The Kiev Temple. :)
My adventure buddies!
At the soccer (football) game! GO KIEV!!!
We're sneaky sneaks >:)
Note to self: next time Ukrainians invite you to a "picnic", be prepared for surprise camping!
I'm gonig to bring him home. Just for you.
вівторок, 30 квітня 2013 р.
неділя, 28 квітня 2013 р.
"Well, there goes my future!"
Saturday we got the opportunity to go to the Kiev Temple to do baptisms for the dead! :)
It was so cool. The look of it reminded me a lot of what the Gilbert temple is starting to look like. (I'm so excited for the Gilbert temple!) yayayay.
Amber told me that one of her favorite parts of traveling was going to the temple in different countries because it just goes to show that the church is always the same, no matter where you are in the world. And it's so true! it was so neat to be on the other side of the world, but still feel the familiar peace that the temple brings.
After the temple, a few of us girls were waiting a while for some people to meet up with us so that we could go have a picnic (funny story about that to come!)
So while we were waiting, we were sitting on the grass in front of the temple.
The Russian culture is pretty weird. for example, the woman here DO NOT sit on the ground or on cold surfaces, because if they do, then their ovaries will freeze and they won't be able to bear children.
.................Hahahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahaha!
Whenever you see girls sitting on the ground here, they always have a plastic bag, a blanket, SOMETHING underneath them so that they won't "damage their ovaries."
So while we were sitting around, A lady going into the temple sees us, and hurries over to start lecturing us in Russian. One of the head teachers told her that it was ok and after she left, we were joking around because of how concerned she was for us. They honestly think that because I'm sitting on some grass with nothing underneath me, that I won't be able to have children! haha I don't understand these people sometimes. But I guess she was just trying to look out for us!
I'm so lucky to be here!
More stories and pictures to come:)
It was so cool. The look of it reminded me a lot of what the Gilbert temple is starting to look like. (I'm so excited for the Gilbert temple!) yayayay.
Amber told me that one of her favorite parts of traveling was going to the temple in different countries because it just goes to show that the church is always the same, no matter where you are in the world. And it's so true! it was so neat to be on the other side of the world, but still feel the familiar peace that the temple brings.
After the temple, a few of us girls were waiting a while for some people to meet up with us so that we could go have a picnic (funny story about that to come!)
So while we were waiting, we were sitting on the grass in front of the temple.
The Russian culture is pretty weird. for example, the woman here DO NOT sit on the ground or on cold surfaces, because if they do, then their ovaries will freeze and they won't be able to bear children.
.................Hahahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahaha!
Whenever you see girls sitting on the ground here, they always have a plastic bag, a blanket, SOMETHING underneath them so that they won't "damage their ovaries."
So while we were sitting around, A lady going into the temple sees us, and hurries over to start lecturing us in Russian. One of the head teachers told her that it was ok and after she left, we were joking around because of how concerned she was for us. They honestly think that because I'm sitting on some grass with nothing underneath me, that I won't be able to have children! haha I don't understand these people sometimes. But I guess she was just trying to look out for us!
I'm so lucky to be here!
More stories and pictures to come:)
вівторок, 23 квітня 2013 р.
неділя, 21 квітня 2013 р.
It's a miracle!!!
Today something wonderful happened. Something incredibly wonderful.
It was a day just like any other. I woke up, got ready for church, walked with Ambie Pambie to the metro station, and we met up with part of our group.
As we were sitting in the station awaiting the rest of the ILP groups, I saw two missionaries walking our way.
I saw an opportunity.
And I seized it.
As the missionaries came closer...I prepared myself...
And then...I did it.
I did something that we were told never to do in public.
I smiled.
And guess what...
HE SMILED BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was the greatest feeling ever! Oh how I miss the feeling of freely smiling at people in public and getting a smile in return!!
It was a big day for me.
So take advantage people, and smile! :D
It was a day just like any other. I woke up, got ready for church, walked with Ambie Pambie to the metro station, and we met up with part of our group.
As we were sitting in the station awaiting the rest of the ILP groups, I saw two missionaries walking our way.
I saw an opportunity.
And I seized it.
As the missionaries came closer...I prepared myself...
And then...I did it.
