It's been a wild and crazy trip!

So I think I have finally recovered from the Coordinators Conference and my trip to site... Do you want to talk about an emotional roller coaster??? It was a wild and crazy trip! But really... all turned out really well. I'll be living in a tiny little village called Novoekonomichskoe in the Donetska Oblast. Its about an hour from the city of Donetsk which is in the far east of the country. It's on the west side of the city. The closest large city that would actually be on a map to my town is Krasnyarmeyrsk. I'll be working in the only school in my town teaching civics and leadership skills. Nobody really speaks English... not even the english teachers really. So my Russian is going to be absolutely AMAZING by the time that I leave. The village is so beautiful though... I mean it looks like it hasn't been touched by any outside influences for the past 100 years. It's all little cute cottagey homes with daisies and tulips painted on the fences. I think it'll be a great fit for me.. Well its not too far from Kiev either, by ukrainian standards, only a 13 and a half hour train ride over night... It was really cool though. I really enjoyed the train ride and it's a great way to experience Ukrainian culture and meet some interesting people... now the toilets can sometimes leave a little bit to be desired for.... but I am an experienced hoverer or squater (turkish toilets, YAY!!!) by this point and even on a moving and rocking train I can still keep my balance! (Thanks Irish Dance Class!!!) I have two friends from my group that will only be a half hour away as well so I won't be too lonely. Well that's the update for now. only about 3 more weeks in Kalynivka then the volunteer swearing in will be on the 25th of May and off to site at the end of the month!!! Can you believe it's been 2 months already??? I know, tell me about it! Take care and I love you all so very much!!!

The Attack of Elvis.....Elvis Volodiyavich that is!!!

So here I am in Kiev again at the Peace Corps office. My friend Maura and I travel together most sundays very early in the morning here in hopes of perhaps getting someone at home still online between 12-1am saturday night/sunday morning back home. So far not too many people have been but those I have talked to have certainly brightened my day! So If you are on AIM at that time take a moment to look for me.

ELVIS LIVES!!!! Elvis Volodyavich that is... It's really quite a funny story. See my link cluster ( the one we meet with every Saturday of which Maura is a part) Was playing soccer (football, sorry) in the park with about 5, 14 year old boys. They were really quite good from what I hear... Anyways Maura was on constant attack taking cheap shots and running hard. Her entire cluster was there including their Language teacher Volodiya who is by far one of the most fascinating and unique people that I have ever met. Anywho... as they were playing Maura stumbled upon a little Native american action figure... Which I would think to be rather bizarre considering that we are in the rather homogeneous nation of Ukraine. however the little man was missing an arm. When Maura had shown Volodiya her great discover of the Armless native american in Ukraine... VOlodiya said don't worry I will fix him. The next day upon arrival to Language class Volodiya shared with the class hi little friend with the bionic arm. Volodiya had given his new american friend an arm complete with a hand and five fingers. He was named Elvis Volodiyavich and the rest is history....

On me now... I'm going to visit my site this weekend so I won't be online. There will be no update to the Meggie M Minutes next weekend for sure. I apologize for the inconvenience... BUT upon arrival home from my new site I promise the next update will be full of interesting and informative items... such as where I will be living in may and for the next two years and what exactly I will be doing... Take care you guys... love ya and miss ya all but I'm doing very well here so don't worry!

One Month Down.... 26 to go!

Howdy Americans!
So one month is down here in Ukraine and only 26 more to go... I'm just taking in it one day at a time now... Nothing too exciting happened here this week but every day is full of it's little laughs. I'm in Kyiv once again and am enjoying the high speed internet! Easter was great here! My host mom made a big easter dinner and we all sat at the dinning room table which is in the living room (space is tight here but it was still very exciting). And guess what... We had CHICKEN!!! It was just too funny! I've started my internship this past weekend. My first lesson was on Self-Defense... If you can only picture me and my complete lack of verbal russian teaching Self-defense to 15 year old ukrainians... I thought it was rather amusing and I think they did as well. Once again just reaffirming that Americans really are crazy!!! I'm also working with the student parliament too which is really great. This week we are going to vote on a project for our community. I'm hoping they'll pick something easy like a book drive for the Library but it's totally up to them. We'll see how that turns out though. I'm still trying to figure out the whole picture thing and hopefully by the time I finish training I will have done just that. My support circle is becomming much stronger here. I've made some really great friendships with some other trainees and volunteers. Every day I am just continuously impressed by them... I send all of my love home and hope that spring will find you all well and happy!!! LOVE AND PEACE!!! -Meg