Summer Lovin’, Happened So Fast — part 2 of 4

So, if I didn’t make it clear in my last post, Summer 2011 was probably the greatest summer of my life. It was certainly my busiest, most fulfilling, most exciting, and the most exhausting. I met the most people, worked with the greatest people, and made memories that I’ll cherish forever.

It says 'FLEX.' ...It does so.

A huge part of my glorious summer I can attribute to FLEX.  From singing Baby Shark 50 times, seeing the fastest untangling of the Human Knot IN HISTORY, and playing a dozen rounds of Celebrities to… serious discussions about race and ethnicity in America, teaching young girls about sexual harassment, and working with the brightest minds in Ukraine, FLEX was life-changing.

In short: FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) is a US State Dept program that sends Ukrainian high school students to study in American high schools for one school year (go here for more information on this amazing program!). American Councils stages Pre-Departure Orientations (PDOs) in summer for all the chosen FLEXers. PCVs team up with FLEX alumni to teach sessions on everything from Living With A Host Family to Choosing Your High School Schedules.

The PDOs are intense. After the training in March, we thought we were prepared for our PDOs. We were in a sense, but I don’t think any of us could have imagined how much more amped up it gets with 45 teenagers who are mostly all brilliant, outgoing, and energetic.

There are 4 “cycles,” each lasting 4 days. Some volunteers do 1, some do 2. I did 2 and was able to work with 2 different (yet equally awesome) PDO teams.

FLEX PDO #3 Teaching Team! Aliona, Lena, Nastia, Taras, Yeri, me, Thomas

FLEX PDO #4 Teaching Team! Andrea, Yeri, Myla, Taras, me, Aliona, Alina.

Major props to all the teachers and TAs! We rocked it, guys Plus, look at us… we are some good looking people.

I could NOT have done this without the amazing help of my TAs, Lena and Myla.

My PDO #3 TA, Lena, and me on our last day

My FLEX PDO #4 TA, Myla, and me rockin' our killer Cultural Perspective shades

But what would FLEX be without… THE KIDS? Well, let me tell you, it would be… quiet. But then what would the point be?

FLEXers from PDO #3 on their last day!

me, Lena, and our PDO #3 girls <3

Some staff and FLEXers from PDO #3

me, Myla, Alan, and my PDO #4 group such amazing kids!

And some random pictures from both cycles.

Roman and Fauxman (cycle #3).

Me and Lena with some awesome Ukrainian folk headresses

Teachers and TAs prepping for cycle #4. You wouldn't believe the amount of work we're able to get done in a few hours.

Some of my flipcharts on perception and stereotypes

Stereotypical American Teenager by the enterprising PDO #4 FLEXers

aaaand the Stereotypical Ukrainian "Teenager" by my strange darlings from PDO #4.

I don’t think I could ever adequately express how moved I was by the FLEX experience.  I’d been in the country for nearly 2 years at that point, and sometimes I had felt discouraged or unsure about the work I’d been doing. I think every volunteer has these feelings sometimes. FLEX changed the way I saw my whole experience here. If this was the only good I did (and, rationally, I know it isn’t) then my time here was still worth it.

I’m so proud of my FLEXers; I’m so excited to be reading about and seeing their lives in America. We put in many hard hours together during our PDOs. There were days that seemed endless, tasks that may have been boring, information that was dull but important, but we still managed to make it fun and make it memorable. I’ll have a special place in my heart ALWAYS for the kids and staff that I worked with during those stressful, hectic, exhilarating, hilarious, and truly life-changing 9 days.

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