Training = 50% COMPLETED

Well, I have some good news! I am officially half-way through my training! Training is a grueling time because we have 8-12 hour days. It is draining, but the time is going by so fast!

I have included some pictures of my latest visit to Kyiv (the capital of Ukraine). It is a beautiful city and I am planning to have a date with Kyiv every weekend!

While in Kyiv, I went to an Irish Pub, the perfect place to catch my breath. I had a greasy cheeseburger with french fries, a refreshing drink, and a football game on the big screen (that's soccer in Europe)! It was fun to see people wearing their favorite team's jersey and cheering and clapping at the slightest shot on goal. I miss playing soccer at home!

I've also posted some pictures of some scenic views around Kyiv. Navigating the subway system has been easier than I thought (well, maybe I'm following a PC friend who knows her way around...but I won't mention that).

It's been a rough week for me. According to our PC calendar, this is actually the time when PC trainees start to feel slightly depressed. Not necessarily depressed, but the excitement has, I feel, worn off. I guess I've finally realized that this isn't a vacation, that I am actually going to be living here for the next two years. It takes some adjustments, but I'm thankful for my support systems (both in the US and in Ukraine).

Take care and please feel free to email me anytime! (natbrusseau@gmail.com)

Natalie

Teaching and Host Family Update

Happy Saturday!

I can't believe I've completed my third week in Ukraine! It seems like I only arrived a couple days ago. I had my first experience with teaching English to 7th grade students. I taught two classes Thursday on the topic "Cooking Methods." Not an easy subject, especially trying to help students differentiate between cooking methods such as roasting vs. baking and simmering vs. steaming. All in all, I think it went well and I certainly have many areas to improve.

Last week, I also had my first experience with the electrichka (the electric train). We traveled to meet another group of PC volunteers for some training in a small town of less than 2,000 people. I never realized how thankful I would be for my supermarket, hot water, and Internet access!

Today was the first day we had rain. I managed to walk in the dark on cobblestone roads, in heels I might add, uphill both ways...ok, not really uphill both ways, but I am certainly learning to enjoy a "stroll" out of necessity.

Happily walking in Ukraine (EVERYWHERE)!
Take care,
Natalie

Pictures Include: My host sister, Ania, and I - ready to go on an evening walk. My host sister's boyfriend, Sasha, and I posing for the camera. They both enjoy playing "Sequence," a board game from the states that was a priority on my packing list. Also included are some pictures from the window of my family's apartment.

My First "Cultural" Event

I wanted to share some pictures from the closing ceremonies of the local sports Olympics for children last Saturday. These Olympics were held over the past week across many nearby cities and focused on orphans and children from single-parent homes. It was a great celebration, complete with fireworks, dancing, and even a miniature train! We received official invitations from the mayor, so we felt extremely welcomed!

Natalie

Host Family Home

Pryveet! (Hello in Ukrainian)

Well, I have been living with my host family for a week now and it has been an experience to remember! I have a wonderful room (you can see from the pictures above)! You can see my room and the view I have from my large window. We have a nice kitchen where mama cooks all sorts of yummy meals (my most interesting meal was borshch with rabbit, which was quite delicious!). Other than eating lots of new kinds of food, I have been keeping extremely busy!

I am exhausted after four to five hours of Russian language lessons each day. My language teacher is wonderful and I keep a journal of her teaching techniques so that I can use these activities when I have my own classroom. I have also met with the mayor of my town (population 15,000) who offered to have militia (police) escort my group of PCVs into a "cafe" if we were interested in dining at a cafe. Apparently, from what I have learned in Ukraine, people with a "good" reputation do not dine in "cafes" to socialize; but rather, respectable people socialize in their homes. Fighting and drunkeness are too common in cafes, so the mayor wanted us to be safe and offered the militia escort. Of course, just the idea of being escorted by the police is enough to deter me from wanting to dine in one of these establishments. I am learning about my community each day!

Also featured in the pictures above is Marsyk - my host cat! When I first moved in, he did not want anything to do with me and would even try to scratch me if I tried to pet him. But now, he has surrendered to me and I can pet him whenever I want and pick him up and carry him over my shoulder (although, he still sometimes runs from me). I am determined to win over Marsyk!

My host sister, Ania, attends the university in Kyiv and we enjoy talking and laughing together! We talk about her boyfriend and she has showed me lots of pictures!

My host mama is very friendly and works at the local art school. I'm not sure exactly what she does, I thought she was an economist, but today I found out she works at the art school, so I am slightly confused! Oh, the wonders of language barriers!

Mom - you would be proud because I wash dishes AT LEAST once per day (usually after breakfast or dinner).

Overall, I am enjoying my stay with my host mama, sister, and kitty cat! They keep me busy, on my toes, and I'm constantly trying to communicate with them (with the little Russian I know and my dependable Russian dictionary). But hey, I'm learning more each day!

Poka, Poka!

Natalie

Midnight Snack

You have to check out the yummy midnight snack I had last night! My mama (host mom) came into the office where my host sister and I were talking. She sat down and I was shocked to see my mama RIP off the head of this fish. It takes a long time to take off the skin and take out the bones, but finally, I was able to eat the meat. It reminded me of smoked salmon. Apparently, this snack is popular to eat with beer...VERY SALTY!

Yum Yum!
Natasha

Welcomed at the Arrival Retreat

Hello There!

I have officially been in Ukraine for six days now and it is amazing! The people have been so hospitable and kind. We did have an interesting situation with our group's luggage...it did not quite make it on our second flight so there were over sixty of us that were unable to pick up our checked baggage in Kyiv. Oh well - we did receive it in 1-2 days, but it was quite an adventure (over seven hours in the Kyiv airport trying to straighten everything out!).

I have attached some pictures of the Soviet-era "resort" that we stayed at for three days and two nights. It was a fast introduction into PC Ukraine. In our group (Brian...this is for you...), we have 73 people (Ukraine is the largest PC program in the world).

I have been assigned to learn Russian, which most likely means I will be placed on the east side of Ukraine where Russian is more widely accepted. Lately though, there has been a push for Ukrainian to become the dominant language, but Russian is still widely used.

Hope you enjoy and thank you for your support!
Nat-B (now Natasha in Ukraine)