It has been two months since I returned to Illinois. In one moment, it seems like I just stepped off the plane and in the next it seems like a life time ago.

As I've already written, I'm back at North Central. My position is Area Hall Director for Patterson and Ward Halls. I supervise a staff of ten resident assistants and a two buildings of roughly 250 students. I've also started to volunteer assistant coach with the women's basketball team.

Life sure has gone from 0 to 60 mph in such a short period of time. There isn't a day that goes by that I haven't thought about Ukraine in some way. I miss my walk to school. I miss standing across from Soviet style apartment buildings in Lutsk waiting for the bus knowing I was living thousands of miles from home. I miss the random PCV get togethers with people who will be life long friends. I miss the crazy of my 5th form class that would have been 7th form this year. I miss my UNO club girls. I miss eating beets all the time. I miss butchering Ukrainian and being able to laugh about it.

At this point, it is hard for me to string together words to give my experience meaning and an explanation of how it changed me. Something that I am sure of is that I feel honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

I promise more at a later date. I hope all my fellow Ukrainian PCVs know I think of them all the time. Hope your service wraps up great as you will be home in less than a month.

The tall American girl formerly known as Katya

25 years. Lots to say; too tired. Look tomorrow for update.

Last photo in the office with badge, PC Director Aaron Williams and JFK in the background.

Where's Katya? Me in the mix of the North Central ResLife crew.

Shannon as Spiful!

$110 plane ticket

$150 hostels

$150 train tickets

$100 food

$100 souvenirs

$5 Subway

$7 worth of Doritos

$3 wasted lost of public transportation

Free sleeping in parks

Crazy Back Packing Trip of a Lifetime

Priceless

Kelsey as Backpack.

Quotables:

If you taste blood...back out!

A car seat...

You mean a tire...

But his eyes were so blue.

Who I gonna kill???

When in Rome... get @#$%^!

I have dog hands.

Quick get the sharpie

7=4= too much public transportation.

This relationship is over at the train station!!

And yours truly as Basket!

As talked about in previous blogs, I went traveling through Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania with my two good link mates, Kelsey and Shannon. It was a great time with so many laughs about random things, delicious food and beautiful sites. We started by all meeting up in Kyiv and then trained it to the east of Ukraine to fly out of Kharkiv. Surprisingly, Kharkiv was super nice and hospitable city. A university student we met on the train gave us an hour and half tour around the city.

After eating Mexican food and a free shot, eventually in the evening we headed to the remodeled airport (thank you Euro Cup 2012). It was a 3am flight with arrival to Istanbul at 5am. We caught the shuttle into the center and located our hostel without too much trouble. We wasted no time hitting the city. Overall, Istanbul had to be the most beautiful city and just had so much culture to take in. It is where Europe meets Asia so how could it not be anything but fantastic.

Enjoying some street food in Istanbul! Yum yum.

Country number two was Bulgaria. We only visited the capital Sofia. We enjoyed some good food and Shannon even found Dr. Pepper. The best thing was doing a free walking tour and hearing all the history. One thing in particular that I found extra interesting was that Bulgaria sided on the Germans for WWII, but they had no intentions of allowing the Jewish population to be devastated. Through politics and not cooperating with the Nazis not one Bulgarian Jew died in a concentration camp.

The last and final country was Romania. We visited Bucharest, the capital, as well as Brasso which is close to where Dracula's castle is in Transylvania. Romania was super beautiful with the mountains right out side both of the cities. We rode a bus around an hour outside of the city to the town of Bran to see the castle. I was expecting a dark and creepy castle when in reality it was actually quite homey. I now wish to retire in my 60s and find a beautiful area to build my own castle.

We made a great travel trio in my opinion. I typically took the lead with being the map person and fortunately only got us off the path only a few times. I enjoyed our trip so much and the traveling around by the seat of my pants on trains that my next big dream is to hit up India and Southeast Asia next.

Thumbs up for hitch hiking!?!?!? Katya from Cash and Carry.

But that won't be for awhile considering that I am a little more settled and have obligations...see next blog for details.

A big hello from a small Ukrainian town. I’m back at site after a little over a week spent at a camp outside Odesa. Camp Bereg (beach) was at a sanatorium about a hour and half our bus ride from Odesa. There was around 30 students and almost as many counselors. It was staffed by Peace Corps Volunteers as well as international volunteers. In my group (The Chocolate Killin’ Pirates), we have leaders from Morocco, Poland, India, China and of course the US of A. It was a 1 to 1 ratio with the campers.

We were on a lagoon so the beach days we would take a short ferry ride across to nice beach that wasn’t too crowded to take in the sun and the surf. We did other activities such as sports, talent shows, English games and bracelet making. Since there were so many counselors and I had stuff that I needed to get done at site, I decided to peace out a little earlier than scheduled.

But don’t worry before leaving, I had the time to tour around Odesa with Shannon (linkmate) and Courtney. One of the best things of summer is meeting other volunteers from other areas of Ukraine. Courtney is from a younger group (I am group 37 and I believe she is 39 or 40) and she lives in Crimea which you know from previous posts is quite far from my most northern oblast. Anywho, the three of us made quite the trio. When we had to take a hodge podge way of getting to Odesa after accidentally letting the bus we wanted drive by without flagging it down. We jumped on a marshuka and then went on a wide goose chase for around an hour before getting our path corrected.

Eventually, we got to Odesa. The girls did some standing in train station lines before we hit the streets. We met up with Sam (another PCV that they had just worked a previous camp with) and grabbed some delicious lunch. Camp food is camp food so it was nice to get something that wasn’t koshi or super soft sausages. After lunch, we hit up the musts of Odesa: Opera House, famous steps, Katherine statue, and the port. That was pretty easy considering they were all not more than a block from each other. Also somewhere in that mix we stopped to what I would argue was the best gelato I’ve ever had: chocolate, banana, and mint.

The girls and I got back to camp by 8:30, which was just in time to grab a ride over to the house that we were being switched into. Apparently, there was a dance group coming for the second week of camp and the Ukrainian directors of the camp wanted to house them in our living accommodations and we were switched to a beach house or should I say lagoon house that was a 20 minute walk away from the camp. I think it was a little crappy to make us switch, but it came as no big surprise since earlier in the week we were left on a beach (remember we have to take a ferry) to hide us from Ukrainian health inspectors for 6 hours while the camp was being approved. Oh, did I mention that they didn’t bring us lunch as they had promised. Let’s just say there we some unhappy counselors that day.

Anywho, on Monday evening I grabbed a train back to Kievertsi. It was one of the least enjoyable rides of the summer: 1. It was super hot that day, 2. I had a side top bed on the train, and 3. Ukrainians don’t leave the windows open for the fear that the draft will kill them. It was one hot and sticky ride. In the end, I arrived without suffering from heat stroke Tuesday morning. So I’ve just been chilling.

Yesterday, Val (my site mate) and I caught up over pancakes at my place and then later on in the afternoon I had my “Friends”/Uno Club over to my place.

My plans for the rest of the week are to relax and enjoy some reading in the comfort of my quiet and cool flat. Today it is overcast and low temperatures. So I’m about to get comfortable in my bed and finish reading “The Good Earth.” Hope everyone at home is good. Love and miss you all.

Kate

The kids walking me to the marshuka stop when I left camp.

No, I haven’t bought a car, but I still feel like I’m going a 100 mph through summer. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been a little MIA from blogging. Why you ask? Inter Camp in Crimea. On the 24th of June, Melissa and I embarked on a great journey south. It wasn’t the cabin fever created by a 23 hour train ride that drove me crazy, but more so Ukrainians not opening the windows in fear that the ‘draft’ would kill them and all their countrymen on the train. All and all it wasn’t too bad and Melissa and I arrived to Simferopol unharmed.

From there we hopped an hour and half bus ride to the west side of Crimea’s peninsula. We then grabbed a marshuka for the last 30 minutes of the trip. We were greeted by some of the campers who chatted us up on our 10 minute walk back to our camp site while helping us with our bags. The sanatorium we stayed at had two rows of rooms with a cement patio in front of them. In between the two rows was a large garden and gravel paths. It wasn’t what I imagined (I was thinking/hoping of a 3 star hotel pre-arrival), but I soon loved our set up.

Emily and the kids who learned the High School Musical dance.

The average day started at 8am with morning stretches and small activity to get the blood flowing. 8:30 breakfast. 9:00 small groups reading our daily InterCamp newspaper. 10:00 workshops led by PCVs in small groups. 11:00- 1:00 sea time. 1:00 lunch. Rest time until 3:00. Small Group Work on Movie Script 4:00. Large Group activity til 5:00. Dinner 6:00.

There was no cookie cutter days, because we had some chilly and rainy days that made us switch around the schedule. The entire camp the different small groups were working on their movies. Each group chose a movie to base their own off of and recreate with their own style and flare. My group remade Home Alone 3 (Camp Alone). Other groups did Goonies, Edward Scissor Hands and a couple of others I can think of at the moment. The kids did great. I was impressed how some of my kids so quickly memorized lines. The last night of camp the kids put on a Film Festival (I was unfortunately on my way to Kyiv and missed it).

Me and my friend Blondie (Emily).

I was one of 5 volunteers working. Melissa who is from my oblast. Nick and Emily from Khemelnesky which is a 6 and half hour bus ride away from Lutsk. Garrick, a non 37 group PCV, lives southeast from Volynska Oblast and was by far a camper favorite with his musical ability on the guitar and crazy antics in the sea. We all got along really well and brought some interesting personalities and enthusiasm to the camp. The campers were so fun; ranging from 8 to 16 years old students who were engaged and excited to practice their English.

Highlights of Camp

Maryna the camp director!!!! She might be the easiest to work with and enjoyable Ukrainian I have met. She had a great ability to be prepared while also going with the flow. Super great personality and a joy to work with.UNO!!!! I got to play some great rounds with the younger campers.Blondie (Emily)!!!! The camp director told Emily that her favorite part of camp was watching the dynamic between Emily and me. Emily is a fashion diva/cheerleader/dance instructor/beautician/the loudest camp counselor ever. We were definitely the odd couple when it comes to summer friendships.Relaxing in the sun!!! It was great to just hangout on the beach. Talking, reading, playing botchy ball or just catching rays.

Everyone's clothes drying after a slight hurricane.

Unfortunately, all good things much come to an end and on the afternoon of July 4th, I headed back to Simferopol to catch a train Kyiv bound. I was sad to leave the camp and miss the film festival. I also wasn’t too excited for the lone solo trip to Kyiv. It was a little hard to be away from home on the 4th. I feel it is the holiday were I most miss not being in Chillicothe. You can throw a good Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Party, but not being in the US of A on the 4th takes a lot of the fun out of the holiday.

But don’t worry, I wasn’t too bummed for long, because I was on my way to pick up Kimberly and Joseph (my favorite former Berwyn housemates) from the airport. My link mate Kelsey was also in Kyiv picking up a friend so we headed to the hostel to drop our stuff and then grab the shuttle out to the airport. We successfully picked up our visitors, got them settled into the hostel and eventually hit the town for a Ukrainian dinner.

On Independance Square with my two favorite Berwynites!

The next day we went on a tour of Kyiv given by myself and Kelsey. I like to call this the ‘almost tour’. We did a little site seeing in the morning before planning to take the noon free English walking tour. There was a sudden down pour right before noon so we ducked into an outdoor covered café to seek shelter and played Yahtzee until clearer skies came. Eventually, we met for the 4pm walking tour. It was an epic failure, because our tour guide could barely speak above a whisper and we soon ducked out to do Kyiv once again on our own.

We hit the main sights to see before heading to the train station for the overnight train back to Kivertsi. Before boarding we stopped for dinner at McFoxy, which is a complete rip off of McD’s. It also stands right next door. The menu was interesting; I had a pineapple burger. It tasted more like a sausage patty with pineapple, but none the less wasn’t too bad for being half the price of the next door neighbor.

Shot from the bell tower at St.Sophia's Church.

Kimberly and Joseph passed the overnight Ukrainian experience without being puked on or any other unfortunate circumstances minus the super loud teenagers who were right by us. We stayed in Kivertsi for a few days. Kimberly and Joseph got to see the Thursday market, a Ukrainian pagan holiday, lunch with the Director of Peace Corps Ukraine, and tours of Lutsk and Kivertsi. Eventually, we headed to my favorite Ukrainian city, Lviv. We ate at delicious restaurants and hit most of the tourist spots. One of my favorite things about them visiting was every night we sat around and played Yahtzee. It was nice to have quality time with friends from home.

