Let the countdown begin (or continue, to be completely honest).
I COS on November 17. My last day teaching is November 14. Today is November 3. O oo ooo my goodness, I’m almost done.
Things are starting to get surreal, and even more so now that my last big school event has passed.
A few months ago, the Halloween party was that point I used as a gauge to keep track of how much time I had left. How many responsibilities I had left. How much miscommunication, compromise and surprised success I had left. And here I am, done with Halloween and living in that red zone where the gauge no longer keeps track of numbers but waves back and forth frantically.
I’m sure I’ll post a sappy farewell later, but for now, there is one word that sums up everything I’m feeling:
Oi.
Yes, this is something I will bring back to America with me. The word will haunt me, probably for the rest of my life. I never consciously decided to use “oi.” It snuck up on me one day about a year into my service. I used to think it a silly word. I giggled when my host mother said it. Then, in quite a short period of time, it began falling out of my mouth, and I would feel the shudder of surprise ripple through my ears as I realized I had subconsciously adopted this favored Ukrainian exclamation.
I am not joking. This word just jumps out of my mouth. I sometimes try to repress it, but I have had little luck.
Anyways, “oi” has imposed itself upon my life in response to many various emotions. I have never thought to myself, “When is this word most appropriate?” It literally just presents itself when it feels the call. And this is why I’m convinced that it accurately explains how I’m feeling at the moment. Because it’s the one word that has made itself an accompaniment to almost every emotion I’ve felt over the past two years. It goes a little something like this:
Oi! I’m so excited to see America!
Oi! What will I possibly do when I get home with no money, no car and no job?
Oi! Bagels!
Oi! Will I ever see these faces again?
Oi! Turkey sandwiches!
Oi! Did I do enough? Did I do my best?
Oi! Laundry machines!
Oi! I will miss everyone here,
but Oi! I miss everyone back home!
Make fun of me all you want. I make fun of me too. But this word is here to stay.
Also, I want to post this video from the Halloween party. Hayley and I asked the children’s center in town to host the party when we realized we didn’t have the school’s full support. This turned out to be a great decision, and in the true spirit of sustainability, Hayley and I did very little other than offer suggestions for games and costumes. The rest was taken care of by the Ukrainians, Ira in particular. This video is from Ira’s shadow story, told with the help of Anya, Nastia and Sasha. It’s in Russian, but even if you don’t understand the words, I think you’ll understand the story. And the kids’ responses are so cute. Watch it till the end!
