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After about a year long process applying and filling out forms I have made it to Ukraine and am ready to start learning. Throughout much of this time I have only known 3 things, 1) my departure date (August 19), 2) my field (TESOL English), and 3) my country (Ukraine). I still basically only know those 3 things but am now working quickly towards understand how I will serve in Ukraine.

The Whirlwind
Once PC gets going it is all a whirlwind. Less than 2 days in DC for a Pre-Service retreat then a day or so of travel then a 4-day training retreat and finally onto our first host families who kindly house us for 11 weeks of pre-service language, cultural, and technical training. I have been place with my language group in a small village outside of Chernigov. Language lessons began immediately and we haven't stopped. Today, being the first day of classes in our village, we wandered around asking people where different basic components of the community could be found. I understood little of their response but they seemed to understand my question!

Ukraine
Ukraine is still a country experiencing a civil war. This is mostly felt through a depressed economy throughout the country and IDP (Internally Displace Persons) who have resettled in western Ukraine. I'm sure there is more but I have not even been in the country for a week so I have not experienced much. Peace Corps has set up a yellow "buffer zone" for volunteers in the area where no one is placed and a large portion of the East and Crimea is off limits to volunteers.

Host Family
I have a lovely host Mom and Dad and lovely little sister who is 4. They have hosted 3 other volunteers and before my Mom moved to the house her mom housed volunteers here. My house is very near my language teachers and I will walk there daily. Everyone in Ukraine seems to have a garden and my family is no different. There is a very big root cellar below the kitchen and we lift floor up to access. All of her home canned goods are stored as the season is over. I have had canned peppers and a new combination of a chunky sauce made with carrots, tomatoes, and peppers which I think is rather spicy. We have soup and potatoes at least once a day. My host mom also speaks pretty good English so so far communicating hasn't been a huge issue but that also means I don't practice Ukrainian as much as I should. Today I played Frozen for my host sister and she danced to "Let it Go" at least 3 times, which was adorable! She had an ear infection so has spent most of the day at home with her "Babushka". 

More to come with my super awesome wifi connection!





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