Can I sleep until spring is here?

Hello from NovoUkrainka!

Time in Ukraine plays tricks on me...I can't believe I have lived in Ukraine for five months already, yet, often times, the days never seem to end! I haven't taken many pictures since my last blog entry, so I will make this a little March resolution.

I did move in early January to a great apartment. It's in the center of town, only a short walk to school, and in a "safer" neighborhood (from what I've been told). Here is a picture of the sidewalk in front of my house:



Here is the intersection closest to my apartment. This is Lenina Street, the main street in town. The corner restaurant with the yellow roof is a summer cafe. Usually, the street looks a lot busier...


Home sweet home (hopefully for the next two years)! My entrance is the first door you see. Then, the next door is a shop that specializes in growing plants. I introduced myself to the shop owner, Oleg, last week and bought a plant. Unfortunately, I don't have a green thumb like my parents, so it already looks like it's suffering.

For Valentine's Day weekend, I went to Kyiv for a get together with other Peace Corps volunteers. I was also able to visit my training site, Baryshivka. As I walked around Baryshivka, I felt like I was closer to home, probably because I associate Baryshivka with my Peace Corps training group (I miss my cluster of PCVs). It was nice to see Tania, Ania, and Sasha again...

Last weekend, I helped with the Oblast English Olympiads. Basically, there are different levels of competition, beginning with regional, then oblast, and then students advance to the national competition. One 9th grade student from my school in NovoUkrainka, Nastia, was awarded the first place for her grade, which is a first for my school! I have been meeting with Nastia every day to prepare for the national olympiads, which will take place at the end of March.

Other exciting news: I've bought tickets for a Spring break trip! I will be travelling with Grace and Molly (from my training cluster) to London and Morocco. We will spend two nights in London, then fly to Morocco for five nights, back to London for one more night, and then finally back home to Ukraine. If anyone has any recommendations for either of these places, please send me an email!

Other happenings in my world include:

1. Teaching 18 lessons per week

2. Establishing a mentor program for Peace Corps volunteers before they leave the U.S.

3. Working with the Peace Corps medical office to implement mental health trainings for Peace Corps trainees (First, I am collaborating with the medical office and another volunteer to plan a training session, then I will travel to the training sites and work with clusters of new volunteers to help with the transition to site).

4. Hot off the press: Today, the Safety and Security Coordinator asked me to be a "warden" for my oblast (in case of an emergency, volunteers in my oblast will meet at my site). This will require me to attend additional trainings in May.

5. I'm excited my baby sister is getting married! (ok, a little nervous, too...I am her second mom you know!)

Lots of changes in my world...

Take care,

Natalie