One Month...

I can't believe that its already been about a month since I left the states.  I guess I can update with some pictures.  But first off, let me update with what we've been doing.  Nothing is very new on my end.  I've been doing four hours of Russian language and lesson planning, teaching children from the 7th form.  Its been very rewarding, strenuous, long days, ups and downs.  But its been a quite interesting experience so far! 

My host sisters like to have barbeques on the weekend.  I've been lucky to get acquainted to many of their friends.  And they are fun to listen to speaking Russian.  Olya and Christina (the two on the left side are my host sisters).

One of the great things about being a different country is getting to taste the food here.  Sometimes I feel like I 'm Anthony Bourdain.  But this is the family having dinner at our LCF Zhenya's (Language teacher) apartment.  We are having a dish called "Galupsee" - or cabbage rolls.  It was so bomb!  But this is the cluster and  our LCF Zhenya, and TCF Yana.

One of the clustermates Danny who likes to kill the flies.  Here he is with a kill. 

Next, we do some touring of the nearby chity of Chernihiv.  Here was last week when we went to the museum and walked around.

This is me on the rampart on Shevchenko monument.  Messing around...on our free day.

Here are some pictures of our village...the good ol' Staryi Bilous.  Its name translates to the old white mustache.  I love it.  

This one of the two shops we have in our village.  The Harchi is one of main spots we like to get our juice boxes and bread from...also cookies!

Best believe that faimlies walk their animals DAILY, just like America!  I even went on a goat walk with Jackie and her Babushka.  No pictures tho...maybe next time.

Big kids need their juice boxes too!

This is from last night.  We had a family dinner for Zhenya's goodbye...We are getting a new LCF for three weeks.  Its sad, but not goodbye.  

Yeah, don't worry this is suppose to feed 7 people.  But this is only about half the amount of food that was for dinner.

The last to pictures were from our little jokes that we have accumulated over the month.  I swear we were laughing for a good 20 minutes straight.  Anyways....

Enjoy..... Update will prolly be in a couple weeks because I want to start spittin Russian.  Dos Vidanya homies!

Week 2

Its about the ending of week 2 here in Ukraine.  Its starting to get cold.  I'm doing well though.  Its still difficult to communicate to the whole world except the other PCVs.  I'm currently in the city of Chernihiv, northern Ukraine.  We are in McDonalds hitting up the WiFi.  Its been quite an interesting experience.  Getting a lot more busy, but I'm glad that I have some people that I can just laugh it off with.  The Ukrainian culture has been quite hospitable, and I only wish I can retaliate with help, and gratitude.  The only thing wearing on me is that I can't communicate effectively like I could in the states.  I feel that once I get get my language in check, I'll get my personality back as well.
Our cluster will begin English teaching tomorrow.  This is our first lesson, so it'll be fun, and we'll see how much we need to improve.  Hahaha....
One thing I'm definitely keeping in mind these days, with the challenges I face, is that you have to revel in the small accomplishments.  I just keep telling myself that I'm not doing to learn Russian in two weeks...I've still got a lot more to go, but be happy that I can at least understand more than I did last week.  I'm starting to understand some of the things my host family is saying to me, and I'm sure they are happy that I understand that.

Untill next time....Dos Vidaniya!