Volunteer stories | English conversations
Recipe Exchange
summer stone fruit, berries, Ukraine, and me
Conversations start with simple updates. How was your week? What is the weather like? What is growing in the garden? Oh, how I hear how you miss having a garden. We find that we both love basil. I learn you know “hydrangeas” as “hortensia,” and we share pictures from the internet in our classroom. There are little updates about family. My granddaughter was with me for eight days while her parents traveled to France for a wedding. Your son will be at summer camp. Yet, we usually return to food. A favorite restaurant. You made Ukrainian pancakes and describe them. We talk about the difference in the pancakes I would make.
Each element of a conversation sparks a memory of a delight to share. We become simply two women sharing our customs of food. Our memories and discoveries. As a volunteer with Balakun to “build a bridge between mentors worldwide and Ukrainians eager to practice English,” we make a connection, moments, that transcend time and space which we can fill with laughter and the voices of women in shared joy. We laugh a lot.
What do you like to eat for breakfast? sends us on a delightful exchange as my student describes one of her favorite things to make. I write her words “peaches, apricots, plums” on our shared in-class communication whiteboard. We push and pull the elements of conversation, practice of pronunciation, reading, clarifying words, as our excitement grows in the delight. “Chop the fruit, in the oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.”
“Top with chopped peanuts, blue cheese, and honey.” I think I hear “peanuts.” She jumps up to grab the bag and works on pronunciation again. “Pine nuts!” Through laughter and sharing how good it is and how and when to add the cheese and honey, I know I will try it.
We talk about “stone fruit.” A new term we expand on and look it up on the internet to share a list beyond peaches, plums, and apricots. Why is it called “stone” fruit? And off we go to find out why. I learn more from every conversation as her progress seamlessly expands in confidence.
Get K.M. Fullerton’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
We talk about berries. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries become reading and pronunciation practice. Now, it is my turn to share a recipe, my “Blueberry Crisp” expands our conversation and practice to new ingredients. “Flour, oatmeal, butter, brown sugar” and of course, blueberries.
In the following week when we gathered again, we added to our conversation about food…
The “bluegill fish” her son caught at his camp. A tongue twister to practice. We came across the word “conundrum” and, with discussion, added it to our vocabulary list.
The muffins we made, the vegetables we love, and soon it will be autumn. Which took us to “pumpkin” and “pie” and great sighs of delight for the squash and sweet, and for what we will talk about next. Our conversation winds down, and we move to a more structured lesson.
In an hour this remarkable woman, after a long day of work, practicing English, and navigating new concepts, is weary. We take our leave with thank you, have a good week, and good night, leaving the sanctuary of shared delights. I carry her dedication to my preparation for our next meeting. This connection deserves the best I can offer as a tutor and a hopeful pondering for what wonderment our next conversation will bring.
My “Blueberry Crisp” is modified from the “Apple Crisp” recipe in a book I have had for almost 40 years, “The New American Diet.” I have substituted blueberries, or a combination of blueberries and nectarines or peaches. Of course, the original apple, sometimes adding dried cranberries and raisins. Here it is for you to try:
This story is cross-posted on my newsletter ontheopenroad.substack.com
Find more stories of volunteering and working with Ukraine students learning English here:
