Better late than never :)

I am home safe and sound after a long hiatus of marshrutka rides, metro rides, bus rides, long and incredibly cold walks in the snow/ice, a visit to my wonderful host family, and most importantly, Russian language refresher!  I arrived home last night and made myself my first bowl of easy mac :)

 

It was phenomenal (thanks Hayley and 'rents!).  It tasted just like home.  

I went to work today and got our summer plans started for numerous summer camps and Europe trips and English clubs. However, today, the subject of the post is on a small victory I obtained:

I finally have a new PO box lock!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has only taken a month for them to find and install a new lock.  The good news?  The key works and I didn't have to pay for it! The bad news?  They only gave me one copy.  I'll be going to get a copy made very soon :)

Waiting for me in my PO box was a package slip (for a package from my bro and sis-in-law!), a letter from my Pops (complete with Zits cartoons and a $5 bill that I plan on showing students tomorrow), and a large squishy envelope from an address I didn't know.  I would normally not be able to contain myself from ripping into all of the packages, but since I had two other things to open, I managed to save my brother and sis' Christmas/birthday package to be opened on a skype date late tonight or tomorrow.

Upon getting home with my loot, I remembered that sweet Lyndsay had told me to be on the lookout for something in the mail.  The mail is still WAY backed up over here and I wondered how long it would take for it to get here.  This is Miss Lyndsay Jain, who in my phone is also known as Tarzan from a summer camp we did together in Toronto :)  Get it?  "Me Tarzan, you Jane."    

 Lynds and I on Senior Recognition Sunday (2010)

Also taking part in the package sending was Lyndsay's sweet boyfriend Matt Schlegel (or Schlegel as I have always called him!).  I have known Schlegel for a long, long time...like maybe since 2005?  I was trying to think back and remember the first time we met and I honestly couldn't remember.  Pretty sure the first trip we traveled on together was Choir Tour 2006 to Washington D.C.

3-d movie...Matt's in the blue striped shirt.

Ever since that trip, I have been all over the United States and Mexico and Canada with him...and Lyndsay accompanied us on a lot of those trips the past few years!

"The date train's a comin', the date train's a comin'..."--Juners 2008

caught in a bit of downpour in Glacier National Park (in Canada!)

at the double Quincieniera in Mexico (with Chris!)

surprise going away party, when I was about to leave for Ukraine...

Anywho, you see how much these two mean to me.  I could continue on, but let's just say that they are two of the sweetest and most genuine people I know.  They both have a love for life that is simply contagious and makes you always want to look on the positive side of things.  So, as I opened up my package, this is what I found...

I instantly recognized their own separate handwritings and was so excited to read their sweet HANDWRITTEN notes inside :)  And boy do they know me well...pics from home and Reese's Pieces?  

Inside the large red envelope (which was the last thing I opened) was one of the sweetest surprises ever:   

a Christmas card signed from a lot of my kiddos and friends at church :)

it made me laugh out loud and smile from ear-to-ear as I read each and every note on it.

Thank you LJ and Schlegel for going to all of the trouble of getting everyone to sign it.  And thank you to everyone who signed the card!  It absolutely made my day!  And let's just say that the Reese's were an added bonus :)

K-grad Snow!

I walked to work today, even though it was SUPER windy outside.  I walked right into the wind for the first 15 minutes of my walk until I turned to go down a side road to my work.  Some of the sights along the way...

An old abandoned building about 4 minutes from my apartment.  I LOVE the striking turquoise of the doors and windows though.  As I was snapping the shot above, two of my favorite puppies came bounding through the snow.

I haven't named him yet.  He's probably 15 pounds if that.  Name ideas will be taken in the comments section.  He screams mischievous. 

This is his pal who also needs a name.  He's a bit bigger than the b&w one.  Maybe 20-25 pounds.   

Adorable.

Freezing and squinty because the snow is pelting my eyes.

A side road on the way to work...

A perfect little snowflake! (smaller than a pencil eraser)

Our snow-plow system: 4 tractors in a row that cause EVERY marshrutka/vehicle on the street to go uber slow.  I was impressed we had the tractors though.  They are on the bridge, and right after I snapped this pic, they caused a giant traffic jam on the main road in K-grad by ALL making a u-turn.  I stood there with my mouth gaping and forgot to snap a picture...

Frozen and snow covered river

Sometimes I walk on the left of the river down that side road.  However, today I needed some buildings for protection from the {Oklahoma like} wind.

Typical Ukrainian car.  Is it a Lada?  Not sure of the brand...

Looking into our courtyard at work.  Those are our two buses that I've seen put to use once (when I went on my week-long camping trip).

the spot behind me on the left is where the circus' always come set-up (about a 5 or 6 minute walk from my apartment).  There was a circus here less than a week ago...can't imagine how cold it would be to sit and watch with the temps in the teens.

Word of the Day:

ПОДТВЕРЖДАТЬ--to confirm

This word is hard to pronounce in Russian...but it can be used relatively often when you need to confirm a spot on a bus or to confirm a reservation.  Happy happy Friday :)

kids playing outside of my work on a giant block of ice...

P.S.  I finished the last of my queso tonight. I have eaten Mexican food once a day since last Saturday (minus Wednesday).  Can't wait til the next time I use my precious Velveeta :)

SNOWSNOWSNOWSNOW

Yesterday I was in a funk.  Don't know why or how, but most of the evening I was in a major, superdedooper funk.  Maybe because I ate half a bag of Reese's Pieces.  Whatever the reason, after some journaling, praying, reading, and talking to my parents, I went to bed feeling decent.

When I woke up today, I could see the snow falling :)  From my bed, it looked like it was blowing sideways.  I was right.  That made me even less inclined to get out of my incredibly warm bed into my cold room...and go work out.  So, I skipped.

Snow on my windows on my balcony...

From the kitchen window...

It's pretty small, fine snow...but as I look out the window now, the snowflakes are beginning to look bigger...which is perfect because I want to snap some pictures.

Enjoy the video below.  I thought I'd give y'all a view out of my kitchen window and two dogs found a cat hiding under a car.  I hope my favorite dogs around the city are staying safe and warm somewhere.

Happy, happy Friday :)



And to make you laugh today, a post from Pinterest that made me laugh out loud.

Way-Back-Wednesday #17: Happy Birthday, Kym!

Today's Way-Back-Wednesday post doesn't go too far back because every picture available for today's post only comes from my time in Ukraine!  However, there are definitely some good pictures and stories to tell with the photo montage.

Meet Kym. 

also known as Kira, Ken, Kim, and a slew of other names. My fave: Kymmy Gibbler.

Kym Starno, one of my bestest friends in the PC, was in the training village next to mine.  I will never forget the first time my cluster group met her cluster group.  We had probably been in country a week and a half.  The Kozelets group (Kym's cluster) was coming to our village that day for a lesson.  As we sat in our teacher's apartment with the windows open, we heard a very strange noise slowly getting louder and louder.  Turns out the noise was coming from four incredibly loud and boisterous girls and their lone guy of the group, Matt.

The Kozelets group: Kym, Anne, Mary-Kathryn, Matt, and Maria in the front

I thought I wrote a blog entry about "how sweet the Kozelets group was" but I couldn't find it just now.  If I did in fact write one of those entries, at the time I was probably lying.  The first session that we were all together I didn't say one word the entire hour.  They were so overwhelming and so completely polar opposite my training cluster.  I can remember letting out my breath after they left that day wondering what the next few months would be like.  If someone had told me then that some of the Koz. group members would be some of my sweetest and closest friends, I would have laughed in their face.  But, I'm lucky to call them friends now :)  They are quite the bunch, that's for sure.

Back to Kym's birthday photo montage.  I have more awkward and embarrassing pictures of Kym and myself from ALL over Ukraine and Eastern Europe too.  I think I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  

First time in the Black Sea together--Odessa, summer 2011

Alien night at Camp Bereg, summer 2011

Kym, Lydia, Theo

Second time in the Black Sea together--Camp Bereg in Sergiivka, summer 2011

PEPFAR (HIV/AIDS) training w/some of our clustermates, September 2011

Kym, Jamie, Lydia, Mark, Maria

Sight-seeing in Kamyanets Podilsky, September 2011

EuroTrip with my work, Dresden, October 2011

Hello Kitty earmuffs.  Eurotrip, October 2011

Squash in Kym's apartment hallway, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!  There is so much that I love about this picture.  Words can't even explain it...Kym, Lydia, Matt, Mary-Kathryn

doing my "special" make-up on my birthday, December 2011

My New Years work party, December 2011

Olena, Lydia, Kym, Mary-Kathryn

Happy New Years!!! Celebrating in Kiev...2011/2012!

