Ukranian Cathedrals

So Ukraine has some of the most amazing and beautiful cathedrals and architecture I have ever seen. The russian-style onion domes, the cobbles stone streets and the bright colors. It all makes for a very surreal feeling as you walk down the street attempting to take it alllllllll in. But as a photography it is a haven. I absolutely love where I am living and all the amazing opportunities I am given to stretch my limits and take some photos. I thought I would share some of it with you today.

Lavra

St. Sophias

St. Sophias

St. Andrews

Walk a mile in a Ukrainian shoe

Holy borchtolly! Ive let waaay to long pass by without a blog post. So hold unto your cabbage and beets cause I'm going to pound out a lotta stuff.
Just a few words for you... St. Sophias...car accident... annnnnnnd bumpy roads? yea? intrigued? Read on


We have been teaching. Teaching has been going great. The kids are awesome and frustrating all at the same time. Most days I leave the school feeling like if I have to make one more craft im going to cry, but then the next day they run in and hug you and that all goes away.

We have been getting out and exploring the amazing city of Kyiv. There is just so much to do and see and explore and experience. We have gone to restaurants and ordered everything from meat trees to beet soup. We have gone to restaurants and merely pointed at the menu because we don't know what any of it says and you just pray you get something decent. On the flipside I haven't pointed and gotten anything yet that I haven't at least eaten. So... theres that.

So sassy. So bratty. Such cuteness.

The food is amazing and strange all at the same times. A lot of the time I feel like potatoes...again....really? But then we go out to eat and I order potato dumplings because...well. YUM! But then you've got your borscht and your blini and can I just say...blini dipped in sweetened condensed milk? amazing. Don't knock it till you try it. One day we went to this little shack and got these fried croissant thingies stuffed with cheese or meat. Those things are HUGE.

OH. GUYS. The most amazing thing in the world? This amazing Crimean dish called Tatar salad. It looks weird and disgusting but it will blow your mind with flavor.
My favorite thing is that I can go out and get a huge meal with a mojito (or other yummy flavored drink) and desert and spend like $3. Easy. When our whole group (10ppl) goes out together for nice dinner (Italian anyone?) we might spend 1,000UAH total. MAYBE. If we all get desert and something to drink. That's pushing it. That's less than $50. Its crazy.

Tatar Salad.

Ok. While we are talking about food can I just say one word? Chocolate! Seriously. Guys. Chocolate.
I go to the store ON A DAILY BASIS to buy some sort of chocolate heaven goodness. You see right now Ukraine's grievna is worth so little compared to the USD (like 21 something to 1) so... boxes of Belgium chocolate? like $1.50. Fresh pastries? like $.60. A huge chocolate cake? $4. A bar of chocolate? $.40 or so. Going to a chocolate factory you can get truffles for like $.10. Its pretty much the most amazing thing ever. Thank gosh I have to walk to school and back otherwise all this extra chocolate would be VERY bad for me. I fully intend to bring home an entire suitcase dedicated to chocolate. I only wish I could bring home наполеон.... yea you wish you knew what that is. Its pretty much the breakfast lunch and dinner of the Gods.

Seriously...all less than $5. All Belgian

Ok ok ok. enough about food. I'm sure your mouth is super slobbery. sorry.

There is nothing here over $1 usd

 So every day life here in  Позняки (Pozniaky)  is pretty great. Ive learned SO much since getting here three weeks ago. I can now navigate myself through a huge city (5th largest European city) no problem. I am a pro at using the Ukranian metro. I can nearly fluently read Russian (as far as sounding things out goes.... actually knowing the words is often a different story). Ive finally got down the basics for every day life. Ive learned to be quiet(er...), I can effectively shop and respond correctly at the cash register! Its pretty awesome. Life in a soviet influenced society is crazy and exciting and different all at the same time.

Walk to school. Notice soviet era buildings-everything looks the same.   

Casual everyday metro ride.

A few weeks ago the group got together and we went to a ballet (sleeping beauty) in the Kiev Opera House. Now... anyone who knows me surely knows this is not at all my thing but, you've gotta do it at least once right? Its cultural and the Kiev Opera House is one of the most famous in the whole world. Plus the tickets were literally $4. It was a unique experience. The music was amazing and we got to dress up all proper-like and sit in our own little box and pretend it was 1910 but seriously, it was pretty cool. Though kind of awkward because we left a whole scene early thinking it was the end- oops!

The same day we also explored the city of Kyiv. We went to Maidan where the famous protests and shootings occurred in 2014. We visited the memorials and such. We also went and visited several cathedrals- amazing. These russian-influenced buildings are of mind-blowing architecture. They are absolutely beauty. Its so fun wandering the streets and finding them. I love the cobblestone here- its a pain in the rear (quite literally) to walk on but its so....fitting? to the experience.

After all this was said and done on our way home we stopped because there seemed to be loud music coming from down the street, right down town. Upon further investigation we found ourselves in the middle of a random downtown party. Because...you know...why not? So we ended up doing some awesome hardcore zumba in the middle of this beautiful cobble stoned street amongst a bunch of other happy and exuberant folks just loving life and dancing in the middle of the street. I mean... you seriously cant plan these experiences.

