So this is it. The last hoorah!
I'm sitting in my room...there is a monsoon outside haha...and too many kids screaming and shouting in the corridor...they are preparing for the final concert of the second shift of kids! How fun...I know they are planning on imitating the teachers...so it ought to be hilarious to see this:)
But anyway, I leave tomorrow evening for Lviv...and then we basically take a direct train ride for 7 hours to the deep deep deep carpathian mountains!
It's been quite a ride, and I am sorry to say my story will end here...for the rest you will have to talk to me once I'm back in America!
We won't have internet access for a total of 16 days...HOW FUN!
You can guess whether that is sarcastic, but I would say it is a little bit of both.
Today Nadir and I walked to the shop in the town...I guess you could call it...more like creepy Ukrainian ghost town with a few grandmothers sitting around outside and old men with cats that stare at you. I bought nothing else than chocolate and ice cream haha...what a fatty I am...
I'm sorry but I just need relief from all the buckwheat and over cooked pasta...not to mention the mystery meat....YUM.
I will miss this place...especially the random cleaning lady who screamed at me yesterday during my lesson because the students were sitting on couch pillows on the floor. I don't think she knew that I was ukrainian...but I just stared at her face which looked so magnified to me. Her anger I think popped a blood vessel in her forehead...I had to keep from laughing...then I said in broken English "ja za americae" which means I am american...from which she got even more made and literally began to explode on the students. I felt bad but certainly got a kick out of it haha!
And our disco is likely cancelled for tonight as this is the thunderstorm central zone this evening...
So we will go to the restaurant and drink our worries away. There was a lot of drama here, and everyone needs to relax!
I felt so good though because the students actually wanted to work on their fairytale book projects during afternoon nap...LIKE HOMEWORK! WOOO!
I have succeeded in not failing as a teacher! GREAT!
ANYWAY I WILL MISS EVERYONE SO MUCH...IF YOU SEE MY FAMILY TELL THEM I LOVE THEM, AND EAT SOME WISCO CHEESE FOR ME PLEASE LOL!
GOODBYE:D
MICHELLE
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Who the am I?
ICK
I am so sick of feeling disgusting here everyday...I have come to realize that I pamper myself a little too much...I mean I usually change my clothes 20 times before picking out what to wear when I'm home....Here it's slip on whatever least smells. HAHA! How sad!
Some things I realized today on our excursion....
First, Ukrainians are obsessed with gardening. Every single house has a beautiful garden...
Second, I'm beginning to understand the language. I can read probably 15 letters...congratulations to me!
Third, I hate the vendors here! They are so mean:( They charge foreigners extra which ticks me off! I always enjoy it when I have a Ukrainian friend ask how much something is, and then I come back later to ask again and they raise the price. HOW NICE. Idiotic corrupted system...
Anyway, today we went back to the wellness place and also the really boring chernadyvo museum....
I took a lot of pictures and video which is good....
Otherwise, I was slightly bored simply because I have seen everything before...
I am seriously in a coma now I think...
Yesterday I dreamt that I was back at home and then someone woke me up because they were fumigating the hotel here. I was then pissed and just wanted to go back to sleep to dream about home....but I know once I'm home I'll do nothing except dream about Ukraine.
So about this fumigation...what the heck!? Ukrainians are so obsessed with health that I am to the point of annoyance...I guess. It's just weird to me. I mean they are seriously sure that going outside with wet hair will give you a sore throat, or something like that. It's funny but then again true I suppose. However, I do believe there is a more biological reason for all of this hoopla!
And dinner today was bad, so I just ate too much chocolate:(
The dinner composed of salami and cabbage with buckwheat...I am so sick of buckwheat. We eat it every other second....but I do love the salami and cabbage. the combination just does not work...
Yes well enough for my complaints. I am really enjoying myself here, but I just have a lot of pent up stress today. However, I truly shouldn't have any, as we had no lessons today and there will be video lessons tomorrow which are easy.
I should be forever greatful and happy....SO I AM:)
I just would really like to have a washing machine that's all...
And I'm missing my cousin's wedding today which sucks:( I wish I was there! Cheers to Joey and Danielle!
Well, please allow me to go throw out my banana peel, as this is the only fruit I've been eating for the past 3 days...I'd say I've had atleast 12 bananas lol because they put a box of them in our room...so we just go in there whenever....they are so ripe now......
Goodbye and God bless!
Michelle
I am so sick of feeling disgusting here everyday...I have come to realize that I pamper myself a little too much...I mean I usually change my clothes 20 times before picking out what to wear when I'm home....Here it's slip on whatever least smells. HAHA! How sad!
Some things I realized today on our excursion....
First, Ukrainians are obsessed with gardening. Every single house has a beautiful garden...
Second, I'm beginning to understand the language. I can read probably 15 letters...congratulations to me!
Third, I hate the vendors here! They are so mean:( They charge foreigners extra which ticks me off! I always enjoy it when I have a Ukrainian friend ask how much something is, and then I come back later to ask again and they raise the price. HOW NICE. Idiotic corrupted system...
Anyway, today we went back to the wellness place and also the really boring chernadyvo museum....
I took a lot of pictures and video which is good....
Otherwise, I was slightly bored simply because I have seen everything before...
I am seriously in a coma now I think...
Yesterday I dreamt that I was back at home and then someone woke me up because they were fumigating the hotel here. I was then pissed and just wanted to go back to sleep to dream about home....but I know once I'm home I'll do nothing except dream about Ukraine.
So about this fumigation...what the heck!? Ukrainians are so obsessed with health that I am to the point of annoyance...I guess. It's just weird to me. I mean they are seriously sure that going outside with wet hair will give you a sore throat, or something like that. It's funny but then again true I suppose. However, I do believe there is a more biological reason for all of this hoopla!
And dinner today was bad, so I just ate too much chocolate:(
The dinner composed of salami and cabbage with buckwheat...I am so sick of buckwheat. We eat it every other second....but I do love the salami and cabbage. the combination just does not work...
Yes well enough for my complaints. I am really enjoying myself here, but I just have a lot of pent up stress today. However, I truly shouldn't have any, as we had no lessons today and there will be video lessons tomorrow which are easy.
I should be forever greatful and happy....SO I AM:)
I just would really like to have a washing machine that's all...
And I'm missing my cousin's wedding today which sucks:( I wish I was there! Cheers to Joey and Danielle!
Well, please allow me to go throw out my banana peel, as this is the only fruit I've been eating for the past 3 days...I'd say I've had atleast 12 bananas lol because they put a box of them in our room...so we just go in there whenever....they are so ripe now......
Goodbye and God bless!
Michelle
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Hello Everyone
I am currently sitting on my dual functioning bed, eating a banana, listening to the horrible music filtering into my room from the disco floor, with the girls speaking ukrainian in the other room. This is the life...
Remember yesterday I said I was going on an excursion to the waterfall...WELL that was interesting. I'm pretty sure the hike we went on would be illegal in the U.S. to take students on. I mean we went on these legit vertical climbs...and the trekkk down the waterfall, well lets keep it a secrect between you and I, but I slid and fell on my butt....definitely have a bruise from that one....
Anyway, the carpathian waterfall was one of the most gorgeous natural wonders I have ever seen:) so the 1.5 hour trekk was well worth it!
Then last night we had a rock n roll disco...it was fun to hear all the old tunes:) I had a great time...
And today...DUN DUN DUN...we took this second group of kids to Mukachevo...BUT us teachers ditched the kids (so they were with instructors) and finally went shopping on our own yay! But first, our day started out with pizza! yummy! then we went shopping for hours...Maya and I at one point went to this second hand shop...which was very interesting...so apparently this is where all of the clothes from the U.S. go...because there were literally 5 things from my closet from H & M there. I laughed quite hard.
And I kept trying to buy shorts...then I would have them on and I would think to myself why in the world would I buy these!? I would NEVER wear them in the U.S. It is a matter of fact that basically anything I buy here will never be worn once I'm home. Geeze this place is riskay.
Oooo...got to a big brown spot on my banana! haha!
Yea, so I bought a ton of more stuff. You're welcome.
And now I am attempting to relax because the shopping was INTENSE. I hope I will be able to sleep this evening............
It's so musty and humid in this room....I want to sleep outside in a hammock. Yikes.
Lessons again tomorrow with great fun...it is Little Red Riding Hood day! wooooo!
So have fun everyone....I miss you...buy me something sparkly soon and ship it to ukraine....because I love sparkles.....a lot:D
Peace & Love & Happiness to you!
Michelley
Remember yesterday I said I was going on an excursion to the waterfall...WELL that was interesting. I'm pretty sure the hike we went on would be illegal in the U.S. to take students on. I mean we went on these legit vertical climbs...and the trekkk down the waterfall, well lets keep it a secrect between you and I, but I slid and fell on my butt....definitely have a bruise from that one....
Anyway, the carpathian waterfall was one of the most gorgeous natural wonders I have ever seen:) so the 1.5 hour trekk was well worth it!
Then last night we had a rock n roll disco...it was fun to hear all the old tunes:) I had a great time...
And today...DUN DUN DUN...we took this second group of kids to Mukachevo...BUT us teachers ditched the kids (so they were with instructors) and finally went shopping on our own yay! But first, our day started out with pizza! yummy! then we went shopping for hours...Maya and I at one point went to this second hand shop...which was very interesting...so apparently this is where all of the clothes from the U.S. go...because there were literally 5 things from my closet from H & M there. I laughed quite hard.
And I kept trying to buy shorts...then I would have them on and I would think to myself why in the world would I buy these!? I would NEVER wear them in the U.S. It is a matter of fact that basically anything I buy here will never be worn once I'm home. Geeze this place is riskay.
Oooo...got to a big brown spot on my banana! haha!
Yea, so I bought a ton of more stuff. You're welcome.
And now I am attempting to relax because the shopping was INTENSE. I hope I will be able to sleep this evening............
It's so musty and humid in this room....I want to sleep outside in a hammock. Yikes.
Lessons again tomorrow with great fun...it is Little Red Riding Hood day! wooooo!
So have fun everyone....I miss you...buy me something sparkly soon and ship it to ukraine....because I love sparkles.....a lot:D
Peace & Love & Happiness to you!
Michelley
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
yep yep yep
Hello Everyone:)
I still miss you, and I would like to inform you that I will not have internet access at all for a total of 16 days...I'm excited to experience this because I do not forsee it as possible! We will have no internet because the next camp we are staying at is way way out in the middle of nowhere...turychka...or something like that in the carpathians...
So, yestderday here was "quest" day in which all the students and staff dressed up as pirates. However, I didn't really until the nightly disco because I was soooo tired, and I slept a lot meaning I didn't have time to get ready for anything. Anyway, it was hilarious to see these kids' costumes. One kid must be quadruple jointed or something because he was walking around with his arm behind his head...so it looked like it was broken. Then this one team painted "black blood" all over themselves...which I found to be hilarious...
Quest day is basically like a scavenger hunt where each team has to perform different tasks. My favorite is the string course like an army training tactic where the students have to crawl through this web of string without touching any...and it takes them forever, and I feel horrible watching because they ruin their clothes from the mud. Some of the boys go through it in their underwear...which almost seems worse...
Yes, and everything here has been tough for the past couple of days...I mean our bathroom looked like a bomb exploded in it and that there was a mudslide after because the floor would get so dirty it looked like a muddy river. Afterall, there are about 10 people sharing one single bathroom, and our bedroom is now deemed "the trainstation" because trillions of instructors and teachers are always walking through...it is a miracle that anyone is able to sleep...