Matt, Kym, Lydia

Words can't describe the relationship I have with Kym.  She is the best travel buddy ever (she brings half the toiletries, and I bring the other half!), she has the most gung-ho attitude where nothing is impossible, and she can literally make me laugh uncontrollably just by being herself.  I feel like I've known her my entire life.  You are a blessing in my life and I hope you've had a happy, happy birthday :) love you Kymmy Gibbler!

a pretty cool website...

A PCV posted on facebook about this very cool website where you can enter ingredients that you have in your kitchen...and it will tell you a bajillion different recipes you can make with them!  Somebody was thinking when they designed this free website.

http://www.supercook.com/

You create a username and password and start clicking away at the different ingredients you have in your kitchen.  I should not have started this project at 9:36 pm when I'm already done cooking for the day.

Today was a good day in that I feel like the HIV/AIDS project we're working on at my work has finally become plausible.  Grant writing is an incredibly tricky business of which I have NO experience (in fact, the entire grant writing process terrifies me in general).  But, HIV/AIDS education is incredibly needed in Ukraine which has one of the fastest growing percentages of HIV positive people in Europe (I think I quoted that statistic correctly...).  Up until today, the project had been a nagging fly constantly buzzing in my ear that I couldn't manage to grab ahold of.  BUT, today, someone up above was looking out for me and finally gave me that "aha!" moment where things finally started falling into place.  I have a grant coach (a fellow PCV in Ukraine) who has helped me the past week really get some things in order for the grant.  I could not have done it without her (thank you, Stephanie!).  Keep your fingers crossed that the rest of it keeps falling in place...

I skipped the gym today.  Bad Lydia.  But, I did go twice over the weekend.  And, I walked a heck of a lot today with Dan and Vicki to buy our train tickets for the ski trip.  It was snowing most of our walk...which made me that much more excited to ski!

Today's word of the day is something I need a translation for.  I kind of understand what it means, but I'm hoping my dad or one of my Russian teachers will give me the actual translation for it.  Ukrainians say it ALL the time.  Olena defined it as "it's all okay."

договорились
pronounced: do-gah-va-ree-lees

Google translate says it means "agreed."  That makes sense...because most Ukrainians say it at the end of a conversation.  In my head, I pictured it meaning something along the lines, "until we talk next time" because the root of the word (говорить) can be seen.  So, what do you think Pops and Maria?  


I'm gearing up for next week when I get to go to Russian Language Refresher which is supposed to be a fun and useful PCV experience.  Twice a year, the PC in Ukraine hosts Russian and Ukrainian Language Refreshers where PCVs get together with some PC staff to have a week of Russian/Ukrainian classes again.  I am really, really hoping that it will give me the boost of energy I need to get a tutor. Ukrainian Language Refresher is going on this week in the Rivne oblast (way northwest).  My Russian Language Refresher will be held in Chernigov (north-central).  AND, double bonus...I will get to see my host family for the first time since training!  They live about an hour and a half away from Chernigov and I'll stay with them on Friday night after training.  I am so so so excited to see them and see Oster...hopefully covered in snow!  More about Language Refresher later.  Toodles :)

sheer and utter excitement

It's the little things as a PCV that really make your day. Today, I wanted to call the bus company on my own and reserve a seat on the bus using correct Russian.  I've done it before using whatever Russian I could to get the point across...but Olena and I sat in the office today and she repeated what I needed to say a few times with me so that I would say it properly.

I managed to only screw up one word...which I would consider a success!

At the end of the conversation, the lady asked me a question that I hadn't been prepped for.  Totally blew my cover of her thinking I was a native.  But, the important thing is that I got 'er done!  All self, as I used to say when I was little :)

The caption of today's post comes from a trip that I finally got the details sorted out for.  I have a few different things coming up in the new few months...but I just got all of my train information sorted out for my...

FIRST SKI TRIP IN UKRAINEEEEEEEEE :) :) :) 

I am so.so.so.excited to shoop down the beautiful Carpathian mountains. It's something that I've wanted to do since I learned I was coming to Ukraine.  I am by no means a world-class skier, but I probably have the excitement of one right now :)  And the best part?  I get to do it with other PCVs :) more about it later.    It only helps my excitement that the past few days at the gym, the tvs have had ski sports on.

