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[/] Home Contact us Written by Anne Bates Linden Illustrations by Andriy Shabunin and Igor Czmyr Cover design by Olena Skorupska Printing by Misto NV Assumptions and Misunderstandings Memoir of an Unwitting Spy Ever since excerpts of my 1993 Christmas letter from Ukraine appeared in a Smith Alumnae Quarterly, I had toyed with the idea of writing this memoir. But it had taken me until 2005 to act. Not having ESL materials with me, I’d given one of my students several chapters to read. To my amazement, she admitted having totally forgotten the period. Suddenly, finishing my memoir became a priority. Based on letters I’d written family and friends, Assumptions and Misunderstandings, Memoir of an Unwitting Spy details my experiences during a short but fascinating period in the history of Ukraine. Copies are 50 UAH in Ukraine and $14.95 in the United States plus shipping. To order a copy, please use the space provided for messages on the website . Be sure to include your name, mailing address, email address (so I can confirm your order) and the number of copies you want. It is expected that copies will be available through Amazon.com. However, as the books are still in Ukraine, exactly when this will happen is not yet known. “Anne Linden’s assumptions upon arriving in post-Soviet Ukraine seem fairly reasonable for a person who enjoyed an active community and socially responsible life for decades in the United States. And the misunderstandings she encountered in her efforts to do the best job possible as a Peace Corps volunteer resulted in sometimes hilarious, sometimes frightening episodes. From coordinating her first and only large scale Thanksgiving feast within days of her arrival to trying to convince local government officials that she was not, in spite of what they thought, a spy sent by Washington, Anne’s story is one of determination and perseverance in a foreign, at times hostile, environment. Her snapshot of a Peace Corps volunteer’s tour in Ukraine in the early 1990s provides a yardstick by which Ukraine’s progress toward a more civil society can be measured. It is a testament to how hearts and minds can be engaged and won over in the span of a decade. Hers is a book that also shows how far the country has yet to go before even relatively simple problems, like plumbing and heating, become a thing of the past; some of the problems with bureaucracy and corruption Anne describes can still be encountered today. Anne took the time to listen to and learn from the people she was sent to help. As a result, when she began working with them, she found receptive audiences. Anne’s book will echo in the hearts and minds of anyone new to the post Soviet Union who is struggling with differences in language and culture, both major and minor annoyances, as well as daily and seasonal hardships. Her insights provide valuable lessons for those with dealings in Ukraine today.” Stepan Bandera, Journalist News Channel: Time “Anne Linden is a very good storyteller. As a new member of the Peace Corps during 1992-93, she provides a colorful account of the days and months that initiated her into Ukrainian culture right after that country broke away from the Soviet Union. This book chronicles her first 13 months with the program. The characters she meets (I intend this word in all of its connotations, of course) are interesting and some are obnoxious. Anne, however, persists in her humanitarian goals despite long bureaucratic odds. Her perseverance is a triumph against the establishment. Surprisingly, some of the obstacles were posed by our very own Peace Corps. Her sense of humor, often ironic, provides some relief for Anne, as well as the reader. Many of the qualities she reveals about herself are also in each of us; however, just translated to a different culture, continent and endeavor. How many of us will see ourselves in her tales? How relevant today is her story? I believe that our classmates (and other folks interested in current affairs and other cultures) will find this a page-turner -- not to mention, a trove of information about what it is like for a mature American to encounter people who have lived under a totalitarian regime for many years, now emerging into a capitalistic world where the safety net is suddenly pulled out from under. Experiencing this book, I came to know and appreciate Anne even more than ever. She's a true pioneer.” Sheila Kowal Home | Assumptions and Misunderstandings | Children at Risk | Hutsul Folk Artists | Support for Green Tourism | Contact us