From the West to the East...

I need to update you on a few things from the last few weeks. Let's start off by acknowledging the fact that it is winter in Ukraine officially. Today it is snowing really hard. I started my day on an overnight train from Lugansk for the Thanksgiving holiday. As we (John, Arden and I) we entering into the Sumska oblast we notice the snow on the ground. When I arrived into Konotop there wasn't any snow but shortly thereafter it started snowing and now it looks like a blizzard! It is really beautiful actually. I am not a big fan of snow and cold but it is a pretty picture.

It is already getting dark and it is only 330pm. That is the downfall of winter in Ukraine....much shorter days. I was in Lugansk and watching the sunset at 330pm was just a little depressing but such is life. Only 3 more months of this and the sun will start coming up at 330am!

I spent the weekend in Beregova 2 weekends ago in the Karpatski oblast doing some marathon planning. Another volunteer there is putting on their 3rd annual marathon and she requested some assistance. I think it will be a lot of fun. And it is a good thing bringing a marathon to her area because she lives in a very beautiful little town close to the border of Hungary.

Lugansk for Thanksgiving was the next best thing to spending it with my family and friends. We had a lot of laughs and we had so much food. It started in Konotop on Thursday with my English club. Everyone brought in a dish and we had a real thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving day. Then we headed to Lugansk on an overnight train and had another feast. Friday we made some salsa from scratch and some quessadillas and had a little mexican treat followed by delicious spaghetti in red sauce and spaghetti in pesto and then some awesome date and chocolate chip cake for the November birthday gang (Arden and myself). Saturday was our official Thanksgiving dinner feast with Turkey, mashed potatoes, salad, apple, pumpkin walnut concoction, three pies, stuffing, delicious homemade gravy and much much more...it was fantastic. A little tast of home.

And just a little update on my actual volunteer work. I had a break through with the Blind organization last week. It seems that they have now figured out how difficult it is to write a grant and they are requesting more time to write it and they now understand the civic educational component of it and they are willing to do some real research and work with lawyers to help with the legislative part of the project. I think I have time now that we can learn how to manage an NGO together which will be a lot of fun for us.

I have another project idea for our Unemployment Center. For those of you who know about Streetwise Partners in the states I think we can duplicate that program and do it here in Ukraine. Empowering women in and out of the workforce. It is a great idea and my contact at our Unemployment Center loves it!

This and some side projects is enough for me for now. I feel like a real volunteer now..."sigh"

To all my friends and family...I missed you on Thanksgiving Day but I was with you and you were with me in spirit. I love and miss you and I am thankful for each and everyone of you!

This Just In: ATM Eats American's Money...

When you are at the ATM and your money comes out GRAB IT! Don't stand around messing with your wallet. Well I did that and guess what...ATM Ate My Money!!! So I am hanging out for a few days until I can get it back. You would think I would be mad about this thing but after the first 5 minutes I couldn't do anything but laugh. I went to the bank to see how I could handle this situation and they were on break...for another 1/2 hour. GREAT. I needed to grab my counterpart so she could help me with the bank attendant as that conversation was going to be really difficult.

Tonight I went to the Ukrainian version of a home interior party. AMWAY is a big thing over here. I didn't mess with it much in USA because it was too expensive well it isn't cheap here either. It was a good time though. We watched a presentation with food and then we got to eat it and that is always fun. It was all in Russian and I understood some of what was going on.

Things are a little bumpy with the blind project. Just when you think you have all the answers reality comes in. But we had a strong meeting today and I think things have turned around for the better. I knew this would be hard. I have never written a grant nor have I helped an NGO improve their organization and this organization has never written a grant so it is kind of like the blind leading the blind! I really want something to work out. And I know that they are encouraged to do something as well we will just have to keep working at what that something is.

Heading to a town called Ujgorod this weekend. For a little rest and relaxation.

"When the sky is darkest you can see the stars"

I spent a wonderful few days in my new life in Ukraine this past weekend. Friday was birthday and I had an opportunity to see how integrated I am in my town. There are some really amazing people in this town and I have built a nice family around me here. I spent time with Alla, Lena and Posha, Oksana, Luda, Diana, my director and of course my American friends on Friday night for some cake at my apartment. The cake came from one of our Technical School's cooking class. Alla had set up a lunch with them onThursday and they made me a big beautiful cake. It was the perfect way to invite my new Ukrainian friends to my house! We had a small dinner party at work on Friday as well to celebrate me, my director and another colleague that had birthdays this month. Of course vodka was involved and it got way too crazy too early but it was a great time.

I received some great gifts from these amazing people. They gave me a nice plate and sugar bowl that says "My Ukraine", a bag, flowers and a decorative bowl (and a really nice but creepy card - that is for you Rose!). It was way too much and an absolute surprise. I had no idea. All this time I feel disconnected in this experience and on this day I realize that maybe I am touching these people as much as they are touching me.

Thank you to my wonderful friends and family and to my new friends in Ukraine!

Social Workers Day

After Jud's celebration I had a work event on Friday night. It was social worker's day on Wednesday and since I work for the Department of Labor and Social Welfare I went to a party on Friday that was put on by my work. We rented a cafe and had lots of food and of course VODKA. It was a good time. After all the shots of vodka it really didn't matter that I didn't speak the language. The language of drunkiness is universal. We played some games after we ate (for example...paper skiis, pop your opposing teams balloons, make a paper airplane as a couple using only one hand each). It was a good time. After all of that we started dancing and that is all she wrote. Across the way another party was going on and some of us (myself included) went over there to make new friends. I left at 1030pm and the party was still jumping. I have a limitation with my Ukrainian friends especially when I work with them!

Over the weekend I just chilled out. I have been moving and shaking for several weeks so I needed it. I went to the bazaar on Saturday morning and did some shopping. There is something really nice about perusing the bazaar and buying food and products out in the open and from people who know you by your first name. I even got a carrot for free this time. And there was a presentation going on with a vegetable peeler. I was even standing there in amazement because I haven't used a vegetable peeler in 7 months. So I bought one because he started using it on cabbage and I hate cutting cabage but peeling cabbage...well there you go. So I buy it for 15 UAH not at all bad. I get home and what do I find? I find the vegetable peeler that I brought from the USA. Oy!

Unfortunately, my weekend of relaxation was at the cost of not spending the weekend with some good friends I have met here. Group 35 PCV is going home this week and we had a party for them in a nearby town. Two people are leaving and even though I just saw them I felt bad for not going and hanging out. I will see one of them in Kiev on Wednesday but I still missed out. What I have learned here is that entirely too much goes on that takes you away from site. I literally could spend every weekend somewhere else! I don't think that is what PC wants.

I was productive this weekend. I finished up the lesson plans for the next three English classes and then I am done teaching English...YAY! Not for me!

Happy Birthday Jud!

There once was a man who came to Ukraine

America he did depart

He opened up his mind and his heart

There once was a man who came to Ukraine

So many lives he did touch
All about America, he knows so much

There once was a man who came to Ukraine

to so many he taught English

for him to stay in Ukraine they do wish

There once was a man who came to Ukraine

A man so patient and so kind

Thinks of all else, himself left behind

There once was a man who came to Ukraine

A great, great man

I could be his biggest fan

There once was a man who came to Ukraine

And Konotop he did live

Everything he had, he did give...

November 1st was Jud's birthday and his friends in Konotop threw him a nice party tonight and they invited me. It was a very nice celebration. They said so many wonderful things about him. Jud is a great man and I am delighted to have met him.

Happy Birthday Jud!

Your friend always,

Kim