Hi Family!!!

So I just want to take a quick moment to let you know that it was great to talk to some of you this past Saturday! It sounds like Nana'a party was a real hoot! Well she definitely deserves a hoot... it's not everyday you turn 96 years young!!! And to those of you who I didn't get a chance to speak to I was thinking about you! Don't worry I am on the mend with that nasty cold and the trees that I think I'm allergic to are starting to lose their blossoms.... Yes folks God really does exist! I'm in Kyiv today hoping that I would have some work to type up from my student parliament but alas once again they fail to comethrough. I shouldn't say that, they are great kids and it's not their fault that they've never been held accountable for anything in their lives before.... I choose to not blame the parents this time (though they directly are at fault) but rather the culture that babies the youth and never allows them to take responsibility or think for themselves.... Well at least I can take the time for a Relaxing Meg Day out in the city... Okay so now that the venting is over I'll speak of much more exciting things. I have now received my two boxes from home and have more easter candy than one could possibly consume... don't worry Mom though, the entire town of Kalynivka LOVES YOU!!! especially my students. They are actually working out to be a good source of bribery... HEE! This Saturday I am going to the Ukrainian version of Old Sturbridge Village called Feofania. I'm not sure what Feofania means but I'm sure that I will find out. I've been looking forward to it for a few weeks now. Yeah I know, stop rolling your eyes, I came to the realization that I'm a dork a long time ago... It's okie I've accepted it and moved on. It'll be a nice day of relaxation which is much needed. Last Sunday, I saw the National Ballet perform Romeo and Juliet with a few of my friends and who would have thought that when I applied for the Peace Corps I would be sitting the the National Opera House in Kyiv watching the National Ukrainian Ballet company and have just gone out for a delicious dinner. It's crazy I know!!! but it's all part of the Ukrainian way of life. I'm trying to get as much time in Kyiv as possible before i depart for the dark cold east.... Actually it's really quite lovely but that is what they would like you to believe about it... where i can walk past an enormous red steel sickle and hammer on my way to the grocery store every day!!! It's just great isn't it...
Well as some of you may know already, next week will be my last week in my training cluster (boo hoo) but this is going to be the opening of a new horizon where I can take my mild russian skills to the land of Lenin!!! Good bye for now and I want to apologize in advance if I miss some postings over the next weeks after I leave my home here in K'Town I'll be at the lovely Prolisok (former soviet sanitorium that would be condemned by american standards but has hot water and a shower with some decent pressure so for a PCV it's heaven and considered prime real estate in Ukraine!) and then the 13.5 hour train ride to my new home... take care you guys!!! And I'm just going to announce that MELISSA IS ENGAGED!!! Now the world knows so no keeping it a secret Melis... CONGRATS!