Heading South
Site placement announcement day is another big day of anticipation for us volunteers. The feeling reminded me of Navy boot camp, where everyone was anxious to learn where they were going to be stationed. I found out I was going to Mykolaiv, a city of a half million people, in southern Ukraine. When I located it on the map, I was excited to see that it’s not far from the Black Sea, and I had visions of surfing in Odessa. But now having been there and seen the lack of ride-able surf, I don’t think it’s going to happen.
I also found out I was assigned to work with a veterans NGO—the Ukrainian Association of ATO Participants with Disabilities (“ATO” stands for “anti-terrorist operations”). I was a little nervous because my first thoughts were of caring for wounded soldiers and I had no idea how I’d be able to help. But helping others was a big part of why I signed up and this opportunity sure fit the bill.
The organization was aware that I had an internet marketing background, so one of the first things on tap was helping them redesign their website (www.atomk.com.ua). Also, as part of their business incubator program, I
met with 20 business owners and entrepreneurs to discuss their goals, give them an American perspective on things and show them how to get a free business listing on Google.
Things really started to get interesting when my counterpart, Oksana, and Istarted drafting an application for a grant from USAID to help open the first veteran’s center in Mykolaiv, offering psycho-social rehabilitation help to military members and their families affected by the ongoing conflict with Russia. We were successful in getting a small grant award and now the project Veteran’s Center 4.5.0 is in full swing, offering free psychological counseling, art therapy and bodywork workshops to veterans with PTSD (the code “4.5.0” is used by the Ukrainian military to mean, everything is okay, everything is at peace).
Meet the Levitzkys
I lucked out again for my second host family experience. They’re a very nice couple in their 30s with two sons, 14 and 4 years old. Their English is very good, and like my first host stay in Chernihiv, this helped take some of the verbal communication pressure off. I give them credit—their support of Ukrainian (which I’ve found to be rare in these parts) and encouragement in practicing it really helped improve my language ability.
While some volunteers bemoan their lack of privacy during their host stays, that wasn’t an issue for me as I had the entire upstairs of their house to myself, with my own bathroom and even a home gym room.
Some of my favorite times were after-dinner moments like playing catch and hide-and-seek with Slava, sitting on the bench outside enjoying the night air over a refreshing glass of kvass or a Belgian brew, and fireplace nights relaxing by a crackling fire with Katia playing the piano.
Aaannd, they have a boat! We went on a few afternoon excursions, but the best was a two-day trip in August to Kinburn Peninsula, a narrow spit separating a Dnieper-Bug estuary from the Black Sea. It was neat to see the line where fresh water and sea water meet and how it changes color from green to blue as you’re cruising through it. As we approached a mostly empty beach, we dropped anchor about 30 yards from shore. There was only one other person there: a ridiculously tan man sprawled out in all his glory in his glistening birthday suit, in stark contrast to the sun-bleached sand.
It was hot and I couldn’t wait to jump in the water. The only thing was, there were more jellyfish teeming in the water than I’d ever seen. But to cool off, I simply had to get over it and take the plunge. The swim to shore was more than a little unnerving as I tried to scatter the jellyfish with punches to their rubbery hoods. But I made it, and after a little exploration of the area, found myself a nice spot to lay out on the sand and drift nearly comatose into a long summer’s beach nap.
Back on the boat, after a dinner of delicious grilled pork steaks and summer veggies, we gathered on the bow as Alex’s sister Katia played twilight guitar serenades and I added a few touches on harmonica. Then, to settle in for the night’s rest, I laid in my bed of seat cushions on the helm deck, gazed at the Big Dipper and thrilled at streaking stars, as the waves lapped against the gently swaying boat.
Yep, living the Posh Corps dream!