They caught a taxi to the airport the last day and I headed to the marshuka stop to ride out to the bus station. Oh, how my luck ran out. 1. It was super hot on the bud. 2. I was sitting in the very front seat without a seat belt. 3. The driver was a chain smoker. 4. The crying baby in the back. 5. The front left tire sounded if at any moment it was going to fly off. 6. The driver stopped multiple times to bang on the tire. 7. The driver still drove and passed like a crazy person. With all that said, I eventually arrived in one piece to Lutsk around 4:30. I got back did to my flat finished a few thing around my place before hitting the hay.

Can it get worse than wearing your pants high and tucking in your mess t-shirt??

Yesterday, I did a lot of hand washing and strung it out on my balcony. Today, I’m trying to catch up on emails and my blog. Tonight, I’ll head out again to another camp in Odessa on an overnight train. This time I won’t have Melissa as a travel companion, but lucky it is a shorter trip only around 13 hours. Well dear friends I have more clothes to fold and my back pack sits empty on the floor. I need to get ready for another three weeks at camp. Hopefully by the time I arrived my excitement will pick up, because right now I’m thinking of how cozy my bed looks and the unread books on my bookshelf.

Miss and love you all. Hope your summers are going well.

Kate

One of the reasons I love my dad. My weekly letters from home.

Today, the U.S. recognizes the importance role of fathers and what they offer their children. Dad without you, I would have not learned so many things. You taught me how to think logically when parking a car, loading the dish washer, mowing the yard, and replacing an empty roll of toilet paper. You taught me how to hit line drives by tossing me golf balls (making my brothers field them). I can drive like a Nascar driver as well as park like a champion. You’ve also taught me the importance of working hard and being a good friend to others. You taught me important life lessons and other not so important life lessons like delivering a whooper of a tall tale. For the man who once told me I was heavy duty as a compliment, I wish you a Happy Father’s Day from Ukraine.

Like the past couple of weeks, this week was another slow week. Besides having English club with a handful of students and hanging out with my site mate and Ukrainian friend not a lot has been happening. The amount of naps, books I’ve read and TV episodes I’ve watched has sky rocketed since summer has started. I sometimes forget that I’m in Ukraine especially when I watch a few episodes of “Friends” back to back. Oh, how Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, and Joey can time warp me back to when I was a high schooler in my family living room.

But this ample amount of free time and lounging around will quickly be curbed when I head off to camp. I’ll be working for 10 days in Crimea with one of my good PC friends Melissa. This week we will head there on a 23 hour train. I really hope today’s overcast rainy and cool weather holds throughout the week otherwise the train ride could get pretty brutally hot with the lack of air conditioning and aroma of my fellow passengers. Hope for the best prepare for the worst (ear plugs can always go in the nose). Camp will include leading English sessions for campers as well as sports, games/ activities, and swimming at the sea. I’m thinking it is going to be pretty great. I am really counting on getting some color, because god knows my pale legs could use it.

After the camp gets over, I’ll be welcoming two American friends at the Kyiv airport. Pretty excited to have my last set of friends visiting from home. I’ll have a little over a week to show them the wonderful sights, sounds, and smells of Ukraine. Once I leave for camp, my summer will start to roll and blog posts will show up not at the usual times. So if I go without writing for a couple of weeks at a time, no worries I am just busy. Hope everyone summers are starting off great and that you all have a Happy Fourth of July.

Kate

New Facts and Numbers

1: bucket full of water for bathing

5: months I have left to experience Ukraine

10: UAHs for a half kilo of cherries or strawberries ($1.25)

23: hours of fun-ness on a train

70s: today’s temperature

103: pages I’m into the John Grisham book I’m reading

205: letters received

235: letters sent

1,000+: sun flower seeds I consume while reading or watching TV

High of PC thus far: being pushed to personally grow

Low of PC thus far: missing out on moments at home with family and friends

Expectations Met: being in a very culture rich place. You never know what exciting/crazy thing you will witness in Ukraine.

Expectations Unmet: a feeling of real purpose at my school.

Expectations Exceeded: the difficulty with the language.

Favorite Vegetable in Ukraine: Beets

Favorite time of day: afternoons that I hear the church choir practicing

Thing from Ukrainian I wish I could bring home: Patch, a goofy look stray dog that has a black spot over his eye. He has a certain lovable quality that makes me think he would make a very good companion.

Most Routine Religious Experience: riding on a marshuka, because for some reason I have the most random questions for God and just get lost in thought on the long rides.

Moment Greatly Anticipated: watermelons arriving at the fruit market

Slow internet connection. Hopefully uploading full blog and photos tomorrow.This is a pointless blog I know. (only purpose to let my parents know I'm alive)

Not the best photo, but the ceremonial ringing of the last bell.

The 11th form bestowing the school flag to the 10th who will rule the school next year.

The English speaking section at the end of the year teacher party: myself, Svitlana and my counterpart Halyna.

Never linger behind the row of graduating students while picking your nose. You will definitely get caught.

The style of graduation is more like prom than caps and gowns.

Lana and Pasha were the first students I met. They walked me through a snowy Kivertsi for my first day of school.

Myself with Ukrainian Queen of England, birthday girl Valentina.

Just another Thursday Market in Kivertsi.

Even though it was high 70s this baba wasn't about to catch a cold.

Rockin' out for your spare change!

Really people call this a weed?

How many wishes have come true from dandelions?

Who needs to make eye contact when talking?

Simple flowers outside of the post office.

This past Friday our little Leo Walker had his 1st Birthday.

Awesome sign on my side of the tracks.

Travis & Aidan passing out info at the WELL seminar.

Whoever did this feel free to come to Kivertsi and tag my building with some art.

Kate size or Kelsey size? You decide.

Because my pops requested. The supermarket is like any grocery store on the inside.

Oh boy, I’m enjoying sitting eating nothing in my flat. It isn’t for the lack of food, but because I had another Easter extravaganza. Friday morning, I headed to Komarno which is a small town outside of Lviv with my PCV friend Melissa. She has relatives, because her pops’ parents are from Ukraine. So I took the marshuka to Lutsk, bus to Lviv, marshuka across town to the train station, and another bus to Komarno; around eight hours to get there. But oh let me tell you it was well worth it.

We stayed with Bohdan and Slava Krut who are Melissa’s second cousins. They might possibly be the nicest Ukrainians ever. Their daughter and son-in-law along with their two kids live with them. (It is normal in Ukraine for many generations to live together in one house) I made quick friends with Iryna, an entertaining 6 year old. The first evening I got free admission of the family business; a cake bakery of sorts. The family made around 150 cakes for Easter, and they also baked many paskas (Easter bread) of all different sizes. Throughout the year, the bake cakes for events and weddings. I can testify that they areдуже смачний (very delicious). After getting to see the ins and outs of cake making, we headed off to the Orthodox Church. People from town were busy cleaning, dusting and hanging traditional clothes for Easter weekend. It was beautiful church and awesome to see light up at night. Our little group made up of Ivana (Bohdan’s daughter), Iryna (Bohdan’s granddaughter), Kristina (Melissa’s cousin) and Olya (Kristina’s daughter) stopped off at the Catholic Church before headed back to their part of town.

Saturday, Melissa and I got to sleep in and then were fed breakfast before another busy day. We headed across to the street to Kristina’s family’s house to color and design eggs. Some eggs were crafted really beautiful. Mine…ehh, but I can say I had a little more attention to detail than the six year old that was sitting next to me. After finishing the eggs, we hit the backyard pond with Kristina’s husband and three kids (all university or just out of age). With the collapsible cane poles we caught some small fish. We used a catch and release system so it could have been the same three fish in the pond for all we know. After taking in some afternoon sun, we gather back in the kitchen to have some sandwiches as well as try some delicious homemade cake. I’m guessing that I probably sampled at least 15 different types of cake over the course of my stay.

At 6pm, all dressed up we headed off to get our Easter baskets blessed at the church. Each family brings a basket sometimes more than one to church. The standard basket ingredients are sausage, butter, cheese, salt, eggs, horseradish, ham, but aren’t limited to just that (I saw some kids with their own little baskets that had chocolate bunnies). Scriptures were read, songs were sung, and Ukrainians crossed themselves many times before the priest made his way around (people made a huge circle around the church) to bless the baskets as well as toss holy water in the Easter worshippers. Saturday night, we had a normal dinner and then enjoyed each other’s company before calling it a night.

I opted to sleep instead of going to the 6am service. I figured God would understand that I needed enough rest for the Ukrainian Easter Crawl that was about to happen. On Sunday, Melissa and I, ate at three different houses besides Bohdan and Slava’s were we started off with a heavy Easter brunch (all types of delicious dishes made from the ingredients that were blessed at church the previous day). Bohdan was kind enough to drive us around in his thirty year old Lada. I thought my Whitey was a sweet car; his Soviet made wagon was a pretty pimping ride. We were welcomed at different extended family members’ houses with very similar traditional dishes. It was fun visiting with all the family. The Krut family has some pretty interesting businesses: cake, bees, rabbits, fashion design, and glass/mirror creations. They were no dull moments on this Easter excursion.

Monday morning, we (Melissa, Bohdan, Slava, Iryna, and myself) headed to one last Easter feast. It was another extended family’s place that was just one village over. We again enjoyed many cakes, paskas, sausage and here I even had my second helping of holodets (meat jello) of the trip. By 12:30, we were headed back to Bohdan and Slava’s house to pack up our stuff. There we were greated by some of the family who came to see us off. We were not able to leave without being given an Easter bag of goodies. They were a little heavy to haul back to Lutsk, but worth it in the end. Bohdan and Slava drove us to the center of town to catch our bus to leave, even stood alongside the bus to waved good bye as we pulled out of the parking lot.

It was a long journey back to Lutsk. There was even an unfortunate incident with a puker on the bus ride home (inquire about details via email), but I eventually returned home to Kivertsi around 8ish unharmed. Easter of 2011 provided to be a great one despite being far, far away from home.

Miss and love you all,

Kate

(will proofread and photos tomorrow)

Val's English teacher party at her doma (home). For being a vegetarian meal, it wasn't too shabby at all.

Howdy, howdy all. It is another Monday morning which means a later start at school for me. I slept in…woo 7:45am is really late. I do appreciate being able to slowly get ready. Ample time to read NPR (I’m not too happy about New York Times limiting online reading), make a hot breakfast, wash my hair, and most important morning ‘to do’ layering appropriately for school.

You are probably thinking why layers. Well last friday was the last day of heat in my school. Not like it the school was ever too toasting, but it took the chill off. Now, I’m back to long sleeve t-shirts under my sweaters, but no three pairs of pants are needed so that is something to be happy about. The weather has been all over the place the last week and half. Some afternoons it broke into the low 50s and after a cold winter I don’t feel like I even need a jacket. Then the next day it rained with a strong wind and I played with the idea of getting my winter coat back out. I’ll look forward to a constant sunshine and warmth of the summer months.

Along with dribbling, we should probably teach boxing out.

Nothing too incredibly exciting in the last couple of weeks, I’m really waiting for summer to get here and in the mean time trying to survive school. The warmer it gets the more rowdy the students are. I keep telling myself just a little over a month and I’ll be free. I have full blown summeritis.

Lately, I have been reading a lot which is great. Nothing like losing yourself in a book to pass the time. Something that makes this even more enjoyable is that I finally cleaned off my balcony (taking all the glass jars and junk and shifting it to the fair end of the balcony). Now, I have a lovely place to sit on a stool and read while people watching. Oh, I’ve seen some interesting things.

I've seen goal tending. Ukrainians take it to a whole nother level.

I saw three older woman who I’m guessing late 50s/early 60s walking arm and arm just laughing. The type when someone can’t even get out a full sentence without starting to burst into laughter. It made me miss my friends especially Bre. The other interesting thing was a drunken bicycler. Drunken strolling around town isn’t super dangerous, but to drunk cycling. It is one thing to take a NCC red bike on a tipsy cruise down to your friend’s dorm (I never did this), but potentially playing chicken with marsukas on their route to the next village…no thank you.

Most frustrating moment of the week: getting cussed at and rocks thrown at me by a 10 year old as his little gang laughed. All I wanted to do was to get a run in at the track. Next time, I’m taking my own ammo. I was decent softball player back in the day. He better watch out.

So that is where the bathroom sink is.

Most fun thing of the week: hooping it up with a group of kids in the park next to my house. Val and I split the kids and tried to match them up to guard each other. It would work for all of one possession before all hell would break loose. There was mass amounts of traveling, double dribble, fouling and goal tending (please see photo). Val and I might purchase another ball so we can do little group activities like a layup line and some dribbling exercises. Organized basketball doesn’t really exist here.

Well that about it. I hope everyone is well. Know that I will be very excited when the time comes that I see you all on a normal basis or at least have an unlimited nights and weekend plan we were can chat without the use of Skype or international phone cards. Miss and love you all.

