PC Country Director Visit...

This morning, I woke up at 7 am to Skype with Mitchell to plan our Eastern Mediterranean cruise! Two hours later, we hung up (9 am my time, 1 am his time) and I started getting ready for a full day of Ukrainian adventures.

1 hour into the skype call...on the phone with Brenda on Travelocity.

I had to be at the center where I work at 10:30 am for a birthday party. My counterpart's boss, Natalia Constantinovna (who lead the camping trip I went on), was celebrating in true Ukrainian style. I stopped at the store on the way to pick up some chocolate (the go-to birthday gift here in Ukraine). We had realllllllly good cake and candies were passed around. To top it all off, we had a nice, juicy watermelon.

Natalia Constantinovna is in the turquoise outfit playing the guitar. These kids are all a part of the "Image Club" at my center. I have yet to actually figure out what the club is for. I know some of these kids from my camping trip, but I've gotten to know some new ones the past few weeks when they've had a summer day camp at our center. We've had "English" time where they ask me questions about the U.S., what I'm doing here, etc.

I managed to snag a group picture for her birthday! I'm not quite sure why the kids are all wearing white and black today. That is not their normal attire. However, today is flag day (apparently), which is why the gifted me with the Ukraine pin as seen above. I'm also shocked to see how many kids are smiling with teeth in this picture...that's a first!

After leaving the center, I headed to lunch to meet the Country Director of Peace Corps Ukraine, Doug Teschner. There are 8 volunteers that live in my city and only 2 of us were able to join him for lunch, but I'm glad I had the opportunity to do so! He was in Kryviy Rih (south of me) this morning visiting a summer camp going on right now that some of my PC friends are at (Camp Lead I think), and was on his way home to Kiev and would be traveling through K-grad on the way. So, Jasmin and myself headed to Kurchma for some traditional Ukrainian food with the PC Country Director.

Jasmin, Lydia, and Doug--eating at Kurchma

Since my work was not too far away from where we had lunch, I took them over to see it. What I pictured as a short tour quickly turned into an extravagant ordeal involving my counterpart, her boss (Natalia Constantinovna) and the director of the Center for Creative Youth. As some PCVs say, I got Ukrained (meaning you never will know what's going to come at you next).

Doug and I standing outside of my building--the sign is in Ukrainian which I cannot read. That was a tad bit embarrassing when asked what it said :) Oh well, he knows I speak Russian!

from l to r: Jasmin (fellow K-grad PCV), Olena (counterpart), Doug (PC Country Director for Ukraine), Anna Pavlova (Director for Center for Creative Youth where I work), ME!, Natalia Constantinovna (counterpart's boss...and kind of like my other counterpart)

The only person I planned on Doug maybe meeting was my counterpart Olena. But, lo and behold I couldn't find her in the building. So, when I saw Natalia Constantinovna, I introduced them and they started to talk...and it was quickly decided that we would go visit with the director of the Center for Creative Youth where I work and that Olena would be called as well. Before I knew it, we were having multiple pictures taken on multiple cameras (my camera, Doug's camera, Olena's cell phone) and then on top of all that, a professional photographer showed up out of nowhere (he's been taking pictures of the kids all week at their summer day camp). It was hysterical to say the least. To top it all off, a lady magically appeared with a ribbon tied in a bow that the ladies pinned on Doug for flag day. Jasmin and I were giggling to ourselves at all of the events that unfolded in a matter of 10 minutes. Only in Ukraine...

I'm still trying to get my posts ready from my trip down to Camp Bereg...bear with me! I have been exhausted after a week at camp, a less than perfect night's sleep on a train, and fighting a slightly sore throat. Tomorrow is a GIANT holiday in Ukraine (yes, two holidays back to back)--it's their Independence Day. I have to be at work at 9:30 am...and then there are activities until 10 pm. Then on Thursday morning at 4 am, I will head to Kiev for almost a week where I will be attending an Environmental Conference with 6 other PCVs and some Ukrainian university students as well. I'm stoked to learn what things they have to teach us--random side story and then I'll quit.

Ukrainians do not know or understand what a reusable water bottle is. I have two reusable water bottles with me here: this one and this one. I use them both every day. The insulated one keeps water cold for 12 hours. Uh-maze-ing. When I took them on my camping trip, I think every person on the trip asked me at some point what my water bottle was. They thought it was special...or magical...or something only the crazy American girl uses. Since I've been doing English club at the summer day camp at my center for the past few weeks on and off, I (of course) take a water bottle with me. The kids that had not seen it before were SO perplexed by it. It still amazes me. I really want to do some type of project at my Center with Environmental awareness since my eyes have been opened to the fact that these kids have no clue what a reusable water bottle is. Hoping and praying that something great comes out of the environmental conference that I can do at my site! I've rambled enough now. Toodles :)