2.14.11

Its official. I've been in Kyiv for exactly one month! It has flown by, I can't even believe it. I feel like so much has happened in the last week, I just don't know where to start.. I know, I shall start at the beginning- Last Friday. 


I was so excited to move hostfamilies. After class, Oksana rushed me out of the school with my luggage into a van and we were off. I was expecting a whole family like my last.. instead I got a Nina!
Nina is amazing. She is a 19 year old university student and I live with her in her flat. I've only been with her a short while, but it feels like we've known each other for years. It is so great to have freedom to come and go as I need and not have to worry about living a million miles in the country. Needless to say, I lucked out:) 


Last Saturday, I got the chance to go to the Kyiv temple. It was quite the experience. Since it is the only temple in the Slavic countries and east of Germany, people come from all over to do work there. It is sometimes quite the journey, sometimes we take for granted that we live so close to temples in the States. The Spirit was so strong there. It was amazing how I could feel so much at home, thousands of miles away.


The rest of my week was pretty typical, except wednesday was the start of my Valentines week. I had been getting calls from strange numbers for a few days. I finally answered but of course, no english. Finally on wednesday, after calling me 13 times, I answered again. It was a miracle, they figured out I don't speak Russian. The lady told me that she had a present for me.. from Jim.. weird haha. Long story short, I had the best pre valentines day ever. Derek had ordered me the most beautiful flowers and amazing ukrainian chocolate. I've never had anyone do something for me like this.

For some reason, maybe its just because I am my mother's daughter, I am not easily surprised. Some how, involuntarily or not, I have figured out every potential surprise, ever. It's been pretty detrimental the last few years.  But this came pretty close. 

They delievered the package to me at school, I was rather speechless, they even insisted on getting a picture.. Derek said he had sent me something, but since I had been sick, I thought it was a box of tissues (Kleenex here are scented and have the texture of cardboard and are about as absorbent as sheet rock). 


On Monday, we visited the all infamous lock bridge of Kyiv. People have been locking love here for years, so we figured it was our time too. I wish I would have had more time to take pictures, but it was -13 degrees celsius and I was afraid of losing a limb. 

Still loving it here! 3 months to go!