Becky and I. I'm sporting the new curly look.
I don’t know if it is the fall weather but I’ve been in a great mood this past week. It is cool and sometimes rainy, but on the days it isn’t it is absolutely beautiful. The leaves are slowly starting to change color. Today, I thoroughly enjoyed my marsuka ride back from the nearby city while looking across a field with trees off in the distance as the sun went down. Beautiful.
This Saturday I went in to Lutsk (25 mins away city) to hang out with my local Volynska oblast volunteers. We celebrated the belated birthdays of Melissa and Katie. We were originally going to go to watch the local football team play but unfortunately we mixed up the dates and it was the night before. We didn’t let this dampen our mood. Still went to two of our favorite Ukrainian restaurants for dinner and drinks.
When we got back to Melissa’s apartment, we busted out the Cranium (thanks Tink). My team (Ashley, Jon and myself) won the first quick game. Soon after that game rapped up, we decided to just pick from the clues and have anyone shout out the answers. It was pretty entertaining at this point in the night. I just want to put out there that I think more cookies were consumed than alcoholic beverages.
Jay & Ashley doing their best Sears & Roebuck catalog impression.
This morning woke up early considering how late we stayed up the night before. For at least an hour Melissa, Ashley, Becky and I chatted in Melissa’s bedroom while others still slept in the living room. I don’t know if it is because I’m slap happy in the morning sometimes but we were just cracking up about the most random things. I haven’t belly laughed so hard in awhile. Eventually when people got up and moving, we made breakfast before people started heading out.
In the afternoon, Jon, Melissa and I headed to the city library to participate in a film club. My Ukrainian friend, Tanya, came in from Kivertsi for the first time to check it out. We watched ‘The Princess Bride’ for the most part the Ukrainians liked it; the best part of the movie for me is the little kid who is wearing Chicago Bears gear in the beginning of the story. After the club, I hit up Tamtam (Ukrainian Wal-Mart like store) before grabbing my stuff at Melissa’s flat and heading back to Kivertsi.
The weekend just capped off what was a really great week for me. My classes went pretty well this week. I actually feel like I’m getting through to my students and they are more interested this year. Also I had an awesome English club Monday evening. I had a group of 7 young women from ages 16 to 24. We pretty much decided this week that I’m going to bring magazines that I have read them and chat. They like to keep it more informal and just hangout instead of a really structured meeting like power points that I had done in the past. Hey less prep for me so I’m not going to argue about it.
Flame throwers/dancers in the center of Lutsk.
Oh, and my biggest news I got my hair did. I finally took the plug and let a Ukrainian cut my hair. One of my 11 form student’s moms has her own little salon. Well it is more like a one room little shop in the basement of the cultural building but none the less it was a pretty legit set up. The lady spoke just a little English. I made sure that before she started my student translated that I DIDN’T want Ukrainian bangs nor did I want a lot taking off. She trimmed it up and gave me some layer so my curls would lay better. Overall, it was a great experience for 20 UAH (Less than $4). I tipped 10 UAH and had to insist that she take it. I’m thinking next cut I might throw in money for some color.
So life is all good from Ukrainian. The middle of this week, I hit a spill of homesickness where I really just wanted a hug from someone. It is strange to think that if I don’t see another American, I can easily go a week or two without real human contact. But I loaded up this weekend when I was with my American crew. I hope everyone is well at home. Know that I love and miss you all.
Kate
PS Happy 11th month anniversary of being in Ukraine to me.
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