Making my way…

Wow, what a rush! I went down to Odessa to celebrate thanksgiving and I counted it up…it took me 9 buses, 2 trains and one car via hitchhiking, 215 greeven (apprx. $43), and over 47 hours of traveling in less than 6 days. It was exhausting, dirty (I didn’t shower at all while I was gone) and sometimes stressful, but it is one of my absolute favorite Peace Corps memories so far.

I started by visiting Emily’s village outside of Odessa, where I got to meet her amazing host mother and sister. We didn’t stay too long though, as it took almost half a day to get the 80 or so kilometers to Eileen’s. She also lives in a tiny village about two hours outside of Odessa. There is only one bus daily to/out of her village and on Sundays it takes the day off. The neighbors down the street graciously offered a live turkey for our feast, and we all got to watch them kill it. I was a little squeamish, but strangely glad to meet my meal and see that it led a good life.

We spent all day Saturday cooking and preparing the meal. The power went out just as we put the turkey in the oven, but fortunately came on an hour later. Friends and family from home had sent stuffing mixes, cranberry sauce, and pudding mixes. There were about 20 of us that eventually sat down to dinner and it was just plain awesome.

Coming back to my town was interesting, as the train only stopped at a town about two hours away from mine. But after a few buses, I finally made my way home. Then it was time to focus all energy on preparing for my birthday. In Ukraine, you pay for and prepare your own birthday celebration. Everyone else toasts you and wishes you well. Instead of cake, I made lasagna and an apple pie for everyone at work. They made me feel so special, presenting me with a card, yarn and knitting needles so I can learn to knit socks, and a doormat for my apartment. Then they wished me happiness and a long, healthy life. It was quite touching! =)

Now I am trying to catch my breath, but it’s unlikely. There is so much to be done! I hope the holidays are going well for you all, thank you for your thoughts!

So I got bangs. I was visiting my host mother on Sunday and after she gave her father a haircut, I felt a sudden urge to make a change. So now I have bangs. And I think I rather like them.

I’m excited about

my trip to Odessa for Thanksgiving and I come bearing gifts. I couldn’t possibly need all the things the other volunteers left me with (extra coffee press, clothes, movies, etc.) so I am hauling them on a 16 hour train ride and 4 hours worth of buses to spread the wealth =) It will be good to be around other Volunteers because I think I am starting to lose my perspective on what’s normal where I come from.

When my parents were here I had to ask them if it was legal to walk around outside with a bottle of beer. I couldn’t remember. None of the stunningly large fur coats, undoubtedly only moments before were eating and breathing, seem to faze me anymore. I am mildly contemplating purchasing one for myself…

I don’t think it strange to wear the same outfit for a week, or bring my own toilet paper wherever I go and then pay for the right to use it. Wearing long underwear inside during work hours is just what you do, as well as carry a flashlight if you plan to be outside after 4:00pm. I bought rubber gloves so my hands don’t go numb while doing my laundry and dishes, a giant can of RAID to demolish my overnight guests in my kitchen, and understandably wait in line for at least twenty minutes for just about anything (and graciously allow eight people the right to go ahead of me). I’ve come to terms with the fact that depending on the person working, stamps to send letters home can be 3.35gr, or maybe 3,40gr, and yes, I have seem them as high as 3.50gr. True, it could be inflation, but that would require them to continue increasing over time, not merely dispensed randomly regardless of letter weight, time of year or destination. I am okay with this because I see it as normal. And perhaps there is something I am missing?

So some may call it cultural adjustment, and others perhaps just losing perspective. Either way, from what I can see as I peek out from my newly sheared fabulous bangs, is a world that is slowly starting to make sense to me.

Times they are a-changin in the Donetsk Oblast! Katie and Travis, my sitemates, have left Ukraine for the next part of their lives and new volunteers (more English teachers) will be here at the end of next month. The snow was exciting while it lasted, but now it’s just about 40 degrees and rainy. I’m glad my mother brought me waterproof boots or I would be mumbling profanities with each step.

I’m excited for Thanksgiving as I’m headed down to Odessa to teach a career building course to 11th formers (graders) and spend some time with other volunteers. We are teaching in Russian, so that should be interesting. I’m sure they will ask me what I want to be when I grow up, so maybe I should put some thought into that! I will only be down there a few days, then it’s back to Slavyansk to spend the entire month of December (Christmas and all) immersing myself in the community. Although it’s difficult to be away from my friends and family this time of year, I’m excited to see how Ukrainians celebrate the holidays.

The picture is of me cracking an egg at the Rehabilitation Center. Yes, the pictures are usually of me because I haven’t perfected my Russian disclaimer for people to sign so I can post their face on the World Wide Web. I’m working on it. Anyway, we made lasagna last Saturday and they LOVED it. And we did it in a microwave. How’s that for cross-cultural sharing and being flexible???

I apologize that this post is bez-photograph.  Flickr is not working the way I’d hoped right now.  But anyway…

It snowed about 2-3 inches last night and my little town is covered in a pretty blanket of white.  Even Mr. Lenin himself in our center square is in the winter spirit wearing a little snow-shawl.  It’s gorgeous but proving to be a bit dangerous, as I’ve already seen one car accident and heard of another.  Fortunately both seemed fairly minor, but scary nonetheless!  On a lighter note, snow removal seems…well it just isn’t.  But for those that dare to be extreme, I do see the occasional broom and two-by-four used to clean off steps and sidewalks. 

The cold air (-3 degrees C yesterday) is refreshing and clean.  I LOVE it!   Yes, I’m wearing long underwear under my jeans and sweater, smart wool socks and winter boots (and that’s just sitting inside the libary on the computer) but it’s SO much better than being too hot.  I thought the hot summer would never end, and now I’m happily skidding along the unshoveled sidewalk with red cheeks, frozen hands and a new zest for life.   Anyone want to come visit?