Kate

Tourists don't know where they've been; travelers don't know where they're going.

Upon My Wall

I sit and stare at it upon my wall-

board the closest ship

voyage through the North Atlantic

try the Indian ocean again

no stopping until the shores of Asia

recollect the sun going down over West Africa

never disappointed

green fields of Ireland have still gone unseen

maybe onward to County Clare

roots also lead to farm lands of Germany

house built in the hillside waits to be photographed

infinite places to go

even more stories to craft

drinks to share, cuisines to try

laughs to hear, images to capture

but longer the stare, bigger it seems

longer I’m away, more I’m drawn toward where I started

-not time yet anyhow,

pins hold the old crinkled map

along with my dreams

upon the wall.

Backless Stool

Shadows slowly emerge on the dirty kitchen floor

from the coming of the morning sun

dew rests on a few colorful arrivals

cared for garden beds lay quietly

the old babushka creaks by on her antique bicycle

hum of the ancient refrigerator is heard over the neighborhood dogs

whose cries announce their presence on this Soviet block

birds slowly congregate in the trees across the street

as do faithful believers of the little blue church with the golden dome

whilst their melodies flood out the cracked windows

smell of cheap coffee lingers in the air

the cool breeze floats into the still slumbering flat

on my backless stool I gaze out the window

I wait patiently for my most desired morning company;

her name is April.

Enjoying another day with the 7th formers.

Why do I have to ask to go sharpen my pencil?

If I have the correct answer, why can’t I just say it, and why do I need to raise my hand?

Why do we have to stand in a single file line to get our lunches?

I do my work and listen, why do I have an assigned seat next to the class trouble maker?

Why can’t I pass notes, it is better than talking in class?

I know where the gym is, why do I have to walk in a line with everyone to get there?

Why can’t I write in pen?

It is recess time why can’t we rough house?

Why can’t I snack in class?

These are questions that floated around my head as a student. I sometimes thought teachers enforced the dumbest rules, were all about control, old and outdated. As I stand in front of a class that I’m a decade older than, NOW I completely understand. I would argue teaching is one of the most challenging jobs. As a teacher one has to balance the crazy energy and emotions students bring to the classroom. Teachers try to guide each individual through personal learning obstacles while advancing the class as a whole.

Through teaching in my Peace Corps experience, I’m realizing on how large of an impact that teachers have on people’s lives. Teachers play a huge role in shaping every student who walks through their doors. We have the strict teachers to show us sometimes the rules won’t bend, so we shouldn’t expect them to. We have the goofy teacher who shows us that on some level we really never have to grow up. We have the encouraging teacher who makes every student feel like they are her favorite. We have the challenging teacher who sees our potential and pushes us. And if we are really lucky, we have a teacher who wears all these hats.

I’m closing in on finishing my third semester of teaching at my Ukrainian school (5th through 11th formers). I don’t think I have had the impact like so many of my teachers did on me, but something else special is happening. I realize that I’m not only teaching them, but they have taught me a few significant life lessons. Students will always point out when I have chalk on the back of my pants. Patience is one if not the most important qualities to possess. Small victories add up to big ones over time. Teachers enjoy holiday breaks as much if not more than students. No energy is wasted when helping a struggling student. Sometimes, I need to loosen up and just laugh. They might not remember all the correct grammar tenses, but they will remember how I made them feel. Roll with teaching moments even if they aren’t in my lesson plan. Leave personal problems at the door and come in with a good attitude. Simple praise for a student’s work can really motivate. Sometimes an entertaining game of Heads Up, 7 Up is needed.

I write this as I’m struggling to focus and, along with the students, I’m developing Summeritis and longing for the school year to wrap up quickly. I have my good lessons as well as not so good lessons, but hopefully they all balance out in the end. I hope that every teacher, TEFL in Peace Corps or normal school teacher back at home, on their not so good days remember why they do, what they do.

Kate

A special list of teachers who have shaped my life for the better, I thank you for your patience, kindness, encouragement, humor, support and showing up every day to get the job done.

Mrs. Mc Mellon, Mrs. Nalley, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Hentchel, Mrs. Deyo, Mrs.Watts, Mr. Webb, Ms. Lane, Mrs. Griswold, Mrs. Boyle, Mr. Blew, Mrs. Kinney, Ms. Perry, Ms. Wente, Ms. Gribble, Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Jennings, Mr. Mercer, Mrs. Patty, Ms. Frost, Mr. Flagg, Mr. Schmidt, Mrs. Heth, Mr. Grey, Ms. Singer, Mrs. Rickey and all other teachers and staff members who behinds the scenes support the students as well as their co-workers. God bless you all.

(To my English teachers, I apologize I still don’t like or use commas appropriately and hate proofreading. Maybe in my next life)

Volyn's fan/young & crazy section!

Pre-gaming with potatoes and vodka.

Jay gets best fan of the day award. He traveled from northern Volynska Oblast 6 hours all together. (Right Jay, Left Terry being a goof)

Why not celebrate with smoke bombs and fireworks in a crowded stadium. Final score them 3, us 0.

Scary thing I came across a few days ago. I have no idea what time of animal. Anyone?

Me trying to look calm on the climb to "little Hoverla."

The title of this blog is a direct quote from yours truly during my descend down Mt. Hoverla. I took part in an event that has been going on for the last 100 years in Ukraine. Normally in late winter/early spring, Ukrainians gather to climb the tallest peak in the Carpathians. A Peace Corps Volunteer organization hosts this event. Last year, Catherine (PCV who hosts the event with her organization) and two other PCVs as well as group of Ukrainians conquered the mountain. This year 85 PCVs came together to climb this Ukrainian Everest!

On Friday morning, I headed into Lutsk to meet up with the local Volynska crew (Jon, Terry, and Melissa). We took around a three and half hour bus ride to Lviv. There we grabbed dinner at local restaurants and bumped into many small groups of other PCVs. Around 9pm, all the PCVs gathered in the train station to check in and get our assigned seats on the two cars that were mostly Americans. In my compartment, there was Allison (cluster mate), Val (site mate), Kathleen (fellow Turkmenistan reject), and two other PCVs that I hadn’t met before. We got settled in at a decent hour, because we wanted to be rested for our big adventure.

We arrived to the nearest town next to Mt. Hoverla around 4ish in the morning. At 7am, together Ukrainians and Americans gathered and jammed on to many marsukas to head to the beginning of the path. By the time, we got checked into the national park and dropped off at the beginning of our hike it was around 8am. The hike started on a gravel road, that eventually led us to a ski lounge, there we were paired by two as we headed out on a narrower trail.

The group estimated right around 600 hikers weaved its way through a forested area that was covered in mud and ice. Eventually after making it out from under trees, we hiked up a very steep incline. My group of friends were at the end of the snake up this part. It was all snow. We had an advantage of people going in front of us. We did our best to use their foot prints as foot holes. We got to the mini summit around noon. This is what we were told was the false peak. The actual summit was many more kilometers up. Only a handful of people from the entire Ukrainian and American group made it to the top. You were only allowed to go up if you had proper equipment.

Even at “little Hoverla” as some Ukrainians called it, I couldn’t see the real submit, because it was covered from clouds and blowing snow. On “little Hoverla” most Americans and Ukrainians took this as a chance to have a picnic. People snacked on things such as power bars to cucumbers and sausage. I’ll let you figure out what nationality was eating what. Also a decent amount of vodka, homemade moonshine and wine were consumed at the top as well. After taking some photos and snacking, Val, Allison and I decided that it was a good time to head back, because it was quite cold and windy.

Let me tell you on the way up I said many prayers, because I could see myself tumbling off the side of the mountain. I was nervous the whole way up and didn’t say much. With that said, going down was by far worse. To try to walk down the footsteps that we made on the way up didn’t work very well. So we along with a few others that were the first to head back decided to take to the fresh snow and side step it all the way to the bottom. This worked until I lost my footing and ended up sliding down. Now picture Allison probably 15 yards down and to the right of me with Val somewhere in the middle. The farther I slide the more momentum I built up. As soon as I started sliding I started yelling the phrase, “I don’t like this!!! Val, I don’t like this!” Val was yelling back “Grab a bush.” There were evergreen bushes that were buried in the snow that were scattered along the slope. I felt like I was using every ounce in my body to grab a bush as well as heel in my boots. Still I was sliding and couldn’t stop myself. It felt like I had greased up my pants with Crisco with how quickly I was sliding.

Finally from grabbing a bush that was many yards from where I had originally started this terrifying ‘ride’ was I able to stop. I stood there while Val made it down closer to me. We took a few minutes as I regained my breathe as well as attempted to regain my composure. Then we started at it again trying to side step our way to safety. I would slip and do everything to catch myself before ending up giving way to the Crisconess of my pants. At one point, I look at over to Val and with no shame said, “I’m scared.” It was a few more steps that again I lost control and started sliding again. Trying not to panic I thought just ride it out until I can grab a bush.

Problem. Another PCV Erin and her boyfriend were directly below me. I was like yelling again “I don’t like this!” as she was yelling up to me who was gaining speed in her direction “Kate Schmidt you better not hit me!” By the time, I reached them I was able to redirect my path of trajectory not to hit them and grab a hold of a nearby bush. Long story, short: I survived Mt. Hoverla with a little help from my friends. It was a great experience, but I don’t think I would want to climb it again. Ukrainians told us that it was the worst weather that they had experienced in all the hikes they could remember. It had rained, sleeted, and snowed at different points in the hike. Regardless, I had a great time with my fellow volunteers and have another crazy story to add to my Peace Corps Volunteer service.

Saturday evening, we grabbed dinner in a small local café and recounted the crazy moments of the day. Val made the best analogy by saying people sliding down the mountain out of control with fear in their eyes was like watching Titanic when the ship is sinking and people are sliding down the deck. Oh, good times. The train started heading back to Lviv around 10pm and we arrived at what was 4:15amish, but really 5:15am (Ukrainian day light saving is two weeks behind). We hung out in the train station until 6am. Stood for 20mins freezing in the darkness while waiting for a marsuka out to the bus station. Caught a 7:05 bus back to Lutsk and I was home by 11:30.

It was a long weekend and I was exhausted yesterday as well as today, but again I had a great time. It was really awesome to see volunteers I don’t get to visit with a lot as well as my local crew of volunteers. I definitely realized that I lucked out with having a great group of PCVs right around me in Volynska Oblast as well as having them not far from me. I have a site mate as well as 5 volunteers 40ish minutes away by bus. From sharing the train, helping each other up and down the mountain and eating together I realized we really are like a family; strange and crazy but none the less a family. The overall experience was a great way to wrap up my spring break.

Earlier in the week, I was able to hang out with Allison at my site on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday, I spent reading, napping, and cleaning. Thursday, I went into Lutsk to have lunch with Terry and then use the internet café to Skype with my sister and Bre. The best part was getting to watch (from ground floor level) Leo sprint crawl across the floor to the pc. He is super, super cute these days. Then Friday was when the great Mt. Hoverla Experience started. This week I’m looking forward to a normal week of school and crossing my fingers for warm and sunny weather. Hope everyone is enjoying spring where ever they find themselves. Miss and love you all.

Kate

Quote of the Week:

“Have you ever had the bathroom attendant say molodets (great job) to you?”- PCV Ben after spending 15 minutes in the train station bathroom in Lviv

One of the few things that I actually want to bring back from Ukraine, but can't.

10 goofy Volynska Oblast volunteers (1 behind the camera) + 1 awesome regional manager + countless others past and present = 50 great years of Peace Corps

Green food and beer as a Pre-Patty's Day Dinner.

Please notice the baba in her house gown across the street.

Why not have an impromptu boy band photo shoot?

One of my favorite fellow PCV Kelsey (linkmate) and myself in front of the Opera House.

Illegal photo of Water Lily.

Karen and I at Lutsk Castle.

One of the many churches of Kyiv.

Forgot the story behind the hedgehog, but made for a great photo shoot.

Globe monument that has all the capitals of every country. Woot Woot for Washington that sounds like Vashington.

Shrek or Obama? Hard decision.

Karen (NCC college friend), Me (of course), & Sarah (Karen's sister)

The closest and bluest church near my flat.

Two 4th formers from my school who thought it was funny I was taking photos of the snow from the bridge.

Val and I holding the first Kivertsi creative writing competition at her school.

Regardless, how much snow or how cold the temperature the boys will always play Futbol!!

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

Awesome mural in Lutsk.

Blue skies from my courtyard.

Melissa (featured PCV) and Myself two weekends ago.

This is my Ukrainian dwelling place.

Not only do I get hardcore drugs, but a coloring book as well.

