Happy Anna Howard Shaw Day

2 reasons I can't run: 1)snow/ice covered sidewalks and roads 2)packs of stray dogs around my hood.

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day readers of No Humdrum Life!! The title of this blog is a Liz Lemon quote from my beloved 30 Rock. Giving a shout out to Anna Howard Shaw who was a Women’s Civil Rights leader, Happy Birthday to her. This Valentine’s Day I was quite popular. By that I mean, I got a Valentine from my pops via snail mail and photo email Valentine from my nephew, Leo. Love them both, but it would be nice to get one from a boy that I’m not related to.

This week was another winter weather land of snow and freezing temperatures. Earlier in the week, it was super bitter cold. I was walking to school on Tuesday and I was so cold I almost started to cry. I seriously was so frustrated for forgetting to put on my long underwear. I was too far on my walk to school to turn around and go home so I just cursed the Ukrainian weather gods all the way to school. For those who think Peace Corps in Ukraine is Peace Corps Light, I suggest to you to come visit and have a 30 minute walk across town when the temperature is right around 0 Fahrenheit while the wind is blowing in your face. Godspeed.

Class Work February 16th, 2011: If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go? What would you do? How long would you want to stay? Who would you go with? (First ten minutes of class given to my 10th form class to complete this task) A kid's answer, "I go in the Poland. I eating fruts, drink beer and sleep. I wanted go in the magazine." Well hell if the school will fund the trip I will be the chaperone. I would love a trip out of Ukraine to eat fruit, drink beer, sleep, and then go shopping. Maybe spring break?!?


Disclaimer: Other volunteers thought we should take a photo for my dad after hearing two road rage incidents where another driver flipped him the bird.

Thursday was the first day I have ever shot around or really played any sports with my students. The 17th marked the 6th anniversary of my high school basketball team winning the Sectional Championship. It was one of my favorite high school games for the obvious reason that we finally hurdled the obstacle of winning a sectional and secondly our grey ghost fan section. I swear there wasn’t an extra seat or at least that is what it felt like. At the end of the game, I had a pass to Jessie on a fast break and our student section went crazy. I had never felt such an adrenaline rush quite like it.

Oh, the good ole’ days! So to celebrate this holiday, I thought why not when I saw the door open to the sports hall and kids shoot around. It was funny, because I swear there was a student from almost every class who came into the gym, sat along the side and just watched. I want to think I impressed them, but the fact I was shooting with a boy’s ball that had probably been kicked like a football one too many times which made it lopsided didn’t help me get into a rhythm too fast. None the less, it was a good shoot around for the sentimental reasons.


Yes, I should have been named Donna after my pops for my frugality.

That night I also hosted a breakfast dinner party. I had a group of PCVs come over to enjoy pancakes, French toast, and scrambled eggs prepared by Val and myself. Eventually, my Ukrainian tutor showed up later to enjoy a dinner with the craziest bunch of Americans this side of Kivertsi train tracks. The photo is because I tell a lot of stories (imagine that) about home to PCV friends. So when we went to take this picture it got brought up how my dad gets super pissed about getting the finger from anyone when driver or really in general. So dad I hope you enjoy the fact I got you 9 “birds” for Valentine’s Day.

Today’s weather was cold and snowy. I have friends coming to visit in two weeks time. I really hope it thaws out a little or at least enough so the sidewalks can be non-yaktrak needed. Nothing else to report. Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day as well as week. Miss and love you all.

Kate