Me: “Hello!”
CP: “Hello Amanda. Hello. How are you?”
Me: “I’m okay. I’m a little better today.”
CP: “A little better? Hm. [...] Tomorrow I think you will not come to school. Because it is very… hot. I mean… it is very cold! It is very cold Amanda.”
Me: “Yes, yes it is. I think I will not come in tomorrow, but I think I will be in on Tuesday.”
CP: “What?”
Me: “Maybe I will be back on Tuesday.”
CP: “But aren’t you worse? No?”
Me: “No, no, I’m not worse.”
CP: “Ah. Hm. Okay. Put your legs* in hot water for half an hour maybe. This will be very good for you. Okay okay. Okay. Maybe I will see you in some days.” *click*
(Sometimes I feel as though I am not even in the conversation.)
*Note: by ‘legs’, I am fairly certain my wonderful and always well-meaning counterpart meant ‘feet’. Interestingly, in both Russian and Ukrainian the word for legs AND for feet is : ноги.
When my school discovered I’d contracted a cold (doubtless from one of the multitude of children who’s fallen ill since the start of the semester, despite what my colleagues believe about drafts, coldness and the curative properties of salo) – they immediately went into hyperdrive, suggesting remedies and giving me stern advice as to how I should treat my cold. They also appear to be collectively terrified that this cold will be the end of “their volunteer’s” love of Semenivka and willingness to stay here. (It won’t be.)
Thursday night a fellow English teacher brought me potatoes, onions, and Kalina, or Viburnum (red berries which have a whole host of applications in Ukrainian folk remedy lore).
Saturday my counterpart and her husband brought me a bag of Mandarin oranges, some kiwis and a lemon and exhorted me to eat all of it, and to drink “lots of tea” and “stay warm.” My counterpart’s husband asked if he could bring me any salo, and they both offered to go buy food for me (apparently the idea of me venturing outside in weather hovering around 0°F is absolutely horrifying.) I demurred, however, insisting that I was well-provisioned, and thanking them for their offer, and the bag of fruit.
The care and attention I receive as a volunteer can be overwhelming at times, but in the end it’s heartening and reassuring to know that they teachers at my school have a genuine concern for my well-being. Even if that concern can be baffling (and a little frustrating) from time-to-time.
In non-illness related news:
Cinnamon Banana Bread Muffins
Friday I made absolutely wonderful Cinnamon Banana Bread Muffins.
Today I made soft pretzels (and two “pretzel dogs” using Ukrainian сосиски). Tomorrow, I am going to make Curry Chicken Soup.
It will be a culinary delight, of this I am certain.
