Two for One

First I’ll start with Mother’s Day because let’s face it without them none of us would have came into the world. I would like to wish my mom and two grandmothers Happy Mother’s Day. All unique women who I have learned a lot about what it means to be a strong woman. Love you and wish I was at home to celebrate it with you.

Second holiday which is more widely celebrated here in Ukraine is Victory Day. Today is the 65th anniversary of Hitler’s Nazis being defeated by the Allie forces. In every town that I have visited here there has always been a World War II monument, even in the small village I was in for training. When first in country, I was like geez what is their obsession with all these monuments. So today I got online and looked up some information.

I learned that thirteen million Soviet soldiers lost their lives, roughly 3 million from Ukraine. America suffered 400,000 casualties. Not to discount the lives of the American soldiers but there is a drastic different in the numbers. Not only did Ukrainians suffer the losses of their fighting men but civilians often fell victim to the Nazi campaign in Ukraine. I read an article that stated the average family had lost a direct family member to the war.

War is a horrible thing but when it is your own backyard it is that much worse and impacting. It really hit me today to think that this country as part of the Soviet Union had to recover and move on from the ugly history and losses of the Second World War. Today around the Lutsk as well as my town, I saw many old men strolling proudly in their old military uniforms. I went to the park where many people had gathered to place flowers at the graves of soldiers. There was a gathering to remember all those who fought and loss their lives. It was a unique experience to see how Ukrainians look back at the victory.

This week was a short one at school. One day to be exact. I had off Monday and Tuesday for Ukrainian Labor Day. Then I battled a cold Wednesday and Thursday. Friday I went to a school which isn’t that hard of a day because I have classes in the 5th and 3rd grade sections which means simple activities with enthusiastic classes.

Yesterday and today for the most part I’ve been lounging around reading, watching different TV shows on my PC. The only real productive thing I have done was going for a run yesterday and grocery shopping today. I’m still not back at a 100% so not trying to go too crazy with anything. Tomorrow I’m going to attempt another run and if the weather is nice sit outside and read.

Hope everyone’s Mother Day weekend is as relaxing as mine. Miss you all.

Kate

Most interesting moment of the week: being told that heating up vodka and drinking it from a coffee cup would cure my sore throat and running nose. Can’t say that I tried.

High of the week: Getting to skype with my sister on video chat. Roughly 17 days until baby natzke!