I basically live off of my bed...it's the only amount of personal space I have. It's cool to see how economical I have become:)
Anyway, because of all of this stress placed on us teachers and instructors, arthur allowed us to have a barbecue last night after the children went to sleep...
IT WAS SUPER:D
They have this cheese here which is the texture of a rubberband...then you chew it a little bit and it turns into cheese, but it tastes so salty and so smokey...OMG I FELL IN LOVE with this amazing cheese. I am on a high right now just because I ate that cheese. They then barbecued all this chicken...so tasty:) and we had chips, tomatoes (as usual), pickles (like cucumbers...as usual), bread, and wine and coca cola, and kvass...
O AND CHOCOLATE OF COURSE!
I loved this night because we all got to be together and just relax while having fun!
AND I was had in a joke as usual...
Today, I am just happy...the older students went on an excursion to mukachevo today...we go tomorrow...
So my students were anxious and didn't want to learn a thing...our fairytale of the day today was Rumpelstiltskin! wooo!
And i just ate lunch which included my most hated dish which has chunks of fat in it with rice...i gag....but i ate the rice and cole slaw...yummmmm:)
And now we will be going on an excursion of our own here in about 40 minutes to the waterfall...can't wait! should be fun!
So I'll be talking to you again soooooon!
God bless:D
!Michelley:)
I still miss you, and I would like to inform you that I will not have internet access at all for a total of 16 days...I'm excited to experience this because I do not forsee it as possible! We will have no internet because the next camp we are staying at is way way out in the middle of nowhere...turychka...or something like that in the carpathians...
So, yestderday here was "quest" day in which all the students and staff dressed up as pirates. However, I didn't really until the nightly disco because I was soooo tired, and I slept a lot meaning I didn't have time to get ready for anything. Anyway, it was hilarious to see these kids' costumes. One kid must be quadruple jointed or something because he was walking around with his arm behind his head...so it looked like it was broken. Then this one team painted "black blood" all over themselves...which I found to be hilarious...
Quest day is basically like a scavenger hunt where each team has to perform different tasks. My favorite is the string course like an army training tactic where the students have to crawl through this web of string without touching any...and it takes them forever, and I feel horrible watching because they ruin their clothes from the mud. Some of the boys go through it in their underwear...which almost seems worse...
Yes, and everything here has been tough for the past couple of days...I mean our bathroom looked like a bomb exploded in it and that there was a mudslide after because the floor would get so dirty it looked like a muddy river. Afterall, there are about 10 people sharing one single bathroom, and our bedroom is now deemed "the trainstation" because trillions of instructors and teachers are always walking through...it is a miracle that anyone is able to sleep...
I basically live off of my bed...it's the only amount of personal space I have. It's cool to see how economical I have become:)
Anyway, because of all of this stress placed on us teachers and instructors, arthur allowed us to have a barbecue last night after the children went to sleep...
IT WAS SUPER:D
They have this cheese here which is the texture of a rubberband...then you chew it a little bit and it turns into cheese, but it tastes so salty and so smokey...OMG I FELL IN LOVE with this amazing cheese. I am on a high right now just because I ate that cheese. They then barbecued all this chicken...so tasty:) and we had chips, tomatoes (as usual), pickles (like cucumbers...as usual), bread, and wine and coca cola, and kvass...
O AND CHOCOLATE OF COURSE!
I loved this night because we all got to be together and just relax while having fun!
AND I was had in a joke as usual...
Today, I am just happy...the older students went on an excursion to mukachevo today...we go tomorrow...
So my students were anxious and didn't want to learn a thing...our fairytale of the day today was Rumpelstiltskin! wooo!
And i just ate lunch which included my most hated dish which has chunks of fat in it with rice...i gag....but i ate the rice and cole slaw...yummmmm:)
And now we will be going on an excursion of our own here in about 40 minutes to the waterfall...can't wait! should be fun!
So I'll be talking to you again soooooon!
God bless:D
!Michelley:)
Monday, July 11, 2011
Ukrainian popsicles trump american!
MMMMMMM MMMMMMMM GOOD:D
this popsicle is delicious!
I needed a cheer up here and this was definitely the way to do it.
Our new shift of kids has settled in here at the camp...
This means a lot of getting to know Ukrainian names...
So far, I have my 'groupies' as luigi calls them. Nastya, Dianna, and Alina...they follow me around and ask me all these questions. Last night they asked if I had children, and I laughed for about 15 minutes at that one. They are only 9 years old and so cute. These girls make me want to have children! haha!
But anyway, today we had a talent show in the camp and one of the girl's talents was that she drew a picture of me. THE BEST IDEA EVER. Today they did a skit in the talent show too to the barbie girl song. It was so cute. They had adorable little victor as their ken......we all enjoyed it so much!
And I just came back from supper where I ate about 50 wafer cookies...the people here think i don't eat, and i really don't understand why? I eat a lot...maybe it's because i eat fast? but i don't at all...
So, I'm really tired and coming up with my lesson plans for tomorrow...
I'm trying my best to stay alive!
ttys & God blesss!
Michelle
this popsicle is delicious!
I needed a cheer up here and this was definitely the way to do it.
Our new shift of kids has settled in here at the camp...
This means a lot of getting to know Ukrainian names...
So far, I have my 'groupies' as luigi calls them. Nastya, Dianna, and Alina...they follow me around and ask me all these questions. Last night they asked if I had children, and I laughed for about 15 minutes at that one. They are only 9 years old and so cute. These girls make me want to have children! haha!
But anyway, today we had a talent show in the camp and one of the girl's talents was that she drew a picture of me. THE BEST IDEA EVER. Today they did a skit in the talent show too to the barbie girl song. It was so cute. They had adorable little victor as their ken......we all enjoyed it so much!
And I just came back from supper where I ate about 50 wafer cookies...the people here think i don't eat, and i really don't understand why? I eat a lot...maybe it's because i eat fast? but i don't at all...
So, I'm really tired and coming up with my lesson plans for tomorrow...
I'm trying my best to stay alive!
ttys & God blesss!
Michelle
Thursday, July 7, 2011
My Loves:)
I miss you all so much!
It's been a tough couple of days here in Ukraine...holy cow!
So, we said by to our first shift of students yesterday. I rode the train back to Lviv from Mukachevo...and all the students were crying. It was so sad to see them go because I was really able to get to know each one individually, and I realize I will never see them again! yikes!
It's been raining here too much. I'm so sick of feeling soggy and damp...it disgusts me and takes a week for anything I wash to dry. However, today I am in Lviv, currently sitting at Mcdonalds, and the sun was out, and Nadir and I went shopping! How fun:)
Time is flying of course...and this was expected. I just can't believe I've already been here for 25 days. I feel as though I am living parallel lives. It doesn't seem like my life back home really exists anymore, and I'm not sure how I will adjust when I go back!
Something funny about the students...they were so fascinated that I can type fast. They sit there and laugh at me and say I should win a world record for fastest typer. I kept trying to tell them that everyone in America types fast, (for the most part)but they were just so excited to see me type! haha
And we had a farewell bonfire for the students which reminded me much of home...with fireworks and the whole shebang.
You know, I was really homesick today, but things are looking up! I've had such a brilliant day with Nadir here in Lviv that I have realized how much I truly enjoy this sitting...
I just keep smiling............
I really hope everything is good at home because I really want a peanut butter and jelly...
O and let me tell you about my packing experience yesterday. We had to pack our stuff because we came to lviv and left somethings in mukachevo (the camp). I'm pretty sure my suitcase already weighs twice as much as it did when I first came here. So I was trying to give so much stuff away from America that I no longer want. It was great fun! And I can't wait to live in a clean room again because so much dirt and mud gets tracked in everywhere...
:D
Good Day and God Bless Everyone:) You are all in my thoughts and prayers here in Ukraine! I LOVE YOU ALL!
!Michelley:)
It's been a tough couple of days here in Ukraine...holy cow!
So, we said by to our first shift of students yesterday. I rode the train back to Lviv from Mukachevo...and all the students were crying. It was so sad to see them go because I was really able to get to know each one individually, and I realize I will never see them again! yikes!
It's been raining here too much. I'm so sick of feeling soggy and damp...it disgusts me and takes a week for anything I wash to dry. However, today I am in Lviv, currently sitting at Mcdonalds, and the sun was out, and Nadir and I went shopping! How fun:)
Time is flying of course...and this was expected. I just can't believe I've already been here for 25 days. I feel as though I am living parallel lives. It doesn't seem like my life back home really exists anymore, and I'm not sure how I will adjust when I go back!
Something funny about the students...they were so fascinated that I can type fast. They sit there and laugh at me and say I should win a world record for fastest typer. I kept trying to tell them that everyone in America types fast, (for the most part)but they were just so excited to see me type! haha
And we had a farewell bonfire for the students which reminded me much of home...with fireworks and the whole shebang.
You know, I was really homesick today, but things are looking up! I've had such a brilliant day with Nadir here in Lviv that I have realized how much I truly enjoy this sitting...
I just keep smiling............
I really hope everything is good at home because I really want a peanut butter and jelly...
O and let me tell you about my packing experience yesterday. We had to pack our stuff because we came to lviv and left somethings in mukachevo (the camp). I'm pretty sure my suitcase already weighs twice as much as it did when I first came here. So I was trying to give so much stuff away from America that I no longer want. It was great fun! And I can't wait to live in a clean room again because so much dirt and mud gets tracked in everywhere...
:D
Good Day and God Bless Everyone:) You are all in my thoughts and prayers here in Ukraine! I LOVE YOU ALL!
!Michelley:)
Sunday, July 3, 2011
So some funny tidbits from here in Ukraine
I have received so many gifts of chocolate that my current stash nearly adds up to a year supply.
Maja, Nadir, Chris and I want to kill the DJ at the disco here everynight. He plays the same terrible songs...like "barbara streisand," "you will be my sun and moon and star," and "my heart will go on..." One of the nights in fact, he popped literally out of no where and asked me to dance with him. However, he said it in some weird way that made no sense, so I stared at his annoyingly smiled face for a good minute before I understood what he was trying to communicate. Also, at this particular moment I was in the midst of tying my shoe...that didn't happen. Instead, my stupid self said sure I'll dance with you...and once again it was to a terrible song from the 90's. BUT it was also the worst dance of my life. He had it in his mind apparently, that it is fun to rock back and forth 60 times a second during a slow song...so i got so dizzy. Then he stops and kneels...and I was like oh gosh what is he doing!? is this a proposal because sorry but this is just not how it works in the U.S. instead...after trying to comprehend a few of his awkward sentences I finally understand that he is telling me to hold his hand and run around him. I was thinking...what the hell is this place? Is this guy crazy!? How is running around you in a circle fun or how is it even a dance. I'm pretty sure it was the most ridiculous thing ever. I was just grinning and smiling though until the song changed...and immediately walked away after his awkward thanks. Now I see him everyday at the canteen (where we eat) and silently laugh inside...
What else is there?
Well there are a lot of random cats and dogs that walk around here...and don't you dare pet them because they aren't the nice kind. They are the mangey (spelling?) kind...yikes!
Oh, I remember something...when nadir, maja and i were at the pool that one day, a random hurd of goats appeared by the exercise equipment, and then finally the farmer lady appeared as well. These goats also kept farting really loud...it was quite the spectacle.
Right now I'm just chugging juice and tea to feel better....
Please please please believe in all the old wives' tales we americans make fun of them! I ignored everyones' requests to listen to them and here I lay...in the shambles of a horrid cold...
