So Excited!

Just a few moments ago I booked my ticket HOME!

It's strange to think that in a few months all of this will be over and I'll be back on US soil, looking for a job, a place to live, and won't have to speak Russian. Wow.

For those interested, I should be home the evening of December 12th, after a layover in NYC and Boston.

I am still working out my COS details, but it looks like I should no longer be a Peace Corps Volunteer on November 16th. The time in between then and my flight home I will be traveling--Slovakia, Vienna, Prague and Dublin. Am hoping for company--we will see how that goes.

Reception Line

Trying to entertain the bride with my impersonation of traditional male Russian dancing.

Black Sheep

My clustermate got an extra kick out of me spending so much time with the 'black sheep' at COS. Ha ha.

Dancing Queen

As you can see, the only reason I got "best dancer" in my training group is because I'm the only one on the floor.

Please Welcome the Bride and Groom

Again, thanks to my cluster couple I can share some images with you of the wedding.

Images from Close of Service

Here is a picture provided by my cluster couple of the gorgeous Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine that we got to look at every day in Slavske, Ukraine.

Coming to an End

For what seems like forever, I have been watching other volunteers pack up their lives and head back home. It's been hard to say goodbye to them, or watch them go through the process of leaving, but now it is my turn.

I have to admit though, I'm doing a pretty bad job. My semester started late because of the wedding and some other things that came up and I haven't gotten in the groove and probably never will this semester, since for me it is only 7 weeks long.

I'd much rather try to put together lesson plans, or clean out my shelves and closets than go to work, but I suppose I must find the time to do both (and also the energy). As fall has arrived and I feel it all around--I have the strong desire to do nothing more than read under the blankets until my last week here. But much is to be done--in terms of paper work, courses, and plans for the future.

This transition period is not really a lot of fun, nor one I want to be remembered for, but I've got to do it.

Movie Quote

Several weeks ago I spent all my time reading. I read about a book every day. This past week instead of reading I've been watching films. This is done basically at the mercy of other PCVs and what movies they have been able to get their hands on.

Anyway, this quote comes from one of those films, which despite being bad had a pretty excellent cast: "If there is one thing I know it's never to mess with mother nature, mother-in-laws, or mother freaking Ukrainians."

While at first I found it amusing, since I am always happy to see Ukraine mentioned in Hollywood films (even if it as a cocaine outline as in Nicholas Cage's "Lord Of War" which we are now watching in film club) I was somewhat perplexed by its meaning. I suppose that there must be a stereotype of Ukrainians as Russian mobsters or something, which is highly unfortunate, since so many people here are not at all associated with these types and that is not the everyday existence in this country.

Polish Sausage and DaVinci

Back in Krakow after the flight from Dubrovnik I had a day to kill before the overnight bus to Lviv. Since I had been to Krakow several times before, I let my company plan the agenda which consisted of going to the Czartoryskich Museum to see the painting "The Lady with an Ermine" by DaVinci and to find an authentic Polish sausage to scarf down.

We also spent some time walking around the Jewish quarter of Krakow, which has a long and unique history.

We enjoyed our second quick visit to this city and I was indulged by going the mall (which has an H & M) before catching the bus--the mall also has numerous fast food chains absent from Ukraine-so I had a hard time deciding what to chose, but decided on some quesadila from KFC that was sadly disappointing.

Dubrovnik

Arriving in the evening by boat, I did not get settled in until near evening. I strolled down the street to the old fortressed city and immediately were enchanted. There are certain times in life when you know you are experiencing something that you will be unable to articulate later. Walking down the many stairs to the medieval city below, I knew that this would be one of these times. Magical is the only word that I could think of to describe it.

I went back in the day and walked the entirety of the walls. It was incredibly hot and I was practically exhausted, but the views were so wonderful that I wanted to keep going, despite the hot sun.

Dubrovnik was also the last stop in Croatia, and despite the fun, I had a heavy heart knowing that I had to leave Dalmatia. I'd have to head back to Ukraine and my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer--that the adventure I was having would have to end.

I don't think that I have had my fill of Dubrovnik or Croatia. It is a country that deserves further exploration and appreciation.

Back in Ukraine!

Rolled back into Ukraine again today and am in the beautiful Zarkarpatska town of Uzhgorod. Tomorrow I will view the castle and perhaps the archelogical museum of folk life (or something to that effect) before heading on a train to my linkmate's town and the wedding preperations begin.

Suffice to say, Slovakia was gorgeous, and I will write more about it when I am done with Croatia and Istanbul, which have now both happened well over a month ago. I am very behind the times.