I did something that we were told never to do in public.
I smiled.
And guess what...
HE SMILED BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was the greatest feeling ever! Oh how I miss the feeling of freely smiling at people in public and getting a smile in return!!
It was a big day for me.
So take advantage people, and smile! :D
субота, 20 квітня 2013 р.
Funny story time!
So the other day, Olia was telling Amber and I a couple "rules" I guess you could call them, about how things work in their house. Clean your dishes when you're done, put your dirty clothes in a pile for her to wash, etc. Well, she was also talking about leaving the bathroom door open while we shower because the steam will make the towels start smelling really bad. After this, Olia leaves the room and Amber whisperes "Did she just tell us to shower with the door open!" I whisper back "I think so!"
So yes, this is pretty weird, but considering we aren't supposed to whistle indoors or else "we will lose all our money", I figured this was just another weird thing that Ukrainians do that wasn't very weird to Ukrainians...but this was stretching it. First off, if the bathroom door is open, you can see all the way down the hall of the appartment to the bedroom, and you have to walk past the bathroom to get to the kitchen, and the toilet room. Second, the shower curtain is short. So if we were to shower with the door open, and someone walked past, you could totally make eye contact with them.I just couldnt imagine showering and being like "oh, hey, whats up! I'm naked." haha so the next morning I was about to shower, and I REALLY didn't want to leave the door open! but I also didn't want to not listen to the rules of the house, so I asked Olia again, and she says "You just need to open the door AFTER you shower, so the towels don't get smelly."
OOOHHHHHHHHHHH!!! that makes more sense!!! hahahahaha GLAD we figured that out before I showered with the door wide open, and having someone walk past and being like "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING"
пʼятниця, 19 квітня 2013 р.
Jet lag is not a fun thing.
Maybe it's not even jet lag anymore...But I need something to blame my sleepiness on!
Okay, I'll say it. Teaching is hard! and very tiring. We are short on teachers, so Amber, Alia and I are at the school from around 8:30 Am to about 7:20 PM. But hopefully our new teacher will get here tomorrow! YAY.
The kids are so cute! (well...most of them. Deema was being such a little punk today.) by the end of the day I start to get annoyed of the sound of my own voice saying "No Russian!" and "Sasha, sit in your chair please!" Its only the second day and it was already easier than yesterday. Not easy, just easier. :) hopefully soon I'll be able to get the hang of things. and also remember all of the kid's names and be able to pronounce them correctly!
I LOVE the city! It's definitely different than what I'm used to, but I kind of like the fact that I feel so out of place. It makes me feel...like an adventurer! Going to the market is fun, the other night, Amber and I went with Olia (Host mom) to the market after school. As we were walking out of the store, Olia told us that these 2 little kids who were standing behind us in line heard Amber and I talking, and were whispering to each other "They're American!"
Apparently we stick out here. A lot. I try my best to fit in...but I guess it doesn't work. haha Maybe we just dress differently. Or maybe it's the fact that we actually look HAPPY. I'm still getting used to walking past people on the streets, or the metro, or the worker at the market, and just blankly looking at them with no emotion at all. It's so weird to me how nobody smiles at one another. It's not like people are mean to each other. But everyone just keeps to themselves and never smile to one another. Its sad! haha
We do a lot of walking, which is good. Really good! I think that walking is the only thing keeping me from not being fat right now. We eat nothing but carbs, carbs, carbs. Delicious carbs though. I was afraid that I would hate the food here, or be grossed out by it. But I devour every meal I get! It probably helps that by the time we get lunch I'm beyond hungry. And by the time we have dinner, which is usually around 9 PM, I feel like I have been fasting for days. Needless to say, I'm not having a problem with the food. :) It's kind of really good. But don't even get me started on the chocolate here! ohhhh the chocolate here is to DIE FOR.
My Russian sucks. I can't even pronounce the "propper" way of saying hello. Apparently "Pree-viet" just doesn't make the cut sometimes.
There are a TON of stray dogs here! Which I usually would be trying to save, but they look so dang happy all the time that it doesn't even make me feel sad when I see them! (I think the dogs stole all of the people's happiness here or something) haha jk jk. I kid, I kid.
Did I mention I love the city(insert question mark here.)
