Vasyl' Koval' : Folklore, Composition

(Yes...the apostrophe is important. It means that your tongue touches your side teeth when you say 'l', so it sounds like dl. Sort of.) Vasyl' is an assistant professor in the ethnomusicology department. I emailed with Vasyl' before I came here, and he agreed to teach me. Or so I thought. It was actually Irina that was emailing with me, because Vasyl's English skills are like mine in composition, or so he says: 'know lots of things but no practice.' He has sort of taken my trip as his project - he's been my liaison for other teachers, the library, etc. I really enjoy lessons with him - he'd probably be a great storyteller if I could understand the language. He jokes with his assistants a lot, and gives all lectures from memory. So far, he has worn the same purple plaid pants (clean and nicely pressed) every day.

Mikhail : Sopilka (some Ukrainian)

Another assistant professor of ethnomusicology. He was going to be my translator, but after one day he decided he wasn't good enough and got Irina to do it. Then, after two weeks of Ukrainian lessons, he decided he wasn't good enough at that either. He says; "I want you to have good teachers, so that maybe you will study here not only for three months but for a longer term." I thought he was doing fine at both things. What do I know? I am really trying to like sopilka, because I don't want to upset the poor guy and it's the last thing remaining, but it's just not a great instrument. I am happy to be learning the folk tunes, though, and even sing some (yes, in Ukrainian ;).

Irina : Vasyl's assistant and my translator

Irina is an ethnomusicology grad student. Apparently ethnomusicology is considered a science here. Reason #273 to like Ukraine. Anyway, I like Irina a lot too. She's younger than the others, and much like grad students I've known at home, she likes to travel for conferences, she shows up late a lot, and she's very interested in her subject. She hesitates to tell me when Vasyl' says something negative, and she always makes conversation with me about life at home, or her experiences. She is waif-thin and fashionable, but in a more comfortable way - today she actually wore (gasp) flats!

Igor Pylatiuk : The Rector

He is pictured on the school's home page. I refer to him as Igor the Rector, because everyone seems very impressed by titles and appearance here. He can definitely play violin, though. After the ethnomusicology lab, with the ever-practicing accordions outside, the phone ringing, the three grad students vying for computers and chairs, people coming in and out to get keys or have papers signed, three nice computers and some very old reel-to-reels, and books to the ceiling, all in two rooms of about 60 square feet total, Igor's office is palacial. It's probably the biggest space I've been in anywhere in L'viv. Dimitro puts it best when he says 'we use all possibilities', referring to the outdoor cafes sharing space with sidewalk parking and street vending. Even in the parks when no one else is around, the space does not feel empty, because there's so much wonderful vegetation!

I do not think two cities could be any more different than Phoenix and L'viv.

Love,
Michi