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 :)

FIRST CARE PACKAGEEEEEE :)

I felt like a kid on Christmas morning walking home with my first "banderol"--aka package--from home! I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. Truly.

The contents:

twin size t-shirt sheets so that I no longer have to wake up on the questionable mattress (Ukrainians don't believe in fitted sheets for twin size. Weird)

Reese's Pieces and Pretzel M&Ms (which I may have already eaten two packages of)

Crest Whitestrips (I've never drank so much coffee and tea in my life before)

Clif bars

CRUNCHY peanut butter :)

OU fuzzy slipper socks (I've been needing something to walk around my apartment in...and I didn't even tell my parents about that!)

Clippings from the Norman Transcript and the McFarlin Newsletter

OU 2011 football schedule!!!!!!!

and last but not least...ZITS cartoons, which is a hysterical cartoon that we think is modeled after the Frost Family.

Thank you thank you mom & pops for this lovely assortment of goodies. It turned a bad day into an absolutely GREAT one. And, I did all of the translations on my own! It may have taken 3 or 4 trips back and forth between one cashier window to the next, but I finally got it right!

In other news, I am working on my posts from my week at Camp Bereg. They're not quite ready, but I did put together quickly this video that is of a dance competition one night. Hope it makes you laugh :) Some Ukrainian kids have some pretty wicked dance moves.

Off to the train station now to meet my counterpart to try to buy my train tickets to Kiev for Wednesday night! Wish me luck :)

It was bound to happen sooner or later..

Well, I missed my train last night. As super embarrassing as it is, it actually couldn't have been at a better time. I wasn't going to a conference or to a meeting where I had to be in that city by a certain time. I was going to Odessa and then further south to Sergiivka where I will be helping out at Camp Bereg. AND, most other cities in Ukraine are sold out of tickets going to Odessa...it's a big hot spot during the summer for vacations. However, with my central location in Kirovograd, a lot of trains come through here on their way south to Odessa. 6 to be exact. I was also pretty lucky because it was a relatively cheap ticket (I think it was 60 or 65 griev...less than $10 USD)...AND, the lady at the ticket counter last night refunded me 25 griev even though my train had already come through.

Here's how the night went down. I thought my train left at 10:25 pm. Nope. It left at 8:25 pm. I misread the ticket (even though I probably checked it about 25 times in the past few days to make sure that it was for the right day and time). The other options for leaving from my city are all after midnight (or even at 2 or 3 in the morning) which is why I chose the "10:25" train. I was planning on leaving my house at 9 pm which would give me PLENTY of time to get there. The city marshrutkas were still running then, but not all of them. So, I ended up taking a marshrutka to the center of town (for 2 griev=25 cents) and then taking a taxi for 20 griev (a little over $3 USD). Oh, and I forgot one little anecdote: it was RAINING. Lovely. I finally got to the train station at 10 pm (after standing in the rain waiting for a marshrutka that would never come). I was ready to crash on my bed on the train. When 10:20 pm rolled around, I stood up and put on my backpack and headed to the doors that lead outside (into the pouring rain). They always announce over the loudspeaker (inveryfastRussianthatisreallyhardtounderstand) the arrival of a train...and it never came. Trains here are notorious for being on time, so I wondered what happened. I eventually asked a lady if she knew about it and she informed me that it was her first time at this train station. Her husband was helpful though and told me that I could go talk to the lady in information.

Upon speaking to her and explaining that I do not speak very good Russian and that I missed my train, she told me to give her my ticket and that was when she refunded me my 25 griev. I kept asking if any of the other trains coming through that night going to Odessa had seats, but she said they were all sold out. I asked when the next train coming through going to Odessa that HAD seats would be and she told me 5:48 am or 8:25 pm. I never remembered seeing a 5:48 am train to Odessa online but I knew the 8:25 would probably have some. I couldn't buy a ticket then though (no cashiers open), so I went home (and found a cheap taxi driver that I will be calling from now on! See, something good happened from this...).

After laughing and talking to a few people about it last night and today, I'm accepting the fact that this was bound to happen sooner or later during my time here. And I really lucked out with when and how it happened. I've been trying to get a picture of my ticket to load, but it won't for some reason, so no pictures today! Sorry folks :)

I went back at 7 am this morning to buy a new ticket...came home...and crashed for 3 more hours of sleep. It was raining and the perfect morning for a little snoozing.

One of the things I'm most excited about going to camp for: my trip to McDonald's by the Odessa train station. I would NEVER eat at McDonald's in the states. Ever. Maybe on a mission trip or choir tour when it was the only place that would house 50-150 rambunctious kids. But even then, I groaned about it because I never wanted to order anything off the menu. Yes, their fries are delicious...but they're HORRIBLE for you. And yes, the McFlurry's are great...but again HORRIBLE for you. I don't care about that stuff now. Because it's like I get to eat a little America, and you can bet that I enjoy every bite of it. Let's just say it's a good thing that Kirovograd doesn't have a McDonald's...because I know i would eat there more than I should. And yes, it is almost weird that k-grad doesn't have a McDonald's because most cities of this size do in Ukraine.

One of my link-cluster mates, Kym (who went on my first Odessa trip), is also going to camp with me tomorrow. Her train get in 3 hours after mine...ha, so I'll be spending 3+ hours sitting in McDonald's basking in free wifi, air-conditioning, and most importantly, feeling a little bit at home :) I can't wait. In the mean time today, I think I will watch a movie or some tv shows...my apartment is clean, my fridge is cleaned out, and I don't know what else to do with the day. I made another batch of zucchini bread (thanks to Catharine's great recipe) to take down to the folks that are already at camp. I'll get to see one of my cluster mates, Jamie, who actually lives in Sergiivka. Good times will be had with Kym and Jamie around--multiple laughing sessions are sure to ensure. But, until then...happy Monday!