I get to practice the habit of consuming no alcohol for 9 months because of two letters… TB also known as Tuberculosis. I had a TB skit test done two weeks ago at language refresher. So this past week at my medical check-up, I got the drugs that will get rid of the TB in my body. Now don’t get to worried about me, I only have inactive TB which means I was exposed to a person with active and Peace Corps takes the health of volunteers pretty serious which means I get super preventive care.

So let me break down my week by the days for you.

Monday & Tuesday:

Normal days at school. They actually went pretty well, but it could have been me in a really good mood because I knew I had a 5 day weekend coming to me. Tuesday after school before getting on the overnight train, Val and I decided to make some authentic potato pancakes. We were successful and also successful of flooding my kitchen floor.

Finished the pancakes and then Val decided to rinse out a bowl before we started to feast on the meal. She rinsed turned off the water, then turned me and asked, “What is that noise?” Well somehow a pipe that brings the warm water to the sink from the bathroom broke which caused a Niagara Falls situation under my sink. The first think I yelled was “Oh my god, we need a Ukrainian!” Before running to the hall way, the thought of turning of the water came to mind. I went into my bathroom and switched it off. Not too much water came out, but enough to be mopped up and ringed out in a bucket.

Val and I cooking moments before flooding my kitchen.

I called my counterpart to let her know of the issue before headed to the train station at 8:30pm to catch the overnight train to Kiev. I got my train without any problems. Boarded, made my bed, and then climbed up into it to read for the rest of the night.

Wednesday:

Rolled up into Kiev around 6:05am. I got off and waited in the huge train station for one of my other PCV friends to show up. Ashley arrived by 6:30am which we decided was a perfect time to indulge ourselves with McDonald’s breakfast. A bacon egg and cheese has never tasted so good. Finished up and took the 10 minute walk to the Peace Corps office. I dropped my stuff off in the PCV lounge and then got a nice hot shower before my long day of medical checkups.

10am X-rays to make sure I don’t have active TB in my lungs. I got X-rays at Ukrainian clinic. Hmm…how to explain this interesting experience? Nerve racking to say the least in a normal situation and then when you add on top of that the language barrier even more stressful. They printed my X-rays and then a woman came into read them. She was super serious and unfriendly. With how she was concentrating in certain areas on, I was only imaging the worst things especially with how much she wrote down on paper for me to deliver to the PCMO doctor. Leaving the clinic, I was positive I had active TB and was going to get sent home from Peace Corps.

RM Oksana, Myself, Melissa and Ben (PCV newbee in a village only 30 mins away from Kivertsi).

I got back to the office with X-rays in hand to finally talk with the doctor about the TB issues as well as my normal check up. The PC doctor first told me my X-rays were fine and from then on I was a lot more relaxed. She had read the X-rays, took blood, urine sample, and conducted a full physical. Oh, good times. When that was over, I only had a little over an hour to navigate the marsukas of Kiev to get to my dentist appointment. By the time I got there, I was worn out to say the least. I almost feel asleep in the chair waiting for the dentist to come in. Overall, I’m glad to have my teeth cleaned, but it also was the most intense and bizarre cleaning I have ever had. It felt like my teeth were being sand blasted with salt water.

After the very long and intense day, I headed to the hostel with Allison, Aidan, Sam, and Ashley. It took us a little while to find the place, but eventually we got there and dropped our stuff. Then we headed just a block down the street to have Azerbaijani food. MMMM…nothing like having ethnic food at ever possible chance. I had a delicious soup and a great chicken dish. After, we found dive-y bar to have a few or possibly many drinks at to celebrate my diagnosis of inactive TB. Let’s just say there was me, some shots, classic Barry White and me putting on a show for all the Ukrainian patrons to see featuring Aidan and I’s slow dancing skills.

What can I say the Kivertsi Girls are goofs.

Thursday:

Thursday morning was definitely a slow one. We got back to the Peace Corps office around noon. There I pretty much hung out with other volunteers until they caught their train or bus out of town. I did get to watch Discovery Channel, National Geographic as well as other American shows since the office has cable TV. For dinner, Jon and I hit up a local Chinese restaurant oh was it so damn delicious. I wish ours in Lutsk was that authentic. I enjoyed one more hot shower before catching my overnight train back to Kivertsi which departed Kiev at 9:10pm. Finished the book I was reading before going to sleep and got cozy for a pretty comfortable night’s sleep.

Friday:

Got into Kivertsi at 6:05am. I walked back to my flat. Unpacked my bags, tried to clean up around the place. Later in the afternoon, I headed over to Melissa’s place in Lutsk. The Volyska crew (my local PCV friends) got together for a pasta dinner (Dominic, Jon, Melissa and myself). We pretty much just had a nice laid back night.

Out Melissa's flat's window at night.

Saturday:

We met our new regional manager at a local pizzeria for lunch. She seems super on top of things as well as nice. I’m looking forward to working with her in the future. After lunch, a group of us head back to Melissa’s to hangout for the afternoon. Laura and Andy (Rivne Oblast which is roughly 1 hour directly to the east of Lutsk) came to go out for dinner. Laura also found out she has TB like me at language training so this was our last hoorah for awhile with the group. We went out for a nice Ukrainian dinner and then chilled at Melissa’s flat for the second night in a row.

Sunday:

Woke up a little before 9 today. Melissa being the great hostess she is made everyone a very nice spread for breakfast. We all got moving around 11:30 to get back to our own sites. This afternoon, I have just been trying to relax and get some things done around my flat. For the most part, I have read and watched a movie (Finding Neverland with Jonny Deep and Kate Winslet; 2 thumbs up). I got a bit of a cold so just trying to have a low key Sunday before another crazy school week starts tomorrow.

Well I hope everyone has a great Super Bowl Sunday. I’m pretty sure you can guess which team I’m pulling for. Love and miss you all.

Kate

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."- Teddy Roosevelt

One of the thousand of icicles around town. It gets a little warm and then really cold the next minute. The sidewalks are like bumpy ice skating rinks.

Val (my new PCV sitemate) and our first attempt at Spanish rice.

WARNING: Don't sleep on wet curly hair...this is what you will look like in the morning.

Convincing other PCVs that jumpin' in is a good idea.

Howdy all! Oh how the last week has been an eventful one. Tuesday morning, I headed to a Soviet Retreat to study Ukrainian for week. There were around 55 PCVs in attendance and many Ukrainian Peace Corps Staff. Each day we had numerous sessions about different topics as well in different groups.

It was great fun; because I got to see a lot of PCV friends I hadn’t seen in awhile as well as meet new people. I tried to change it up with people I would sit with at meals to really be a social butterfly. On Wednesday evening after dinner, I got back to the dorm we were staying in to hear about people who wanted to go jump in the river. It didn’t take much convincing and I was in thin long underwear ready to get my polar bearness on.

Me sprinting for the shore for a towel post polar bear dip. Coldest thing ever!

We all gathered outside. Took some before photos and then walked down to the river. The river was frozen accept for a little sliver right at the bank that was only a foot deep. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t about to roll around and get all sandy in freezing water. If I’m going to do a polar bear dip/dive I’m going all out.

While everyone was watching the crazies roll around in the little open water, I had my eyes set on a fishing hole square that had been cut in the ice. I took my coat off and then went out on the ice slowly. In my “expert” opinion (after jumping up and down on the ice a few times), I was convinced there was no danger, I started to persuade people to come out and jump into the little hole.

My beloved cluster mate, Laura, was the first to take the plunge. It was sort of funny, because she was in all white long underwear and looked as if she was coming to be baptized. This started the jokes of me saving the souls of the sinful Ukrainian PCVs’ souls. Around 10 PCVs took the leap of faith. I was the last to jump in. I asked from a countdown from 10 in English for the group. It was around “4” that I thought “what the F am I doing,” but the peer pressure worked as I jumped in screamin’ at the top of my lungs.

Story time with yours truly.

I had ice baths up to my knee/thigh in college, but this was by far the coldest thing I have ever experience. After my head broke the service, I started doggy paddling thinking swim to the shore and get out. My good friend, Kelsey was yelling at me to grab her to be pulled out. Oh how the shock of it caught me off guard. Overall, I would say all PCVs should take a polar bear dip once in their service. (keep an eye out for a video to be posted on facebook)

I was surprised with how much I enjoyed the language refresher, but eventually Friday morning rolled around and it was time to pack up. Peace Corps had hired a small marsuka to take us to Lutsk since there were a decent amount of us. I grabbed a 107 back to Kivertsi to have some down time before our collaborative meeting on Saturday.

Dana, Maggie, Theodora, LCF Katia, Me and Emily. The group I studied UKR with.

Saturday morning, I was slow to rise with it being so freezing in my flat (heat not working again). Eventually got moving met up with Val and Ben (closest and newest PCVs to me) and we jumped a marsuka to the University in Lutsk. There gathered around 24 PCVs from my oblast and two boarding ones.Collaborative meeting is to share and discuss information about all different topics that are relevant to youth development, community development and TEFL volunteers. It is also nice to get to meet a lot of new people. (PC Ukraine brings two groups of volunteers a year; they get placed to their site in Dec. & May) So this last bunch of volunteers just got to their sites before American Christmas.

The meeting went really well. After we broke off in two groups, one headed to a pizza place while the group I was in hit up a Chinese restaurant a little further from the center. After dinner, I headed back to Kivertsi. Once at home, Melissa and I got talking on the phone about how we were losers and thinking of going to bed really earlier. We settled on it would be more fun if she came to Kivertsi to chat, watch Toy Story 3 and spend the night. It ended up being true. We hung out until late last night, made a small breakfast this morning before she headed back into Lutsk.

The snowy drive back to Lutsk. We had a brief warm spell; waiting for April weather now.

Now I’m just jamming out to my Christian worship music and waiting for my Ukrainian friend Tanya to call me, because I’m suppose to go over to her house for dinner. Oh, how I love her mother’s home cooking. I’m also going to put some “Friends” episodes onto her new desktop computer. Then later tonight, I plan on screaming at my computer screen while watching the digital updates of the Bears Packer game. GO BEARS!

Well I hope everyone at home is well and warm. It is strange to think just a little over a week ago I was in America. I’m sure these next months until the fall will fly, so I’m trying to absorb as much of this experience I can. Really lucked out to be 1 of 404 American Peace Corps volunteers in Ukraine. Miss and love you all.

Kate

Me, Merc, and Elite 8 Team.

It is Sunday morning here in the lovely Kivertsi, Ukraine. A cloudy winter day, but relatively warm compared to last winter at this time with a high of 34 F. I just got done taking my first bucket bath of 2011. It isn’t so much that I mind the bucket bathing process as how cold I feel when doing it. Luckily the temperature in my flat isn’t that bad compared to how chilly it was when I left to visit home.

Anyways, I’m back. The flights here weren’t bad at all. I realized that I prefer to have a window sit so I can prop my head against the window. The flight from Chicago to Warsaw I was on the aisle and the head rest didn’t pull up which ended up in me not being able to nap that much which was frustrating. But my connecting flight from Warsaw to Lviv had the adjustable head rest which meant I fell asleep before takeoff. I did however think the plane was crashing when I woke up surprised to have slept through the whole flight and was startled by the landing.

Me and Swimmer shopping on State St. down town.

I got my bag, grabbed a quick taxi to the outer bus station, bought a ticket and the bus departed less than 15 minutes later. Again, fell asleep on and off on the 3 hour bus ride back to Lutsk. Arrived to Lutsk around 6:30ish hopped bus 15 to Melissa’s part of town. Melissa greeted me with a big hug, warm bowl of soup and delicious biscuits. Glad I made the stopover in Lutsk I think coming back to a cold, empty flat would have been a bit depressing.

I went to bed a little before midnight and slept straight through until 10am. When Melissa started talking to me to wake me up, I was a tad confused to why my sister was at my dad’s house waking me up. Oh, wait I’m back in Ukraine. We might up with Val, my new site mate, and then headed to the center to meet up with the boys. We all enjoyed catching up over tasty Ukrainian cuisine.

Rockin'Out in Da Bears Apparel.

After we headed back to Melissa’s place, Val was nice enough to help me get all my bags back to my site. We probably stood at the marsuka stop for thirty minutes. The 103 came but since it was decently full and stops on the other side of the stairs in town I opted to wait for the 107. Around 10 minutes later a 107 comes along. It was so full and saw us standing there with my huge bags that it didn’t even stop. Then probably another 15 to 20 minutes another 107 comes along.

