Howdy from Ukraine

Well got here a few hours ago. I'm currently at the PC headquarter office in Kyiv. I have done alot of paper work, received three shots, gotten assigned to a small town for my cluster (small training group). I will leave Kyiv tomorrow at noon. All has been well minus one of my bags not showing up at the airport. Hopefully get that tomorow morning. Keeping it short so other people can use the net. Hope to post more in a week or so. Later all.

A 'Chilli' October

Me & Lou picking pumpkins at Grandpa's house.

Nothing like a homemade costume.

So I was suppose to say hello to October in Turkmenistan, but with that all falling through I am able to get one last week in Chilli in before headed out to Ukraine. I wonder if they do pumpkins & Halloween there.

It is funny to think of what we thought was such a big deal when we were little. It was all about birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and other random occasion for gifts and candy. I bet Lucy and other children in Africa don't get the extras of random holidays. Also pretty sure right here in the good ole USA kids of Appalachia probably don't know the extensive spoils involved with these holidays that I experienced as a kid.

It is not that kids shouldn't be able to enjoy their birthdays with candy, cupcakes and parties. Getting ready for Peace Corps while processing that college is over and what it has all meant to me has made me look closer at my life.I am just overwhelmed with the blessings I have received in my life.

I'm thankful for the ability to worship the Lord I want. I'm thankful for my crazy, loud, overwhelming at times, but always present family. I'm thankful for a healthy body. I'm thankful for clean drinking water. I'm thankful for a huge network of amazing people who I am lucky to call my friends. I'm thankful for all the opportunities of traveling the U.S. and the world. I'm thankful that Peace Corps has quickly replaced me. I'm thankful for the fall weather that makes eating my dad's stew even better. I'm thankful for one more week in Chilli.

Next Stop Ukraine

This morning I officially accepted a position for teaching English as a foreign language in Ukraine. The group already arrived in Ukraine on 29th of September. A group of Turkmen rejects and myself will be playing catch up. Hopefully our visas will be processed quickly and we will be joying them in roughly 10 days. Post more when I know more.

NO Turkmenistan

Hey everyone. Please don't write or send anything to the address that I posted because the Turkmen government retracted their invitation without much explanation for our trainee group which means the program is canceled.

Peace Corps is going to try to place nearly 50 of us in other countries leaving as early as next week to november. I'm staying hopefully because that's all I really can do. Crossing my fingers for an African placement.

Everyone is flying home from Philly today. Please keep members of my group who have sold homes, quit good jobs and might not have the ability to wait for another placement in your prayers. I'm going to hang out in Chicago land for the next couple of days, and working with PC on another placement before heading all the way back to Chilli.

Jeremiah 29:11

"The Right Time, The Right Place, The Right People"

So today is my last night in the land of lincoln. This past friday I did my Chillicothe goodbyes before heading up to campus to hang out with my friends for a long weekend. Visiting campus and Chicagoland one more time was great.

As hard as the goodbyes and this whole leaving process is it makes me realized how blessed am I. I have a crazy but amazing family. I have a network of supportive friends who I adore. Really just don't know how I lucked out.

Tomorrow moring I will fly out of Midway to Philly at 8:40am. Register at 1:30. Meeting 3-7pm. I am really excited to meet everyone in my group and really just start this whole adventure.

Next stop Philly...

Chillbillies Can Party!

Saturday was a perfect day (minus the absence of Bre & Perrone). My parents threw me a huge graduation/birthday/going away party. Tons of my family and friends came to my dad's firehouse and shared alot of food and laughter.

I had to "work the crowd" as my dad called it, but it was great to catch up with so many people. My only regret is that I didn't have more time to spend individually with people. Got a ton of encouragement along with cards from people. I'm going to try to get my thank you cards in the mail before I leave but there is alot to be done between now and friday. So take this as my apology if you don't receive one. Thanks so much for the generous gifts along with your kind words and prayers for me while I'm in Turkmenistan.

After the party, I got a chance to hangout with a great group of my friends and dance it up at the local Chilli bar. Let's just say I haven't been this tired and sore from shakin' what my momma gave me since my high school days.

This week I have alot on my plate before heading up to Chicago land to hangout with my NCC peoples. Fishin', trip to Mason City for fun filled "country livin'" day, shopping for a few last items and then packing it all, dinner in springfield with jessie and hard goodbyes in Chilli.

Again, thank you to everyone who made my party special. It was amazing.

yesterday's memories

today was my first attempt at packing my bags for turkmenistan. i still need to buy a few more random items but with the space i have left i'm feeling pretty good.

while packing the things that i do need for the two years, i am also trying to weed out items that i don't need/use. i have a large good will pile going. i also have rediscovered the most random items that i'm putting in a memory box.

the box is home to:

A very faded out NCC ID
Old family photos
Empty shot gun shell from Bre's 1st visit to Chilli
Obama '08 from my Ghana trip
6 flags key chain of Me, Lou and Tob from 1990(?)
A mini Aussie boomerang from Bre
"The Thunderer" whistle of my Grandma Nita
Wooden cubs ornament
USA bracelet I was given on my 1st Kenya visit
State ID card to prove my age for softball when i was a kid
Expired drivers license from my 16th b-day
Quigley's coaster from my 21st b-day
100 year old postcard of army basketball team from Fort Casey signed Charles Semtner (great-great uncle?)
Thimble of my great-grandmother on my momma's side
"I don't know if we each have a destiny or if we're all just floatin' accidental-like on a breeze." Forrest Gump postcard

wonder what i'll add tomorrow