Learning.....

Most days we learn something new from our experiences here, either about ourselves, or Ukraine and the people here.

I had the opportunity today to teach/interact with students in a large secondary state school in Lviv. Unlike many schools, especially in the east of the country, this school has good resources. It was interesting to note, though, that the students still had to purchase the English language text books.

The standard of English in the school is really good. I was able to get some insight into how the students and teachers have managed the disruption of the war. And, by and large, they have done it well.

But it's all relative. Again, the siren went off and, once more, all the students went to the cellars. It was quite well organised with desks, etc. I saw some doing homework, etc. I was able to engage with some final year students. We discussed, at some length, the differences that we see between the east of the country and Lviv. 

One theme that kept cropping up was that Lviv, to some extent, because of it's history and position, has been maybe more west looking. It has to be considered that Lviv and western Ukraine were under Austrian rule for just under 150 years from 1772. Poland, also, for periods occupied Ukraine, going back to the 14th century.  And it has to be remembered that Lviv is but 40 miles from the Polish border. These periods of occupation had an effect, with even the architecture with some of the buildings here, reflecting the buildings of Austria in the 19th century. Our apartment is in one such building I believe.

The east of the country, from what I understood, did not have these influences and therefore tended to be more eastward looking.

It was a wonderful opportunity to do this today. Seeing so many students, still hopeful and positive about their futures.... making plans to go to university, etc. In many ways these young people really are the future. It will be in their lifetimes that the changes in Ukraine that people are talking about and looking for will happen.

At the end of the day I was given some presents. Two tea mugs with the school emblem and inscription, notepad and canvas shopping bag.

The morning and early afternoon passed in a flash, and I had to rush off with the van to another warehouse to pick up more items. This time, as Fiona is not able to travel, even the cab is packed with aid.