The driver motioned for us to go to the back door. So imagine me with my close to 50lbs hiking back pack on stepping up two feet to get on to the back of a very, very crowded bus. There was only one handle that was on my left side. I tried to hoist myself up, but only get half way there. I would run out of umpf to make it. I turned back to Val and was like “dude you are going to have to push me.” With a little help from my friend, I made it on. Since I still had my back pack on, it didn’t allow much room for Val to get on. I’m knocking into people and apologizing, but people at the back of the bus didn’t seem too phased by it all. I only wish I had moments like those on video.

Tob and I getting down with Kinect, oh how crazy technology is.

I got back to my flat. Unpacked my bags while visiting with Val. We made an easy dinner and she peaced around 6ish because I was so tired. I got a second wind around 8 then couldn’t fall asleep until 1am. Woke up around 9am, cooked eggs for breakfast, took a bucket bath, now just chilling until Val comes over. It isn’t even noon and I’m already for a nap. We are going to run some errands are town and maybe watch a movie later in the afternoon.

Tomorrow, I’ll swing by school to say hello, but then Tuesday morning I’ll head to a nearby town until Friday for a language refresher with my local volunteers. It is nice not to be thrown straight back to the wolves (Ukrainian school children). Hopefully I will easily transition back into my Ukrainian life.

Can a kid get any cute than this, I think not!

It is so crazy how you board a plane, ride for however many hours and then you step off in a completely different world. I had a great three weeks at home. It was a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster, but none the less a good time. Seeing my family and friends was definitely the best part of it all. But here are the high and low lights of the trip for me.

Some of the many highlights:

Leo Walker (the cutest little man to ever exist), taking funny photos with my brothers and sister, laughs in my sister’s theater, seeing all the high school teammates, Cherry Lounge, shots with RA crew, driving, mini chocolate doughnuts, Mexican food with Pat and Swimmer, and really just all the small moments of hanging out with family and friends.

Fun morning of taking random photos with Kevin, me posing at the old railroad station in Chilli.

Few of the low lights:

The Bears lost, not getting to see Theran, not having enough time to visit everyone the amount I wanted to, and having to board a plane knowing it will be around 11 months until I’m home again.

Well I’m going to hang with Val this afternoon and probably nap a little too. Hope everyone is well. I had a great visit in America. Thanks for making it special. Here is to a great 2011 in Ukraine for me and in America for you. Love and miss you all.

Kate

(Sorry really too tired to proofread might do it at a later date; still a little jet lagged right now)

Best way to start the day: Mr.LW and Titka Katya time.

2:25am. I should go to bed, but have lots to say. Glad to be home yet at the same time overwhelmed. Sometimes in a good way. Sometimes in a bad way.

Cottage cheese is better than I remember. Underwear out of the dryer are so soft. I love DA BEARS more than I thought. It is nice to 'realize to read' again. Love being small town and bumping into people around town and they welcome me back.

There are a shit ton of kinds of toothpaste. Seems like overkill. Walmart: minor freak out. Babies don't stay babies for long. People still laugh the same. The Schmidt kids do the best photo shoots: quick look Ukrainian. M&M and theater gift card is an awesome white elephant gift.

Beating someone off the line at a stoplight is priceless. Rubber chocolate doughnuts are and will always be my favorite. American beds were made for me. I should be beat for my hot water consumption, but I finally feel clean.

I love having alot of tennis shoe options. Beer tastes so good. And I have no desire to drink any of the 4.5 liters of vodka that I illegally brought into America. I wake up and don't know where I am. Touch phones are too advanced for me (sorry if you accidentally get called). When a baby reaches their arms out for you, there isn't quite a feeling like it.

First week has been a good one dispite not feeling caught up on sleep. Hope the days slow down a little, but excited to see more important friends and family in my life. Keep lookin' up. Chicago get ready because here Schmidty comes!

Kate

(my dad's computer doesn't have spell check sorry for the mistakes)

Wearing Kevin's Hat at the New Year's tree in Lutsk.

Only two days now until I’m home in America. Last night at my flat, tomorrow morning I’m head to Lviv. I’ll stay in a hostel near the center and then Tuesday morning going to catch the trolley bus to the airport. I could have taken a really early bus Tuesday morning to Lviv, but don’t want to take any chances with missing my plane.

This week has been pretty eventful. Overall, classes went pretty well. However, my 11th formers were really rude and disrespectful to the point I just walked out of the class with ten minutes left. They can waste their time, but I’ll just go lesson plan in the teacher’s room if they are going to be like that. My counterpart had a talk with them. Hopefully in the new year, it will help with their bad behavior, but we will see.

Friday was the day my new site mate got here. Her name is Valerie and she will be teaching in school number 4. She is from Oregon and seems like a real cool chick. I’m really excited to have someone right in town to do programs with as well as just hangout. I also got to meet one of her link mates who lives just north of Kivertsi. So far group 40ers are a fun bunch.

On Friday night, I had a nice dinner party to welcome Val to the group. 5 Peace Corps Volunteers and 2 Ukrainians in attendance. It was a lot of fun and hopefully will be having more and more of them in the coming New Year. The funniest moment of the night came when I asked people’s opinions on how much they thought my bag weighed. The two American guy PCVs picked it up said it was heavy, but thinks it is right at 50lbs. Dima, the Ukrainian, picks it up and confidently says, I could fit two more bottles of vodka. Oh, too funny.

The party was over around 9ish because some of us had to help Saturday morning with the Olympiad (country wide English competition). My school hosted it for the Kivertsi District. Val came with her counterpart as well as other English teachers. It is a lot of fun to be around other Kivertsi English teachers. They were very interested in asking g questions to Val and I think she had a good time getting to know them. After the competition, we were invited out to a local restaurant with six of the teachers.

It was interesting to see how Ukrainians deal with a vegetarian (Val). They were like do you eat a little meat, is fish ok, will you eat it if it has a little chicken. Glad I’m a meat eater. So we probably spent almost 2 and half hours there, and three bottles of vodka. After bottle #1 and #2, Val and I would looked at each other and would be like yes we are done, and then magically another one would appear out of someone’s purse. Oh, Ukraine.

Then as we were leaving live music was getting ready to start to play and they asked us if we wanted to stay longer to dance. Afraid of the possibility of more vodka, the two Americans graciously declined. But we are planning to do a once of month, English Teacher Tea Evening. One teacher was like we should do it on Fridays so we can dance…I’m guessing tea won’t be the only beverage if that is the day we settle on.

This dinner was one of the most relaxed and enjoyable dinners that I’ve had in a long time here. I’m guessing because everyone at the table spoke one common language, and the fact that there were many toasts to Ukrainians and Americans being friends, love, tall men (me), to health, and pass that I can’t remember. Haha.

Friday was my year mark at being at site. I think it is appropriate that I can now take a vacation home. It has been 14 months since I last stepped foot in the U.S. I wonder if “freedom” still tastes the same? (as bored PCVs we come up with the most ridiculous sayings here, please don’t judge). Please pray for safe and smooth travel home for me. See you all very very soon. Merry Christmas world!

Kate

PS As my pops would say, “Remember Jesus is the reason for the season.” Do something Jesus like every day regardless if it is the holiday season.

Terry, Dima, Dominic, Tanya, Val, and Melissa eating deliciousness.

Everyone celebrates Christmas just on different days.

The title of this blog was inspired by a man that lives near my school. Today after 5th lesson, I was walking home and noticed a man walking to his mail box BAREFOOT in the snow!!!!! With how Ukrainians won’t open a window on a boiling summer day, because wind will make people sick,this scene has boggled my mind. The only thing I can come up with to explain it is that there must have been vodka involved in his early afternoon routine.

Hmmm…what to share about the last week? Throughout the whole week, I’ve had Ukrainians in and out of my flat working on my flat. It was a five day process to get it fixed properly. First guy couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t work. The next guy fixed it and it was super warm in my flat. Third guy said that he could fix it, but didn’t have the right part. It wasn’t until Friday that it was fixed and set at a normal level. It is still a little chilly in my flat. I’m writing you while wearing the following: tank top, long sleeve shirt, turtle neck sweater, vest, long johns, sweat pants, and wool socks. Oh, I can’t wait to be wearing a normal amount of clothes and feeling warm, 8 days.

Last week at school, I was barely hanging on. Classes that are normally pretty good were on my last nerve; chatty, lazy and disrespectful. At one point, I quietly sat down and stopped teaching. Eventually, they could see that I was pissed. Eventually when they finally stopped talking, I went over to the board and wrote 4,000km (not quite sure if that is the right distance). Then I asked them if they loved their families. They were like yes. I followed it with do you think I love my family. They again replied yes. I went on to explain that I’m far from my family, volunteering, not getting paid to teach them. I think they were surprised to hear that I don’t make money for teaching them, but it didn’t really hit home because 5 minutes later they were up to the same antics. That is pretty much a good summary of how my week at school went.

On Friday, Lutsk received a volunteer from TEFL group 39. Dominic will be teaching at gymnasium in the city. He is from Indiana, has a good sense of humor, well read, and seems like he will fit right in with the Volynska Peace Corps crew. We went to dinner on Friday night to welcome him to the area. Then on Sunday, he joined us at the Windows on America community English Club for a presentation and discussion about Christmas. The highlight or maybe I should call it the lowlight was the five American volunteers singing the 12 days of Christmas while slowly remembering the correct lines. The Ukrainians who attended were nice enough to applaud after we finished.

After going to diner with the crew, I headed over to the local internet café. This is where boys from the age of 8 to 30+ congregate to play “Counter Strike” probably one of the most popular and violent of video games in Ukraine. The battled each other online while taunting each other from each little computer stations. I go to use the faster connection to Skype. This week I got to chat with my sister, brother in law and nephew. At one point, I was distracted when I thought two junior higher were going to fist fight. Oh, good times. Any who, I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with them for over an hour. Leo is growing so fast. I can’t wait to be properly introduced to him. I’m so excited!

But as for right now, I’m just trying to take it day by day until this week is over (4 more if you were wondering). Just have to survive the 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th forms and I will be home bound. Here is to this week flying by. Miss you, love you and see you all real soon!!

Kate

Funny moment of the week: I was talking to my linkmate Shannon, who lives four oblasts away from me, on the phone. She was walking back to her flat in the evening (pitch black after 4pm you know) after working out at a gym in her town. She was telling me how shady the area that she was walking through looked and saying that she had never been that way. She then stated “this is like straight out of one of the safety videos Peace Corps shows us. Then they ask the group ‘What were the three things Shannon did wrong?’” Oh, how Shannon makes me laugh even if she is KMs away.

Jon, Ashley and Melissa looking super excited for Christmas carols that we had never heard of.

One of the churches in the V.V.

Funny Moment of the Week: On Monday leaving school some boys were playing outside in the snow throwing snowballs at each other. One kid ran up to me and handed me a big chunk of snow. They were trying to show how to throw snow balls like I’ve never done it before. I wanted to get in on the action, but I could predict it getting way too out of hand and me being a target the rest of the winter. So I told them I didn’t want to play. One kid who is a sweet kid softly tossed a snow ball at me, after I had said I didn’t want to play. Immediately, the kid gets pegged by three of the other boys yelling at him, “Miss Kate didn’t want to play.” Oh having my honor defended by 5th grade boys; too funny.

As you can see from above the cold weather is here. It is sad to think that it probably won’t be until March when I see the ground again. Oh, how I never thought going home to Illinois for Christmas would be a winter getaway, but it is true for this year.

School this week was interesting to say the least. On Tuesday, I found out that my Vice Principle who is my go to person is retiring from working at school, because in the recent elections she was voted to some position in the city government. Most likely another teacher will resume her role; so having a high up who speaks English won’t be something I can benefit from anymore. My schedule will change. Teaching more classes with my counterpart and I’m sure times of classes will be switched around as well. Oh, how one week is never like the last.

Frosty, frosty tree.

Thursday was a big day for me. I headed into Lutsk to meet up with my PCV friend Melissa to do some Christmas shopping and to grab some coffee/hot chocolate. I got some great presents that I’m super excited about. The ladies who work at this Ukrainian gift shop had to have been entertained by Melissa and I. The ride home was interesting because I was on one of the most packed marsukas I’ve ever been on while carrying fragile gifts. At one point, I was holding onto my book bag like it was a million dollars and depended on the other people pushing so much on me to hold me up right when the crazy marsuka driver swerved all around the icy road. Marsuka surfing = good time. I suggest you do it without fragile items though.

I got back into town just in time to have dinner with my Ukrainian friend Tanya. Her mom is a fabulous cook and despite my horrible Ukrainian and her lack of English loves to have me over. She kept asking me about American parties and couldn’t believe people don’t drink vodka like Ukrainians do. We had some pretty entertaining conversation over the meal (potato/meat pancake hash brown like things and potato mushroom soup). Super, super delicious.

Melissa and I trying to stay warm on the way to English Club.