So, never sit on a cold stone. One time I was just sitting on a stone ledge waiting for our training sessions and taras comes over and tells me i need to sit on something...I was like are you kidding me? and he was completely serious. But naturally I just laughed it off...maja later informed me that it "ruins your kidney" and "damages your lady parts" I must say I am still laughing about this one....
o and of course there's always don't go outside with wet hair, which I am sure I ignored atleast 20 times already being here. I am convince that this is the reason I am sick...there is some kind of ukrainian bug in the air probably...idk...but now i believe, live, and swear by these ukrainian health practices HAHA
O gosh..now I have to go to the dance floor i think...the students are putting on a performance/contest as they do everyday. I think it's t.v. commerical day or something. Outta be interesting! Oh, and now the DJ started playing....GREAT!
Maja, Nadir, Chris and I want to kill the DJ at the disco here everynight. He plays the same terrible songs...like "barbara streisand," "you will be my sun and moon and star," and "my heart will go on..." One of the nights in fact, he popped literally out of no where and asked me to dance with him. However, he said it in some weird way that made no sense, so I stared at his annoyingly smiled face for a good minute before I understood what he was trying to communicate. Also, at this particular moment I was in the midst of tying my shoe...that didn't happen. Instead, my stupid self said sure I'll dance with you...and once again it was to a terrible song from the 90's. BUT it was also the worst dance of my life. He had it in his mind apparently, that it is fun to rock back and forth 60 times a second during a slow song...so i got so dizzy. Then he stops and kneels...and I was like oh gosh what is he doing!? is this a proposal because sorry but this is just not how it works in the U.S. instead...after trying to comprehend a few of his awkward sentences I finally understand that he is telling me to hold his hand and run around him. I was thinking...what the hell is this place? Is this guy crazy!? How is running around you in a circle fun or how is it even a dance. I'm pretty sure it was the most ridiculous thing ever. I was just grinning and smiling though until the song changed...and immediately walked away after his awkward thanks. Now I see him everyday at the canteen (where we eat) and silently laugh inside...
What else is there?
Well there are a lot of random cats and dogs that walk around here...and don't you dare pet them because they aren't the nice kind. They are the mangey (spelling?) kind...yikes!
Oh, I remember something...when nadir, maja and i were at the pool that one day, a random hurd of goats appeared by the exercise equipment, and then finally the farmer lady appeared as well. These goats also kept farting really loud...it was quite the spectacle.
Right now I'm just chugging juice and tea to feel better....
Please please please believe in all the old wives' tales we americans make fun of them! I ignored everyones' requests to listen to them and here I lay...in the shambles of a horrid cold...
So, never sit on a cold stone. One time I was just sitting on a stone ledge waiting for our training sessions and taras comes over and tells me i need to sit on something...I was like are you kidding me? and he was completely serious. But naturally I just laughed it off...maja later informed me that it "ruins your kidney" and "damages your lady parts" I must say I am still laughing about this one....
o and of course there's always don't go outside with wet hair, which I am sure I ignored atleast 20 times already being here. I am convince that this is the reason I am sick...there is some kind of ukrainian bug in the air probably...idk...but now i believe, live, and swear by these ukrainian health practices HAHA
O gosh..now I have to go to the dance floor i think...the students are putting on a performance/contest as they do everyday. I think it's t.v. commerical day or something. Outta be interesting! Oh, and now the DJ started playing....GREAT!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
5 days no net
Sooooo,
It's been awhile considering we've had no internet access, well I should say, I've had no internet access here for 5 days. This is because things in the camp have been so absolutely busy busy busy!
In fact, these have been the most exciting days thus far!
We went on a couple of excursions. First, we went to this ukrainian wellness resort which is just about the coolest place i have ever experienced. There are gardens, and ponds, and sunbathing, and exercize equipment...along with horseback riding and swimming and shopping:)
The hotel is literally the coolest place I've ever seen. It looks like a building right out of disney land. so, you walk around this place and see people getting massages in these serene, calming gazebos in the middle of beautiful, landscaped trees. Then you'll find all lot of ukrainians soaking up the sun.
BUT MY FAVORITE PART IS THE UKRAINIAN OBSESSION WITH WATER. We entered this building in the center of the resort where you can drink different types of water. They have different levels of sodium/sulfur and are various temperatures. This place is supported by an underground tap so it is completely natural. Only one thing, it smells like rotten eggs.
I was daring and decided to try some...i nearly puked my guts out because the taste is so raunchy and the smell is so potent. But the people here swear by it and swear it works. Many rich ukrainians come here strictly for the fact to drink the special type of water that the doctor prescribes to them. It's quite fascinating. In fact, one of our students spent her time there last summer, and she says she has not gotten a stomache ache since. I need this stuffffff. wow!
After this wellness resort, we went to this castle place which has three connected buildings. It housed the poor on one side of the building and then the rich on the other in the 16th century. Then in the center, there is a church. The main message of this building is to show the world that God brings all people together. I thought it was one of the greatest places I've ever been:)
Now close to this castle is a spring which also leads me to believe that ukrainians are obsessed with water. There is some old tale where a princess kept drinking from this spring and she became more and more youthful with each drink. So, some prince guy came along and drank from it, but drank too much because he turned into a baby. Haha. I'm sure I have this story completely wrong, but this is what I got out of the translation to english...
When we saw this spring everyone was drinking from it, and naturally, I was a bit hesitant because in the U.S. we would never drink from a river. EVER. But i filled my water bottle and it was indeed the best tasting water I have had!
Now the next excursion day we went to the mukachevo castle/city of mukachevo. this city is approximately 17 klm from the polish border, and it was super cool! The castle is situated on top of a huge mountain (of the carpathians) and there is a very scenic tour to get up there. Of course, we could see much of the castle itself, but the views were amazing!
And afterwards, we walked around mukachevo with the students to get some pizza because it is not served here in the camp. I think I mentioned before that they put corn on their pizza...yah and why I am still not sure!
Then after returning to the camp here, maja, nadir, and i were bored, so we decided to walk around the base camp...and maja wanted to see the swimming pool because she hadn't yet. Now remember it was probably 65 degrees farenheit this day, and YES my friends, as always, michelle went swimming. I was provoked to jump in, in my clothes...and it was great fun! the swimming pool is about 5 feet deep...it is a cemented block with water that is tapped from the neighboring river...so the bottom is slimey, but there is no fish or muck or anything like that...BUT I also got nadir to jump in because he loves swimmming....hahaha...it was one day i will never forget!
HOWEVER, i am definitely regretting my decision to jump in that water today...and yesterday...I AM SICK:( I couldn't teach my lessons today because it's difficult for me to talk, so arthur, the camp director, and irina, the camp doctor, took me to the mukachevo hospital. Have you ever seen the movie saw? well, the room I was waiting in for the doctor definitely looked like a scene out of this movie. At one pooint, some ukrainian nurse came in and talked to me...she popped out of some randoma entryway and scared the living daylights out of me. Then after this, we were sent to the throat doctor across town...this guy was so old and shakey and his office looked like papa's (my great grandfather's) old barber shop left over from the 1950's. Everything was primitively vintage...i mean he pulled this super old creaky lamplight type thing covered in dust to look down my throat. he even had one of those old headband magnifier things...wow wow wow is all i have to say. I wish you all could experience this!
So the wonderfully hospitable arthur and irina traveled to the drug store to acquire my proper medicines, and now I am happily taking them...according to their orders! I don't know how two people could be more accomodating, and I certainly thank them so much for all of their care!
Overall, I'm trying to power up so I can keep teaching these awesome students. I <3 them, and I <3 the AmEs summer camp!
Goodbye for now and God bless!
It's been awhile considering we've had no internet access, well I should say, I've had no internet access here for 5 days. This is because things in the camp have been so absolutely busy busy busy!
In fact, these have been the most exciting days thus far!
We went on a couple of excursions. First, we went to this ukrainian wellness resort which is just about the coolest place i have ever experienced. There are gardens, and ponds, and sunbathing, and exercize equipment...along with horseback riding and swimming and shopping:)
The hotel is literally the coolest place I've ever seen. It looks like a building right out of disney land. so, you walk around this place and see people getting massages in these serene, calming gazebos in the middle of beautiful, landscaped trees. Then you'll find all lot of ukrainians soaking up the sun.
BUT MY FAVORITE PART IS THE UKRAINIAN OBSESSION WITH WATER. We entered this building in the center of the resort where you can drink different types of water. They have different levels of sodium/sulfur and are various temperatures. This place is supported by an underground tap so it is completely natural. Only one thing, it smells like rotten eggs.
I was daring and decided to try some...i nearly puked my guts out because the taste is so raunchy and the smell is so potent. But the people here swear by it and swear it works. Many rich ukrainians come here strictly for the fact to drink the special type of water that the doctor prescribes to them. It's quite fascinating. In fact, one of our students spent her time there last summer, and she says she has not gotten a stomache ache since. I need this stuffffff. wow!
After this wellness resort, we went to this castle place which has three connected buildings. It housed the poor on one side of the building and then the rich on the other in the 16th century. Then in the center, there is a church. The main message of this building is to show the world that God brings all people together. I thought it was one of the greatest places I've ever been:)
Now close to this castle is a spring which also leads me to believe that ukrainians are obsessed with water. There is some old tale where a princess kept drinking from this spring and she became more and more youthful with each drink. So, some prince guy came along and drank from it, but drank too much because he turned into a baby. Haha. I'm sure I have this story completely wrong, but this is what I got out of the translation to english...
When we saw this spring everyone was drinking from it, and naturally, I was a bit hesitant because in the U.S. we would never drink from a river. EVER. But i filled my water bottle and it was indeed the best tasting water I have had!
Now the next excursion day we went to the mukachevo castle/city of mukachevo. this city is approximately 17 klm from the polish border, and it was super cool! The castle is situated on top of a huge mountain (of the carpathians) and there is a very scenic tour to get up there. Of course, we could see much of the castle itself, but the views were amazing!
And afterwards, we walked around mukachevo with the students to get some pizza because it is not served here in the camp. I think I mentioned before that they put corn on their pizza...yah and why I am still not sure!
Then after returning to the camp here, maja, nadir, and i were bored, so we decided to walk around the base camp...and maja wanted to see the swimming pool because she hadn't yet. Now remember it was probably 65 degrees farenheit this day, and YES my friends, as always, michelle went swimming. I was provoked to jump in, in my clothes...and it was great fun! the swimming pool is about 5 feet deep...it is a cemented block with water that is tapped from the neighboring river...so the bottom is slimey, but there is no fish or muck or anything like that...BUT I also got nadir to jump in because he loves swimmming....hahaha...it was one day i will never forget!
HOWEVER, i am definitely regretting my decision to jump in that water today...and yesterday...I AM SICK:( I couldn't teach my lessons today because it's difficult for me to talk, so arthur, the camp director, and irina, the camp doctor, took me to the mukachevo hospital. Have you ever seen the movie saw? well, the room I was waiting in for the doctor definitely looked like a scene out of this movie. At one pooint, some ukrainian nurse came in and talked to me...she popped out of some randoma entryway and scared the living daylights out of me. Then after this, we were sent to the throat doctor across town...this guy was so old and shakey and his office looked like papa's (my great grandfather's) old barber shop left over from the 1950's. Everything was primitively vintage...i mean he pulled this super old creaky lamplight type thing covered in dust to look down my throat. he even had one of those old headband magnifier things...wow wow wow is all i have to say. I wish you all could experience this!
So the wonderfully hospitable arthur and irina traveled to the drug store to acquire my proper medicines, and now I am happily taking them...according to their orders! I don't know how two people could be more accomodating, and I certainly thank them so much for all of their care!