Shoop, shoop, shoop (if you don't understand what this is...it comes from the tv show Friends.  And it's a line that I love to throw into everyday conversations as much as I can.)

Today's word of the day:

ЗАКАЗАТЬ--to order/reserve

I'm not actually sure that it means to reserve, but that's how I picture it in my head...

It's late.  And I'm at 90% in The Help.  It is so, so good.  Highly recommended.  Enough said.  Night night :)

P.S.  I'm still reaping the benefits of queso.  I have eaten it every day since Saturday and plan to do so until it's gone...

Happy Sunday :)

Let's see where to start this post.  I think I'll post a video from YouTube that a fellow PCVer posted on facebook.  I was dying laughing because so many of the things are true...people in America may not find it as funny as fellow PCVs, but let's just say that it is unbelievably accurate.

"So You Want to Join Peace Corps?"

Some of my fave lines from it:

"You will struggle to understand the children...and they will stare at you." (yep.)

"You will be sick most of the time from eating the local foods." (unfortunately true)

"You will sleep late and read novels that never interested you before to pass the hours." (hmmm...)

"Some days, you will not leave your home because you want to avoid your neighbors."  (I love my neighbors.  But, some days I simply do not leave.  Period.)


"You will leave your site as often as you can." (guilty)

"You will leave and go straight to the nearest air-conditioned fast food restaurant.  You will find your ex-pat friends there, also escaping the heat." (spot-on accurate)

"I will write letters in long-hand to my friends and family and wait patiently for the mail to arrive on horseback to my village." (I WILL write letters in long-hand and DO write letters in long-hand.  However, they are not delivered by a horse.  Ukraine is a little bit more developed than that...)

"You will bring your laptop and your 4G iphone..." (umm, yes.)

I'm still cracking up over a lot of those lines.  Moving on...



The big news today came at the gym:  I ran TWO miles without stopping.  I've never done that.  Ever.  Yesterday, I told myself I was going to try to work up to running for 20 minutes without stopping.  I've been doing 12-13 minutes max.  I think I ran for 16 minutes yesterday...and my goal was 20 today.  However, I switched things up a bit.  I ate breakfast this morning, let it settle for a good while, and then walked to the gym (20-25 minute walk).  Then, I ran.  And today, I was able to run for 26 minutes...a little over 2 miles (something like 3.5 km).  I normally don't eat breakfast before I go work out because I get sick.  Since today was Sunday and I had more freedom of when I went to work out, I was able to wait an hour or two.  Totally made a difference I think.  So, my question for all of the runners out there...how do you eat before you run?  I typically eat a banana and yogurt for breakfast.  Please help!

I felt like a million dollars finishing a two-mile run.  The girl next to me was running for most of that time to...and she didn't sweat one drop.  I, on the other hand, was so red-faced and sweaty you'd have thought I just ran a marathon.  I don't understand...it's like Ukrainian women don't have sweat glands or something...

The last news today was from a wonderful Skype session :)

front row: Meg, Maddie, Nathan, Schlouy, Liz, Rachel, Nathan

back row: Kira, Naomi, Alex, Isaac, Abe

Those are some of my kiddos at the bell retreat at Quartz Mountain.  Mad props to Rachel for taking her laptop and scheduling a time where we could Skype :)  Thank you thank you!

Much love,
Lyd

Best.Meal.Ever.

There are simply not words that can describe my love for Mexican food.  It is a food that I ate at least once (usually more like 3) times a week in the states.  

In Alabama, there was Taco Casa and Pepito's. Not to mention my all-time favorite meal from Lena's Kitchen: taco-salads.  This is the meal that I request anytime I eat with my parents.  It has probably been my birthday meal for the last 5 years.  My mom could always entice me to come eat at their house if she said she would make taco-salads.

In Oklahoma, there was Qdoba, Chipotle, Freebird's, Tarahumara's, On the Border, Abuelo's, Cha Cha's, Ted's, not to mention the infamous late night run capital of the United States: Taco Bell.

In Mexico, nothing beat the kitchen of Socorro...complete with the world's best guac.  And homemade tortillas from the fresh tortilla market.  And the gordita stand in the food court of their version of "Wal-Mart."

So that brings me to Ukraine...where Mexican food basically does not exist.  This is where my care packages from home come into play.  Tonight, my kitchen got to smell like home.  Why?  Because of the bright yellow box that is Velveeta cheese.  And the wonderful can of goodness, known as Rotel.  