Friday after school, I headed to V.V. to hang out with Allison and Aidan. My favorite pizza in Ukrainian is from a place in their town. So we met up for dinner and drinks. Nice to spend some time with those guys because I’ll be going home for Christmas and they are headed to Egypt with a group of volunteers. We got back to Allison’s place and our jeans were soaked from pushing each other in the snow and tromping through it so we all took off our pants to put over the radiator with the intention of going over to another café. Sitting on Allison’s kitchen floor in our long johns was such a good time we spend stayed in the rest of the night.

In the morning, we did our share of file sharing. I can now say that I finally know what Jersey Shore is from personally watching it. Can’t say that I’m too impressed. I’m so embarrassed in what gains huge popularity in the U.S. But I’m sure as a run out of “The Office” and “30Rock”, I’ll finish off the seasons of it in the boredom of the freezing Ukrainian winter that I have in front of me. Also got some new books from them as well which I’m excited about. It is always good to be stocked on things to entertain yourself with because you never know when the weather is going to be so bitter cold that you don’t want to go anywhere.

Long walk home with hands in pockets.

Eventually, I got myself down to the bus station and caught a bus back to Lutsk. I was late for a dinner party that Melissa was having at her flat, but was still able to meet her Ukrainian friends and enjoy her delicious cooking. Yum!! Melissa is by far the best PCV cook. I like everything that she cooks and I am completely satisfied that I’m sort of thinking that it wouldn’t be that hard to be a vegetarian… maybe when I get home.

The next morning, we slept in and eventually had left overs for breakfast. Then in the afternoon headed to the community English Club for a presentation about AIDS since the 1st was AIDS Awareness Day. We have an old Ukrainian man that comes to this club and sometimes makes things really awkward with his statements. This week he eventually had to get going and as he was putting his coat on when stating, “The US should stop with its arms race and find a cure for AIDS.” Ummm, ok. After he left, we had some more meaningful discussion with the rest of the group. Overall, I would say it was productive.

Well I have 15 days until the land of Lincoln and couldn’t be more excited about it. Can’t wait to walk on sidewalks that don’t threaten my life, seeing Leo (& the rest of my family and friends), and American food. Hope everyone is well and staying warm. Miss and love you all.

Kate

Clustermate Laura, Becky, Melissa, Terry and Clustermate Jon gathered around the table for a Volynska Oblast Thanksgiving.

Greetings on a snowy Ukrainian night. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. I was able to celebrate with five fellow volunteers. Our Thanksgiving wasn’t the most traditional with eating chicken, but we did have some festive dishes like mashed taters, stuffing, and the oh so delicious pumpkin pie as well as pumpkin koshi. My contribution to the dinner was a cold vegetable pasta salad. It was alright, but I thoroughly enjoyed the stuffing for the first thanksgiving in my life. I think I was always freaked out by the idea of the stuffing, but I was actually in the kitchen while it was being prepared and thought I should try it. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!!

With my presence there is a good chance of being entertained (the wine helps with that as well).

This week was a short week of school because Peace Corps gave all the volunteers Thursday off and my school being generous also told me to take Friday as well so it has been a long weekend. Very relaxing. Read two books and working on the third. Also I watched a lot of new movies this week. I borrowed some from the ‘Windows on America’ (English library at the normal library sponsored by USAid). One that I have absolutely falling in love with is “The Apartment,” the 1960 Best Picture with Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon. I’m pretty sure it has entered my top 5 favorites. When I get home I definitely need to track down the old movie poster for my wall.

So besides Thanksgiving with the crew, nothing else has been too exciting. I’m a week closer coming to home at 23 days. It seems like forever ago that it was over 100 days until home. I have a very organized calendar for my visit home. Just trying to fit in seeing all of people that are ‘near and dear’ (one of the many strange phrases I have picked up from English speaking Ukrainians).

And winter has arrived...God help me!

Sorry for a short blog; I’ll try to make it more exciting next week. But before signing off, I want to congratulate the North Central football team. They are in the “elite eight,” if you will, of the division three playoffs. Go cards!!

Hope everyone has a great Sunday. See you all very, very soon. Oh, I can't wait. Miss and love you all.

Kate

This week I’ve been making hand “I’m thankful for…” turkeys with my students to share the traditions of Thanksgiving. A lot of the kids put their parents, grandparents, and pets. Some kids put things like their football (soccer ball), computer, etc. I got thinking if I really did one for myself what would my feathers be. Since this year Turkey Day falls on the 25th , I thought that 25 sounds like a good amount of feathers. So here I go the 25 things I’m thankful for this year in Ukraine (in no particular order):

1.My health.

2.Oreos arriving in Ukraine.

3.Awesome fellow PCVs.

4.My own baba-free Ukrainian flat.

5.The almost weekly letters I get from my dad about gas prices, weather, what he had for lunch or who he saw at church.

6.Becoming an aunt to the cutest Leo ever born.

7.My dysfunctional but fun and supportive family.

8.Having a four day weekend to celebrate turkey day.

9.The ability to communicate over the internet with people back home.

10.The ticket my sister bought me to come home for Christmas.

11.The fact that I’m 1 of 8,719 Peace Corps Volunteers.

12.Vitalik, a 6th former who was the biggest trouble maker last year who now is super interested in participating in class even if he isn’t very strong in English.

13.The jar of Skippy peanut butter sitting in my kitchen cupboard.

14.The lunch ladies at my school who are always nice to me and use the endearing ending on my name that means they like me.

15.Being an American and having opportunities that not every person in the world has.

16.Having Kimberly as my Peace Corps Guru.

17.The rest of the mail I get.

18.“Our Daily Bread” that my Grandma Schmidt sends to me every 3 months.

19.Kivertsi getting another volunteer in a couple of weeks at another school.

20.Slower pace of my Ukrainian life.

21.My cooking abilities slowly improving.

22.My huge ‘inner’ circle of amazing friends.

23.Having 4 non teacher, non student Ukrainian friends in Kivertsi.

24.The fact that Eat, Pray, Love has been released and I’ll get to watch it at Christmas with my sister.

25.Being blessed by God with a great life.

Da Bears schedule so I can keep up with who we are playing.

Bye for the Bears. My beloved Chicago Bears are 4-3 and currently in a 2 game losing streak. Hopefully this bye week, they can get prepared for the Buffalo Bills game next Sunday. I pray that our O-Line can step it up. Cutler is getting hit way too much. Our defense isn’t awesome at this point but I have hope they will get it in gear with my future husband #54 leading the way.

Bye to Katie Sherman. PCV 35er sweet Katie Sherman will be headed home this week. On Saturday, we had an Italian night dinner in her honor. She was very ecstatic about receiving a hedgehog baked good from TamTam. I first got to know Katie when we went to the 10k. The girl is so crazy that she planned to run the 10k; felt so good at the half way (turn around) point she kept going with all the people who were running the half marathon. Oh, Katie how all of us Volynska Volunteers will thoroughly miss your presents at our hangouts. Good luck adjusting to life without bubbly water, pig fat, extreme vodka consumption and talking to non-English speaker with an accent.

One of the few trees with colorful leaves on it.

Bye to Leaves. This last week has been my fall break (one week vacation from school). The weather has been fabulous. Sunshine and beautiful colors of leaves in all of the trees, but this week it seems as all the leaves were making their last stand. I just took a walk around outside and there are very few leaves still up. Oh, how it all goes so quickly.

Bye to Politicians. Today, Halloween, are the elections for local government. There are many pop up tents around my town as well as Lutsk passing out information on the many candidates. I believe someone said there are around 10 for the mayor of Kivertsi. I’ve had different printed information left stuck in my door. The most amusing campaign strategy or I guess slogan would have to be one Katie told me about. It was a huge bill board with Bohdan Something, his picture and in very large print “I won’t steal city government money.” Oh, only in Ukraine.

Nothing like grilled cheese, soup and a good PCV friend (Melissa) to share a fall day with.

So like I said I had this last week off. It has been filled with a lot of reading, movies, sleep and cooking. There are also only 51 more days until I’m home in the great state of Illinois. To help pass the time, I’m most likely going to take part in NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month). The goal is to get yourself to 50,000 words by midnight of Novemeber 30th. I’m thinking my novel will be a collection of the crazy stories of my life thus far. I have a couple of ideas about how to organize it, but regardless it should be interesting. I doubt I will share the whole thing with any one person, but I’m guessing some components of it will show up on my blog.

The decor my mom sent made my room very Halloweeny!

Well hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Halloween. Life is short so remember to live it to the fullest and let your loved ones know that they are important to you. Miss and love you all.

Kate

As I mentioned in my blog last Saturday, I attended a festival that celebrated SALO! For those of you who don’t know that is straight up pig fat with very little if at all meat in it. It was in Lutsk the nearby city. My fellow PCVs and I enjoyed watching Ukrainian dancers and a band. It was very interesting to see people come out and taste test the different types of salo, salo spread and other misc. things that were being sold. The most unique item I saw was a house made of salo and other meat products. Don’t know if it really made me hungry though.

I sampled a thinly sliced piece of salo on a piece of dark bread and also the spread on the same bread. The ones I tried where heavy salted so it didn’t taste that bad. I still can’t get the idea of eating salo. It is fat. So I look at it and think I could just take it and slap it to my butt because that is surely where it is going to end up. I would much rather eat a piece of chocolate that tastes good and I don’t imagine going directly to my butt (even though it all ends up there).

Most eventful thing of the week: MOVING. I was under the impression on Friday afternoon that I would be moving Monday afternoon. Monday morning rolls around, I gently ask the babushka if I can shower. She starts yelling loudly. I can pick up ‘you can shower at your new place’ and then blah blah blah in Ukrainian that I didn’t understand. This just makes me so happy I’m moving. I get to school and ask my vice principle at what time I’m moving later in the day. She says oh, you can’t move today maybe Tuesday or Wednesday.

PROBLEM in my mind!! Monday is the day of the month that I normally pay rent. I explained to my vice principle that the babushka is not happy to be losing income with me moving out of her house and that I don’t think she will let me stay for an extra two days. My vice principle tells me not to worry that she will call the lady and everything will be alright. Later, that day my VP calls the babushka. Again I hear from my room yelling at my VP on the phone. I for sure understood ‘this isn’t my problem, this is her problem.’ They continued talking with a little less yelling.

I just sat in my room not fully understanding what is going on. Eventually an hour later my counterpart calls me and says at 6pm, I will come with a car and you will move. This is at 3pm so I awkwardly say in my room for a couple of hours before finally moving. Before leaving the house, I tried to smooth over the tension by saying after I have moved in that I would like to have her and the medical college boys over to my flat. It worked a little bit but she was still very sour about me leaving.

So Monday night, I spent the night in my place without electricity, heat or gas which wasn’t a big deal if you let your pee mellow. Tuesday night not waiting to see if the electricity was actually going to come on, I headed into Lutsk to hang out with Melissa and use her shower (I hadn’t had a real shower in 5 days). Wednesday, I had my Ukrainian friend, Tanya, come over for tea and burned her some DVDs of Friends. Thursday, I enjoyed my first fully solo day in my place.

Friday, I hosted my first dinner party of my life. The volunteers closest to me (Melissa, Jon, Katie, and Terry) all came over for pelmeni. Dinner started around 6ish. It was delicious. Terry had made a Ukrainian salad with the main ingredient being beets. Jon pitched in with making us some very interesting mixed drinks. Melissa topped it all off with baking oatmeal cookies for dessert. Quite tasty if you ask me. Katie (who is COSing in 2 weeks) brought me some house warming presents. Terry headed out at 9:30 to catch the last marsuka back to the city. The rest of us enjoyed the remainder of the night by playing some games, and watching a movie. I was first to go to bed because we discovered that the second devon (fold out couch) of my place is a lot more comfortable than the one I had been sleeping on because of the lack of foot board (a plus for us tall people).

Saturday, I was woken up at 9am by my counterpart knocking at my door. She came over to show me how to use ‘the values’ aka turning on my faucet and being like ‘you have water.’ She also showed me how to turn the gas and water off. I already knew it because the first day I watched her do it. Oh, good times. I wish Ukrainians understood that just because I’m horrible at their language doesn’t mean I’m incompetent. Eventually, we got up and moving because at 2pm, we planned to have a writing workshop at Melissa’s.

But before the workshop, we enjoyed a smorgasbord of sandwich materials that were great on bread along with Melissa’s homemade potato wedges. We talked about our experiences with writing. Then we all shared different things we have written. The most amusing part was when we acted out Katie’s short plays that expressed the craziest moments of her Ukrainian life. The one that had me laughing pretty good was when her host mother and dad were so worried that she had a pimple right before going home knowing that she was going to see her boyfriend. Oh, how funny Ukrainians can be.