Overall, I'm trying to power up so I can keep teaching these awesome students. I <3 them, and I <3 the AmEs summer camp!
Goodbye for now and God bless!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Hahahaha hi!
Howdy Y'all.
Today, Ukraine started out as a major pain. I wanted to DIE. I was so tired, probably because of stupid shenanigans I involved myself with last night.
So anywho, I have a constant sore throat here, and I am just so tired. It's hard for me to be full Michelley because it takes so much energy here. I just keep praying and praying and praying that things will continue to be ok. I just wanna be ok be ok be ok...I just wanna be ok today! :) But it has been a fun day...
And last nightw as a riot. Luigi, nadir, and i walked to the village last night @ 10:30pm. I was slightly fearful, as Ukrainians are the most friendly looking people. However, they are amazing! So we walked in the dark to this cafe Luigi had seen...and entered. I wanted ice cream of course...which their ice cream here kind of sucks. It is evident that they lacked the western european influence of gelato:( so sad! but some of the bars they have here are delicious. and what can i say? ice cream is fricken ice cream. Yah so I got ice cream haha and so did luigi and nadir. luigi also bought juice...and so we decided to walk through this cafe to find people to talk to. However, at first when we started to walk up the stairs, it appeared as if no one was there. literally no one. until we got to the top floor where there was a monstrous pool table, picture of an orgy on the wall, and about 6 ukrainians sitting on couches with a computer and cards. Nadir, who has been living here for 11 months and some odd days (he knows exactly), introduced us because he knows more ukrainian than luigi and i. So he says our names and the people just stare. The three of us stand there awkwardly for about 3 minutes...until nadir is eating his ice cream and it falls off of the stick onto the floor. they people just stare, while im laughing at nadir. and then one of the women, in perfect english mind you, says..."we prefer that you leave, so we can start to play"
What was going on in our minds? well, we contemplated the fact that perhaps it was some sort of orgy partay, or maybe a narcotics game...either way it was hilarious to experience their hostility.
and today was great fun...after i had my nap. the students participated in a quest game:) Yay:)
Have fun everyone!
God bless!
:)Michelley!
Today, Ukraine started out as a major pain. I wanted to DIE. I was so tired, probably because of stupid shenanigans I involved myself with last night.
So anywho, I have a constant sore throat here, and I am just so tired. It's hard for me to be full Michelley because it takes so much energy here. I just keep praying and praying and praying that things will continue to be ok. I just wanna be ok be ok be ok...I just wanna be ok today! :) But it has been a fun day...
And last nightw as a riot. Luigi, nadir, and i walked to the village last night @ 10:30pm. I was slightly fearful, as Ukrainians are the most friendly looking people. However, they are amazing! So we walked in the dark to this cafe Luigi had seen...and entered. I wanted ice cream of course...which their ice cream here kind of sucks. It is evident that they lacked the western european influence of gelato:( so sad! but some of the bars they have here are delicious. and what can i say? ice cream is fricken ice cream. Yah so I got ice cream haha and so did luigi and nadir. luigi also bought juice...and so we decided to walk through this cafe to find people to talk to. However, at first when we started to walk up the stairs, it appeared as if no one was there. literally no one. until we got to the top floor where there was a monstrous pool table, picture of an orgy on the wall, and about 6 ukrainians sitting on couches with a computer and cards. Nadir, who has been living here for 11 months and some odd days (he knows exactly), introduced us because he knows more ukrainian than luigi and i. So he says our names and the people just stare. The three of us stand there awkwardly for about 3 minutes...until nadir is eating his ice cream and it falls off of the stick onto the floor. they people just stare, while im laughing at nadir. and then one of the women, in perfect english mind you, says..."we prefer that you leave, so we can start to play"
What was going on in our minds? well, we contemplated the fact that perhaps it was some sort of orgy partay, or maybe a narcotics game...either way it was hilarious to experience their hostility.
and today was great fun...after i had my nap. the students participated in a quest game:) Yay:)
Have fun everyone!
God bless!
:)Michelley!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
I'm forgetting:)
Hi hi my people of the world!
The AmEs camp is my favorite!
These children are just so phenomenal...and guess what!? I'm not just wiping snot all day! haha jk:)
So, yesterday, I dressed up as the big bad wolf from the three little pigs because I am teaching a fairytales class. I'm pretty sure it was an amazing lesson because the kids enjoyed it, and I also had a great time.
I was telling them the true story of the wolf and that I really didn't want to eat the pigs, I just really love chocolate and thought they were chocolate pigs. haha, quite lame i know, but they really loved it. And so, they helped me, the wolf apologize to the pigs by writing letters and then they designed new house ideas for the wolf to build for the pigs. It was a blast!
AND TODAY WAS SO MUCH FUN :D we had a market/bazaar that was put on by the students. It was the students' responsibility to come up with some services/goods for us teachers...we got to use fake money and buy whatever we wanted. So for instance, there was massaging, sweets stores, jewlery, portrait drawing, tatoos, ukrainian lessons, and oodles and oodles of the cutest things I have ever seen. It was an absolute absolute blast!
And of course we still have our disco dancing every night, and our wonderful meals to eat. so delicious, i just keep reiterating that...
Also, last night was one of the instructor's birthdays so we had a bit of a partay! It was quite a fun time.
Other than that...we just have fun joking and laughing...
For instance, one morning, i wake up and i took a shower...then i hear in the other room where nadir, luigi, and chris are staying...
"Chris, you took my towel."
Then chris says..."Oh my Gosh, that was your's, I'm so sorry. Last year the hotel provided us with them."
(meanwhile I am laughing to the point of tears in the other room when I'm hearing this)....so chris toook nadir's towel and chucked it on the floor to sop up the water.
So hilarious...perhaps you have to know them to enjoy this story, but it is great!
Another hilarious thing is their pronunciation of FBI...they say "Fi, Bee, E" and I along with many others just start laughing...SO HARD.
Well, the point of this story is, I am enjoying Ukraine a little too much. It seems as though I have began to forget my life back home. It seems as though I almost prefer everything here much more. Yet, it does scare me a little to think that I have the ability to forget everything I love.
I miss cheese.
I miss driving.
I miss having a giant yard and my own room.
I miss peanut butter and jelly.
I miss my mother's cooking.
I miss the verre young eye clinic.
But I'm still laughing here:D :D
Bye for now and god bless
:)Michelley!
The AmEs camp is my favorite!
These children are just so phenomenal...and guess what!? I'm not just wiping snot all day! haha jk:)
So, yesterday, I dressed up as the big bad wolf from the three little pigs because I am teaching a fairytales class. I'm pretty sure it was an amazing lesson because the kids enjoyed it, and I also had a great time.
I was telling them the true story of the wolf and that I really didn't want to eat the pigs, I just really love chocolate and thought they were chocolate pigs. haha, quite lame i know, but they really loved it. And so, they helped me, the wolf apologize to the pigs by writing letters and then they designed new house ideas for the wolf to build for the pigs. It was a blast!
AND TODAY WAS SO MUCH FUN :D we had a market/bazaar that was put on by the students. It was the students' responsibility to come up with some services/goods for us teachers...we got to use fake money and buy whatever we wanted. So for instance, there was massaging, sweets stores, jewlery, portrait drawing, tatoos, ukrainian lessons, and oodles and oodles of the cutest things I have ever seen. It was an absolute absolute blast!
And of course we still have our disco dancing every night, and our wonderful meals to eat. so delicious, i just keep reiterating that...
Also, last night was one of the instructor's birthdays so we had a bit of a partay! It was quite a fun time.
Other than that...we just have fun joking and laughing...
For instance, one morning, i wake up and i took a shower...then i hear in the other room where nadir, luigi, and chris are staying...
"Chris, you took my towel."
Then chris says..."Oh my Gosh, that was your's, I'm so sorry. Last year the hotel provided us with them."
(meanwhile I am laughing to the point of tears in the other room when I'm hearing this)....so chris toook nadir's towel and chucked it on the floor to sop up the water.
So hilarious...perhaps you have to know them to enjoy this story, but it is great!
Another hilarious thing is their pronunciation of FBI...they say "Fi, Bee, E" and I along with many others just start laughing...SO HARD.
Well, the point of this story is, I am enjoying Ukraine a little too much. It seems as though I have began to forget my life back home. It seems as though I almost prefer everything here much more. Yet, it does scare me a little to think that I have the ability to forget everything I love.
I miss cheese.
I miss driving.
I miss having a giant yard and my own room.
I miss peanut butter and jelly.
I miss my mother's cooking.
I miss the verre young eye clinic.
But I'm still laughing here:D :D
Bye for now and god bless
:)Michelley!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Long time no talk:)
Hello everyone!
I miss you, and I've really missed my family these past couple days. It's been rather tough, but I'm still making it!!!
So I am in the AmEs camp, and it is the most phenomenal thing I have ever experience in my entire life. I am just so happy, so greatful, and just love love love this life.
I'll recap our trekk here...so maja and i had to wake up at 330 am i think to prepare for our journey to the carpathian mountains. We had to take a taxi to the main train station, and so I had to lug my giant luggage down the cobblestone streets around my flat. I'm pretty sure I hated it....
Then the train was just fabulous...First, we were jam-packed into one car...all the children, teachers and luggage. It was definitely an experience, but I just wouldn't have traded it for the world simply because the views I experienced and the feelings I had travelling through the carpathians just took my breath away. These feelings were like nothing else I have ever felt...
Imagine these huge mountains out of a fairytale with tons of pine trees...then there are the random villages with byzantine style churches and farms with old fashioned hay bales and pitch forks. I saw the occasional farmer chasing after his cow, and then there are also the beautiful rivers. It just brings tears to my eyes to think about:)
Now I am in the camp and this is a resort. so beautiful. I am staying in a room with five other teachers...so funny.
Everyday we have morning exercizes, then our meetings, then breakfast which is delicious...the food here makes me never want to leave like I've said before.
I taught my first lessons today, and I had just a ball! The students are soooo intelligent and their english is outstanding. I dressed up as a fairy and just went over the three little pigs...
then yesterday we played volleyball for about 2 hours...SO FUN:) and then danced at the disco. Although, my arms were covered in mud because the volleyball court is all dirt. It was hilarious.
As I have said before, I have my make shift father and grandfather here who enable me to survive. We have so much fun joking, and talking about seinfeld. We also just have the craziest intelligent conversations...
beyond this, you have to see what the students here put together. they are making advertisements, chants, projects and it is amazing. Also, these kids are the greatest dancers i have ever seen. I mean little boys maybe 10 are doing these crazy moves like they should be on dancing with the stars. They have the cutest outfits to accompany their performances as well.
LOVE IT HERE:)
God bless all!
:)Michelly!
I miss you, and I've really missed my family these past couple days. It's been rather tough, but I'm still making it!!!
So I am in the AmEs camp, and it is the most phenomenal thing I have ever experience in my entire life. I am just so happy, so greatful, and just love love love this life.
I'll recap our trekk here...so maja and i had to wake up at 330 am i think to prepare for our journey to the carpathian mountains. We had to take a taxi to the main train station, and so I had to lug my giant luggage down the cobblestone streets around my flat. I'm pretty sure I hated it....
Then the train was just fabulous...First, we were jam-packed into one car...all the children, teachers and luggage. It was definitely an experience, but I just wouldn't have traded it for the world simply because the views I experienced and the feelings I had travelling through the carpathians just took my breath away. These feelings were like nothing else I have ever felt...