My question mark button is broken^^^^
So when we go to the metro, We have to walk underground, and then take these escelators down even further underground. And for some reason I am SO intrigued by them! They are seriously SO LONG! they are the longest escelators I have ever seen!
(Escelators, escelators!.....Eeee-eeeeels.)-For Cortney.
Maybe someday I can be all sneaky-like and take a video of me going down them....>:)
So, I think that's about it so far! Things are going good. We went to FHE tonight and I talked to this really sweet Ukrainian girl who knew a little bit of English. Our group of girls are getting along really well! Olia is taking great care of us, the food is good, Amber's feet aren't swollen anymore, the weather isn't even cold, and tomorrow I get to SLEEP IN. :)
Oh, And once we met up with our Natice Coordinators at the airport, Igor (the head guy) says to me "You bring us de sunshine all the way from America from your hair!"
You're Welcome Ukraine.
Maybe it's not even jet lag anymore...But I need something to blame my sleepiness on!
Okay, I'll say it. Teaching is hard! and very tiring. We are short on teachers, so Amber, Alia and I are at the school from around 8:30 Am to about 7:20 PM. But hopefully our new teacher will get here tomorrow! YAY.
The kids are so cute! (well...most of them. Deema was being such a little punk today.) by the end of the day I start to get annoyed of the sound of my own voice saying "No Russian!" and "Sasha, sit in your chair please!" Its only the second day and it was already easier than yesterday. Not easy, just easier. :) hopefully soon I'll be able to get the hang of things. and also remember all of the kid's names and be able to pronounce them correctly!
I LOVE the city! It's definitely different than what I'm used to, but I kind of like the fact that I feel so out of place. It makes me feel...like an adventurer! Going to the market is fun, the other night, Amber and I went with Olia (Host mom) to the market after school. As we were walking out of the store, Olia told us that these 2 little kids who were standing behind us in line heard Amber and I talking, and were whispering to each other "They're American!"
Apparently we stick out here. A lot. I try my best to fit in...but I guess it doesn't work. haha Maybe we just dress differently. Or maybe it's the fact that we actually look HAPPY. I'm still getting used to walking past people on the streets, or the metro, or the worker at the market, and just blankly looking at them with no emotion at all. It's so weird to me how nobody smiles at one another. It's not like people are mean to each other. But everyone just keeps to themselves and never smile to one another. Its sad! haha
We do a lot of walking, which is good. Really good! I think that walking is the only thing keeping me from not being fat right now. We eat nothing but carbs, carbs, carbs. Delicious carbs though. I was afraid that I would hate the food here, or be grossed out by it. But I devour every meal I get! It probably helps that by the time we get lunch I'm beyond hungry. And by the time we have dinner, which is usually around 9 PM, I feel like I have been fasting for days. Needless to say, I'm not having a problem with the food. :) It's kind of really good. But don't even get me started on the chocolate here! ohhhh the chocolate here is to DIE FOR.
My Russian sucks. I can't even pronounce the "propper" way of saying hello. Apparently "Pree-viet" just doesn't make the cut sometimes.
There are a TON of stray dogs here! Which I usually would be trying to save, but they look so dang happy all the time that it doesn't even make me feel sad when I see them! (I think the dogs stole all of the people's happiness here or something) haha jk jk. I kid, I kid.
Did I mention I love the city(insert question mark here.)
My question mark button is broken^^^^
So when we go to the metro, We have to walk underground, and then take these escelators down even further underground. And for some reason I am SO intrigued by them! They are seriously SO LONG! they are the longest escelators I have ever seen!
(Escelators, escelators!.....Eeee-eeeeels.)-For Cortney.
Maybe someday I can be all sneaky-like and take a video of me going down them....>:)
So, I think that's about it so far! Things are going good. We went to FHE tonight and I talked to this really sweet Ukrainian girl who knew a little bit of English. Our group of girls are getting along really well! Olia is taking great care of us, the food is good, Amber's feet aren't swollen anymore, the weather isn't even cold, and tomorrow I get to SLEEP IN. :)
Oh, And once we met up with our Natice Coordinators at the airport, Igor (the head guy) says to me "You bring us de sunshine all the way from America from your hair!"
You're Welcome Ukraine.