So as you can see it was a very busy week. That is the reason I took today off which means besides showering I wasn’t too productive. I sat around in my pajamas. Well I take that back I have already started on my Christmas list and making a schedule so I don’t miss anything important when I’m home visiting. For example, I already wrote down the two Bears games that will happen. Oh, can’t wait to watch some American football soon.

Well I need to get moving. Allison is headed over and I’m looking forward to kicking off fall break (no school this week) with her. Hope all is well at home. Note: only 58 days until I’m home in the Land of Lincoln!!!

Kate

(Happy One Year Anniversary to Me)word to word translated by this horrible Ukrainian speaker, probably wrong. Oh well, I tried.

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.

My favorite marsuka stop on the route toward Lviv. Spudnik inspired.(sorry pops it isn't level, took it quickly from a moving marsuka)

First and foremost, I wish Juanita R. Stone a very happy birthday. Grandma, I hope I’m as cool and interesting as you at 85 years young. No average old lady here, just one hell of a grandma. Be ready to go get tattoo when I’m home for Christmas.

Currently, I’m exhausted. My friends were here early in the week and I feel like I have been going nonstop since last Wednesday. This week school has been busy and also a little stressful. Yesterday, morning I got up to go into the nearby city to catch a two hour bus to another volunteer’s site. There were around 12 volunteers at a meeting to exchange ideas for teaching and English clubs; called a collaborative.

After another 2 hour bus ride north back home, I had dinner at TamTam (equivalent to Wal-Mart) with Terry, Melissa, and Jon. Later, Melissa and I headed back to her flat to hangout, eat some popcorn and watch a movie before falling asleep. This morning we lounged and watched ‘Into the Wild’ while waiting for Film Club at 2pm. At the library near the center of Lutsk, we viewed and discussed ‘Endless Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.’ It was a little confusing for the Ukrainians who attended but I think overall they enjoyed the film. I returned home a little after 6 o’clock.

Me being a cheeseball in front of the biggest church in Radehiv.

Right now I’m just trying to get stuff ready for another busy week. Tomorrow I’ll go into my lessons completely blind because one of the teachers wasn’t around to get instructions and the other teacher couldn’t located the book I was suppose to use. Mondays are also English club in my town and Ukrainian tutor session. Here's to a 'Manic Monday.' Oh how I'm going to 'wish it were a Sunday.'

Incoming mail is at an all-time low. Me sending it out isn’t at much faster pace. Right now I’m trying to save pennies where I can so I can have some money to do a little Christmas shopping before getting on the plane to the Land of Lincoln. As porky the pig would say ‘that’s all folks.’

Kate

Scariest Prediction of the Week: This winter is suppose to be the coldest Ukrainian winter in the last ‘1000 years’ (that’s how it was actually reported on the news).

Last letter of ABCs of Happiness; sign from Ashley's school (where the collaborative was).

'People universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. If you don't, you will leak away your innate contentment. It's easy enough to pray when you're in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainments.' - unknown

North Central Cardinals in the house! Kelsey, Sarah and I on a drizzly day in Lviv.

The girls and I with our hottie soviet soldier/host at the password restaurant.

My favorite 6th form class. (please notice the Bears beat the Pack again this day, hope that holds true for the real second meeting).

Howdy all!! Sorry for the non-Sunday post. I have been quite busy this last week. Let me give you the run down.

Monday- Normal schedule at school. Ukrainian tutor for an hour. Evening English Club

at the library.

Tuesday- Another normal day at school. Read about the Bears win over the Pack, woot woot!!! Happy 57th Birthday to my pops. Announced that I’m coming home to Chilli for Christmas.

Wednesday- Morning classes before going to Lviv via marsukas and buses to meet up with Kelsey and Sarah (two NCC college friends).

Thursday- Exploring the city with major stops at a really cool restaurant with a Soviet theme where you have to say a password to get in and you take a shot as soon as you walk in the door. Later in the evening we watched a performance of Swan Lake at the Ballet and Opera House.

Friday- More sites: Castle Hill, Markets, and old but very cool Cemetery outside of the city center. Then in the evening headed to Zolochiv.

Saturday- Girl’s Weekend at my link mate’s (Kelsey) site (Zolochiv) where we had a book share and Mexican food cooking.

Sunday- The long trip back to Lutsk via marsukas, trams and buses. Hung out with the local Lutsk volunteers for dinner.

Monday- Sarah and Kelsey got to visit my school and teach some of my 6th and 7th grade formers before venturing back into Lutsk to check out another Castle.

So compared to my average week this was a pretty eventful one. Monday I had a really great day at school. I explained how the Chicago Bears were playing the Packers and the whole idea of a rivalry to my favorite 6th form class. It only came natural to select team names in a vocabulary competition that we use Bears and Packers. The battle of transportation vocabulary was intense but the Bears captured a 7-6 win over the packers. (Looks like it was a preview for what happened on Monday Night Football).

Getting to hanging with my college friends was really great. They were my first visitors and will be my only ones until the spring. I enjoyed showing them around and trying to share the average day of my Ukrainian life.

Girl’s weekend at my friend Kelsey’s place was awesome. There were seven volunteers and then my two friends. My visitors and I went to explore a castle Saturday afternoon because it was quite gorgeous after some rainy and drizzly days in Lviv. We traded books, art supplies, cooking ingredients and some other misc. stuff. It was a lot of fun because I got to see my PCV friend Shannon who I hadn’t seen since swearing in last December.

Overall, this past week was great, but I’m super worn out. So this week and weekend is going to be about relaxing and get things organized around my room. Hope everyone is having a great start to their autumn and that your weather is less dreary as mine.

One of the most challenging things of the week: keeping Alona, Alina, and Elona names straight in my 6th grade class. It probably doesn’t help that they sit in a row together.

Love and miss you all.

Kate

77 days until I land in Chicago!!

A very illegal photo of Swan Lake.

Super cool and old mural in a church near the center of Lviv.

Trapped beauty.

Soft landing.

Easter colors.

This past Friday was the day of Autumn Flowers. Each class at school makes a composition of flowers. Then they are all displayed in the foyer of the school. At 11:30, students gather to do different readings and performances with the theme of autumn. They then were dismissed at 12:15 for the day. The older students would be coming back at 7pm for a disco in the school’s sports hall. I haven’t yet been brave enough to experience one of those. I’m sure I will sometime this winter.

Pond on the south side of town.

The school week was a pretty average one. I did have some issues with my 8th grade class. They don’t seem to understand rule number one of respect. It is enough to make me want to throw something. I don’t which is probably the reason I have discovered gray hair #2 this week. Oh, what I’m giving of myself to do this experience. I will give them a few more chances before I just say screw and teach other classes who listen and actually want to learn.

'You talkin to me'

Yesterday, I had a great experience in the post office with two girls who work there, 20 & 23. I checked my mail: nothing. Then I went to the counter to buy some avion envelopes. One of the girls said, “you drink pivo…with man… in Kivertsi. Is that you boyfriend?” She was referring to my PCV/ clustermate Jon. He came to town this summer to hang out and grab a beer. Apparently, we were being watched. I said no. I tried to explain just a friend but I’m not too sure they believed me. Since it was a slow Saturday at the post office, they were asking me a billion questions. I told them I would walk home to grab a small photo album. I came back in the next 10 minutes; we probably talked for another half hour. I invited them to my English club tomorrow night. I guess I’ll have two more Ukrainians watching 30 Rock and Friends. Oh good times.

"hey guys! I got a halfa watermelon."

Thursday, I went into Lutsk to meet up with Jon and Melissa. While Jon was finishing up with classes, Melissa and I took the opportunity to browse the second hand stores. I scored a sweat pair of Nike sweat pants (I’m sure my mother along with Sarah Perrone is thrilled I owe yet another pair) for less than $2. When Jon finished we headed to a restaurant before we all headed back to our houses. I must say that borscht and other Ukrainian soup are really hitting the spot as the weather slowly drops. Oh and most importantly in this visit, I picked up ‘Eat Pray Love’ that Melissa grabbed for me from the Peace Corps office. So it is round number two for this book. I can’t wait to see the movie.

Well that is about it for this week. Hope everyone is great and your autumn is starting off as well as mine. Miss and love you all.

Kate

Jon takes getting his man mug very serious over a woman's glass.

Becky and I. I'm sporting the new curly look.

I don’t know if it is the fall weather but I’ve been in a great mood this past week. It is cool and sometimes rainy, but on the days it isn’t it is absolutely beautiful. The leaves are slowly starting to change color. Today, I thoroughly enjoyed my marsuka ride back from the nearby city while looking across a field with trees off in the distance as the sun went down. Beautiful.

This Saturday I went in to Lutsk (25 mins away city) to hang out with my local Volynska oblast volunteers. We celebrated the belated birthdays of Melissa and Katie. We were originally going to go to watch the local football team play but unfortunately we mixed up the dates and it was the night before. We didn’t let this dampen our mood. Still went to two of our favorite Ukrainian restaurants for dinner and drinks.

When we got back to Melissa’s apartment, we busted out the Cranium (thanks Tink). My team (Ashley, Jon and myself) won the first quick game. Soon after that game rapped up, we decided to just pick from the clues and have anyone shout out the answers. It was pretty entertaining at this point in the night. I just want to put out there that I think more cookies were consumed than alcoholic beverages.

Jay & Ashley doing their best Sears & Roebuck catalog impression.

This morning woke up early considering how late we stayed up the night before. For at least an hour Melissa, Ashley, Becky and I chatted in Melissa’s bedroom while others still slept in the living room. I don’t know if it is because I’m slap happy in the morning sometimes but we were just cracking up about the most random things. I haven’t belly laughed so hard in awhile. Eventually when people got up and moving, we made breakfast before people started heading out.

In the afternoon, Jon, Melissa and I headed to the city library to participate in a film club. My Ukrainian friend, Tanya, came in from Kivertsi for the first time to check it out. We watched ‘The Princess Bride’ for the most part the Ukrainians liked it; the best part of the movie for me is the little kid who is wearing Chicago Bears gear in the beginning of the story. After the club, I hit up Tamtam (Ukrainian Wal-Mart like store) before grabbing my stuff at Melissa’s flat and heading back to Kivertsi.

The weekend just capped off what was a really great week for me. My classes went pretty well this week. I actually feel like I’m getting through to my students and they are more interested this year. Also I had an awesome English club Monday evening. I had a group of 7 young women from ages 16 to 24. We pretty much decided this week that I’m going to bring magazines that I have read them and chat. They like to keep it more informal and just hangout instead of a really structured meeting like power points that I had done in the past. Hey less prep for me so I’m not going to argue about it.

Flame throwers/dancers in the center of Lutsk.

Oh, and my biggest news I got my hair did. I finally took the plug and let a Ukrainian cut my hair. One of my 11 form student’s moms has her own little salon. Well it is more like a one room little shop in the basement of the cultural building but none the less it was a pretty legit set up. The lady spoke just a little English. I made sure that before she started my student translated that I DIDN’T want Ukrainian bangs nor did I want a lot taking off. She trimmed it up and gave me some layer so my curls would lay better. Overall, it was a great experience for 20 UAH (Less than $4). I tipped 10 UAH and had to insist that she take it. I’m thinking next cut I might throw in money for some color.

So life is all good from Ukrainian. The middle of this week, I hit a spill of homesickness where I really just wanted a hug from someone. It is strange to think that if I don’t see another American, I can easily go a week or two without real human contact. But I loaded up this weekend when I was with my American crew. I hope everyone is well at home. Know that I love and miss you all.

Kate

PS Happy 11th month anniversary of being in Ukraine to me.

September is a time of remembering. On September 11th, 2001, I was merely a freshmen going to my second period class when a friend mentioned something happening to the towers in New York. I can remember walking into a classroom watching the footage of the first smoking tower with Katie Couric’s voice in the back ground. That day lives were tragically lost. Forever on this date, I’ll keep the families and friends of all the victims in my prayers.

September is my favorite month. When I was a kid this was the time of year that I felt settled into the routine of school. The weather cools down as well as the humidity normally disappears. In high school, my Friday nights would be consumed with cheering as loud as possible at whatever high school field the battle was taking place at. Oh, how I miss football games and cheering on my teams: Grey Ghosts, Cardinals, and Da Bears.

In Ukraine, it is also the time of the year for alot of canning and jarring. This is apple compote in the making.

September is the best month to mow the yard (one of my favorite things to do). All you need is a pair of old shoes, crappy jeans, and a t-shirt. Leaves start to change colors on the trees. A drive up Route 6 is very beautiful as well as up 29 along the river. Sitting outside and watching leaves fall and blow by is great in late September.