Imagine these huge mountains out of a fairytale with tons of pine trees...then there are the random villages with byzantine style churches and farms with old fashioned hay bales and pitch forks. I saw the occasional farmer chasing after his cow, and then there are also the beautiful rivers. It just brings tears to my eyes to think about:)
Now I am in the camp and this is a resort. so beautiful. I am staying in a room with five other teachers...so funny.
Everyday we have morning exercizes, then our meetings, then breakfast which is delicious...the food here makes me never want to leave like I've said before.
I taught my first lessons today, and I had just a ball! The students are soooo intelligent and their english is outstanding. I dressed up as a fairy and just went over the three little pigs...
then yesterday we played volleyball for about 2 hours...SO FUN:) and then danced at the disco. Although, my arms were covered in mud because the volleyball court is all dirt. It was hilarious.
As I have said before, I have my make shift father and grandfather here who enable me to survive. We have so much fun joking, and talking about seinfeld. We also just have the craziest intelligent conversations...
beyond this, you have to see what the students here put together. they are making advertisements, chants, projects and it is amazing. Also, these kids are the greatest dancers i have ever seen. I mean little boys maybe 10 are doing these crazy moves like they should be on dancing with the stars. They have the cutest outfits to accompany their performances as well.
LOVE IT HERE:)
God bless all!
:)Michelly!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Hi Hi from Chris & Luigi's Flat
Hola Amigos!
I've had such an extravagant time today...
This morning I first woke up and felt a little trashed, however, this wore off after about a good two hours of me staring into my suitcase, attempting to choose what to wear out of my limited stash of clothing...
So, obviously I got ready, and then Maja and I headed to Castle Lion for our training again today. We had team building which is always a riot, and then tried to come up with stuff for interviewing the children's english level....
It was just so fun! But let me describe castle lion for you...it's wayyy better than anything american! I mean picture one of the buildings on lake dr. with a conference room and then you get to sit outside on the patio when we have our coffee breaks. There are random cats that walk around, and it's so peaceful, serene, and beautiful. There are white curtains which sway in the wind, and everyone has a smile on their face...from here we went to dinner...
We had a delicious chicken, cheese, and egg salad with mayo, some kind of borsch soup with pickles, black olives, and one caper...that i sadly ate, and then dumplings! delish!
Then of course, we all walked to the city center again! yay! first, maya and I dropped our stuff off at chris and luigi's flat then we were off to the opera house market again to buy souveniers....
we were shopping for everything of course. i bought a lot of presents:) so shhh i can't tell you what i got...but for myself I bought a beautiful handmade and handpainted tote bag that says I <3 lviv:) yaya :)
After this, maja and i continued our shopping in this mall like structure called maganus. we went to some store called reserve where i bought jeans for $20 and a shirt for like $8...it's much like an american store...however, for some reason people here are obsessed with strange things...all these t-shirts had the powerpuff girls on them and then some had snoopy and just odd stuff haha
So then, maja went to meet with maryana and i continued my shopping because as you all know, im a shopoholic. So i stayed in the maganus mall place and bought some junk...it is 6 stories, and in most of the stores the shopkeepers just stand at the door and stare at you, so i was afraid to go into most of the stores lol
then i went down the street to all these really cheep "dollar like" stores where i bought a sparkly candle to use as my wand for my fairy costume....eventually i made my way to the bank to exchange my usd and to the opera market where i bought chocolate and fanta and apples.......
i also wanted to check out the ecco shoe store which is hella expensive here. whoa....but overall, it was a good day...
i only almost got hit by a car crossing the street 3 times, and was stared at about 600 times...even though everyone here says i look ukrainian.
anywho, next time i travel abroad im going to a country where all the women are fat because seriously the women here are so skinny.. EVERYONE! I am tempted to stop eating, but the food is just so goood;)
Tomorrow we head on a 5 hour train ride for the camp...i don't know how much internet access i will have, but i hope it is enough. if not, i may go crazy! anyway have a stupendous day!
God blesss
:)shelly!
I've had such an extravagant time today...
This morning I first woke up and felt a little trashed, however, this wore off after about a good two hours of me staring into my suitcase, attempting to choose what to wear out of my limited stash of clothing...
So, obviously I got ready, and then Maja and I headed to Castle Lion for our training again today. We had team building which is always a riot, and then tried to come up with stuff for interviewing the children's english level....
It was just so fun! But let me describe castle lion for you...it's wayyy better than anything american! I mean picture one of the buildings on lake dr. with a conference room and then you get to sit outside on the patio when we have our coffee breaks. There are random cats that walk around, and it's so peaceful, serene, and beautiful. There are white curtains which sway in the wind, and everyone has a smile on their face...from here we went to dinner...
We had a delicious chicken, cheese, and egg salad with mayo, some kind of borsch soup with pickles, black olives, and one caper...that i sadly ate, and then dumplings! delish!
Then of course, we all walked to the city center again! yay! first, maya and I dropped our stuff off at chris and luigi's flat then we were off to the opera house market again to buy souveniers....
we were shopping for everything of course. i bought a lot of presents:) so shhh i can't tell you what i got...but for myself I bought a beautiful handmade and handpainted tote bag that says I <3 lviv:) yaya :)
After this, maja and i continued our shopping in this mall like structure called maganus. we went to some store called reserve where i bought jeans for $20 and a shirt for like $8...it's much like an american store...however, for some reason people here are obsessed with strange things...all these t-shirts had the powerpuff girls on them and then some had snoopy and just odd stuff haha
So then, maja went to meet with maryana and i continued my shopping because as you all know, im a shopoholic. So i stayed in the maganus mall place and bought some junk...it is 6 stories, and in most of the stores the shopkeepers just stand at the door and stare at you, so i was afraid to go into most of the stores lol
then i went down the street to all these really cheep "dollar like" stores where i bought a sparkly candle to use as my wand for my fairy costume....eventually i made my way to the bank to exchange my usd and to the opera market where i bought chocolate and fanta and apples.......
i also wanted to check out the ecco shoe store which is hella expensive here. whoa....but overall, it was a good day...
i only almost got hit by a car crossing the street 3 times, and was stared at about 600 times...even though everyone here says i look ukrainian.
anywho, next time i travel abroad im going to a country where all the women are fat because seriously the women here are so skinny.. EVERYONE! I am tempted to stop eating, but the food is just so goood;)
Tomorrow we head on a 5 hour train ride for the camp...i don't know how much internet access i will have, but i hope it is enough. if not, i may go crazy! anyway have a stupendous day!
God blesss
:)shelly!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Come on Everybody, Come to Ukraine:)
Hello everyone,
First of all, let me start by saying I miss all of my friends expect for those who are in Ukraine:)
I wish I could say hello, give you a great big bear hug, and give you a michelley hug!
But my blog will have to do:)
So, I had a superb day! It started out with Maya and I finding our way to the castle lion by ourselves....after taras giving us some amazing directional pointers, we were able to figure out the winding streets of Lviv! yay!
Our workshop today was so much fun:) we discussed movies we will show in the camp...I am responsible for showing the movie "when in rome" I hope it will be fun! Other than that we played the "crest toothpaste" game in which each participant goes around in the circle and says one new word of the sentence...I'm pretty sure it ended up something like "luigi went to the beach to catch sharks, then a big woman came along and luigi asked her out..." it was quite fun:D We were trying to come up with games for the children to play...but obviously ours got a little out of hand lol!
So of course we had a coffee break again today where I got to talk with the instructors which was a lot of fun (i am an esl teacher:))
Then we went back to planning and then we had dinner which was composed of delicious cole slaw, soup, and some kind of cabbage rolls! yum! then maja and i walked with don luigi and chris to the city center...
I call chris my surrogate father and don luigi my surrogate grandfather..I <3 them dearly...so much fun!
I'm pretty sure don luigi wants to adopt me because our sense of humor is so similar!
So first, maja, don luigi and i went shopping while chris was sleeping...
We went to the Lviv bazaar: let me tell you about this! so amazing! Just imagine the most inexpensive things you can and multiply this by 1 million...there were so many kiosk/stands on one street that it looked like a colossal american flee market! one giant section of it was devoted strictly to weddings...imagine these horrid, gaudy, pure white wedding gowns with corny jewels and lace...so ugly...but that's the ukrainian wedding way. I was attempting to find a fairy costume for my lessons, and this is why we ran into all of this wedding stuff. You would not believe the cheap prices, and the amount of people on this street. It is the craziest thing I have ever had the pleasure to witness........
so anyway, I bought this butterfly and dress for my fairy costume for my lessons...let me say...pure brilliance!
Then don luigi, maja, and I walked back to their flat where we saw papa chris...so chris was planning on going to this cafe extremely near to their flat...so we all joined him there:)
It was a brilliant time...I had three ukrainian beers which tasted like spotted cow, while chris and don luigi dined on cole slaw haha! and then eventually tania joined us after I met her at the opera house and brought her to the cafe.
We had such a great time:) I can't express it in words..if i tried to it would be 343,5555,333 smiley faces:D Let's just say I have earned the nickname of elaine from seinfeld and don luigi is george costanza's father! So much fun! I seriously LOVE these people...thank you everyone for a great night!
I miss you mom and daddy:) stay classy! <3 me
:)Michelley!
First of all, let me start by saying I miss all of my friends expect for those who are in Ukraine:)
I wish I could say hello, give you a great big bear hug, and give you a michelley hug!
But my blog will have to do:)
So, I had a superb day! It started out with Maya and I finding our way to the castle lion by ourselves....after taras giving us some amazing directional pointers, we were able to figure out the winding streets of Lviv! yay!
Our workshop today was so much fun:) we discussed movies we will show in the camp...I am responsible for showing the movie "when in rome" I hope it will be fun! Other than that we played the "crest toothpaste" game in which each participant goes around in the circle and says one new word of the sentence...I'm pretty sure it ended up something like "luigi went to the beach to catch sharks, then a big woman came along and luigi asked her out..." it was quite fun:D We were trying to come up with games for the children to play...but obviously ours got a little out of hand lol!
So of course we had a coffee break again today where I got to talk with the instructors which was a lot of fun (i am an esl teacher:))
Then we went back to planning and then we had dinner which was composed of delicious cole slaw, soup, and some kind of cabbage rolls! yum! then maja and i walked with don luigi and chris to the city center...
I call chris my surrogate father and don luigi my surrogate grandfather..I <3 them dearly...so much fun!
I'm pretty sure don luigi wants to adopt me because our sense of humor is so similar!
So first, maja, don luigi and i went shopping while chris was sleeping...
We went to the Lviv bazaar: let me tell you about this! so amazing! Just imagine the most inexpensive things you can and multiply this by 1 million...there were so many kiosk/stands on one street that it looked like a colossal american flee market! one giant section of it was devoted strictly to weddings...imagine these horrid, gaudy, pure white wedding gowns with corny jewels and lace...so ugly...but that's the ukrainian wedding way. I was attempting to find a fairy costume for my lessons, and this is why we ran into all of this wedding stuff. You would not believe the cheap prices, and the amount of people on this street. It is the craziest thing I have ever had the pleasure to witness........
so anyway, I bought this butterfly and dress for my fairy costume for my lessons...let me say...pure brilliance!
Then don luigi, maja, and I walked back to their flat where we saw papa chris...so chris was planning on going to this cafe extremely near to their flat...so we all joined him there:)
It was a brilliant time...I had three ukrainian beers which tasted like spotted cow, while chris and don luigi dined on cole slaw haha! and then eventually tania joined us after I met her at the opera house and brought her to the cafe.
