The Experience Changes You

Living and working in a foreign country, especially one that is significantly different from one's own homeland, changes an individual considerably.  Of course, one learns a great deal about his or her host country:  it's people, society, customs, culture, geography, politics, and history.  Language skills broaden and new lifelong friendships form, but there are also some very significant and life altering changes that occur deep within a person.   An individual definitely experiences some paradigm shifts, and one's world view becomes broader, clearer and different.  Political views may change, and a person's career path may take a different course.


Some changes are subtle, but no less significant.  For instance, my personal library is maturing in ways I would not have anticipated a year ago.  I am currently reading The Master and Margarita, by Mikhail Bulgakov (Мастер и Маргарита, Михаил Булгаков) on the recommendation of my good friend Sasha.  It is possible I would not have known the book existed if I had not met him.  I recently finished a biography of Stalin, and when I am finished with Master and Margarita, I will begin a book about the Holodomor, Bloodlands.


After stepping back onto American soil after an extended period of living and working with Ukrianians, I can say with confidence that I am a very different person than I was when I left the U.S. in December, 2010.

My Fulbright Scholarship in Ukraine was an absolutely significant and life changing milestone in my life.  I count it as one of my most important personal and professional growth experiences. 

St. Volodymyr Cathedral

One aspect of Ukraine that I really enjoyed was the beautiful churches.  Many Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox churches are absolutely magnificent.  I have already posted some photos of churches in Kyiv, but every city in Ukraine has its share of splendid churches, and Luhansk is no exception.  Below is a photo of St. Volodymyr Cathedral which I passed frequently when I rode the marshrutka downtown.  I do not know exactly when this cathedral was built, but it is actually a modern church that was constructed recently.  I took this photograph in March, 2011.

St. Volodymyr Cathedral, Luhansk 

October

I really need to get back to updating my blog regularly.  While I may no longer be in Ukraine, there is still plenty to discuss and write about.  I also want to keep adding photos, which I didn't get an opportunity to upload while I was in Ukraine.


In October, Dr. Olga Krsek and Dr. Fedir Sokhatsky were in the U.S. participating in the International Visitor Leadership Program: "Inclusive Education for Students with Disabilities." This program was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.  I was absolutely thrilled to get a chance to see them while they were here.  They visited schools and universities in Washington, D.C.; Pensacola, Florida and St. Louis, Missouri.  The purpose of the program was to give Ukrainian educators and government officials opportunities to experience successful inclusive education programs.  Those who have been following my blog are aware that Dr. Krsek has been working hard to develop an inclusion program for deaf and hard of hearing students at Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian University.  Dr. Sokhatsky has also been hard at work creating opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing students at the University of Ukraine in Vinnytsia.

I drove out to St. Louis while Olga and Fedir were there, and I had a chance to spend an entire day with them.  It was wonderful, but it was also sad saying good bye to them again, though I know we will meet again someday.



Dr. Olga Krsek and Dr. Fedir Sokhatsky at Citygarden in St. Louis



Fedir, William Sheldon, Olga enjoying
lunch at a restaurant near Citygarden

Last Lesson at Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University

On June Wednesday, June 22, I held my last class at V. Dahl EUNU.  It was bittersweet, because I would miss working with my students and colleagues in Luhansk, but I was also looking forward to being home again with Amy.

The topic was on the components of language (pragmatics, semantics, and syntax).  We examined each component in detail and discussed the importance of addressing them with deaf and hard of hearing students.  Teachers will often focus on syntax, but will not think to address pragmatics.  I provided specific examples of each area and the unique problems deaf students often have.

I also described a technique for assessing students' expressive language abilities.  When evaluating deaf and hard of hearing students, we can videotape them to obtain a sample of spontaneous language and then carefully analyze their manual and/or verbal utterances to determine current levels of performance.

