And finally...

...Budapest. As mentioned before, my weekend in Budapest was amazing. ICSB was incredible, seeing a familiar face from American was wonderful, and the views were stunning. Particularly the bridges. I reaaaaaaly liked the bridge. And the coffee. My friend Natalie is in the picture to the right...International Christian School of Budapest is behind us. I look like a babushka, yes, because it was raining...and naturally, I wanted to preserve my hair. Hey, teachers can't be lookin' all crazy up there in front of teenagers!

KCA! Not sure I ever showed you the outside of my school;)

the GREAT gatsby dinner party!

a week too long

again...a week is too long to go without posting...i wish i was better at this.

i'm sitting in my classroom as we speak, proctoring standardized tests and dreaming about graduation. my time has gone sooooooo fast here, and as of sunday, i am able to say that i graduate from college NEXT WEEK! can you imagine!

my juniors and seniors have been away on their class trip since last thursday, they return this thursday. i've been keeping myself busy at school in their absence: creating bulletin boards, decorating doors, proctoring exams...and visiting BUDAPEST!

i flew out from kiev on thursday night and arrived in budapest, hungary an hour later. the nature of my trip? i was able to observe at another school (like mine) called International Christian School of Budapest. Fondly known as ICSB. my friend natalie from PBU is student teaching there just like I am.

i observed at the school on friday, met a few members of the SEND Budapest team, and experienced school like in yet another country.

the rest of the weekend was spent running around the city, drinking coffee, hiking hills, looking for authentic hungarian food, and locating 5 of the "Thousand Places to See Before You Die."

it was SUCH a blessing to see some fresh country-side, a new city, and an old friend!
i'll post a few pictures soon;)

and now i am off to the grocery store...

the sinuses are clearing.

hopefully once and for all.

i'm not sure what bugs have been in my body...but there are a million going around school.
i'm thankful that the one i have had...is mild in comparison.
thank you all for praying...the congestion is mostly gone, only periodic coughing...
and no fever or nausea!

some of my students have been out for days with a bad bug that apparently includes the worst imaginable...and thus i am thankful.

i finished teaching middle school last week and am now focusing on high school (11th and 12th grades). freeing me up to do a few more teacher-like things; such as decorating classroom doors! this turned into a multi-person project and a school-wide guessing game...
the students will complete the "door decor" by creating artifacts that represent the literary periods they are studying (Victorian in Brit. Lit, and Contemporary in the American Lit. class).
good times.

mi casa...

because it is fun to periodically post pictures...
this is my apartment building.

Spring Has Sprung...

...and I feel like I've bloomed.

For lack of a better metaphor, the image of a plant, breaking through the frozen mud of Kiev describes my current state (as well as the state of the environment in which I am currently living). I've enjoyed my time in Kiev so far...but it has been hard to adjust to a new place in which I knew no one. Prior to my arrival here, I was SURROUNDED by people that I love...a constant support network encouraging me, loving me, and entertaining me for that matter. Coming here...I was alone. I shared this with some, but not all...and now I'm excited to report that not only has the Lord taught me about being by myself...being quiet...being accompanied by him...he has provided company, and I feel much more at home. This company is my students! Usually a teacher must be extremely conscious of boundaries and not becoming friends with the students. However, in a tight-knit and SMALL community such as KCA, it is seemingly inevitable to get to know your kids, well.

While I initially struggled with my co-operating teacher, her shell has cracked, and I feel like I am no longer a burden to her...but a relief, a help, a welcomed blessing. This happens to be her last year in Ukraine and she is struggling with the question of WHAT NEXT? Thus, my teaching her classes has seemed to lift much of the stress and planning, allowing her to focus her energies elsewhere in preparation for her return to the US.

Anyway...long story short...as I write to you at the conclusion of my 4th week at school, I look back at the initial stages of my acclimation...and am in awe of how drastically things have changed. Thank God.

The only bad thing to report is that I am yet again sick, and plagued with a cough. A very annoying, uncomfortable and seemingly disruptive cough.