We had such a great time:) I can't express it in words..if i tried to it would be 343,5555,333 smiley faces:D Let's just say I have earned the nickname of elaine from seinfeld and don luigi is george costanza's father! So much fun! I seriously LOVE these people...thank you everyone for a great night!
I miss you mom and daddy:) stay classy! <3 me
:)Michelley!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Greetings Earthlings
So remember how yesterday I said the American English School is basically amazing? Well take every single synonym of amazing in the english language combine them all into one great long adjective and apply that to the American English School. It is phenomenal.
I am so happy that I went on this project and didn't chicken out. I can see that I will have a brilliant time working with so many wonderful, welcoming people.
Today we had training for the camp and I had such a great time. First, Maja and I woke up around 8 and then got ready, we walked to the "castle Lion" for the training sessions. This was a beautiful scenic route to the building,and it is surrounded by the most architecturally beautiful buildings. I felt like I was in Paris. Like I said before, Lviv is beautiful!
Anyway, once we got to the trainings, of course, at first I was a little apprehensive and scared, but within minutes I knew I would enjoy what was going to happen.
We started with introductions and ice breakers which were a riot, so everyone got to know everybody. Then the schedule of the camp was laid out for us to see. Everything is clear for me now! No more confusion! yay!
After this, we had a coffee break and had delicious cake, fruit, coffee and tea. yum yum. It was such a pretty cafe:)
Then we went back to the Castle Lion where our training went on, and we started to discuss the lessons we would be teaching. Tania presented first, and then me. Of course, I was nervous, thinking O gosh what will everyone think of my lessons?! There is a doctor here who will be teaching and a professional, and all these experienced people. I think they will rip be to shreds! Especially since I plan on wearing a wolf costume one of the days....so I started to talk about what I will teach, and I was pleasantly surprised that they though it was good! I am so happy all of my hardwork planning paid off!
There were so many other good ideas from the other instructors...so I know all of the kids will have a super fun time!
When training finished, there was dinner provided for all of us who don't live in Lviv. Of course, we had more borsch, and some kind of pancake thing with meat, salad, and potatos with chicken & mushroom sauce! LECKER!
We had a lot of fun at dinner joking and getting to know one another...
So, after dinner, Nadir came to take Luigi, Chris, Maja, and I back to our flats. Because I personally had no idea where to go lol
We said by to Chris and Luigi who live right next to the famous opera house, and then kept going and going and going to our flat.
Up the cobblestone streets we went, and it started to rain. Luckily, I had my umbrella...
So we met up with Taras because he REALLY knew where our flat is, and after a good 20 minute walk through the seemingly anicient streets, we finally made it to our humble abode.
Yay:D
And so I am home now, trying to relax, and prepare for what tomorrow brings...
Also, did I mention that Maja and I almost got lost last night trying to buy bread and water...SHHHH don't tell my mom. Haha (even though I know she will read this anyway) The important part is: we didn't get lost, learned my lesson;), and I'll never do it again;)
Well, so long for now everyone! I hope you are in good spirits because I know I am!
God bless & Good day
:)Michelley!
I am so happy that I went on this project and didn't chicken out. I can see that I will have a brilliant time working with so many wonderful, welcoming people.
Today we had training for the camp and I had such a great time. First, Maja and I woke up around 8 and then got ready, we walked to the "castle Lion" for the training sessions. This was a beautiful scenic route to the building,and it is surrounded by the most architecturally beautiful buildings. I felt like I was in Paris. Like I said before, Lviv is beautiful!
Anyway, once we got to the trainings, of course, at first I was a little apprehensive and scared, but within minutes I knew I would enjoy what was going to happen.
We started with introductions and ice breakers which were a riot, so everyone got to know everybody. Then the schedule of the camp was laid out for us to see. Everything is clear for me now! No more confusion! yay!
After this, we had a coffee break and had delicious cake, fruit, coffee and tea. yum yum. It was such a pretty cafe:)
Then we went back to the Castle Lion where our training went on, and we started to discuss the lessons we would be teaching. Tania presented first, and then me. Of course, I was nervous, thinking O gosh what will everyone think of my lessons?! There is a doctor here who will be teaching and a professional, and all these experienced people. I think they will rip be to shreds! Especially since I plan on wearing a wolf costume one of the days....so I started to talk about what I will teach, and I was pleasantly surprised that they though it was good! I am so happy all of my hardwork planning paid off!
There were so many other good ideas from the other instructors...so I know all of the kids will have a super fun time!
When training finished, there was dinner provided for all of us who don't live in Lviv. Of course, we had more borsch, and some kind of pancake thing with meat, salad, and potatos with chicken & mushroom sauce! LECKER!
We had a lot of fun at dinner joking and getting to know one another...
So, after dinner, Nadir came to take Luigi, Chris, Maja, and I back to our flats. Because I personally had no idea where to go lol
We said by to Chris and Luigi who live right next to the famous opera house, and then kept going and going and going to our flat.
Up the cobblestone streets we went, and it started to rain. Luckily, I had my umbrella...
So we met up with Taras because he REALLY knew where our flat is, and after a good 20 minute walk through the seemingly anicient streets, we finally made it to our humble abode.
Yay:D
And so I am home now, trying to relax, and prepare for what tomorrow brings...
Also, did I mention that Maja and I almost got lost last night trying to buy bread and water...SHHHH don't tell my mom. Haha (even though I know she will read this anyway) The important part is: we didn't get lost, learned my lesson;), and I'll never do it again;)
Well, so long for now everyone! I hope you are in good spirits because I know I am!
God bless & Good day
:)Michelley!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
YES
Hello Everyone:)
I am so happy right now! I'm in heaven and in Ukraine! wooo!
I'll be sure to tell you why everything is going superb a little bit later. First, I need to give you a recap of last night and today...
So, yesterday, Naira, who I adore, and I went back to our flat after bumming around Lviv with Samet. I'm pretty sure we managed to go everywhere, and we even managed to take the bus by ourselves! I love the souvenier market here in Lviv, while it is expensive, there are so many beautiful things to be bought!
But, I didn't buy anything yet. I know this is a shock for everyone.
Then, after all our touring, we went back to our WONDERFUL flat and took a nap to prepare for our night's adventures.
We went to this very European disco/club thingy called metro club. It was a really cool place with 3 different dance floors I think with all different music. I had my first Ukrainian beer, other than kvass which is non alcoholic and delicious.
So, let me describe what it feels like to be in this Ukrainian night club...basically, EXACTLY what it feels like to be in Milwaukee, but with lots of Ukrainians. Tons of vodka. AND a foreign language. Haha! But anyway, I went to the club with Naira, Samet, and Sergae. Samet is from Turkey, and he met these Turkish guys earlier in the day at a cafe (gloria jeans ahah). They are scholars or something and one of them actually went to UW Madison. From this you can tell it's a small small world! So these turkish guys told Samet to meet them at metro club, and we did. Little did we know that they are high rollers! haha
When we first walked into the club I felt so out of place. Did I mention that I forgot my ID and somehow still made it in. I felt like I was 19, in America, attempting to sneak my way into a bar! I really thought a lot of people were staring at us because we were speaking English, and then the tables turned. We got to sit at this reserved table with the turkish guys and really enjoy the disco! It was so much fun and then everyone was watching us because we were bascially amazing.
Sooooooo, it was a really really really good night that I needed to have. Lot's of dancing, and goofing-off in Ukraine:)
Then today a bright light appeared in the dark hole which was started to overwhelm my life...thanks to the wonderful flat and location of said flat.
I was sitting around waiting all day to move out into a new place, although I didn't really know where I was going to go. This is because today I was going to finally meet with the people from the AmEs camp...
So, Tanya and Mischa came to pick me up after I packed all my junk, and they had Maja with them, an awesome intern from croatia who will be working in the same camp. Obviously, I had to say bye to Naira and Samet:( I'll miss them! Anyway, we took the taxi to some office. I mean I literally had no idea where we were going and neither did tanya or Mischa. And out pops the head of the AmEs camp, so I was very surprised that we were there, and going to meet with the camp already...
I was so confused, but aren't AIESECers always? I mean look at the name of our organization. Everytime I tell someone I'm from AIESEC they respond with "what? You suck?" (because AIESEC is pronounced I-sec)haha...I HATE IT:)
But the Polishucks were very nice! Thank you guys! and they seriously made me feel much better about Ukraine and Lviv. I am now sitting in a beautiful flat with paintings on the walls instead of cockroaches, and rugs on the floor instead of crumbs.
So remember how I said I'm now in heaven? This is what I am talking about. I couldn't have been better received! Basically, the American English School is amazing!
Now, I'm just relaxing, attempting to take a breather before starting training tomorrow. Perhaps Maja and I will make our way towards a supermarket to invest in some water and various other goodies!
I hope all is well for everyone! Even though the sun isn't shining in Lviv today, it is the brightest day I have had here yet!
I miss you all and God bless!
:)Michelley!
I am so happy right now! I'm in heaven and in Ukraine! wooo!
I'll be sure to tell you why everything is going superb a little bit later. First, I need to give you a recap of last night and today...
So, yesterday, Naira, who I adore, and I went back to our flat after bumming around Lviv with Samet. I'm pretty sure we managed to go everywhere, and we even managed to take the bus by ourselves! I love the souvenier market here in Lviv, while it is expensive, there are so many beautiful things to be bought!
But, I didn't buy anything yet. I know this is a shock for everyone.
Then, after all our touring, we went back to our WONDERFUL flat and took a nap to prepare for our night's adventures.
We went to this very European disco/club thingy called metro club. It was a really cool place with 3 different dance floors I think with all different music. I had my first Ukrainian beer, other than kvass which is non alcoholic and delicious.
So, let me describe what it feels like to be in this Ukrainian night club...basically, EXACTLY what it feels like to be in Milwaukee, but with lots of Ukrainians. Tons of vodka. AND a foreign language. Haha! But anyway, I went to the club with Naira, Samet, and Sergae. Samet is from Turkey, and he met these Turkish guys earlier in the day at a cafe (gloria jeans ahah). They are scholars or something and one of them actually went to UW Madison. From this you can tell it's a small small world! So these turkish guys told Samet to meet them at metro club, and we did. Little did we know that they are high rollers! haha
When we first walked into the club I felt so out of place. Did I mention that I forgot my ID and somehow still made it in. I felt like I was 19, in America, attempting to sneak my way into a bar! I really thought a lot of people were staring at us because we were speaking English, and then the tables turned. We got to sit at this reserved table with the turkish guys and really enjoy the disco! It was so much fun and then everyone was watching us because we were bascially amazing.
Sooooooo, it was a really really really good night that I needed to have. Lot's of dancing, and goofing-off in Ukraine:)
Then today a bright light appeared in the dark hole which was started to overwhelm my life...thanks to the wonderful flat and location of said flat.
I was sitting around waiting all day to move out into a new place, although I didn't really know where I was going to go. This is because today I was going to finally meet with the people from the AmEs camp...
So, Tanya and Mischa came to pick me up after I packed all my junk, and they had Maja with them, an awesome intern from croatia who will be working in the same camp. Obviously, I had to say bye to Naira and Samet:( I'll miss them! Anyway, we took the taxi to some office. I mean I literally had no idea where we were going and neither did tanya or Mischa. And out pops the head of the AmEs camp, so I was very surprised that we were there, and going to meet with the camp already...
I was so confused, but aren't AIESECers always? I mean look at the name of our organization. Everytime I tell someone I'm from AIESEC they respond with "what? You suck?" (because AIESEC is pronounced I-sec)haha...I HATE IT:)
But the Polishucks were very nice! Thank you guys! and they seriously made me feel much better about Ukraine and Lviv. I am now sitting in a beautiful flat with paintings on the walls instead of cockroaches, and rugs on the floor instead of crumbs.
