Eggs Taste the Same Everywhere

The Easter spread well all that could fit on the table.


If you built it, they will come. I'm a believer.


Boys throwing the ball around.


The V.V. Crew: Aidan, Allison, & Travis.

And not only do eggs taste the same everywhere they also make me the same level of gassy. Just because I thought you would want to know.

Happy Easter! I’m sitting here on a Sunday afternoon enjoying the sunshine that cracks through my bedroom window. I got up this morning turned on my PC played some worship music softly while reading my good book. Something that I didn’t anticipate so much was how much I would miss going to church. I enjoy the sermons but I love singing worship music with a group of followers. For me it is the most genuine and fulfilling type of worship. Hope when I get back to the states, I’m not such a grump butt when rolling out of bed to go to church.

My host mother and sister had prepared a lot of the food yesterday for this morning’s brunch. The older host sister along with her husband and son came over at 10:30. We all stood while my host mother said the blessing, we sat and all ate a piece of the same hardboiled egg. Next came the first vodka toast (I got away with having wine) which would was followed by food, more toasts and more food. I’ve finally have been able to gauge how little food to put on my plate to not stuff myself in the repetition of toasts and eating as well as enough food to not have my host mother add to my self-served portion. We probably sat around the table while eating and visiting for the next 2 hours.

I’ve noticed a few Easter traditions so far. One is the fact this past week people have been sweeping and cleaning up the trash and litter that has accumulated over the winter. Also they paint the curbs and bottoms of trees and posts white. I was explained it is for a fresh start to a new spring as well as the white wash (chalk like paint) is painted on the trees to protect them from frosts that still happen.

Another tradition is the Saturday night before Easter people take baskets with a traditional Easter bread as well as fruit, candies and meat to be blessed at church. Yesterday, I was told by an English speaking Ukrainian that it is called the overnight service from 8pm-4am. After along week of hanging out with friends in the V.V., I turned down the invitation to go to church with my host mother thinking I couldn’t survive it. I was surprised when she came back at 10pm so maybe next Easter I’ll go to the church to witness their traditions.

The following Monday after Easter (tomorrow) for Ukrainians is a national holiday and I’ve been invited to my vice principal’s house for another dinner so I’m only guessing I’ll witness some more traditions. As well as I’ve been invited to my Ukrainian friend’s (Tanya) house to celebrate on Tuesday. Ukrainians seem to stretch their holidays for as long as they can. But hey I say party on!

This past week, I finished my relaxing spring break in Voldymyr-Volynski (Allison’s site). It is a lot of fun because not only do I get to enjoy the company of Allison but I’m also entertained by two hilarious male volunteers Aidan and Travis. I was there from Wednesday to Saturday and our activities included: drinking ‘miracle’ water from a well, playing 3 uncommon American sports (baseball, football, Frisbee), second hand shopping, running at the stadium, lots of walking around town, climbing a really old and steep wall that is centuries old, playing Trivial Pursuit, cooking meals as family, knighting each other with a whiskey sword, and of course indulging in a few alcoholic beverages.

Now, I’m just going to relax at my place until school starts again on Tuesday. I got loads of laundry to do but that will be held off because today is God’s day even more so with it being Easter. This week was definitely a good time to relax and regroup. I have 8 more weeks until the end of school. Here is to finishing out strong.

Most Frustrating Moment of the Week: the ‘non-line’ line mass of people trying to push into the marsuka before passengers who were exiting the marsuka could actually get out.