I introduce to you: queso.

mouth-watering.

Let's just say it's a good thing I went and worked out this morning (running about a mile and a half I might add...).  The amount of queso and homemade tortillas (recipe here) that I consumed tonight feels like one for the record books.

my version of refried beans in the background...

Best.Meal.Ever. The end.

P.S.  Thank you for the supplies to cook this meal Holman fam and mom and pops :)
P.P.S.   I ate a strawberry Pop-Tart for breakfast today.  Thank you J & T :) one word: phenomenal.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, part 2!

After my unsuccessful day of shopping for a new PO box lock yesterday, I found myself finishing work and feeling brave enough to go deal with the post office lady on my own.  My counterpart was busy, and this weekend has yet another Ukrainian holiday (this time, Old New Year)...which means that the post office would be closed at some point over the weekend. 

I walked into the post office...practicing vocab in my head.  The same lady from all of the previous times saw me, barely acknowledged that I was standing a foot in front of her, so I did what any other American would do: I waited to be acknowledged.  I never know if they are working or on a break...and most Ukrainians would go up to the window and ask that.  And I guess I could, but I wasn't feeling that brave.  After a minute, I finally said, "Excuse me..." and got her attention.  

The look on her face was pretty priceless:  Oh good, it's that girl again.  

I quickly explained that I had been to the bazaar and looked at all of the shops for a new lock.  None of them have any.  Do you know anywhere else that I can look?  She informed me that the manager would be in tomorrow and that if I was available, I should come see what he can do for me then.  Victory!  After thanking her profusely, I timidly asked her if I could see in my post office box.  I cringed...waiting to see her groan and get out of her chair.  She calmly said yes, and even remembered what number it was.  It was all pretty harmless today dealing with her...somebody up above was looking out for me :)  

And...when she opened the case for me, I did in fact have a package slip waiting in my box!!!!!!!!!

As I left the building, I walked around the corner to go to the building where I pick up packages.  Then I saw the line.  

The window that I always go to pick up packages had a little sign in it that I couldn't understand.  The girl was sitting there, and I awkwardly asked her if she was working. She said no, and to get in another line.  

"Um, ma'am, can you tell me which line I need to be in?"

She hurriedly pointed to the longest line in the room.  Of course.  So, I moved to it and started waiting.  At least 5 more people came in after I did, asked the lady the same question, and got at the end of my line.  I had to avoid eye contact this entire time because people always seem to pick me of all people to ask a question to...like I can A) understand them and B) would know where to send them.  

We wait...the man behind me coughs ALL over my back...and picks his nose.  I turned around and glared at him a few times.  I was not having luck with public places today (this morning on my marshrutka, one of the kids had a dirty diaper.  It was almost bad enough to make me get off and walk...).  I texted a few of my PCV friends.  I wait.  One person in the line gets through.  Now there are only 6 people in front of me.

And then, the lady who normally helps me with packages magically decides to start working again and calls me over.  "девушка!"--meaning "girl!"  I quickly turned around and realized she was talking to me.  I squealed with delight (to myself) as I ran over and gave her my package slip.  She quickly went to find it in the back room...and I was home free.  No more coughing man.  No more nose picking.  

The grin on my face made my cheeks hurt as I rushed home.  

The package was one from my brother and sister-in-law.  I got to skype with them while I opened it...and it was full of surprises for both of us because it was mailed just over a month ago!  It included some Christmas things that I will still use...in addition to some stellar food choices :) 

**natural Jif peanut butter (which I've never had!)

**funfetti holiday cake mix AND icing

**marshmellows for s'mores (and for Ukrainians to see what a marshmellow is...)

**candy canes (these were because Ukrainians had NO idea what a candy cane is...)

**Reese's Pieces (I couldn't resist and opened them tonight.  Whoops.)

**DESIGN MAGAZINESSSSSS :)

and perhaps my favorite thing in the package:

pop-tarts.  oh.my.gosh.

Thank you thank you Jeremy and Tina :)  perfect timing because I'm just about finished with my bag of Chex mix from mom.  I don't know how long I can save pop-tarts.  Pretty sure I've eaten those things since I was probably 10 years old?

