We thoroughly enjoyed our official orientation last Thursday through Saturday in Kyiv. Despite the 17-hour train ride, we returned to Sevastopol energized and excited about carrying out the Fulbright mission. The many seminars on the current conditions and situations in Ukraine were especially helpful. Our personal translators were excellent as well. Attached are some photos for the following anecdote involving (quite unintentionally) Ambassador William B. Taylor.
We live in a "Soviet-style" apartment building, constructed during the '70's. For more than twenty years the concrete stairway leading to our apartment building has been in a state of disrepair that could only be described as "bomb-damaged." How it came to be this bad is a matter of conjecture. Nancy Lenihan, Fulbright Scholar, began speaking to fellow tenants, urging them to "chip-in," so that we could collectively repair this damage, for the convenience of all tenants.
As luck would have it, Robert Zimmerman, Fulbright Scholar, paid us a visit from his home base in Simferopol. Mr. Zimmerman is a career diplomat (retired). An enterprising tenant took advantage of Mr. Zimmerman's presence to approach the city government, claiming that an American university professor was an occupant of our building. She further averred that this professor was teaching at Sevastopol National Technical University. Moreover she claimed that Robert Zimmerman was the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, and that he had to clamber over this destroyed stairway. In addition, she claimed that the Ambassador would soon return, and would like to see this stairway repaired.
Action was immediate. City crews involving multiple persons worked on this stairwell for more than one week. When the concrete dust finally settled, we had a magnificent stairwell. Nancy Lenihan had an opportunity to relate this tale to Ambassador William B. Taylor at the reception he hosted at his residence, in Kyiv. She also showed him the attached photographs. Ambassador Taylor stated diplomatically to Nancy Lenihan, "I was actually in Sevastopol in July...I'll have to schedule a return trip soon, in order to make an honest woman out of you!"
On Saturday, October 27th, Fulbright Scholar, Nancy Lenihan made a guest appearance at an elementary school that had decided to host an old-fashioned American Halloween celebration. The teacher, Tanya, (in witch's costume) is a graduate student of Nancy's at Sevastopol National Technical University, in Sevastopol, Ukraine. Although Halloween is a relatively new cause for celebration in Ukraine, Tanya and Nancy turned it into a special event for these youngsters who are learning English as a second language.
The entire event was conducted in English and the participants, both young and not so young, played many silly games together. New friendships were forged and lasting bonds were established. Nancy (in Carol Burnett cleaning-lady garb) and her husband, Patrick, (the Pirate) promised to return for future holiday celebrations, suitably attired. Several of the "silly" games required a recitation of many English words, phrases and sentences. We extend our congratulations to Tanya the Teacher for making the learning of English so simple and so much FUN!