As I go for runs in the afternoon, I like to stop and look up at the blooming dogwoods on the side of the dirty city roads with high-rises in the background, and think about God, and how He causes us to grow, He makes us bloom, no matter how frozen we are in our ways...

i can't believe it's april and i've not yet posted!

ahhh classic Ukraine: Tanks and babies in Snow Suits the second they step outside...

the banks or "beach" of the Dnipre River

The break concludes...

On Friday we toured Kremenchuk...which took all of 2 hours...and then wandered around the University, grabbed some coffee, sat by the "beach," and finished up the day at Home Group. This is a group of high-school/college age youth from a local Ukrainian church. Lisa works with the youth and attends this Home Group every Friday night. They asked me a million questions...and following a study in Philippians, we got into a LONG discussion about whether or not dancing is a sin...it was great to share about my experience at PBU in that regard;)

Saturday we went back to Kiev, as Lisa wanted to see some of the BIG city and attend a SEND commissioning service. We jumped on a train and were back in town by noon. I showed her around, we did a little shopping, a little eating, and attended a commissioning service for 3 SEND units heading out to Russia (hopefully) in May. While the pre-meeting was long, it was neat to meet most of the SEND Ukraine Team and worship together on Sunday. It was a great conclusion to a good Spring Break!

pictures....

My host in Kremenchuk, fellow short-termer, Lisa...and yes that is a tank in the background.

Spring Break...until Thursday.

The students of KCA were on spring break this past week (as I may have mentioned) but I was busy exploring, doing lesson plans, and finally conquering my cough...with sleep of course and lots of prayer!

I believe I last updated you regarding my visit to the baby-house...that was Monday.

Tuesday I worked on lesson plans and visited the Seminary for the a little coffee break with my host, Superwoman Lois.

Wednesday was more lesson plans... and preparations for a small-scale adventure...

I left on Thursday to go visit another ministry site where SEND has units, the small city of Kremenchuk (and boy was it small). I rode for four and a half hours through the country on a "MARSHRUTKA" or little bus, and arrived in the evening. I was going to visit Lisa, a friend of mine from our pre-field orientation in Michigan last fall. When I arrived we went to Chelentano's, a Ukrainian pizza shop that rivals the best of America.

RANDOM STORY #1: While there, we ran into an American "freelance missionary" who spoke loudly and assumed it was fine to sit with us for his entire meal. Lisa and I had already finished and were about to leave when he decided we were his dinner company;). So we sat politely, listening to his random stories. We were never able to draw a conclusion about what exactly he does in Ukraine other than get robbed and work with "boyscouts," but it made for a funny story...pictures to follow!

and last but not least...KCA

This is the upstairs hallway of the school where I am working. My middle school classroom is the third door on the right...the one that opened a bit.

Lviv...perhaps one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Kyiv Theological Seminary

The SEND office is in this building, as well as my dear host, Lois. She teaches English to the seminary students...and makes me coffee. As you can imagine, I frequent her office for little visits!

Rodina Mat

A statue facing Moscow...not a one of us is exactly sure what she symbolizes. Casually referred to as the motherland statue, she is 102 meters high...and weighs 530 tons. She's huge. I see her each morning as I cross the river on the school van.

another couple of pictures...

well it is spring break here in Kyiv (well at KCA)...and the flurries are flying. apparently Kyiv is known for its crazy weather this time of year...one day last week it was freezing in the morning, warm and sunny by noon, and snowed at least three times throughout the day. today was rainy for the most part, and then sleety, and then snowy. i guess that is why people go AWAY for spring break. and because of this notion...i have decided to go away...to Kremenchuk.

this location is by no means tropical...nor will the weather be any more consistent...but it's a new sight to see. a girl that I was in short-term training with is serving there for 8 months. i'm headed down to her for two days, and then she's coming up here to see the city before we attend a mission-wide commissioning service. it should be a nice conclusion to a long spring break.

but most of my lesson plans are completed for my entire time here...

enjoy a few shots from downtown Kyiv...i'll be sure to include more pictures from Kremenchuk as well!

week one.