Way-Back-Wednesday #10: Stephanie is getting married!! :)

So...I know it's not Wednesday. BUT, I had to post this blog entry before this weekend when ANOTHER friend is getting married...and that is none other than one of my old roomies, Miss Stephanie Ponder :)

Meet Stephanie and Chris. Aren't the cute?

(great engagement pictures by Esther)

This is probably my favorite of their engagement shots...like a fairytale! But, we're here to take a trip down memory lane. SO, without further ado, some awkwardly funny pictures of the wonderful bride-to-be! {SIDENOTE: If I were not in Ukraine and were at home with my picture albums, I could find some real gems of Stephanie and myself in high school. However, I am, in fact, in Ukraine and that is not possible. So, pictures from 6 years ago will have to do.}

Allison, Steph, and Lydia--Roomies for quite some time!

I think this was the first football game of the season in 2006...

And this was the COLDEST football game I think we ever experienced at OU. We were all wearing 3 or 4 shirts underneath our hoodies...still had to show Sooner pride!

Winter 2006 (don't worry, I was getting ready for a Christmas party. I don't normally wear Christmas bows in my hair and a jingle bell around my neck...)

Spring 2007

My 21st birthday celebration--roomie pic!

Allison's 21st birthday

MUG Bible Study party

Steph came on the Spring Break trip to Mexico in 2008 :) loved having her there!

Taylor, Gracie, Taylor, Lydia, Kendall, Stephanie, Ruthie--about to go shopping in Nuevo Progresso, Mexico.

Ah yes, and our annual Tacky Christmas Party--2008 :) cute bows girls. (this was before bows were "in" again)

Typical...

Annual Christmas Party 2009--Steph changed up her outfit...now sporting red tights! :)

Bekah, Elizabeth, Stephanie

Rockin' out...guitar hero style. I am so excited to see the wedding through pictures since I can't be there in person. You will make one beautiful bride, Steph :) love you dearly!

Skypin' it up :)

I'm totally copying one of my friends idea (thank you Matt Brady!) for taking a screen shot whenever I have a skype date with people back home...or here in Ukraine because that's fun too :) I'll randomly update skype pics...so if I forget to take our picture while we're skyping, remind me please please!

My big brother...caught off guard. :) I don't have any pictures of me skyping with the 'rents...will have to do that soon!

Jeremy and Tina--my brother and sis-in-law!

The one and only Kym Starno and Matt Brady, when they were in L'viv for the weekend. This was the weekend that Catharine came to visit me! So we had a little PC skype date...super fun.

Miss Kendall Haney :)

When I was on facebook last night...I saw that Catharine updated her status to the fact that she NOW HAS A KITTEN :) She's been on the hunt for one...and in Ukraine, if you see one, it's kind of an unwritten rule that you can just take it. I texted her and she called me laughing because the make-shift litter box she made for the kitten was not turning out to be a litter box. The kitten wanted to sleep in it. Go figure. So, we decided to skype so I could see the little thing. This was the first picture I snagged of it...its better side, no?

Trying to get a scale for how big it is...

I think it looks like a Button. What do you think? :)

And to end the night, a skype session with none other than the McFarlin Youth Directors...They're in Dallas right now planning the calendar year for youth events. Wish I was there!

Scott and Tino...a love/hate relationship.

Way-Back-Wednesday #9: Rachel is getting married!! :)

This upcoming weekend is the wedding of one of my dear friends, Rachel Fenn. We met living on the dorm hall of Walker 6 West in the OU dorms our freshman year of college. From football games, to float trips, to OU/SAXET, we experienced a LOT of it together. And, what's even better: her high school sweet heart, Alex, was along for all of the ride as well.

Rachel and Alex went to high school together in a suburb of Dallas...why? Because they were next door neighbors. That's right...she's literally marrying the boy next door :) pretty stinkin' adorable, huh? I forget the details, but it makes for one heck of a story! On the night that Alex proposed, they went for a walk on the golf course behind their houses and if my memory serves me correct, Rachel was being stubborn about which way they went. They ended up coming out a different way and saw the back to the sign that Alex had painted that was mounted in her front yard that said, "Rachel, will you marry me?" Friends and family were hiding in her house watching the entire thing. The picture above sums up their absolutely goofy and loving relationship. It's one of their engagement shots...courtesy of the great Stancy Higley.

{neighbors}

I'm so sad I won't be there for the wedding celebration of these two this weekend...but I can't wait to see pictures from it :) Enjoy this walk down memory lane Rachel and Alex!

Holly Lake Ranch!

Jill, Allison, Alex, Rachel (or weird Al in this pic), Ashley, Lydia

Rachel, Sarah, Jill, Lydia

Allison, Angela, Ashley

Kevin & Mitchell

Rachie and myself

Allison, Lydia, Rachel, Jill, Maddie

After our sophomore year at OU, Rachel transferred to Texas Women's University to continue studying nursing. We had a surprise going away party for her...but the biggest surprise was that Alex drove up from Waco that weekend. Super cute.

surprise!

She is wearing clothes, I promise.

OU/Texas 2007--our first one!

OU/SAXET in the west end...

Ashley, Lydia, Rachel

Kevin, Rachel, Allison, Lydia--Dallas skyline

On my trip down to Dallas before I left for the PC...check out the bling on her finger!!

Concentrating super hard on a game...

the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. :) :)