One of my students asked me if one could establish a specific diagnosis using the assessment technique we were discussing.  I explained that it is not a tool to determine a speech/language disability, but that it is extremely useful in determining students' specific abilities in the area of language.  He remarked that the assessment strategy is useful for teachers, but not for him as a diagnostic clinician.  He tends to look at things from a strictly medical perspective, which is not always appropriate in education.  I told the class that taking and analyzing a spontaneous language sample is absolutely critical for everyone working with deaf and hard of hearing students, because it provides us with a wealth of information regarding which linguistic skills students have internalized, which skills are just emerging and which ones are not yet present.  We can then use this information to develop and implement targeted interventions.  Educators must know what skills students have and do not have, so they can implement effective instruction.

I was very pleased with the outcome of this final lesson.  There was considerable discussion, and the topic was very timely and highly practical.

"Last Bell" in Luhans'k

Elementary and secondary students are now on summer vacation in Ukraine.  "Last Bell" (or the last day of school) was on Friday.  I said good bye to my students just before I left for L'viv and Vinnytsia.  I am going to miss working with them and hope all of them are successful in life.

My deaf and hard of hearing students in Luhansk. 
I am on the right along with my assistant and buddy Sasha, their
teacher Helen, and my colleague at V. Dahl EUNU Dr. Krsek.

Three of my deaf high school students are graduating and will be enrolling at V. Dahl East Ukrainian National University.  Dr. Krsek will be their advisor.  This is a very significant and historic event, as these girls will be the first group of deaf and hard of hearing students to be admitted to the university.  They are pioneers.  In Ukraine, very few deaf and hard of hearing students have studied at universities.  The vast majority of institutions of higher education are closed to students with hearing loss.  I can only think of three universities currently enrolling deaf and hard of hearing students: one in Kyiv, a second in Vinnytsia and V. Dahl EUNU in Luhans'k.  The number of deaf and hard of hearing university students in Ukraine is very small.  Sadly, even the most capable deaf and hard of hearing students are never encouraged or allowed to study at universities, and unemployment is very high among these individuals.  Most simply become pensioners.  Dr. Krsek is trying to reverse that unfortunate trend, and I know she and her students will be successful.

School for the deaf in Luhans'k

School for the deaf in Luhans'k

Above are a couple of photos of the school for the deaf where I have been teaching since January.  Note that there is no sign indicating that this nondescript building is a school for the deaf, or even that it is a school.  People walk or drive past this building day after day for years and have no idea what goes on inside.  Oddly, other schools in Luhans'k are identified with clear signage.  

Пирогів (Pyrohiv)

Earlier this month when I was in Kyiv, I spent a day at Pyrohiv (Пирогів), which was originally a settlement south of Kyiv.  It is now the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine.  This is one of the largest outdoor museums in the world.  It is so large that is impossible to explore the entire village in one day.  Many of the original buildings have been preserved at this site and others have been brought in from throughout Ukraine. It is a very beautiful and peaceful outdoor museum, an excellent place to relax and learn about the history and culture of pre-revolutionary Ukraine. 

I took a good many pictures, so I have created a special page here.  I will be adding photos over a period time. 

Victory Day

May 9 or Victory Day marks Nazi Germany's surrender to the Soviet Union during World War II.  In Russia and the former Soviet Republics, it is one of the biggest holidays of the year.  My friend Victor suggested that I meet him and a friend of his downtown, and as the day was beautiful, I accepted.  I met Victor and Gregory for tea at Chelsea Cafe.

Gregory and Victor

Gregory, Victor and me emjoying afternoon tea

Gregory is an eighty year old veteran of World War II, or the Great Patriotic War, as it is known in Russia and the former republics of the Soviet Union.  He signed up for military service in the Soviet army at age 14, telling the recruiters that he was 16.  They accepted his answer, though I suspect they probably knew he was underage, as 14 is pretty young, but the Soviet military was desperate for manpower, or, in this case, boypower.  He was immediately sent to Stalingrad (Volgograd), which is east of Luhans'k.  The Soviets were in such dire need of troops, that they were sending anyone capable of holding a rifle.  Gregory participated in the now infamous Battle of Stalingrad and very soon after his arrival received a life-threatening head wound from an exploding shell.  He told me that he still has a shell fragment in his head and that for a very long time his brain protruded from a hole in his skull.  He was extremely lucky to survive.  He showed me his scar, not something I necessarily needed to see over tea, but he is justly proud of his contribution to the defense of his country.