I am trying to play catch-up on all of these random Christmas/New Years performances I went to during the month of December.  This was a practice that I went to when Maria (one of my link-cluster mates and sweet, sweet friends!) was in town.  My counterpart and I were showing her around my work...walked in the dance room...were invited to come and watch...and I luckily had my camera.  These kids were precious...maybe 9-10 years old.  Enjoy!

Today's word of the day was cough.  You can probably figure out why.

кашель--cough!

Just your normal Ukrainian adventure...

So, I lost my PO Box key.  I normally do not lose or misplace things, but everyone has a slip up.  My post office is very similar to an American one in the way the PO Boxes work I think.  Well, kind of.  There are 5 or 6 big stands of post office boxes, and each of the stands has a big door that can open up (so the staff can put our mail in our boxes).  Then, there are individual doors for each PO Box.  Hope that makes sense.

Needless to say, I didn't think it would be a giant hassle that I lost my key.  I kind of lost it over a week ago...but have been waiting on Christmas/birthday packages to arrive in the mail.  And, I knew if I told my parents that I lost the key, they would think that me not getting my packages was somehow related to the missing key.  Totally not the case.  My mom is probably laughing and rolling her eyes at this knowing that I'm right... :)

The first time I went to the post office and informed the lady I lost my key, she opened up the big door and let me see in my box.  She informed me I needed to buy a "замок"...I memorized the word and ran home to look it up.  I was guessing that she told me I needed to buy a whole new lock, but when I google translated the word, it showed up as CASTLE.  Ha.  Not exactly a lock like I was thinking...

Then I got sick and barely left the house for a week (btw, just finished my last amoxicillin dose today!  yippee!).  I think I checked my PO box twice during that time.  Each time, the same lady was working and she got madder and madder at me that I hadn't bought a new "замок" yet.  I explained to her that I don't know Russian all that well and that I would be bringing a friend with me to help translate.  Then, it was Ukrainian Christmas and the post office was closed for a few days.  

Flash forward to Tuesday of this week.  Olena and I went to the post office to see about buying this new lock.  The lady not so kindly opened the whole door for us to look at what we needed to buy, and I got to look in my box and see that I had a package note waiting for me!  Olena asked the lady where we could buy this lock.  The lady (of course) had no clue.  She said she'd try the bazaar.  

So today, after working on my PEPFAR grant some (HIV/AIDS project grant), one of my EuroTrip travel buddies Zhenya (a high school girl in K-grad) was subjected to walking around the entire central bazaar looking for this mysterious PO box lock.  An hour and a half later, we had been to SEVEN stores, and not one of them had a lock.  Whyyy!?  

This is the pesky little item that I so desperately need...why does no one carry them?!

The post office is missing out on a prime opportunity to make some extra cash here.  After having tried 7 stores, I would have paid quite a lot to buy it from the post office if they indeed sold them.  But, they don't.  I don't remember ever taking a marketing class but that's a no brainer to me.  We ran out of time (and options at that bazaar) today...so tomorrow the hunt may continue.  Olena said we will go to the post office tomorrow and tell them they're no where in town.  Can't wait to see what the lady has to say about that...lol :)  just your normal Ukrainian adventure...

This is my weekly manicure, courtesy of Lyuda :)  I bought the nail polish in Poland for around a dollar.  

note the bedazzled ring finger...quite a popular trend here.

this is the longest my nails have ever been on their own...shocking, huh?

bling.  

I'm thoroughly engrossed in The Help right now.  I don't know what page I'm on (grr...that's my one complaint about the Kindle), but I'm 70% finished.  Itching to read some more tonight...that's for sure.

This is the second night this week my dinner consisted of homemade Chex mix.  This time, I at least poured it in a bowl so I would show a little self-control.  Then I filled it up again.  The peanut butter fudge my mom made was a hit at work on Wednesday.  I guess I'll have to be nice and share some of my peanut butter and make them PB&J's one day at work.  They won't know what hit them.

My last news for the day is that I'm trying to memorize at least one or two Russian words every day.  The blog may be my accountability partner for helping me go back through and remember past words.  Today's words included:

1)  замок--which can mean castle OR lock
2)  папка--folder (learned this word when writing stuff for my grant)
3)  найти--to find (verb).  As in, "Я не нашла ключ от моя почтового ящика," or "I have not found the key to my mailbox."


 It's almost Friday :)  maybe you should go get a blinged out manicure...they're quite the rave in Ukraine.


