I have taken a few months I suppose from writing, not so much out of laziness but more because as things become normal or accepted they tend to shock me less thus I have nothing to write about. Coming home this past month and then returning to Ukraine a few weeks later has changed that. When I was home everyone seemed to ask what shocked me the most about being back in the land of plenty. What no one asked, nor did I foreshadow, was what is going to shock me about returning to Ukraine. My laborious arrival home wrenched all energy from me so that my first margarita, burrito and trip... (more)

The holodmor of 2006! Living in a country that has survived countless wars, invasions, famines, and untold horrors usually provides me with an amazing sense of awe that these people keep going no matter what life throws at them. Now, in the midst of a “Russian Winter”, I wonder if any of that ability to survive anything has rubbed off now that the worse winter I have ever experienced has arrived. Yeah I know what my family is thinking, no freaking way. Siberian gulag, who needs it when it is f*#%!ing freezing right here in my own apartment. The last few days we... (more)

At the end of October a few friends and I decided that it was time to vacate Ukraine as we had all been here for more than a year and that was cause enough for a celebration if not a vacation. We rendezvoused in L’viv and then attempted to purchase tickets for the night train to Bucharest. Attempt is always the verb of choice when describing any activity in Ukraine. A simple trip to the bazaar or if god willing a supermarket is always a sort of hope, wait and see event. Sure you want to make curry for dinner but are the bazaar gods smiling? If not you’ll be eating borsch and mashed... (more)

I am posting this blog update as a way to get some books delivered to my school. My students in my older forms and even some of my younger forms are at a point where their English is good enough for more demanding material. So am wondering if any of you or your friends, colleagues, neighbors, et. al. can send some books my way. What I am looking for is simple English paperbacks from the 6/7 year old level up to the 12/13 year old level. If you can a class set of about 16 titles each would be awesome, but anything can be used and would be gladly accepted. My librarian is eager to get her hand... (more)

Well I have been in Sosnivka for two weeks now and I still haven’t found my coal miner’s daughter. I guess I am not looking hard enough, surely she must exist somewhere. I have been busy though. Most days are full of teaching. I got my schedule and after playing around with it I ended up with a great schedule. I gave up Fridays off to get what I wanted, mainly seeing each group at least twice a week. I also agreed to teach a little more. I now know that I would make a terrible litigator, but then I have already reached the conclusion that I don’t want to go to law school and this kind of... (more)

When I arrived in Ukraine almost a year ago the first thing I saw in Kyiv was the miles upon miles of apartments that were the exact same. It was liking watching some anti-Soviet propaganda at home. All that I learned about Soviet housing was true. It was block after block of cement apartments. Now after living in a farm town I am in a mine town just north of L’viv. My town is 100% soviet. I absolutely love it. I feel as if I am embracing the former Eastern Bloc with all of my being and really becoming a comrade, or it could be the warm sensation pumping through my veins, the result of... (more)

Okay folks I have had a change of scenery and thought I'd pass along my new address to you all. Here it is Õåëëîê Åíäðþ À/Ñ 19 Ì. Ñîñí³âêà Ëüâ³âñüêà Îáë. 80193 Óêðà¿íà/Ukraine What it means Name P.O. Box Town Province/Region Zip Country I am living in a coal town just north of L'viv. It is great and I feel like I have stepped back to the days of the USSR in that things look the same as they did 20 years ago, but the people are great! I've got an update that I want to add but the internet cafe I am at doesn't allow me to do that. So that will have to wait. Also I'll be... (more)

After a session of family bonding the Hallocks, Berrys and a Badger headed out for a historical tour of Krakow. Having been in Krakow a day before us Mom, Dick and Crazy pointed out such significant sights as Shrek and the church of Peter, Paul and Mary. Sadly the organist at the church didn’t know the tune to Puff the Magic Dragon. I don’t know if the tour was so much historical as hysterical. In Turkey I tried to convince Erin that to really understand a culture you must sample as many pastries and sweets as possible. She didn’t really buy that theory and she said that unless I wanted... (more)

The final installment of our Turkish adventure… So in a short change of plans we decided to forgo a 14 hour bus ride to Capadocia and instead headed to Pamukale. It sounded like a decent change of plans but when executed it became apparent that it wasn’t and we should have just headed to Kas and enjoyed some more beach time. Getting to Pamukale was no easy task. We bought our ticket and loaded up on our very comfortable air conditioned coach. We cruised along the Turkish hinterland and after a few stops we ended up flying across an abandoned highway when all of a sudden the bus comes to a... (more)

Having conquered Poland we took our adventure on to Turkey. Having both seen Midnight Express we both pledged to avoid Turkish Prisons as best as we could. First though we had to get out of Poland. It seemed we didn’t leave Poland with out a punishment from the Poles. Our seat mates in the row in front of us decided that the best way to travel is to get as loaded as possible during the two hours to Milan. The three of them consumed six beers, a bottle of vodka and three small bottles of wine. Needless to say they were a wee bit tipsy when the plane reconnected with terra firma. Suprisingly... (more)