September is my birthday month. I get to celebrate being one year older with family and friends. Birthdays have been quite hopping for me this year. I had a great time celebrating last weekend with Peace Corps friends. Then yesterday, was a teacher at school’s 55th birthday. That is at the age one can retire from teaching if desired and that means one big birthday bash. Next weekend is another two PCVs’ birthdays so there will be another get together while cheering at a local soccer game. My pops’ birthday will wrap up the month on the 28th with a big 57th birthday. Don’t worry dad you will remain 52 at least until you hit 60.

The large spread in the cafeteria for the big 55th bday party.

Currently it is sunny Sunday morning here in Kivertsi. I have enjoyed my bowl of cereal, read a little in my B-I-B-L-E (like the kid’s song), and now just rocking out to some Christian music as I update the ole blog. I need to get some lesson planning done for my classes tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll have my second meeting with my Ukrainian tutor. He was a friend of two previous volunteers in my town and will hopefully be able to help me step it up when it comes to my skills with this tough as nails language.

My 5 rules and Phone Jail that helps me keep my students in line.

I had some classes this week. My normal schedule will start tomorrow with 5th-11th forms. I will also make some guest appearances in the younger classes because they are so curious about the strange American that eats in the cafeteria unlike most of the other teachers. The classes I did have this week went surprisingly well. I’m excited about this new school year and plan to get more involved. As soon as the gym repairs are finished I want to start an afternoon sports club for girls. I also want to have two groups for English clubs as well as continue working with the town’s social program and putting on English club for people who are above 11th form.

Feel like I’m finally settling in, about time considering I have been here almost 11 months. Well I hope everyone is fabulous back in the states. Now that my summer traveling is over, I have more time to write letters especially during free periods at school. So keep those letters coming. Love you and miss you all.

An early Happy Birthday to my good friend Brianne "Maria" Parra. Hope you don't get to 'hammered' on Tuesday. Welcome to the 24 club.

Just some of the mail I got this week.

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday dear meeeee, Happy birthday to me!!! I am officially 24 years old. Don’t necessarily feel it. I can say with confidence that I’ll always be young at heart, or at the very least inappropriate.

So this is how my birthday week went:

Monday & Tuesday:

Last official summer days. Tried to settle back into site after traveling around on my trip.

Wednesday:

First Bell. It is a Ukrainian tradition to have the 1st graders announced and presented with gifts from the 11th graders who are the oldest in the school. Education officials made some speeches. At the end of it all, an 11th grader boy hoisted a 1st grade girl on his shoulder walked around while she rang the “first” bell of the new school year.

School year kickoff party. I went to a local restaurant with 26 teachers (I think there is 30 in all at my school) to celebrate another school year. We ate and drank for the first two hours and then hit the dance floor. At this point, some of my school teachers are a little tipsy and ready to bust a move. I satisfied them calling me to the dance floor with a little shakin’ what my mom gave me. I eventually requested Lady Gaga, “poker face” then followed. It was too funny to see teachers from late20s to late 50s getting their grooves on all at 3pm in a brightly lit banquet hall.

The Ukrainian circle that they love to dance in.

Thursday:

Got a small run in during drizzly weather in the morning. Then for the rest of the day organized my room and had a fabulous time doing that because yes mom I’m that anal. (I didn’t have school because my vice principle told me not to come in until Monday because the schedule wasn’t ready yet.)

Friday:

First dry day of the week so I took advantage of the sunshine by doing 3 weeks worth of dirty clothes by hand and then getting them out on the line.

I got into Lutsk by 5pm met up with my most local volunteers went out for some drinks then dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Drinks at Madagascar in a very African setting and then home to get a good night’s rest.

Saturday:

Chocolate pancakes for breakfast. A little second hand shopping. Gathering of volunteers coming into Lutsk at the cheapest/most tasty pizza place. Pre-gaming with birthday vodka. Awesome Ukrainian restaurant for dinner. Energy drink at our rented flat before the madness of a Ukrainian club. Bed 4amish.

Meet your very friendly Ukrainian Peace Corps Volunteers.

Sunday (my actually birthday):

Plenty of sleeping in. Ukrainian lunch. Turned in the key for our rented flat. Birthday Brownie surprise at Melissa’s apartment. Home at 7pmish for palmente cooked by yours truly and a movieathon before bed.

Today:

School for tea, cookies and candies with my teachers. Figured out my schedule with my vice principle. Got an amazing package of board games that will work awesome for ENG club from Tink. Now just hanging out and might possibly go for a walk since the sun is actually peaking through the clouds.

Thank you everyone who sent me a package, card, or face book message for my birthday. Being away from home isn’t preferred on birthdays but this one was definitely special in Ukraine. Miss you and love you all.

Me and My Best-y (Allison) here in Ukraine.

Highs of Birthday: brownies, being told I was very Liz Lemon, dancing, & great crew of people to spend it with.

Kate

My trip was great. I traveled around to five new countries with my Peace Corps friend Allison and her sister. We stayed in hostels and for the most part did the trip on the cheap. Each city had its own personality as well as interesting characters. It was a great two and half weeks spent with many memorable moments.

Here is a bullet point list of some of them. When I eventually make it home ask and I’m sure I can give you more details of to what it was like. (Check out Facebook for all the photos)

Budapest, Hungary:

Dancing at the Club until 3 something to popular American songs we didn’t know

Hot, intense march up to Buda Castle

Enjoyed the beautiful scenes of the Danube

Zagreb, Croatia:

Ate a lot of delicious Italian food

Religious holiday so closed museums but hoping café life near our hostel

Gin Rummy with a cute Australian guy

Vienna, Austria:

Royal Place of the Austria-Hungary Empire

Belvedere Palace and gardens

Sisi Museum and Apartment

St. Stephan’s Church

Night Film Festival at City Hall & International Food

Prague, Czech Republic:

Propaganda Pub & Pub with taps at each individual table

Prague Castle, St. Charles Bridge, Lennon Wall

Great Free Walking Tour

Delicious bohemian goolash

Awesome Romanian, Australian, and New Zealander fellow travelers

Krakow, Poland:

American like amenities of Poland

Two more good free walking tours

‘Schinder’s List’ movie sites

Market Square

St. Mary Church

Tour of Auschwitz Concentration and Death Camp

Got back to Ukraine this past Friday after 14 hours of travel and for the distance we had to travel that’s roughly 17mph. Now, I’m trying to settle back into Ukrainian life. I got a lot of laundry to do. Feel like I need to give my room a good cleaning and organizing before the school year starts.

Can’t believe summer is of 2010 is over. Crazy how fast time flies. Hope everyone back home had a good one. Miss you all.

Kate

Super salty and oily but wonderful.

Thoughts:

People’s lives don’t stop when you leave.

I will be 24 in less than a month, crazy.

Puking on people isn’t that big of deal on Ukrainian transportation.

Summer weather here has turned me into a Diet Coke addicted (by that I mean 3 a

week).

Think this looks bad, it has faded alot.

I miss: driving in whitey with the windows down, ice, soft clothes from a dryer, my mom’s horrible but hilarious laugh, eating apple sauce with Fritos reclined in crappy chair watching a $1 movie rental in my living room, Pearce, my dad asking me what my “agenda” for the day is, good hugs, Mexican food and Chicago style pizza, mowing the yard, beds long enough for me, singing at church.

I don’t miss: the dogs next door in Berwyn, having to put gas in my car, people around me being able to understand my cell phone conversations, traffic, Cardinal fans, FOX news, humid central Illinois summer weather.

My house has a straight line to the Kremlin.

Biggest frustration: living in a house and feeling like I’m an unwanted house guest.

Biggest challenge: learning Ukrainian or should I say being motivated enough to learn it.

Overall High Thus Far: having a better understand of myself.

Overall Low: not being in two places at once. I’m an absent daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt and friend.

My thrown away old, holey zip-lock washed and hung on the line by my babusci.

Numbers

1,000+: sunflower seeds I’ve consumed this summer

169: mail sent

125: mail received

100+: pages I read yesterday

66: Ukrainian verbs made into flash cards

36.5: % of service I’ve completed

24: days til school starts

4: shots of vodka that were forced on me at lunch yesterday

3: movies I watched yesterday (Return to Me, Casablanca, Cool Hand Luke)

2: showers that I’ve taken in a 7 day period

0: real haircuts I’ve gotten

Somethings never change, I'm still rockin' the fro look.

Learned

Germs don’t exist in Ukraine. You get sick from drafts, not wearing a hat, and sitting on cold surfaces. Vodka cures all: sickness, boredom, loneliness, anything.

No matter how many people are on a bus, they can (and will) get more on it.

Ukrainian Overnight Train Ticket $9

2 McDonald Supersize Cokes $2

5th generation iPod $300

4 Bottles of Vodka $20

No money on Life phone $0

Memorable night on the train and the ability to give a thumbs up after being thrown up on by a drunk Ukrainian stranger…

PRICELESS

This past week I traveled back to my training village to visit with Allison. I had a really good time with my favorite village people but we will get back to that later.

I had a 9:10pm train from Kiev arriving in Kivertsi at 6am in the morning. Allison had left on an afternoon train so I hung around the Peace Corps office. Mc Donald’s is right by the train station so I figure take advantage of the ability to get a drink with ice in it and get another Supersized Coke or as I said to the lady dosha valeke (very big) coco cola. Boarded the train 20 minutes before it was suppose to leave. I was unfortunate to get one of the short beds that run parallel with the aisle.

I got comfortable and read until about 11 o’clock. Eventually, I put my stuff away grabed my Ipod to drown out the snoring of some old guy who was across the aisle from me. I’m almost asleep on my side with my head facing the side of the train when a guy stumbles against the set of beds I’m sleeping in. At the same time, I feel a liquid hit my shoulder, back and bed.

Yep, I just got puked on. The guy was attempting to get to the end of the car where there is a bathroom but was like 1/3 of the car length to short. In the next section, the lady in the same spot as me got booted on too. I sat up and was like seriously. Luckily, I had a shirt at the top of my backpack so grabbed it and changed. Then I striped the sheets of the bed because they both had absorbed this man’s digested dinner and vodka.

I walked to the end of the train car to ask the train person for a new set, they were fresh out. Went back to my bed and was like I have to text someone this crazy Peace Corps story. Unfortunately, I hadn’t put money on my phone so my story would have to wait until morning to share. The rest of the night I sat there in 90 degree heat and puke stank having to go the bathroom but not wanting to go into the bathroom where the guy probably had gotten sick all over.

It was gross when it first happened then I quickly was like this is a pretty good story. I’m overall thankful I had an extra shirt and the fact I was sleep on my side facing in. If not I would have been unlucky enough to have it splatter on my face. Always a silver lining.

So back to visiting the village. My host family apparently on vacation in Crimea (looks like plans for me coming to visit were lost in translation somehow.) I did get to see the daughter of the babusci because she had to come back for work. So we caught up as much as we could with my horrible language skills. The rest of the time I spent hanging out with Allison’s host family who I was pretty close with in training. The best day was Friday when we went out to the river on the outside of town, swam and had a BBQ.

Now, I’m back at my site hanging out until the 10th when I will travel through Eastern Europe with Allison and her sister who is flying to Budapest from Chicago. Hope everyone is well at home and they are enjoying the last part of summer. Miss you all.

Kate

Hey Everyone,

I'm just sitting around in my free time thinking of new activities for my classes and English clubs. English reading materials are hard to come by as well as American games.

This is where I'm recruiting your help. I am asking anyone who is willing to send me magazines from this summer. Don't feel the need to go buy anything whatever you have on your coffee table will be fabulous. Really anything from Sports Illustrated, People, National Graphic, Shape, Men's Health, Automobile, magazines for younger kids, really anything.

I want to use them with the younger kids in 3rd and 4th all the way to people in their 20s who come to my English club that I have. You can send them in a flat large envelope for around $10.

If you really want to help my students and me out any UNO, Scrabble, Catch Phrase, Taboo, Monopoly or any other games would be absolutely amazing and provide a fun way to practice their English. So check your closets, dust them off and send this way. I know sending a pack of UNO cards cost around $5. Other games will be more but remember to just send the necessities don't worry about the original boxes. It will be greatly used and appreciated.

Hope everyone is well and your summer weather isn't hot as mine. Miss you all and thanks in advance for anything you send.

Kate

WRITE BOTH ADDRESSES

(otherwise it takes an extra time)

Кeйт Шмідт

A/Я 13

Bул. Шевченка 8

м. Ківерці

Волинська обл.

Україна 45200

Kate Schmidt

PO BOX 13

8 Sevchenka St.

Volynska Oblast

Kivertsi, Ukraine

45200