week one of school has come to a close (i've been in Kyiv for two).

this week i learned a TON about my school, met lots of new people, and am settling in. while there are a few comforts of home that i am missing--watching march madness for example-- i am surviving without. the aforementioned void, however, has been filled to some extent thankfully...

a family from school invited me to their house last night to watch the opening round on their british satellite! so, lucky for me, i was able to watch my UCONN huskies die in the first round...live. at least wvu is still in it;)

it was a very nice evening and it was great to get to know a few more people.

went to a coffee shop for a little reading this morning of school materials...then shopped for a new watch since mine died. i was successful in finding one...and it was on sale;)

it is a beautiful day in Kyiv. walking around was amazing. i think today may be the first of my 15 here, that have been so bright!

anyway, English club this afternoon at hope church, work at a baby house on monday, and school clean up work day on thursday. lesson planning in between. should be a full week even though it is spring break.

the cough is significantly better...but still not gone;)

it seems funny to not be home for easter...but it is not easter here! easter celebrations will take place next month here in ukraine...

happy easter to all of you in the states!

hmmm kyiv...

DAY 3...

well day three has come to a close...school was long...but fun. i didn't arrive at home until after six tonight...TRAFFIC in kiev is apparently worse than washington DC, so reports the KYIV POST. i ride a school van to and fro, and thus travel time can vary tremendously.

my cough is still quite pesty...but alas i am sleeping soundly. praise GOD.

after this week, my school goes on spring break...so i will have quite a bit of time on my hands. i'm hoping to help out at SEND and perhaps visit a ministry site outside of the city...or maybe a friend or two;) we'll see.

missing march madness basketball that begins tonight...a family at school invited me over to watch a few games on their british satellite...which means the games will be live! imagine that...

i've been grading lots of analytical essays, making photo copies and chatting with students. learning about their experience growing up overseas is rather enlightening...

the best part of the week so far? small group. my roomate's church meets on tuesday nights and while they spoke entirely in russian (most speak russian even though we are in ukraine) it was amazing to pray together and watch them study they word and struggle with concepts...they are brothers and sisters in Christ...they love the same God, and i can't understand a word they said. it was sweet. anyway...

The First Day of School

My first day was very good. Although extremely different from my last teaching experience-my public school placement-this new school will be an adventure.

I rode a student van for the hour commute, which turned out to be quite the blessing. Not dealing with public transportation at 6:20 is fabulous.

I will be teaching American Lit. to 11th graders, Brit.Lit. to 12th graders, and Grammar to 6th and 7th grade. It's quite a few preps, but I need something to keep me busy.

Attached is a picture of a sign for McDonalds in Ukraine. Sorry it's a little blurry, I took it in a hurry:)

The cough continues but I'm headed to bed early...

i almost forgot...

please pray for my cough...it started when i got here...and is not getting better. it's pretty constant...and annoying. it will be rough to teach if i can't kick it in the butt. we're thinking it might be allergy related...but who knows. i'm waiting it out for a while longer. but keep if you think of it...pray that it will go away by the time i start teaching;) thank yous in advance.

HERE!

Well, it is Sunday evening on my side of the world...and I'm getting ready for my first day of school! My sister and friend flew out this morning. I had lunch with a lady here who has been my "host" and spent the afternoon with her.

I'm taking the school van tomorrow morning for the 1 hr. ride, and will take the Metro home everyday. Hopefully public transit won't be too crazy in the evenings...we'll see!

I met my co-operating teacher last week and hope to know what I am teaching any day now. The school goes on Spring Break next week, so I will have a week to plan for my instructional time.

I will share details of my first day tomorrow...now I'm off to get ready for the day. No late nights for this college girl...I have to catch the van at 6:40 in the am!

One down...

One to go. I completed my first student teaching placement today...I then proceeded to come home, finish packing and I'm about to attempt to get some sleep before the big adventure tomorrow. The countdown is almost over.

One week from today...

Exactly one week from today I will be in Kiev Ukraine, arriving on one of the most widely celebrated holidays of the year, International Women's Day.