This last weekend we planned a trip to the black sea. We were told it was one of those things you've "gotta do". Remember how I told you its dirt cheap here? The 10 of us plus our coordinator got a private driver-private bus and made the 8 hour trip south to одесса (Odessa). Let me tell you something yall. Before I came here I had heard/read that the road conditions in Ukraine were relative to Africa. That is to say... absolutely atrocious. Well. Whoever said that was not mistaken. For 8 hours it kind of felt like we were hurtling about 80mph down an old dirt road with ancient pot holes that should be avoided-yet hitting every single one all while weaving in and out of traffic with a flat tire to boot. Guys. this ride was seriously unreal. If the trip both ways hadn't been in the dark I would have a hilarious video for you. As it is I still have a video...but it may not express the sincerity of this experience. I will never ever forget it.

ANYWAYS. It was amazing to me. Their roads are awful but you can get to-order food in the gas stations which are incredibly nice, btw. Weird. Anyways, we got to Odessa and immediately hopped out and took a tour of the Catacombs. It was pretty neat but... probably could've skipped it. But it cost next to nothing so whatever.
Next stop? BEACH of course.
OK so seeing the black sea is cool but... the crowds? Yea that sucks. None the less we had a good time. I laid on the beach, went for a swim and overall enjoyed it.

On the way back we nearly got in a car accident. There appears to be none or relatively un-followed rules of the road here and there was an accident directly in front of us causing our driver to hit the brakes (thankfully he happened to not be on facebook at the moment........) causing all our stuff including ourselves to literally fly forward (we are ALLLLL looking at you Micki). It was an experience.

But guys... its amazing here. I love it. If you are considering coming here either through ILP or just for an adventure, please do. The people are great, the food amazing.... and even if its sketchy its still super fun and will give you perspective.

24 hour countdown

Its officially 24 hours until my flight pulls from the gates in Houston Texas headed east to Frankfurt- then ultimately Kyiv Ukraine. 24 hours until the plane pulls away and solidifies this adventure- makes it real. I. Am. SO. Excited!

 

I am so grateful to ILP (International Language Program) for this amazing oportunity. I am so excited to land in Kiev on Thursday and have the adventure of a lifetime. Im excited to walk the streets of this historical east European city and explore its art, history, culture and cuisine!

My itinerary is to fly from Houston Texas to Frankfurt. In Frankfurt I will be meeting up with the rest of my group- which I am most excited for. We have had the opportunity to get to know each other via Facebook and texting but it wont be until we are standing in line to board the plane in Frankfurt will I actually get to meet them in person!

The past few days have been a whirlwind. Flying to Texas from Alaska, getting here and trying to get all my stuff unpacked, washed/cleaned, seperated and repacked. Going to the store and buying supplies to take with (part of the program is we need to take school and craft supplies, as well as rewards for the students).  Spending time with my parents and trying to absorb all the American foods I can before diving into a world of borscht and chocolate.


Today has been busy full of the dreaded task of packing. I actually don't mind it that much- I have traveled a bit so I am quite familiar with the process, however this time it is a bit different. I am going for an extended period of time facing an entire world of unknown. It makes it sort of difficult, but I think im prepared! I just thought I would share some of the things I am taking.

Tomorrow I enter a whole new world! Ready, set, LETS GO!

Guys.... 21 days!!!!!!!!!

Time here in Alaska is winding down QUICK and my next adventure awaits just around the corner. Guys I have just three weeks... or 21 days until I leave for the amazing and beautiful city of Kiev. I finally got my travel confirmation from International Language Programs and it looks like Ill be flying from Houston Texas to Frankfurt Germany, then from Frankfurt to Kiev Ukraine. I am totally stoked! The only part im slightly disappointed about is my incredibly short layover in Frankfurt, as its a city I have always wanted to visit! But none of that... So in just a couple short weeks ill be flying to Houston to visit my parents for just a few days, then off I go to live in Europe- something I have always wanted to do! I am SO EXCITED.

 

Of course I've got to study up on culture, customs and of course, the language! In Ukraine the official language is Ukrainian however its better to try and learn Russian first- and since Russian is typically widely understood at least in Kiev I am starting there. 

7 Weeks until I leave for Ukraine

Time is winding down, I'm getting stoked and preparations are being made. Only 7 weeks until I leave Alaska, visit Houston Texas for a few days then hop on a plane to Eastern Europe for the next several months.

When I tell people about my plans they always stop, give me a quizzical look and question "Ukraine?". Yes. Ukraine. They then reply "....but why? why Ukraine?" my answer? WHY NOT?

Yes I am aware of the recent goings-on. Yes im aware that Kyiv was in the middle of a crisis recently and that Donetsk was badly attacked this last year. Yes im aware that its a country that appears to be struggling. No, I am absolutely not worried about it one bit. Not because I am ignorant or am choosing to turn a blind eye, but because things really are ok over there.

I am going to be teaching English to children between the ages of 5 and 15 and I could not be any more excited about it. I love kids. I will be living with a host family; all the while learning about Ukrainian/Russian culture, food, language and more. I will be living in the heart of one of the most beautiful European cities out there. Sure it has seen its share of heartache, but what major European city hasent?

While there I will be able to attend operas, go to professional football (soccer...) games, explores castles and mosques and cathedrals, eat beet soup, drink cups of delicous european chocolate and so much more. I will have the opportunity to travel to some of the most beautiful places in the world such as Budapest and Prauge. Why would I pass this opportunity up?

I will be going on this adventure through ILP (International Language Program) and I could not be more excited about my involvement with this program! Ill of course be keeping you guys updated all the while throughout my many adventures.

Kyiv Ukraine