One more thing. No, two more things. 1) It SNOWED in Oklahoma, and not here?  What the heck is that about? 2)  enjoy the sneak-peak of a video from my work party.



Kym is dancing with a ribbon.
Mary-Kathryn is the other girl.
The guy in the red apparently works at my office, although I've never seen him before.
The guy in the suit is our orchestra director.
The guy in the red and black striped shirt is a great saxophone player/teacher.
We're dancing in the cafeteria, because that's where all great Ukrainian discos are held.

There's plenty more videos to post...slowly but surely :)

Way-Back-Wednesday #16: Bell Retreats :)

I'm a lover of traditions...and McFarlin has a lot of them.  This post is for every McFarlinite...be it a youth, parent, grandparent, former youth, etc.  Chances are that at some point in their time of going to McFarlin, they were either in the bell program or knew someone in bells.  This post is dedicated to one of the bell programs most fun events of the year: Bell Retreat at Quartz Mountain.

When I moved to Oklahoma right before 9th grade, I don't think I even knew what "bells" were.  And as soon as I walked in the doors of McFarlin, I can remember telling my mom that I had to join bells because all of my friends were in it.  The rest, as they say, is history.

For as long as I can remember, there has been a bell retreat around the weekend of MLK day because the kids have the school day off.  We pack up all the bells and about 50 high school and middle schoolers on a charter bus and head to Quartz Mountain Resort in good ol' Oklahoma. 

Quartz Mountain Resort, from one of the peaks

the lake that surrounds the area...

The point of the retreat is to introduce new music to the kids, create some great fellowship time, have a little fun around the mountains and the lake (yes, Oklahoma has some mountains...baby ones, but mountains!), and stay up way to late with your friends.  

There are so many memories that come to my mind when I think of bell retreats.  I only wish I had more pictures scanned from my high school bell retreats.  There was the year (maybe junior year?) that Amy had her wisdom teeth taken out...so we got to be special and stay in the lodge.  That year, one of the boys had a broken foot or something like that...so they got to stay next door to us.  That led to a constant battle of boys vs. girls.  Not sure Perry or Venita knew about that though...

My senior year of high school (2005)

front row: Perry (our bell director), Lydia, Darren

standing: Mark, Amy, Swenson, Karen, David, Bennett

Or our senior year when we stayed out in the special cabins away from everyone else.  Quincee cut my hair that year in the cabin.  If only I had those pictures scanned! Sorry to disappoint...

However, I do have some pictures and a video from bell retreats in 2009 and 2010.  After I graduated from high school and went on to OU, I  would travel on the bell retreat as a chaperone and as a sub...to fill in blank spots in the bell choir.  It was time I got to spend with my kiddos...and laugh and love on them like no one's business.  Without further ado...

Gracie, Alecia, Lydia, Melissa--2009

bell cases open and ready for the polishing party...

polishing party...

Sarah, Pirtle, Angie, Maddie, Nathan

(every one of those kids is a junior or senior in high school now...wow!)

Kira, Gracie, Kayla, Hayley

(and most of these girls are in COLLEGE now)

Sam, Katey, Alexa, Meg 

(middle school then...all in high school now!)

Shannon (I think??), Lydia, Sydney

And the lone pic from 2010--on top of the very windy mountain!

Nathan, Bennett, Gracie, Lydia, Stephanie and Pirtle peaking in from the back.

Bell Choir 2009--a mess-up... :)

Trey Pirtle (to the right of Bennett in the yellow shirt) is totally not paying attention.  Venita has to stop the whole choir during the mini-concert.  I'm pretty sure she says, "Okay, stop.  Trey, are you playing two in hand?" which makes no sense whatsoever.  The choir erupts in laughter...since Pirtle is one of the biggest jokesters there is :)

Bell Choir 2009--the full song!
Everyone is still laughing from the mishap earlier (see first video).  Around 18 seconds in this video...Pirtle turns to Bennett and asks him, "Where are we?!" with a completely dazed look on his face.  Oh, Pirtle :)


Bell Choir 2010

Hope everyone has a lovely bell retreat 2012 :)  enjoy all the junk food!

Lots of love,
Lyd

P.S.  I'm really craving a Goodcents sandwich and giant chocolate chip cookie.  If someone could send me that, I'd really appreciate it :)

P.P.S.  This was the 200th blog post!