вівторок, 16 квітня 2013 р.
Let the Adventures begin!!!
I'm finally here!!!
I felt like this day would never come. But alas, here I am in Kiev, Ukraine!
We travelled from Phoenix to New York, then from New York to Paris, and lastly, Paris to Kiev! It was the longest day ever. But a lot of fun. Especially once we got to Paris. The Paris airport is incredible! we had a 5 hour layover there, and we met up with most of the girls in our group. They are all super fun and nice and I'm so excited to get to know all of them better!
These things...
These cookies were AMAZING. It was all I could do to only eat two and save the last one for later. You would not believe the amount of trips to the currency exchange and the struggle Amber and I had to finally be able to buy some of these heavenly cookies. But oh was it worth it!
By the time we boarded our last flight, I was exaused. It was around noon in Paris, but it was around 3 AM for AZ time. Before the plane even took off, I was bobbing my head trying to stay awake. I fell forward once and hit my head on the window of the plane, and the Fench guy sitting next to me started laughing at me.
While I'm on the subject of me making a fool of myself, I guess I'll share my funny experience once we arrived in Kiev.
So we had just gotten off the plane and were all gathered around the luggage carousel waiting for our bags. Mine was the first to come, so as I pulled it off the carousel and started gathering the rest of my things, this man walks up to me (I don't know why he had to choose me, there were about 6 other girls right by me.) and he looks at me and starts speaking Ukrainian (or Russian) at me. This for some reasom completely freaked me out, and I had no idea what to do. So I didn't do anything but just stare at him with wide eyes. Finally, he stops talking to me mid-sentence, gets this disgusted look on his face and says "English." and walks away.
I turned to Amber, not knowing what really just happened, she laughs and says "Welcome to Ukraine!"
I haven't had much time to really sit down and talk with my Host mom yet, but I already love her! She is so cute and funny. And best part-she speaks English!
Amber and I got into the same Host family! When we met up with the Native Coordnators at the airport, we were told that we were roomies and we both seriouly almost srarted crying we were so happy! haha :)
Tomorrow we start training. I'm hoping I'll be able to catch on so I can teach the kids.
GOODNIGHT!
I felt like this day would never come. But alas, here I am in Kiev, Ukraine!
We travelled from Phoenix to New York, then from New York to Paris, and lastly, Paris to Kiev! It was the longest day ever. But a lot of fun. Especially once we got to Paris. The Paris airport is incredible! we had a 5 hour layover there, and we met up with most of the girls in our group. They are all super fun and nice and I'm so excited to get to know all of them better!
These things...
These cookies were AMAZING. It was all I could do to only eat two and save the last one for later. You would not believe the amount of trips to the currency exchange and the struggle Amber and I had to finally be able to buy some of these heavenly cookies. But oh was it worth it!
By the time we boarded our last flight, I was exaused. It was around noon in Paris, but it was around 3 AM for AZ time. Before the plane even took off, I was bobbing my head trying to stay awake. I fell forward once and hit my head on the window of the plane, and the Fench guy sitting next to me started laughing at me.
While I'm on the subject of me making a fool of myself, I guess I'll share my funny experience once we arrived in Kiev.
So we had just gotten off the plane and were all gathered around the luggage carousel waiting for our bags. Mine was the first to come, so as I pulled it off the carousel and started gathering the rest of my things, this man walks up to me (I don't know why he had to choose me, there were about 6 other girls right by me.) and he looks at me and starts speaking Ukrainian (or Russian) at me. This for some reasom completely freaked me out, and I had no idea what to do. So I didn't do anything but just stare at him with wide eyes. Finally, he stops talking to me mid-sentence, gets this disgusted look on his face and says "English." and walks away.
I turned to Amber, not knowing what really just happened, she laughs and says "Welcome to Ukraine!"
I haven't had much time to really sit down and talk with my Host mom yet, but I already love her! She is so cute and funny. And best part-she speaks English!
Amber and I got into the same Host family! When we met up with the Native Coordnators at the airport, we were told that we were roomies and we both seriouly almost srarted crying we were so happy! haha :)
Tomorrow we start training. I'm hoping I'll be able to catch on so I can teach the kids.
GOODNIGHT!
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