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Sister City trip benefits guests as much as Newton
My first real experience involving anything to do with Ukraine — or, The
Ukraine, as Seinfeld burned into the minds of many Americans gleaning
their global perspective from pop culture in the ’90s — came about five
months ago during a trip to Poland. Bumping by chance into a group of
Peace Corps volunteers who were on vacation from their teaching jobs
in the neighboring country to the east, I learned about a nation of
people not dissimilar from those found in the Midwest.
Fiercely proud of their rural roots and devoted to their families,
Ukrainians, my American friends told me, are the kind of folks who
would give you the shirt off their back if you earned their trust. I was
also told they would make sure you couldn’t see straight by the end of
the night if you dared to utter the word “vodka.”
My second encounter with Ukraine came Wednesday, when I accepted
an invitation to a Kiwanis Club meeting. A seven-person delegation
visiting from Newton’s Sister City — Smila, Ukraine — also happened to
be in attendance. Seeing as how I have a talent for pestering strangers,
I asked if I could have a few minutes of their time to find out what
exactly they thought of this little hamlet. (I know what you’re thinking.
No, vodka was not part of the proceedings.)
After thirty minutes of talking with these teaching administrators, made
possible by the translating of Irina Bassis, I came to the conclusion that
commonly occurs when civilized cultures from different countries
encounter one another: Our lifestyles may be different but our values
are the same.
We both care about improving conditions for the next generation. We
believe it’s important to be engaged in your community. We know life is
far more enjoyable when you’re able to laugh.
Each member of this delegation is a dedicated teaching professional
trying to improve the lives of others through education, a goal that only
a fool would fail to admire. It turns out the visitors from our Sister City
— which legend has it was named after an unknown girl martyred while
helping the army defeat invaders by stealth — have just as much
admiration for Newton.
“We are very comfortable here and we would just like to thank
everyone,” said Tamara Kozubenko, who went as far as describing the
people she had met in Newton as part of the “intelligentsia,” a word
that can encompass a group that exhibits everything from
professionalism to good manners. (Now don’t go getting a big head,
Newton.)
Some of the differences they noticed between their home and the US
included the large number of churches and volunteer groups in Iowa,
the differences in transportation — trains and buses are the norm in
Europe, and the effective manner in which students are divided by
elementary, middle and high schools.
“The thing that strikes me is the individual approach to teaching,”
Viktoriya Pidmohylna said. “The way the children are uplifted and
encouraged.”
In a time when schools throughout the country are facing serious
cutbacks, especially in the arts, Valentyn Borodiy, an administrator in
music, said the job being done in Newton should serve as an example
to others.
“Although it is sad to know some of these programs are being cut, I
was very impressed with the students and the work being done by
instructors,” he said.
A little more than halfway through their trip, it isn’t lost on the
Ukrainians or members of OPEN (Organization Promoting Everlasting
Neighbors) — a local group led by Jane Ann Cotton and Tom Hoover
that worked to arrange the visit — just how fortunate they are for this
exchange of culture and ideas to even take place. Just a day after
leaving Ukraine, the volcanic eruptions in Iceland grounded planes
across Europe.
Since then, along with learning about Iowa and sharing aspects of their
own culture with community members who are providing housing, the
trip has brought each of the visitors closer together.
“We were just colleagues before we came here, not friends,”
Kozubenko said. “But being here has made us friends, which we are
grateful for.”
If that isn’t the essence of why we continue to explore the world and
reach out to others, I don’t know what is.
Josh Koehn can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 422 or via e-mail at
jkoehn@newtondailynews.com.
Article courtesy of Newton Daily News
Author(s): Josh Koehn
Date: April 22, 2010
Section:
Editorials portal