ТАК НОРМАЛЬНО...

Literal translation: like normal.  The way Ukrainians use it?  Something along the lines of, "Just normal."  {at least that's how I translate it in my head...}

My normal Monday started off at 9 am at the Prilosek Gymnasium (the boarding school I got a special tour of, complete with video...remember?).  Some of my English club girls were in a few dance numbers of this mornings performance.  They invited me to come to the performance (in honor of St. Nicholas day) and I of course was excited to see them dance.  St. Nicholas day is a holiday celebrated here which involves St. Nick leaving chocolates/small gifts under kids pillows...and in my translation, kind of symbolizes that St. Nick is on his way (soon--most Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6/7).  

Olena (counterpart) and I met outside of the building to walk in together.  We were greeted by another teacher that we know (Olga), who quickly handed me off to two of my favorite boys who speak superb English.  They were two of the boys in the video from my tour of Prilosek...so it was fun to get to see them. The students that study at this school are so studious, it puts my college days to shame.  But, that's not what the post is about today!

I'm trying to get a few of the videos to upload right now.  We'll see if they work (I have a million other things that I should be doing right now, like figuring out what I'm doing tomorrow in English clubs...) in time for me to post on the blog.  But for now, a picture will suffice!

Olena, Lydia, Vitalik (from video), Olga, and a random performer who happened to cross by our picture just in time...

After the performance this morning, I learned that Olena was going to meet Lyuda (one of my Ukrainian friends--she went on the EuroTrip with work!  And she does my manicures for me :)) for some beauty school time.  Lyuda is a teacher at the cosmetology school here in K-grad, teaching hair and nails in particular.  She's awesome at both, although I have yet to actually get a haircut since I've been in Ukraine. Shh...

On another note, I gave myself bangs on Saturday night while I was doing my three loads of laundry.

Carrying on...Lyuda starts doing Olena's hair, and eventually it needs to sit for a while, so she starts on my manicure.  But first I snagged a picture of them...

Olena and Lyuda (they will both probably kill me for taking this picture...)

 While Olena's hair was sitting, I got to start mani time.  It's days like this where I wonder if I really am in the PC.  However, I will say that keeping up with your nails over here is definitely like keeping up with the Jones' in the US.  Some ladies and girls change their nail color every day.  I'm lucky if my nails don't have dirt underneath them, let alone have a color on them.  It is one of my goals to learn how to do an actual manicure while I'm over here...and I have a lovely new manicure set from my sister-in-law that I try to fiddle with from my time to time.  I still love it though, Tina :)

getting my nails did.

 Lyuda is in my adult beginner English club...which means I get to practice my Russian a lot when we talk.  I usually learn one new word a day when I hang out with Lyuda...at least that I can remember :)

I wanted one with Lyuda smiling.  Isn't she precious :)

As soon as Lyuda put the base coat on, Olena's hair was ready. Luckily, Lyuda's friend had just showed up who also happens to be a nail guru.  I have yet to take a good picture of the design she did, but it was the most intricate design I've ever seen, done with the TINIEST brush in the world.  I asked for something Christmasy/wintery...and got...

SNOWFLAKES :)  They're hard to see, but I will post better pictures soon...

 So, as I'm waiting for my nails to dry, Lyuda is now done with Olena's hair.  I mentioned that I was going to the gym after this and then would go to work.  When Lyuda heard I was going to the gym, she said, "Oh! I'll braid your hair Lydia!"

Hmm...you mean my messy ponytail at the gym is not kosher?  I had kind of figured that out from mere observation (the Ukrainian women that go to the gym a) don't sweat and b) leave their hair down), but what's the point in fixing my hair for the gym, especially when it's going to get washed an hour later anyway? I didn't want to break Lyuda's heart though, so I obliged and sat while she did the following to my hair. I can now say I have had my first official Ukrainian braid :)

Let's forget about the fact that my hair is on day 2 or 3 of no washing...which translates to lots of hairspray and teasing. Lyuda had to comb through it first, which made the grease show through.  Fail.

After Lyuda finished the braid, she wanted to have a фотосессия, aka: photo-session.   

Lyuda having fun with my camera

End photo-session.

And that, ladies and gents, was my just so average Monday. Work was filled with 2+ hours of making corrections to a translation for an Earth Day festival we have in April.  Google translate only helps so much in situations like that...

And now, it's almost 11 pm and I have to finish cleaning my apartment because tomorrow is our gingerbread house competition at mi casa :) all of the fixings are bought, chili is made, cornbread will be easy to do tomorrow, and I'm ready to laugh with my Ukrainian friends.  They don't know who our secret judge is...but I'll give you a hint.  

Glad I've still got my Photoshop skills.  I expect this to be somebody's new profile pic...and just for the pic, I'll give you a tab.