So remember how I said I'm now in heaven? This is what I am talking about. I couldn't have been better received! Basically, the American English School is amazing!
Now, I'm just relaxing, attempting to take a breather before starting training tomorrow. Perhaps Maja and I will make our way towards a supermarket to invest in some water and various other goodies!
I hope all is well for everyone! Even though the sun isn't shining in Lviv today, it is the brightest day I have had here yet!
I miss you all and God bless!
:)Michelley!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Hello Everyone!
IF ANYONE SEES MY MOM OR DAD OR FAMILY TELL THEM I MISS THEM!
I keep trying to skype people, but the time difference is so challenging to figure out. Also, I don't have constant internet access right now, so I'm struggling. Definitely struggling.
Right now, I'm at Gloria Jeans in the Lviv city center. It is absolutely breathtaking. I could live here forever!
So anyway, yesterday Roman a guy from AIESEC showed me around Lviv and it was super super cool. He took me to the top of the city hall and I saw the most astonishing view of the city ever. I was nearly in tears.
Earlier in the day, I went to the Lviv airport to finally get my luggage back! I jumped for joy! YAY! But seriously when Ustyna and I (the girl I was staying with) went to the airport, I felt like I was in a bad area, but it was normal. The guy who gave me back my luggage was so scary though. I could have fainted.
Then I said bye to Ustyna and her family and moved to the flat where I stayed last night and will stay one more day. HERE IS WHERE THE AWESOME FUN BEGINS.
So, Ustyna took me there by bus, and I was thinking it would be close, but we kept going and going and going and going. I was like "WHERE THE HECK ARE WE?" Then we got off the bus and start walking to the flat. We walk past apartments/flats which literally look like they are straight out of the soviet union. I mean like old women with bubushkas (spelling?) and men sitting in the pubs, and little kids playing on broken old play grounds.
It became overwhelming. I sort of wanted to cry because guess what....this is as culture shocky as it gets. But it got EVEN better.
We got to the 3rd floor. to the flat. AND OMG the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my life! Just crumbs everywhere. 3 beds, one of them broken, cockroaches in the kitchen, and when I opened the bathroom. I literally choked on the air.
The BATHROOM IS SO DISGUSTING!
There is water everywhere, and the rugs are all wet and moldy. The toilet looks like it came straight out of the movie saw, and there is some kind of red substance all over the sink. I was like seriously I am going to die....
But as Michelle as does, I told Ustyna it was fine, great!
However, the thought of me staying here alone just made my soul weep. It is a new, strange, creepy place...
Then later, as I was out inn Lviv with Roman, I jumped for joy when Ustyna called me and said a girl from Armenia would be staying with me! Yes! I wouldn't be alone.
So, Roman and I had to run back to the flat and take the bus there...to let Ustyna and Naira (the Armenian girl in). And of course, Naira freaked out about the disgustingness of the flat just like me. We had to sleep on the pull out couch because we only had one set of sheets, and we really dared not enter the bathroom.
Because of all this, we went to the supermarket because we were hungry, and I decided to invest in some cleaning products...so we went and I bought water, coke, yogurt, and some kind of granola bar thingy.
So, Naira and I got ready for bed, and after some long talks, we finally tried to sleep on our creaky sofa.
Then, around 3 am I keep getting these phone calls on my Ukrainian cell phone (which only costs $30 usd with everything included! I didn't want to answer because a couple days prior I kept getting creepy phone calls, and it was also a weird time to be calling. So it kept ringing...then after 30 mins I start to hear the doorbell and I'm freaking out thinking who the heck is here at 4 am. Then they start pounding. So Naira said we should check who it is. So I go, and I'm terrified, thinking its some soviet soliders here to kick me out of the country,or some crazy psycho ukrainian who had been following me. But I go to the door, and it is Olya! Oh Olya! I was so happy to see her. she was with Sammit, and intern from turkey, and she said he had to stay at the flat...
So, guess who was calling me! Olya! She had to use a different phone number from the one I knew because her sim card ran out of money. I felt so bad that I didn't answer my phone. God bless her heart! she had an exam today, and basically didn't go to sleep last night because of this.
So then it was Naira, Sammit, and I! So great:) I wasn't alone...
This morning Sammit made Naira and I breakfast, and I actually took a shower in the toxic waste zone of a bathroom...it was a very interesting experience.
Now I'm still in Lviv, and we are going to walk around, relax, and maybe do some shopping.
I love Ukraine,its kind of sad how majority of the population lives, but it makes me more proud and thankful of my home.
I am so elated that God has blessed this trip so far! and I hope to talk to my family soon:)
Stay classy everyone!
:)Michelley!
IF ANYONE SEES MY MOM OR DAD OR FAMILY TELL THEM I MISS THEM!
I keep trying to skype people, but the time difference is so challenging to figure out. Also, I don't have constant internet access right now, so I'm struggling. Definitely struggling.
Right now, I'm at Gloria Jeans in the Lviv city center. It is absolutely breathtaking. I could live here forever!
So anyway, yesterday Roman a guy from AIESEC showed me around Lviv and it was super super cool. He took me to the top of the city hall and I saw the most astonishing view of the city ever. I was nearly in tears.
Earlier in the day, I went to the Lviv airport to finally get my luggage back! I jumped for joy! YAY! But seriously when Ustyna and I (the girl I was staying with) went to the airport, I felt like I was in a bad area, but it was normal. The guy who gave me back my luggage was so scary though. I could have fainted.
Then I said bye to Ustyna and her family and moved to the flat where I stayed last night and will stay one more day. HERE IS WHERE THE AWESOME FUN BEGINS.
So, Ustyna took me there by bus, and I was thinking it would be close, but we kept going and going and going and going. I was like "WHERE THE HECK ARE WE?" Then we got off the bus and start walking to the flat. We walk past apartments/flats which literally look like they are straight out of the soviet union. I mean like old women with bubushkas (spelling?) and men sitting in the pubs, and little kids playing on broken old play grounds.
It became overwhelming. I sort of wanted to cry because guess what....this is as culture shocky as it gets. But it got EVEN better.
We got to the 3rd floor. to the flat. AND OMG the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my life! Just crumbs everywhere. 3 beds, one of them broken, cockroaches in the kitchen, and when I opened the bathroom. I literally choked on the air.
The BATHROOM IS SO DISGUSTING!
There is water everywhere, and the rugs are all wet and moldy. The toilet looks like it came straight out of the movie saw, and there is some kind of red substance all over the sink. I was like seriously I am going to die....
But as Michelle as does, I told Ustyna it was fine, great!
However, the thought of me staying here alone just made my soul weep. It is a new, strange, creepy place...
Then later, as I was out inn Lviv with Roman, I jumped for joy when Ustyna called me and said a girl from Armenia would be staying with me! Yes! I wouldn't be alone.
So, Roman and I had to run back to the flat and take the bus there...to let Ustyna and Naira (the Armenian girl in). And of course, Naira freaked out about the disgustingness of the flat just like me. We had to sleep on the pull out couch because we only had one set of sheets, and we really dared not enter the bathroom.
Because of all this, we went to the supermarket because we were hungry, and I decided to invest in some cleaning products...so we went and I bought water, coke, yogurt, and some kind of granola bar thingy.
So, Naira and I got ready for bed, and after some long talks, we finally tried to sleep on our creaky sofa.
Then, around 3 am I keep getting these phone calls on my Ukrainian cell phone (which only costs $30 usd with everything included! I didn't want to answer because a couple days prior I kept getting creepy phone calls, and it was also a weird time to be calling. So it kept ringing...then after 30 mins I start to hear the doorbell and I'm freaking out thinking who the heck is here at 4 am. Then they start pounding. So Naira said we should check who it is. So I go, and I'm terrified, thinking its some soviet soliders here to kick me out of the country,or some crazy psycho ukrainian who had been following me. But I go to the door, and it is Olya! Oh Olya! I was so happy to see her. she was with Sammit, and intern from turkey, and she said he had to stay at the flat...
So, guess who was calling me! Olya! She had to use a different phone number from the one I knew because her sim card ran out of money. I felt so bad that I didn't answer my phone. God bless her heart! she had an exam today, and basically didn't go to sleep last night because of this.
So then it was Naira, Sammit, and I! So great:) I wasn't alone...
This morning Sammit made Naira and I breakfast, and I actually took a shower in the toxic waste zone of a bathroom...it was a very interesting experience.
Now I'm still in Lviv, and we are going to walk around, relax, and maybe do some shopping.
I love Ukraine,its kind of sad how majority of the population lives, but it makes me more proud and thankful of my home.
I am so elated that God has blessed this trip so far! and I hope to talk to my family soon:)
Stay classy everyone!
:)Michelley!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Why Should you come to Ukraine? Because we Americans love food, and you'll never go hungry here!
I think I ate the most food I ever have in my entire life yesterday...I literally couldn't move. I would sit down and let some food settle and then what seemed like 7 seconds later they were like "time to eat" and I just had to eat more because they won't let you say no. I think we need to do this in America so that we eat less! haha
So, yesterday I sat around most of the day because I was really tired again. However, me and Utyna watched a lot of Korean dramas because she is obsessed with Asian culture, which is super cool. Utyna will go to China for an internship in the fall and she is also the new VP ICX.
Yea, so last night we took the bus to the city center. And buses here in Ukraine are legit. I mean like you're packed like sardines, as in Asian countries. It's pretty funny. O and it only costs $0.25. When we arrived at the city center we went to an ICX meeting in some kind of pub. Let me tell you, their AIESEC meetings are exactly like ours. I felt like I was still in America. I had to keep pinching myself to wake up and remember I was still in Ukraine.
Yah, and during the meeting I showed everyone what silly bandz are and they thought they were amazing...so of course I gave them all one:)
then we took the bus home, ate some more of course, haha, and watched more Korean soap operas.
I was supposed to go to a concert yesterday night, but of course the AIESEC meeting went late. AS ALWAYS.
Now this morning we ate more LOL and we are going to the Lviv airport today because my suitcase finally arrived. Then, I'm finally moving into my flat where I will be living for like 4 days because then I go to the summer camp!
Later today I will go around Lviv with 5 interns from India. I'm sure we will be quite the spectacle, and I can't wait.
Haha!
hope all is well & God bless:)
:)Michelley!
I think I ate the most food I ever have in my entire life yesterday...I literally couldn't move. I would sit down and let some food settle and then what seemed like 7 seconds later they were like "time to eat" and I just had to eat more because they won't let you say no. I think we need to do this in America so that we eat less! haha
So, yesterday I sat around most of the day because I was really tired again. However, me and Utyna watched a lot of Korean dramas because she is obsessed with Asian culture, which is super cool. Utyna will go to China for an internship in the fall and she is also the new VP ICX.
Yea, so last night we took the bus to the city center. And buses here in Ukraine are legit. I mean like you're packed like sardines, as in Asian countries. It's pretty funny. O and it only costs $0.25. When we arrived at the city center we went to an ICX meeting in some kind of pub. Let me tell you, their AIESEC meetings are exactly like ours. I felt like I was still in America. I had to keep pinching myself to wake up and remember I was still in Ukraine.
Yah, and during the meeting I showed everyone what silly bandz are and they thought they were amazing...so of course I gave them all one:)
then we took the bus home, ate some more of course, haha, and watched more Korean soap operas.
I was supposed to go to a concert yesterday night, but of course the AIESEC meeting went late. AS ALWAYS.
