Educators on the Edge: August 2014

We have been back in Kiev for two weeks and it feels like we never left. We have settled back into our routine of going to school, walking to the grocery store, keeping up with the laundry (the drying rack only holds one load at a time), and other daily chores.

Of course we started back this year with a lot more knowledge about our jobs, where to shop, how to use the public transportation, etc. The one thing that was the same as it was last year when we arrived is that there was no hot water. We expected this because it happens every summer in Kiev, but we were hoping that just maybe it would be turned back on by the time we got here. Unfortunately, we were told that this year no one knows when, or if, it will be turned on again. Because Ukraine is no longer receiving gas from Russia, the country is trying to conserve energy so that the homes and apartment buildings that use hot water for heating will have enough to get through the winter.

Fortunately, we returned to a surprise. The first week we were back, our landlord installed two hot water tanks in our apartment: one for the bathroom, and one for the laundry room and kitchen. Now we do not have to rely on the city for hot water. It's been wonderful, but also been a bit ironic. Since we've been back, the weather has been so hot and sunny that a cool shower actually feels pretty good. Don't misunderstand; I have welcomed the hot water and used it many times already. Now we just have to pray for another mild winter in case Kiev shortens the number of months we are provided with heat. I guess if we get cold, we can just sit in a tub of hot water for a while.

Hooray for hot water tanks mounted to the walls in the laundry room and bathroom!

Summer 2014

We have been asked the question "Are you going back to Ukraine?" everywhere we've been this summer visiting friends and family. Sometimes the question is asked more like a surprised statement: "You're going back?!"

The answer is "yes". In fact our flight leaves today (August 4) at 4:10pm! I have to admit that I had my doubts about going back to Ukraine as well, especially after the commercial airplane crash in July. But, for now, Kiev is quiet, Kiev International School is open for business, and we are expected to show up for work on August 7. And besides, we are "Educators on the Edge", and we will live up to our name! :)

A few things have happened in the past few days to remind us that there are reasons why we should look forward to going back. On Saturday, August 2, we drove to Pinehurst, North Carolina to watch one of our Ukrainian students compete in the U.S./International Kids Golf Championship. We followed her and her father(aka her caddy) for 18 holes while she played the game of golf better than we've only dreamed of playing it. In fact, after watching these 11 year old girls hit the ball so far and so straight, Jay is thinking that he should just throw his clubs into the ocean and give up golfing! Even so, we felt a sense of pride for Ukraine being there with Maria and her father. Later, after we returned home, I received an email from a student who will be a senior this year. He expressed how much he is looking forward to his senior year and he can't wait to see me and get started on his applications for universities. Plus, we also promised some friends that we would "babysit" their cats until they return later in August. You see, we like our jobs and the people we've met in Kiev, and we are not ready to say good-bye. So we are going back and we will pray for another successful and rewarding year.

Of course we had a wonderful time here in The States for the past 5 weeks! The following pictures highlight the time we spent in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina.