post 12 december

My time in Chernihiv is almost at a close, and as you can tell from these pictures, a lot has been going on!

- I went bowling at the best—and only—bowling alley in Chernhivi!

- I had my Language Proficiency Interview! Not too sure how it went, exactly, but the interviewer was complimentary and very nice. Questions ranged from telling about myself, to identifying my favorite color and explaining why, to finally… what causes terrorism?! Wow.

- We went to Kiev! We traveled two hours by mini-bus/ van/ marshrutka, then on the metro in the city, saw the Peace Corps office, the English resource library at Kiev-Mohila Academy in the National University, ate lunch in a multi-floor fancy cafeteria, then walked around a lot to see the street of artists leading up to Saint Andrew’s, then Saint Sophia’s, and Saint Michael’s churches, then way high on an overview of Kiev at night and the river all a-fog, plus a giant friendship rainbow, then Independence Square, then two hours back! It’s a beautiful city, but we only had a few hours to see it. Luckily, we should have some chances in the next two years!

- We have snow! Maybe not two feet, or even half a foot, but it’s pretty!! There were big flakes falling in the afternoon when we were in Kiev, and there’s more on the ground up north here in Chernihiv. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of plowing of roads or clearing of sidewalks, but today’s sunny and the snow makes everything look merry and bright. :)

- Monday’s the last day in Chernihiv, and we’ll be saying goodbye to our host families, packing all of our luggage into a bus, and heading to Kiev. That’s the day we’ll find out how we scored on our LPIs and where we’ll be sent for the next two years! We have one day to figure out exactly where that is and meet with our regional managers, and then our counterparts will join us for the next few days of our end-of-training conference. The Swearing-In Ceremony is on the 17th, and that’s when I get to give a speech in Ukrainian! And depart to wherever! :)

I’m not sure what kind of internet access I’ll have in the next few weeks, but I’ll let you know when I have an address and a real place to call home in Ukraine, for at least a little more than two months… :)

Happy holidays!
:)