The Battle of Stalingrad is considered by many historians to be the most brutal and bloodiest battles in the history of mankind.  To put it in perspective, the average lifespan of a new Soviet recruit was one day, so Gregory was one lucky boy, indeed.  Eventually, he healed and requested to return to the army, but was denied due to the extent of his injuries. 

Gregory asked me if Americans understand the Battle of Stalingrad and the sacrifice made by the city's defenders.  I told him probably not.  Most Americans actually know very little about the Soviet Union and its history.  The only way to truly appreciate Stalingrad was to be there, and the American military did not directly participate in the battle.  Incidentally, during the period of the Battle of Stalingrad, Luhans'k was completely occupied and controlled by the Germans, but was eventually liberated on February 14, 1943, 2 weeks after German general Friedrich Paulus surrendered to the Soviets in Stalingrad.

I enjoyed visiting with Gregory and learned a great deal during our conversations.  Of course, as is the custom here, he ordered shots of vodka for all of us, along with generous helpings of fresh vegetables, bread, and slices of cheese and ham.  Actually, if one is going to consume vodka, pairing it with food is essential.  Gregory offered a toast to the Americans for their help in defeating Hitler and to a long friendship between Russians and Americans.  I offered a toast to the kind and generous Russians and Ukrainians who have welcomed and befriended me and to our lifelong friendship.

Even after all he and his fellow citizens went through during World War II, he is not bitter, nor does he harbor anger or resentment at the Germans.  He told me that the German soldiers he met were decent and not bad people; they were just doing what Hitler was demanding of them.  In the end we are all the same, just ordinary people trying to make our ways in the world.  It's governments that are the real trouble makers.

Ukrainian National Flag and the red flag of victory at Luhans'k Philharmonic

Black and orange ribbon of St. George and the Soviet red star

Two of the symbols of Victory Day are the red flag and orange and black St. George ribbon.  Gregory wore his St. George Ribbon.  Of the two symbols, the red flag is the most controversial.  Some Ukrainians consider it an important and appropriate symbol to display, arguing that it only represents victory over Hitler, while others view it as a reminder and symbol of the Soviet past and do not think it has a place in the observance of Victory Day.  I heard one Ukrainian refer to the red flag as "the flag of Soviet occupation." Regardless of one's opinion, it seems that nearly everyone in Luhansk celebrates the defeat of the Nazis and expresses great and sincere appreciation to the veterans who served their country, often sacrificing their lives during World War II.

This photo illustrates Ukraine's current challenge:
In what direction does the country want to go?

Following our tea with Gregory, Victor took me on a walking tour of Luhansk.  Here are some of the places he took me.  It was an amazing afternoon.

Statue of Marshal Kliment Voroshilov: Stalin's right hand man and one
of his closest friends. Voroshilov was one of the few men who could
publicly disagree with Stalin and live to tell the tale. He was born in
Luhansk, and the city was once called Voroshilovgrad in his honor.
This is also a hangout for the local skaters.

This is a memorial to the early iron workers of Luhansk. 
They made cannons for the Russian navy.

Me at the iron worker statue

And my friend Victor

The famous (inside Ukraine and Russia) lexicographer and
linguist Volodymyr Dahl (1801-1872). He knew eight languages
and published the first dictionary of the Russian language. He was
born in Luhansk, and his father was a Danish physician. He was
a very close friend of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.

Dahl's childhood home

Dahl's house

Dahl's house. Note the original painting
of his friend Alexander Pushkin.

Dahl's writing desk.

Memorial to officers who died
in the Great Patriotic War

A building near May Day Park. This structure is
significant, because Nikita Khrushchev delivered one
of his famous and fiery speeches from the balcony.