Now this morning we ate more LOL and we are going to the Lviv airport today because my suitcase finally arrived. Then, I'm finally moving into my flat where I will be living for like 4 days because then I go to the summer camp!
Later today I will go around Lviv with 5 interns from India. I'm sure we will be quite the spectacle, and I can't wait.
Haha!
hope all is well & God bless:)
:)Michelley!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
I don't miss home haha!
Hello Everyone!
Priveet, as we would say here in Ukraine!
So, I think I'm the only American here. It's awesome. However, whenever I am out in public--at cafes, or stores people stare at my friends and I. It's annoying, but I guess everyone is still friendly. I am just shocked that not that many people can speak English.
Right now, I am sitting in Utyna's flat. I stayed with her and her family last night because the flat where I am supposed to stay is still occupied by 5 intern guys from India. I guess they wouldn't leave or something.
However, I am so thankful I got to stay here because it is cool, or as they would say in ukrainian, class! I want to live here! NO FAIR:( We have no places like this to live in America. I like it because it is small like a house, but the layout is just so interesting. It's very hard to explain, but I think it is the high ceilings which give it its charm.
So far, I have met some very awesome people. I just can't believe how nice everyone here is! My friend Olyna looks exactly like Michelle Gemoll. Exactly the same. I was in shock! I keep seeing all of these people who look exactly like everyone from home. I guess it makes me sad. Only a little!
Well I must get going. the day is about to start here! I'll tell you more soon! Until then!
God Bless & probably good night to you:)
:) Michelley!
Priveet, as we would say here in Ukraine!
So, I think I'm the only American here. It's awesome. However, whenever I am out in public--at cafes, or stores people stare at my friends and I. It's annoying, but I guess everyone is still friendly. I am just shocked that not that many people can speak English.
Right now, I am sitting in Utyna's flat. I stayed with her and her family last night because the flat where I am supposed to stay is still occupied by 5 intern guys from India. I guess they wouldn't leave or something.
However, I am so thankful I got to stay here because it is cool, or as they would say in ukrainian, class! I want to live here! NO FAIR:( We have no places like this to live in America. I like it because it is small like a house, but the layout is just so interesting. It's very hard to explain, but I think it is the high ceilings which give it its charm.
So far, I have met some very awesome people. I just can't believe how nice everyone here is! My friend Olyna looks exactly like Michelle Gemoll. Exactly the same. I was in shock! I keep seeing all of these people who look exactly like everyone from home. I guess it makes me sad. Only a little!
Well I must get going. the day is about to start here! I'll tell you more soon! Until then!
God Bless & probably good night to you:)
:) Michelley!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Hey all:)
I made it to Ukraine. I love Lviv! It is such a beautiful city! Let me tell you a little bit about the super trekkk here...o gosh!
First, my connecting flight to amsterdam was delayed for 1.5 hrs due to weird engine problems. So, on this flight I was literally sitting inbetween a guy from Moldova who lives in minnesota and a guy from latvia who was living in canada. They were speaking and I could tell it was eastern european so I start asking them where they are from and where they are going. The Moldovan, Fidor, said he was going to the exact same place as me on the exact same flight! Talk about an angel sent from God. I couldn't believe it!
Fidor helped me through amsterdam. We ran through together, had the same connecting flight to Kiev and then took the creepy train to Lviv together. Now let me tell you about this crazy train. What the heck! It was straight out of 1964 USSR...I mean like grandma's curtains, and a guard who seriously looked like the stereotypical russian. This train bounced, and rocked, and screeched. Somehow. SOMEHOW. I actually managed to sleep.
So, after the train ride I had to say by to Fidor who is welcoming his daughter into the world this month because his wife in pregnant.
I hope you can tell that this is going to be a beautiful experience! Right now I'm sitting with Mischa, a guy from the AIESEC LC here in Lviv at McDonalds....yep, where else would I be but McDonalds?
Also, my two favorite things so far is their new restaurant here called "chicken hut" and all of the people from the rural towns carry giant baskets of bing cherries through the train station to be sold at the markets....
Let's just say I'm experiencing the Soviet Kitsch and I'm loving it!!!
I can't wait to tell you more! Enjoy Wisconsin! and Everywhere!
:)Michelley!
I made it to Ukraine. I love Lviv! It is such a beautiful city! Let me tell you a little bit about the super trekkk here...o gosh!
First, my connecting flight to amsterdam was delayed for 1.5 hrs due to weird engine problems. So, on this flight I was literally sitting inbetween a guy from Moldova who lives in minnesota and a guy from latvia who was living in canada. They were speaking and I could tell it was eastern european so I start asking them where they are from and where they are going. The Moldovan, Fidor, said he was going to the exact same place as me on the exact same flight! Talk about an angel sent from God. I couldn't believe it!
Fidor helped me through amsterdam. We ran through together, had the same connecting flight to Kiev and then took the creepy train to Lviv together. Now let me tell you about this crazy train. What the heck! It was straight out of 1964 USSR...I mean like grandma's curtains, and a guard who seriously looked like the stereotypical russian. This train bounced, and rocked, and screeched. Somehow. SOMEHOW. I actually managed to sleep.
So, after the train ride I had to say by to Fidor who is welcoming his daughter into the world this month because his wife in pregnant.
I hope you can tell that this is going to be a beautiful experience! Right now I'm sitting with Mischa, a guy from the AIESEC LC here in Lviv at McDonalds....yep, where else would I be but McDonalds?
Also, my two favorite things so far is their new restaurant here called "chicken hut" and all of the people from the rural towns carry giant baskets of bing cherries through the train station to be sold at the markets....
Let's just say I'm experiencing the Soviet Kitsch and I'm loving it!!!
I can't wait to tell you more! Enjoy Wisconsin! and Everywhere!
:)Michelley!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Thank you Regina for inspiring this trip...
So, I leave today, and I'm excited:)
I can't wait to breathe the hopefully fresh Ukrainian air!
I just hope I actually make it there in order to do so....that being said, I'm nervous about the train, and my flights, and everything I have to do. It's kind of a big deal for me.
Weeks ago, when I was so eager to leave my world in Wisconsin, I thought to myself nothing could stop me. Now I am second guessing this because I will miss everyone I leave behind. It really has put my life into perspective and made me realize how wonderful of a world I live in.
Yet, I am going to go, be successful, and have a wonderful summer. I just can't believe the day has finally arrived! I've been praying for myself to travel safe, and I've been praying that you all have a fabulous summer as well!
I'll talk to you next when I'm in Lviv, Ukraine:)
Ciao,
:) Michelley!
I can't wait to breathe the hopefully fresh Ukrainian air!
I just hope I actually make it there in order to do so....that being said, I'm nervous about the train, and my flights, and everything I have to do. It's kind of a big deal for me.
Weeks ago, when I was so eager to leave my world in Wisconsin, I thought to myself nothing could stop me. Now I am second guessing this because I will miss everyone I leave behind. It really has put my life into perspective and made me realize how wonderful of a world I live in.
Yet, I am going to go, be successful, and have a wonderful summer. I just can't believe the day has finally arrived! I've been praying for myself to travel safe, and I've been praying that you all have a fabulous summer as well!
I'll talk to you next when I'm in Lviv, Ukraine:)
Ciao,
:) Michelley!
Friday, June 10, 2011
How do you pack for 2 months
So, I'm that chick who gets made fun of because she wears a different outfit everyday. What am I supposed to do with one suitecase and a carry on? I don't even think barbie could fit all the clothes she wanted in these things....o well, the unfortunate will have to happen. I will wear the same thing more than once. WAAAYYY more than once!
Also, I have all of my gifts set after having eaten one of them myself and then having to go out and buy the same bag of reese's. What can I say? I <3 chocolate and peanut butter! AMERICAN.
ANNNDDD...I'm not freaking out about my flight that much anymore. It's old news. I guess I don't care.
I just wish my last days in Wiscoo weren't so dreary! I want to be pumped up to leave!
Also, if any of you fools have skype please add and talk to me anytime. My skype ID is : Meechyz
Peace and LOVE
Michelley
Also, I have all of my gifts set after having eaten one of them myself and then having to go out and buy the same bag of reese's. What can I say? I <3 chocolate and peanut butter! AMERICAN.
ANNNDDD...I'm not freaking out about my flight that much anymore. It's old news. I guess I don't care.
I just wish my last days in Wiscoo weren't so dreary! I want to be pumped up to leave!
Also, if any of you fools have skype please add and talk to me anytime. My skype ID is : Meechyz
Peace and LOVE
Michelley
Monday, June 6, 2011
Hey Peeps:)
It's one week till' I leave and I'm freakin out. Ukraine is like super far away, and I'm like from this like super tiny like town called like Sguzzex.
BUT seriously, I cannot wait. I've been packing forever, and it still seems there is so much to do. I mean I have this long list, and I am still hoping that I don't forget my toothbrush...
It's just overall super rad to see a semester long or life long dream, I suppose you could say, come true. I know this experience will change my life, and I can't wait to get a taste of teaching.
I hope my student don't find me too crazy. Just a little crazy!!!!
It's one week till' I leave and I'm freakin out. Ukraine is like super far away, and I'm like from this like super tiny like town called like Sguzzex.
BUT seriously, I cannot wait. I've been packing forever, and it still seems there is so much to do. I mean I have this long list, and I am still hoping that I don't forget my toothbrush...
It's just overall super rad to see a semester long or life long dream, I suppose you could say, come true. I know this experience will change my life, and I can't wait to get a taste of teaching.
I hope my student don't find me too crazy. Just a little crazy!!!!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Way Less than 3 Weeks to go...
LET ME JUST SAY GRRRRR! Everyone here is making fun of me for already packing. I know I don't leave until June 13th, but I like to be prepared. Especially since I am traveling alone! I must be sure I don't forget my favorite t-shirt or perhaps more importantly, my toothbrush! Or maybe I'm just obsessed and can't wait to leave my little bubble of a world here in Sguzzex.
O gosh, and y'all should see my trying to come up with lesson plans. It's quite hilarious because I have no idea what I am doing...I'm pretty sure I've never taken a curriculum class, and I'm pretty sure I am studying to teach social studies, not games. Yep, that's right, I'll be playing games all summer with Ukrainian kids. I can't wait to show them how to play some seriously lame American game that they will laugh at me for attempting to teach. I know it will happen, in which case I will make a mere spectacle of myself.
Haha O yes, and my knowledge of the Ukrainian language is quite frankly: sad. I know how to say "Hi"...priveeeet!!!...and that's it. I'm attempting to learn more, but it has proven to be a challenge. Too bad I'll overcome it. When I get back, y'all have no idea what happened to German Michelle. I'll be like the epitome of everything Ukrainian, Soviet, or Eastern European. AND I can't wait:)
O gosh, and y'all should see my trying to come up with lesson plans. It's quite hilarious because I have no idea what I am doing...I'm pretty sure I've never taken a curriculum class, and I'm pretty sure I am studying to teach social studies, not games. Yep, that's right, I'll be playing games all summer with Ukrainian kids. I can't wait to show them how to play some seriously lame American game that they will laugh at me for attempting to teach. I know it will happen, in which case I will make a mere spectacle of myself.
Haha O yes, and my knowledge of the Ukrainian language is quite frankly: sad. I know how to say "Hi"...priveeeet!!!...and that's it. I'm attempting to learn more, but it has proven to be a challenge. Too bad I'll overcome it. When I get back, y'all have no idea what happened to German Michelle. I'll be like the epitome of everything Ukrainian, Soviet, or Eastern European. AND I can't wait:)
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