2 little indians...and a quaker.

the little devil himself.

Today I was taken down by a 3 year old. As it turns out, Illusia can throw. Like, REALLY throw. I gave this kid a football and he hucked it across a rather large room, perfect spiral.. weird.

Anyway, I let down my guard for two seconds..Illusia found a toy ring. Target practice! Smack in the nose, blood everywhere. Oh yes, he is three.

On a lighter note..


Today was spectacle. My kids are SO cute.


I hate that 5 year olds have no concept of forever. I am never going to see them again. It kills me.  I had no idea how hard it would be to leave them. I have no idea what I was expecting either..maybe a picture and huge group hug..? Well, I don't really remember what it was like to be five..but it is the end of school and they just wanted to get out of there...so they did. My heart is kinda in shambles...but that is ok. I only cried a little.

I can't believe it is over. I can't believe I will never be in that ghetto school ever again, wondering what electronic it will fry of mine this week...or what scary thing is going to be served at lunch...or which chunk of wall is going to come down next..


For now... CUTENESS!
It was amazingly awesome to see how Ukrainians think "westerners" look. Some of them did nail it on the head though. I'm so proud! Awe tear.

3 sitting ducks

Before you read! Scroll down and click play on the video. This is the kind of post that needs background music. 

Is it playing? Ok, you are free to proceed. 

Today was the very last day of teaching, minus the spectacle tomorrow, but no teaching required there. It still has not hit me yet. Hmm. Oh well. 

Today I saw a shirtless man, that really should NOT have been shirtless..and wearing short shorts.. He couldn't really have been wearing less. EXCEPT he made sure to put on long black socks with his sandals. Way to go mister green shorts. 

I am going to dedicate the remainder of this post to an object that cost less than $1 but is filled with a lifetime of laughs. This is the best souvenir that anyone could have ever bought. Super Pooper. Two words, so much meaning, especially when you have little old Ukrainian men trying to sell you them. 

I am hoping to find one of my very own tomorrow. 

Two things that remind me of my best friend. Super Pooper and Noah & the Whale. 

Enjoy:]

t-4

Six hours. One paper. done. 

Japan and their weird cultural habits are keeping me grounded. 

I refuse to let myself feel, its too much trouble at this point. 

Bags are 90% packed.

We don't have a scale.. hmm. 

Slideshow for spectacle. done. 

Skype date, then bed. 

One more day of teaching:]

Carpe Diem?

t-5 a sweet disposition

There are so many Americans! I've never seen so many Americans in my life! Guard your bags..
St. Andrews has never been so crowded. But for one lass horray, it was worth it. I wanted a t shirt, but who wants to buy a t shirt in Ukraine that is in english. NOT ME! I got some super cool stuff though. 
Cherry vereniki is best in air conditioned pzahta hatas:]
"Lets be tourists".. says Kaitlin...Why not..
Somehow, our artist drawer man decided that I have bucked teeth. This is what I get for letting my american show.


Ice cream is way too good here. 
"Can we go run around the corner and cry??" Yes. 
What kind of drunk would YOU be??


Britney, what will make you feel better?- Natalie
Dumping this bottle of water on Derricks head.-Britney
*SPLASH*

a moment.

a love.

a dream.

a laugh.

a kiss.

a cry.

our rights.

our wrongs.

just stay there. 

<3

T-6

Sometimes I lose my patience.

Sometimes I get ahead of myself. 

Sometimes I feel pretty dumb. 

Sometimes I eat manna for breakfast..ok like every day.

and sometimes Savage Garden can express my feelings better than I can. Hello 90's childhood.

I didn't make it to Andrivski this morning. Boo Kaitlin and your lack of inventory;]

I need to study for my test. 

I need to finish music and slideshow for spectacle.

Its 11am. 

I'm still laying in bed, yet have so much to do. 

I wonder if all of my stuff will fit in my suitcases.

I really hope that iceland does not blow up and I get stuck in Germany. 

Then again, Germany might be a party. 

My phone has still not showed up. hmm.

This is me trying not to think. My brain is temporarily out of service- too many emotions to file.. caution- meltdowns ahead. 

I have said too much, I am afraid. 

Kaitlin, can I quote you too? X10..minus the babushka.



Hold Your Own. Know Your Name. Go Your Own Way. 
Everything will be fine. 

T-7

Spacebags are present and ready to go. 

weird. 

Who would have thought I'd ever be eating an egg, cheese, chili ketchup and mayonnaise sandwich? not me. yumm. 

My phone broke.. then i lost it today...it might have gone down the trash shoot. shoot. 

