The past month has whirled by through a series of visits (mostly), trips(one maybe two) and experiences that it's hard to remember what has happened. I always find when I get truly busy I have a hard time sitting down to write a journal, and thus, I normally don't write until so much has passed I feel like I can't catch up with everything that has gone by so quickly.
Let's start with what has happened since April in the event category. I travelled down to Drohobych where my friend Linnea lives to work a day camp for kids of like middle school to high school age. The day went well and it was my first experience in country working with any kids older than 7th grade which I enjoyed. Plus, there were a lot of volunteers from my group who showed up to work so I felt like we had done our part to add to an oblast friendly attitude. We played games and did learning activities and I felt like it was a good use of time. I enjoyed being with the kids and being able to recapture a part of myself I only really let out in the camp atmosphere. I think it's probably that I'm used to running around like an idiot whenever I'm at Lac du Bois so it makes it helpful here. Another volunteer who had brought her students had commented that her students said, "Kari has duracel batteries in her." Which I found amusing. I also got to see the fruits of my friend Matt's labours as he has taught one of his students to say "Suns out Guns out!"
After this, the visits began, on Thursday Meaghan another volunteer from Kyivska Oblast arrived. we had a blast being able to hang out before all teh rest of the people got there. The thing I like about having people visit is it gives me an excuse to play tourist in my own town. In all honesty, I don't get around Lviv that much. I stay at work most days and do a little walk around my neighborhood everyday but other than that I don't go into center but on the weekends. So I got to take lots of pictures and do some SHAMELESS people watching, which was in all honesty at a prime. The others all arrived into Lviv on Saturday, it was Meaghan Trout's bday and we took advantage of the long weekend for labour day to relax and spend time with one another. I had a great time with everyone. Though somedays I doubt my prowess as a hostess. It's hard for me to know what people may like to see in town. There are lots of churches, etc. But as far as anything other than just walking around the city I'm generally at a loss. The weekend was great, plus it was the "rascal" festival and so there were tents and concerts etc. all weekend!
After everyone had left from Lviv, my host sister and her French guyfriend came to visit Lviv. Things that make my head go crazy, trying to speak French, English and Ukrainian in one nite. it was as always great to see my host sister and meet her friend. The weekend after another group of about ten people came to Lviv for city day celebrations. The weekend was again crazy and organizing and trying to make everything work was tough. But we had a successful dinner party at my place and I enjoyed the weekend despite the rain.
This past weekend I went to a town about 3 hours North of me to celebrate the birthdays of some fellow PCVs and had a great time meeting more new people and catching up with people who I had seen in awhile.
Now let's see on the work front. Things are good and busy and good and busy. I'm working a lot writing tests, etc. for the end of the year. And I feel like I"m doing ok. I've become so tired that sometimes I feel like I"m somewhat impatient with the kids, but I"m trying my best to remain calm and have it work out ok for the end of the year. My first graders have taken to mob hugging me, which is cute and funny and generally funny. I like seeing all the kids in the hallway and saying hello and passing out stickers. I'm working with my director in English which has been nice. And she's offered me to take tennis with her tennis instructor. I've had about 5 lessons so far and am enjoying it.
Tennis class is something out of the story books in all honesty. I take lessons from one man who is older by older I mean I think his track suit is my age and his nephew or asst. or both I can't really figure it out. nevertheless, they are hysterical. The younger one who is probably in his 40s wants to learn English so he asks me to translate when he has a question, not too long ago he asked me what "Be Chill!" means. I told him it was something along the lines of take a rest. And so his next comment to me was, "OK, we will play 20 minutes then we will be chilll, then we will play, then we will be chill." Trying not to laugh during this encounter was extremely tough. THe older man, who I'm supposed to call Meister, tells me he likes my smile everytime we play.
My friend Irene, with whom I was speaking French moved to Congo about two weeks ago. I'm sad to have her go. We had a great going away/50th bday celebration at her house where a middle aged ukrainian man named Andriy asked me to dance and then told me I was a "perfect dancer" and followed it up with "you are like butterfly."
My friends Dan and Lesya had their baby! I'm excited for when I will be able to meet said baby! I'm going to try and let the schedule for both them and me calm down a bit and probably give them a call when summer comes. they're moving into an apt. and I'm sure have TONS of things on their plate!
I had a great dinner two weeks ago with my friends Linda and Christi Anne, fabulous Thai Food and company of course. I always love hanging out with them. It feels homey and comfortable.
My small Lviv family of expats will soon be supplemented by the addition of a new volunteer here in lviv, though from what I've heard said newbie will be in New Lviv which is like a 30 min bus ride from center and thus not close to me or Scott. The new training group will be sworn in in Mid-June and then will be out to site in no time.
Let's see what else, what else, I'm enjoying the many joys of spring time flowers and produce and loving that I don't have to wear a coat outside except for very recentely when there has been non-stop rain.
In other news, I started FINALLY my Ukrainian lessons just yesterday. I'll be taking two lessons a week with a teacher here at teh school, Lilia. I'm excited and feel like I'll finally be able to make some progress in the language. I know my skills have dropped off since training, but at the same time other skills in terms of confidence have grown. So there you have it.
In the coming months, I'll be on the road and so won't be checking emails etc. too often. My friend Aida from Lac du Bois arrives in just a week now and we will be headed to Kyiv together and then when she heads to Western Europe I'll be heading down south and going to Chernivtsi to do a camp with Joe for a week. From there, I'll head back to Lviv. I'm hoping at some point to head to Nosivka to see my host family but it's hard to find the time. After that summer will be in full swing! Thank goodness!!!!!
I suppose that's all for now.
hugs and kisses to all
this is my winter song
12 years ago
