

Another part of the lesson involved the students conducting a survey. The instructor chose me to model the activity in front of the students. The questions got me thinking about recycling and how much more conscious of waste I am here in Ukraine. She asked if I recycled here and in the US. I mentioned that back home we tend to recycle clothes (as in donations to places like Goodwill and shopping at second-hand stores), but we tend to be bad about bringing our own shopping bags with us. Here, each time you buy something, especially at places like the grocery store, they ask you if you want a plastic shopping bag because they charge you for it. Most people say "nyet" and dig in their pockets for a wadded up bag they unfold and fill up. Joe is very good about always bringing an old bag with us so we don't have to buy one. I mean they are pretty cheap, but it's the principle of the thing.

I was also looking for little X-mas boxes to wrap stuff in. When I asked someone where I could find one of those cute X-mas boxes, she said that you "Just take any box." I said that I wanted the cute X-mas boxes... she said just "take any box and glue paper on it - make it." Not a bad idea, but I was certain I could find them ready made.... so last night I made one last attempt at finding these boxes. When I finally did, they were like $1.50 each (I mean these are small earring-sized boxes!). So this morning, I found myself digging through the wrapping paper my mom had used for my birthday presents in October (I guess I knew I'd be needing it...so I saved it!) and reconstituted it for my little x-mas presents. They actually look pretty good.

Another thing they do, it's not exactly recycling but saving energy, is that they don't use electricity unless it's absolutely necessary. In classroooms, they let the natural light come through for as long as possible before turning on the overhead lights. This means I had to change my usual teaching technique of flickering the lights to get the group's attention. You can't really notice the lights... so I have taken to using a little bell one of the teachers gave me.

We went to the ballet last Saturday - Carmen-Suita - it was very entertaining and not too long. I can't even remember the last time I saw a ballet. It was a full house at the Kyiv Opera House. As soon as the performance ended and everyone was piled up on the stairways to the exit, they turned off the lights! We were just near the door when this happened, but I was shocked that no one panicked but just kept plodding toward the door. I guess it isn't unusual.

So, now you are wondering where the cycling reference comes in... am I right? Well, I did a couple of presentations in Pryluky which is a town about 2 hours from Kyiv by car. You get to go through the countryside which is great for me... see the little villages along the way, the "black" soil that Ukraine is famous for (hence the "breadbasket" claim to fame), and you get to see babushkas on bicyles! They all (BA-bush-ka = grandmother) ride around the villages on bikes. It is quite a sight; I wish I could've stopped for a photo. Apparently, the fields are full of "sunflowers" in the summer. I can't wait to see that.

Speaking of babushkas, they are an interesting population here as they represent a generation that has been through so much in the last century. The grandmothers of the future will not have lived through such a time... many of the current babushkas are widows as their husband's may have died in war, and many of them have lost their pensions so you see them selling flowers in the underground shopping areas or begging. Joe always gives his extra change to them. The other day we were in a coffee shop - kind of a fancy one with capuccino and pastries. In a corner table, a babushka sat drinking her coffee. She seemed a bit destitute with no teeth, but the staff were very kind to her. When it came time to pay, she handed the waitress a clear plastic bag full of change. The manager came over, took the bag, escorted the woman back to her table, dumped the change on a tray, and started to count it out for her. She sat there as if she were an aristocrat of sorts, and her accountant was assessing her fortune. It was a very touching sight.

Well the Christmas season is upon us... although I'm not the best at being a holiday "participant" , I'd like to say Happy Holidays! May you recycle something and give to a person less-fortunate! Thank you for the warm wishes you have sent us... they are much appreciated!