St. Andrivski again tomorrow with Kaitlin and friends for our last mid week hoorray! Hoorray!

Then weekend Kyiv days. This one should be fun. 

It's about 7.30pm. The next 4 hours are devoted to the Japanese and their mysterious ways of Pre- funeral planning. Why is everything assigned for this class have something to do with Japan?

Last weekend in Ukraine. Lets party:] 

Check out my awesome tan! ...

and Kaitlin's christmas bell shoes:]

it's your happy birthday!

Study break in celebratian of today.


Who would have thought that two of my very best friends were born on the same exact day.


Happy Birthday Kaitlin Jackman & Kristina Hahn!


20..phew. That's old. But guess what, I'm next.


Time is a funny thing. Today we read our 1 year predictions for our group. A year from now you will be (insert ridiculous statement here)..


According to my fellow teachers I will be "living my fairly tale/movie like life" by doing the following in exactly 1 year:
*Married.
*Traveling the Globe & Married.
*Head Teacher for ILP in China.
*Calling Kaitlin a lot.
*Opening a fashion boutique.
*Moving to Utah to finish my degree at USU, after getting married.




I think I got all of them...minus one that said something about me going into some kind of science of evolution or something at school.. I don't think I got any mission comments. Any thoughts?


Who knows if some of these will actually come true but it has got me thinking. 1 year ago, I would not have imagined all of the things I would do in the following year. Holy crap has it been a year! All I knew a year ago, that I would be graduating in two days and I would move to Utah to go to school in the fall.


In the last year I have flown over the atlantic ocean multiple times. I have been to five different European countries- Sweden twice. I never would have thought that I would end up living in a Post Soviet country...or ukrainian hospital. I have survived +9 hour time difference from my awesome family and a 5 month long distance relationship. I have cried, laughed and ate some of the most amazing food ever. I have met people that have changed my life, forever.
Woah. That's a lot of stuff. 


Sometimes I really think that the only reason I came to Ukraine was to meet my lovely Katroosa. Words cannot describe how much I love her. Happy Birthday <3


Ill stop myself before I get too in-depth.. this is not THE post. I still have a few more days to write that. 10 to be exact:]

people stare:]

friday high.

You know how they say that when you get to the end, you are right back where you began? That is how I feel. I am right back to the first week of teaching..minus the awkward name messing up and nervous lessons. 

 This week was rough. The kids are SO ready to be done and they are super hard to keep control of... But guess what! Friday is drawing a close in 30 minuets. That means we only have ONE MORE FRIDAY!

 The spectacular event is soon approaching. Saddle up, its time to boogie! 

Friday highs are fun.

Picking flowers while belting Christmas songs down the street. 

packing dominos with Americans and singing birthday songs. 

Hazelnut ice cream scarfing (no ice cream on the escalators)

Playing "big win" on the escalator in the metro with Kaitlin. 

Being told I dress very good in American style. 

A man being super surprised by hearing me speak english and yelling "American?!". 

A women walking in front of my building wearing one black shoe and one white. 

I love Ukraine. 

This man is wearing a princess hat. 

Can I get a spoon please?

When I think of "life saving objects", a number of things come to mind; Life boats, emergency floatation devices, cardiac defibrillators, seat belts and knee pads... but never in my life would I have thought an every day object so simple, would have such an impact on my short life, all in one weekend.

I love the irony in my life.


This is the story of "Ryan" the Travel Size Hairdryer and how it saved my life and blessed the countless lives of others.

Crimea: The most southern part of Ukraine. I heard it called the "medeterainian of Russia". As you can imagine, after a lonngggg winter in Kyiv, I was totally down for some hot humid play time on sandy shores of Simferopol.

This was definelty not the case.
Long story short- yes, use your imagination....
A small "cabin" (meaning metal shack)
Two wooden plank beds.
Two holy wool blankets.
30 degree weather.
18 layers of clothes.
1 Hairdryer.
2 best friends.

my life:]

Think Green.

Suddenly, it looks like a green leaf monster threw up all over the city! People said Kyiv was beautiful in May, but I had NO idea. It has completely transformed and become a rainy forest wonderland. I am in love. <3


Yesterday, on our day off, we had the intentions of going to an outdoor village museum thing. Well, bad news is..we never found it. BUT we ended up in the middle of nowhere in a small village in the rain..so it all worked out. 

         

 

              

 Tomorrow we are headed to Crimea on the black sea till tuesday! Ryan will be in kyiv when I get back. Im super excited. До свидания!