Downward Dog, Upward Dog, Say What?

Straw shoe and pig fat.

As you can see from the title, I’ve taken up yoga. This week I finally had the money (180 UAH, a little over $20) and the store actually had a mat in stock. It is a John Deere green, if you are wondering. My sister awhile ago had sent me The Biggest Loser Yoga and Workout DVD. Considering, I now live on the second floor out of respect for my neighbors I doubt that I’ll be doing the workout DVD, but the low impact yoga is a go. I’ve always thought really how good of a workout can you get from standing on a mat…five minutes into the workout I was sweatin’ like Bre Parra (if you don’t know she sweats alot, love you Maria). I can tell my muscles are going to be a little sore tomorrow, but oh how it feels good to get a workout.

Monday, we (Jon, Melissa and I) had our last dinner with Katie Sherman at a fancy Ukrainian restaurant in Lutsk. It was pretty good. It opened recently, was a Monday night so it was a little slow. That did however make the service pretty good and quick. We toasted Katie and wished her good luck in adjusting back to American life. She gave some of her most memorable and favorite things about her experience. Katie also told us of probably the best going away present any volunteer will ever received: a dried cat fish about as long as her arm. The best part is that she is going to attempt to take it back to Virginia with her. Good luck, Katie.


Jon, Melissa and Ukrainian Pig.

School this week was nothing too crazy. A little abnormal because of no school on Monday which made the rest of my normal schedule a joke. But hey why not turn a 4 day week into an extended vacation? On Friday, my regional manager was in town so he caught the last half of my 6th grade class. My students were absolutely silent compared to their normal rowdy selves because of his unusual presence.

After observing me teach, Bohdan came back to my apartment to check that it was within Peace Corps safety regulations. He checked out my new digs and said they were good. He also informed me that school number four in my town should be getting a volunteer if everything goes as planned. Which means on either December 10th or 15th, Kivertsi will get their second Peace Corps Volunteer and I’ll have a site mate. I look forward to it and hope it spices up life around here. I requested to Bohdan that it be a tall male volunteer who has a good sense of humor and if that happens he could add match maker to his resume.

This past Monday, I started writing for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It encourages people who enjoy writing to take the month of November to write a creative 50,000 page novel in 30 days. Throughout the week, I was good at keeping the pace. Then this weekend fell off the wagon. It is hard to write humorously if you are in a grumpy mood which I have been throughout the weekend. This is the synopsis of the novel that might or might not be finished.


The Kat(i)e side of the table.

The Teeter Totter That Didn't Teet or Tot
The chronicles of Ruby Tuesday O’Shmiderton: a chubby girl living in a skinny world. Come along for her triumphs and failures while Ruby navigates life on the playground, basketball court, and in the classroom while being a little bit bigger than the average girl. Not only does she have to deal with being 'heavy duty' as her dad likes to call her, but she also has to handle the antics of being part of her fun but fantastically dysfunctional family.

Well this about it for me. Hope everyone’s November has started off well. I’m excited that it is only 44 days until I’ll be home in Illinois. Love and miss you all.

Kate