Behind the scenes- first look at Ukraine

Alright guys. Get some popcorn cause this will be a long one!

First- today is Thursday and here in  Ukraine its about 11:30, or 23:30. I'm going to rewind this story all the way back to Tuesday morning and go from there.

Tuesday was the day we were all ready and set to leave. Well on Monday the airliner that most of us had our tickets booked through had a huge strike and I woke up at about 5:30 Tuesday morning to several texts from Lufthansa telling me my flights were cancelled. As you can imagine, I was devastated! I was so very excited for this adventure and my dreams had been crushed due to the airliner experiencing difficulties with their employees. Of course this leads to mass hysteria all over the world as peoples lives are put into a tail spin with cancelled flights. The airliners phones were completely jammed and the website was entirely unhelpful. However they promised to rebook you at no charge...the problem was getting a hold of them. After much communication with ILP (the company I am volunteering through) I decided to make the hour drive to the airport and get in line and talk to a rep at the counter. After about two hours I get my turn, only to be told in the first 20 seconds there was absolutely nothing they could do and that I should try the 1-800 number.
Worst. Thing. Ever.
"Dont you think I've tried that?" I asked. They replied "sorry, just keep trying". As you may imagine, I was thrilled...
So suitcases in tow, I get in the car and head home. However I reallllly wanted to get to Ukraine so I simply sat in the passenger seat and called over and over and over and over...and over and over and over and over and over. After about 40 minutes of driving and calling over and over and over and over and over and over and over.... I got through! In one glorious thread of an opening in the maddeningly tangled communication lines, my call slipped through and I was directed to an agent who, upon hearing my dilemma, rebooked me in 5 minutes flat. However, this meant I had to flip a U'ie in downtown Houston Texas and head back to the airport.

I get there, do my deal and get on the plane. Ok lets be real y'all. Air France blows. They really really blow, like a lot. But I cant complain right? Well... they really really sucked.

Moving on.

I flew Houston to Paris, then Paris to Kiev! After all this it was Wednesday afternoon, so I had been traveling for forever. I was exhausted and grumpy and smelly and hungry and wouldn't you guess it? My good friends and Air France lost one of my pieces of luggage...OIE!
So naturally I head to the "Lost and Found" counter. And...well... pictures are worth a thousand words right?

.... so Brittish airlines or something like that, had lost AN ENTIRE FLIGHTS worth of luggage. How do you even do that? So as you can likely envision there are like 60-70 people looking for their luggage. After standing in what I thought was a line for about 40 minutes I finally obtained a document to fill out. I then had to continue to wait in the "kind-of not-really" line that was just a big mob of people pushing and shoving their way to the front. After about two hours of waiting ever so patiently I was helped and sent on my way. But after flying for a whole day and arriving in country already hungry and grumpy, this was just the icing on the cake. Or rather, it was like the poop on top the cake.

But then. BUT THEN. The Magic of Ukraine and the wonderfulness of ILP came shining through. As soon as I made it past the very scary guards (lets be real, guards are scary, but Russian guards? super duper scary) and out past customs I had the WONDERFUL coordinators and Headteacher waiting there to give me big hugs and take me out to my host family.

(Now guys, I am growing to LOVE Ukraine more and more every second but... this first night was hard).

 

So like I said. The first night was rough. I am definitely no newbie to traveling and as you likely well know I was VERY MUCH looking forward to this trip. But when I pulled up to my host families apartment I was thinking "uhhhhhhh". Think of any movie you've ever seen that takes place in a Russian ghetto and you've got a mental image of what stood before me. I instantly started to doubt a little. Going inside did not help the matter. The front door is made of a heavy iron and inside is lit by one fairly dull light. A Babushka (grandmother) sits guard their 24/7. Right next to her is the elevator, you must go past her to make it on the elevator. If you dont know, Babushkas are more feared than any mob, they are the shiz. The elevator is an old clunky thing made out of some old rusting iron and its barely big enough for two people. We go up a couple floors and get out. Its a long dank hallway again, lit only by a single light and the tile on the floor is literally broken in pieces, there is dirt and garbage everywhere and the light is casting that dull yellowish-golden haze. You have the mental picture? Good. We get to the front door, go in...and there is another door! Double doors. An old remnant from the soviet days. This makes me feel just so safe and warm inside!

After being taken in and being introduced to my lovely host mother (who is younger than me, by the way! And who speaks no English) I eat my first dinner quickly with a smile and a thank you and head straight to bed. And it was there that I laid all night re-evaluating the choice I had made. Seriously questioning my sanity.

pump my own water...?

ummm....waht?

                                

 But then.... then a miracle happened!

(and this is where it gets good guys, so if you like completely over my ramblings... this is the good part keep going! )

....
where was I?

Oh yea.
A miracle...

I WOKE UP.
And by that I mean. I got sleep.

