Lydia and her husband Sergei took us on a day long adventure on Saturday to one of Zaporizhzhya's most famous sites. It is an island called Khortytsya Island in the middle of the Dnieper River that has a long history of settlement and conflict. The first people to settle were the Sich. They were called the Sich because of the way that they sharpened wood into a point. The island is also famous as a defensive location for the Cossacks and was the sight of many battles during WWII. The Germans occupied Zaporizhzhya during the war and many soldiers were killed in the city's defense.
We had a wonderful picnic lunch with vegetables and grilled chicken and potatoes. We then took a walk to see the river and the rocks for which Zaporizhzhya is named. We got turned around in the woods but found our way back out.
On our walk to the river, Sergei suddenly said for us to stop. Of course, for Sara and I he had to motion because he speaks no English. He stopped us because their was a wild boar in the middle of the path up ahead of us. It disappeared into the grass before we could get a picture of him....but he was hugh!!
Today we went with Lydia and her husband to her home village about 60 miles south of Zaporizhzhya. Today was a special day in Ukraine that is similar to Memorial Day. On this day, people go to the cemetery to lay flowers to honor their ancestor and relatives. They also bring sweets to make sure that the dead have what they need in the afterlife. Lydia brought artificial arrangements for her grandmother, mother, father, and brother. She also brought bags of sweets for them. The sweets are almost immediately snatched up by gypsies. They even took Lydia's sweets for her relatives while she was standing there!!
We then drove to a site that was also visited by the Dalia Lama! It was an area with ancient rocks that may be as old as 20th century B.C.E.!! We climbed all over the rocks looking for petroglyphs but didn't find any. Lydia provided another picnic and we returned to Zaporizhzhya with a stop at a chocolate shop!!
Questions to the students: What does Zaporizhzhya mean? What are petroglyphs? Souvenirs to the first to tell me!!
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| Map of Khortytsya |
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Are gypsies a common problem?
ReplyDeleteThere are many outside of the city but don't seem to cause much problem. I was just amazed that they owuld take the food while Lydia was still standing there!!
DeleteHunter P. from third period says petroglyphs are pictures from long ago and Cossacks were German soldiers who fought in WW 2.
ReplyDeleteHi Hunter! Sorry for the delay but I have been having computer trouble. Right you are! Good job!
DeleteShawn K from third period wants to know how big the boar was?
ReplyDeleteA couple of the kids from third period and myself watched the youtube video of kids asking questions. I asked the kids what were some of their favorite films. They said Rambo and War Horse.
Tell Shawn that the boar was really big. I have a picture of one from in the museum. I will put it in my next post!
DeleteHad problems Friday getting the kids comments on.
ReplyDeleteThe topic of food is popular--they would like to know if you have seen or eaten french fries, waffles, steak, ribs and/or Mountain Dew? They would also like to know if you have seen a McDonald's or other fast food restaurant?
What kind of musical instruments do they play?
Do they allow girls to play sports? Do they have lacrosse?
Do they have playstation or xbox systems?
What are other holidays do they celebrate?
Is the Ukraine part of the United Nations?
Schools-What is grading system? Discipline? Subjects? Lockers? Do they change classes? Are the classes co-ed or do they separate boys and girls?
So many questions!! This is great!
DeleteThey play the same musical instruments. They are in the band and choir just like we have but they take additional lessons because this school has a focus on music.
Girls play all of the same sports.
They do not spend time or precious money on games and game systems.
They celebrate most of the same holidays. One different one: yesterday was Chernobly day in memory of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Ukraine is a member of the UN.
Grades are from 1-12 with 12 being the best. They take the same subjects except that they all take an additonal language class. In this school they all take five years of French and five years of English.
They change class but do not have lockers and the classes are co-ed.
Shane A-third period Petroglyphs are rock writing and petroglyphs.
ReplyDelete8th period likes the following movies-21 Jumpstreet, Hunger Games, Mrs. Doubtfire, Billy Madison, Jack and Jill, Tuck & Dale vs. Evil, 3 Stooges, and scary movies like Halloween.
They celebrate Halloween and love scary movies too!!
DeleteThe picture at the top is that clothing common for Ukrainian people?
ReplyDeleteThe clothing is special occasion clothing of thier culture. They do not wesr it every day. It is like native american clothing or Japanese clothing.
Delete90 % of the Ukraines population belongs to the orthodox church. 40% belongs to Atheists.
ReplyDelete-Shannon Payne
Good job Shannon! Nice to hear from you! Sorry for the delay but I have been having trouble with the computer!
DeleteBrennan Period 7
ReplyDeleteZaporizhzhya means " beyond the rapids"
Right you are! Great Job!!
DeleteCaleb Stutzman pd. 3, April 23, 2012
ReplyDeleteA petroglyph is an image carved or picked into a rock or stone.
Good job Caleb!! See ya soon!
DeleteHow do they grade papers there.From Bryce
ReplyDeleteThey grade papers in the same way but grades are from 1-12 with 12 being the best!! They do not use letter grades at all!!
DeleteHi Mrs. Hamilton, it's David Carvajal. Zaporizhzhya is the industrial city in Ukraine. It is Zaporozhye in Russian. A petroglyph is a prehistoric rock carving.
ReplyDelete