Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for...(in no particular order)

1. my supportive friends and family

2. my Thanksgiving Dinner: pasta, garlic bread, and a delicious apple pie

3. Thanksgiving Games: UNO and Spoons

4. Marsick (the family cat) finally loving me (pictures to prove it)
5. my demonstration lesson (teaching proficiency test) went fairly well...I actually had to teach this lesson on Thanksgiving day with third graders (pictures above)
6. the snow finally melting

7. only having 1 more week of training
8. Internet access while serving in the PC

9. my host family's patience with me

10. good friends I have made along the way

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Natalie

PC Training Event: Methodological Session

My cluster hosted a Methodological Session for current Ukrainian English teachers. We showed them new ways students can interact and practice English in the classroom: fun learning with a purpose!

Take care!

Natalie

On a side note: I had my Site Placement interview today with the country director and site development officer. I think the interview went well, and I'm excited to find out my permanent site! December 7 is when my site will be unveiled and December 9 will be both the Swearing-In Ceremony and my departure date to site. Looking forward!

Champion!

Last Saturday, I participated in a soccer tournament in Kyiv with current PC volunteers and trainees. My team ended up winning the tournament (granted, there were only four teams, but I'll take the win!). It was refreshing to run around and support our Environmental Working Group (sponsors of the event)...I sure miss my soccer teams in Vancouver!

Host Family Pic

Wanted to share this host family picture!

My mom, Tania works for an insurance agency that is based out of Kyiv. She works at the local office in my small town and the company rents from the cultural center. (She is always giving me a hard time about not wearing warm enough clothes!)

My sister, Ania, is a student in Kyiv. She studies Business and speaks English very well. (My sister tries to take care of me, too, letting me know when I haven't consumed enough of my dinner, even though I've probably had twice as much as her!)

They have been supportive and patient with me...I sure appreciate them!

P.S. I hope to get some more pictures up today or tomorrow...I have lots to share!

Election Day

Wanted to get some more pictures up! Here we are, at 6:30am local time...

we took a Taxi to a nearby village to watch the election results live (we were shocked that the election had already been determined when we arrived). We were able to see McCain's concession speech and Obama's victory speech - both LIVE. Throughout our celebrations, we also had the mayor of the town (pop. 2,000) join us...she cried and said she was so happy for the states.

Good times!

Natalie

St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv

I had to post some pictures from my tour of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. This cathedral was actually built in the 11th century (in the flowers in one of the pictures, you can see the year construction began). We toured the inside, which, unfortunately, cameras were not allowed inside. but the walls were covered with colorful paintings from the history of the church. Throughout the cathedral, some parts had been renovated and other parts were the original. In some of the pictures, you can see where the outside was not renovated and the original cathedral walls are brick-colored.

We climbed the bell tower (the white column with the gold dome at the top) - 210 steps, but who's counting? As we left the cathedral grounds, we walked into a wedding occuring in the middle of the square!

Tomorrow (Sunday), I am headed into Kyiv again with Grace to relax, write some lesson plans, have some good food and drinks, and I am also on the hunt for a new pair of shoes and a long wool coat (the roads here are eating the soles of my shoes)! Wish me luck!

Take care,
Natalie

Happy Halloween! (and my birthday, too!)

Happy Halloween!

Believe it or not, I was actually invited to a Halloween party in Ukraine. All of the PC trainees in my group went to this party hosted by the House of Culture (extracurricular establishment for students). I had to throw a costume together with the clothes I brought...so I ended up as a ninja! The decorations were great - with hanging body parts from the ceiling, carved pumpkins, and many scary stories and skits (which I could not understand, but that made it even scarier!).

From the pictures, you can tell that we put together a scary story with people. My role was as a black night and I had to continually say "ooh hooo" whenever it was my turn. I had to sit on Freddie Krueger's lap during the entire story! I should mention that the person in the white is Molly, another PC trainee, and she is a statue. The other ninja is Grace, another PC trainee who is actually from Oregon! Also in the picture, dressed as a journalist is Lena, my Technical and Cross Cultural Trainer with PC.

I have also posted some pictures from my birthday dinner with my host mom (Tania), sister (Ania), and my sister's boyfriend (Alexander, but he goes by Sasha) . We had a large dinner complete with white fish (my favorite), meat (I'm not sure what kind), potatoes, sandwich meat and cheeses, bananas, apples, and my yummy tort (cake)! I was definitely full!

Great way to end the week - cake, balloons, and my ninja costume!

Happy Halloween!
Natalie