Its amazing how much sleep can completely change everything. My moodiness and grumpiness was gone. The fear was gone. The uncertainty was still lingering but I felt MUCH more positive about the whole deal.
I woke up and had some breakfast (as good as the potatoes and chicken were for dinner....and again for breakfast, I have a feeling I'm going to get real sick of it!) and headed on my way. I met my friend and head teacher down around the corner and we headed out! Now THIS was my first REAL day in Ukraine (if you haven't caught up... I'm up to TODAY !). I tried to take it alll in. Its still as ghetto as I first perceived it, but its not...as bad? I don't mind it. It will grow to become home I'm sure. First things that are different. Apartment buildings are huge and everywhere. Lots of them. There are also TONS of little stores/boutiques/markets. Everywhere. Selling everything. Lots of Cafe's, LOTS of flower shops (cultural knowledge- Ukrainian people LOVE flowers), lots of random street vendors selling pizza or beer (I passed a beer cart.... kind of like a hotdog cart but a beer cart) or veggies and fruit.

We walk for about 20 minutes until we get to the metro, we then take the metro for about 40 minutes, get off and change and back on for another 20 before we are at our final destination.

For our very first day we have traveled to one of our schools up in a district called Obolon were we would ultimately have some training. We met up with some of our fellow students and went at it.

Fast forward past the training....

annnddd

We finally, gloriously get OUT and into the world of Ukraine to explore just a little bit! I'm taking it alllllll in. I'm learning so much.
Before coming here I of course practiced my Russian. We can effectively throw all the pronunciation I practiced in the garbage! I am learning it allll over again. However being able to read it is fantastic. I am seeing signs everywhere I can read such as Market, Salon, etc.

First place we go is to exchange our monies. Unfortunately Ukraine is not doing so hot right now so their monies worth has gone down. But fortunately for us...this means our American dollar goes farther. I exchanged a little over $200 USD and received over 4,000 Hryvnia (hrn) or гривня (yea I figured you would wonder about that, it is pronounced griev-nah).

im basically a drug lord

We then walked a bit, got some lunch and ultimately found ourselves at a beautiful cathedral! There are many many many of these so it was no big surprise- but it was. It was the first one we had yet seen so it is just amazing to see one of these beautiful buildings in person.

We got some ice cream (23 hrn...or about $1.02) and kept on our way. We took a walk down the beautiful Dnipro river, marveled at Kiev's beauty and had a great time getting to know each other (love you guys!). By this time it was, well, time to head back home! Heading home, as I have learned, is always a journey. Living in eastern Europe means LOTS of walking. But its really ok because it is really amazing right now. Kiev is at that time of year where during the day its almost too hot for your jacket, but once the breeze comes its not. And anytime your in the shade its cold. It is, to me, perfection. The leaves are just barely starting to turn (ahhhh! my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE) and around every corner is something interesting to see or look at.

 So after much walking we arrive at our lovely metro again. As one may imagine the metro is just as it is anywhere else.  Busy, dark and very very crowded. Its also one of the more dangerous places as far as pick-pocketing goes. So you literally have to throw yourself unto the metro, fight your way in and claim your spot. You also hold unto your backpack or purse because if not- it may not be there when you leave!

(quick video I took tonight)

Our stop is Pozniaky- we get off and head home. Its been a long day, we are tired and ready for bed and maybe a shower. But of course what would be a better end to an amazing first day in eastern Europe than some fantastic chocolate? So we pop into a local market (everywhere!) and I end up purchasing some chocolate, a toothbrush, tooth paste, deodorant (remember they lost my bag...its actually waiting at home for me, little did I know, but I wanted to be able to brush my teeth!), chocolate and a bottle of water. I ended up spending about 70 hrn (about $3.50). Guys I really wish I could always spend this little at the store. The bottle of water is literally 7 hrn...that's like $.35. So great.

 

As I finally actually walked back to my house- it didn't seem so ghetto as it did when I had left in the morning. I know its crazy to think that my perception had changed that much in just a day, but it really had. I walked in through that scary metal door, said hello to gate-keeper babushka, rode my creaky sketchy elevator up to my floor and walked down the hall as the tile crunched beneath my feet and I loved every second of it. I was welcomed at home by my amazing little host family- who are the greatest, by the way. Their names are Dima, Tima and Vicka. Yea you read that right. Dima the father, is 24 and works in HR, the mother Vicka is 20 and is a nurse, but stays at home with the cutest kid on planet earth, his name is Tima (as they shared with me...just like Tima Fey!!! ;) hahahaha). We ate grapes and talked about our lives and who we were and got to know each other. It was a great little way to end the night.

So in just a day I went from seriously reconsidering my decisions in life, to completely loving where im at. The fear is gone, the uncertainty is nearly gone and I am falling in love quickly. The first initial adjust is hard- its a crazy different culture with crazy different customs and food and everything, but I accepted it and am loving it!


Hoora for Ukraine!

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