HAPPY GRADUATION TYLER!
Stop growing up. You're making us all feel old.
Also, if you missed a week or two check out Shannon's short story below. I think it's very accurate in describing what it's like here and it's very good.
So, this week was the last week of school here in Ukraine. As a result we didn't really do a whole lot of "book learnin'" and opted instead to play games and look at the clock every five minutes.
On Wednesday we had our end of the year English Show most of which you can see on our Youtube channel. I played two English songs alone and Shannon and I sang a duet of "Fools Rush In" by Elvis and then we sang a Ukrainian duet in Ukrainian. I then sang a Ukrainian song with two Ukrainians (Volodymir Nikolayvich and our school music teacher). All was well-received. Afterwards, I made my Ukraine acting debut in the role of Juliet's father in an all-English language Romeo and Juliet scene. Specifically the house party scene where Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time. This is also on our Youtube channel.
On Friday we had "Last Bell" which is a school event where the seniors do some choreographed dances, sing songs, and the younger students sing songs to the seniors. Then at the end, the class leaders ring a ceremonial bell signifying the end of school. It's very different than what we are used to in the States but it's nonetheless interesting and entertaining. Afterward, many of the teachers went down to the river to have a huge picnic and play volleyball and we brought baseball gloves and baseballs and taught them to play catch which they really liked. They kept my gloves in fact and I hope Dima returns them tomorrow. After the picnic, some of the younger teachers brought their wives over to our apartment and we played some music and spoke lots of Russian so I think we made some new hanging out buddies.
Yesterday, Saturday, there was a concert in the center of town and all the seniors from every school dressed up in prom-like dresses and suits and were presented to the town. Then there were pictures and songs sung. Afterward, each school had a party in different places. I attended the party for Shannon's school which was at the administration building. By party, I mean, the seniors, teachers, some younger pupils performed skits, dance numbers, songs, and other things based on the theme of "the beginning of a flight to a destination". There were jumbo jet balloons and the MC's (10th graders) were dressed as flight attendants. I have pictures of this on my Facebook and video on my Youtube channel.
Yesterday we went across town to the train station and bought our tickets to Yuzhne which is a port town near the resort city of Odessa located on the Black Sea so we will be working a camp by day and relaxing on the beach in the afternoon starting Sunday, June 12. Super excited.
So, today we will go over to our friend Alex's house and cook some shish kabobs and hang out with him and Elena. It is a picturesque, beautiful day in Izium with not a cloud in the sky so we are almost guaranteed a great day.
Well, until our next post, we hope you have a great day and we love and miss you. We have Skype so call us up sometime. And, seriously, Tyler...stop growing up. Have fun buddy. I"m proud of you.
