Do I look a year older? (4-1 my beloved Bears record, woot woot!)
Facts and Numbers as of Late
Best thing about Ukraine: Ponchix (homemade jelly filled doughnuts)
Worst thing: tie- the lack of organized lines and mayo or sour cream being put on everything
Most watched TV show: Grey’s Anatomy
My Breakfast: two slices of bread with delicious peanut butter and water
Most watched movie: Hope Floats
Crazy thing I want to do when I get home: tattoo of something regarding my faith and want to get with my grandma. She wants a small flower
The 3 objects I use the most: computer, camera, books
The 3 objects I wish I had: clothe dryer, Whitey (my old car), an American library near by
Funniest moment of the week: ‘What country is this?’ I ask while pointing to US on an unlabeled map. Confidently from the back of the class one of my 5th graders yells ‘the U.S.S.R.!’
‘Hope you’re holding up okay’ from Bre. Handmade card from my favorite former resident Robin ‘Nations’.
Infinite: the kisses and cuddling that I’ll give my nephew when I’m home
1,000+: sunflowers consumed
225: Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson played on my iTunes and/or iPod
185: sent letters
145: received letters
66: days until I’m home in the great land of Lincoln
28: books read
26: packages
18: number of 8th grade students who can make you want to end it
6: inches that my bed is too short
3: number of dark chocolate bars I’ve had this week
2: days until I live in a babushka free zone
1: bottle of cooking oil I have yet to finish off
What a year worth of letters look like.
48 degrees overcast grey skies with on and off again drizzle. Much like the weather I arrived in. Oh how crazy it is to think that it has been a year since leaving home and coming to Ukraine. This week has been an up and down one but ended on a good note.
My classes this week were a little difficult and that just might be the understatement of the year. I was stressing because my vice principle was in the process of looking for a flat for me. I was hoping that I would find something by the 18th so I won’t have to deal with paying the current landlord/housemate another month’s rent.
On Wednesday, my vice principle had mentioned there was a flat that she wanted to show me that is near the school but wouldn’t be finished for another two weeks. She told me we will go look at it Thursday after school; Thursday comes and then she tells me maybe Friday or Monday. Thursday, I was frustrated to say the least thinking when and how is this ever going to happen. Friday I got to school to teach and after my second lesson, my vice principle tells me I will go look at a flat with my counterpart that is close to where I am currently living.
My counterpart showed me the flat it is very standard Ukrainian: entry way hall/room, small kitchen, closet, tiny bathroom and one big living/bedroom. To me this is the description of heaven. The woman who owes it currently only uses it a few times a week when she comes to work in Kivertsi. They are going to get it ready this weekend and hopefully by this Monday or Tuesday I’ll have moved in. As soon as it was officially a suitable place and that I could move in very soon, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted. Oh how I can’t wait to walk around my very own flat buck naked just because I can. (oh those will be some pictures to share).
I only wish I had a washing machine… from Kimberly. ‘I may have “gone green” but I’m still thinkin’ chocolate!’ from my mom.
Today I’m just hanging out and trying to get my stuff organized for the big move. Hopefully start reading Catch22 later today all curled up in my sleeping bag. Tomorrow I’ll head into Lutsk (near by city) to meet up with the local crew of volunteers for brunch and then get ready for this… a SALO FESTIVAL! Let me remind you that salo is straight pig fat. I can promise you some interesting tales from that. Then at 2pm we will all head over to the local library for our community wide English club. Has the makings to be a really fun day.
After being here a year, you would think that I would have all these great in depth thoughts about life. All I can really say is that old lessons are being relearned. I’m still learning new things but I can say that the more I learn the more I also realize I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. Here is to keeping an open mind and heart for another year in Ukraine. Growing is sometimes painful but always worth it in the end. Hope everyone at home is well. Know I think of you often and always love you.
Kate
The List:
Be fair.
Woosah… let it go.
Remember to smile.
A sense of humor can get you far.
Days are long, but years are short.
Listen closely, and think before you talk.
Patience is virtue and silence really is golden.
Give without limits, give without expectations.
What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
Most importantly for this experience, live like you are never leaving.
Myself and the bride to be Casey Graham(cracker)!! So exciting.
Almost forgot if me moving into my own flat is great news, I have even better news. My very good friend Casey will be getting married to one of the nicest guys I know Corey this coming Spring. She has asked me to stand in the wedding so I’m in the process of trying to get the money together to buy a ticket. Oh, how exciting this is. Congrats to them.
1 comment:
Thanks for the sweet little shout-out! I feel famous =)
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