Lviv

I love vacations from vacation!!!

We got all the teachers together and went to Lviv. 

Of course by sleeper train. I'm going to miss those things in America.

 

Lviv is basically one of the oldest parts of Western Ukraine. 

You can imagine how cool it is there. 

This trip didn't involve the black sea or anything but I was perfectly content wandering the streets. 

Not to mention we stumbled upon this square with lots of used stuff. My favorite!!! 

I am the perfect example of "one mans trash is another mans treasure". 

I couldn't resist buying a few records and a military pin for my gramps. 

It wouldn't be a vacation though if I didn't find a hill or a tower to climb. We found both actually.

Which resulted in me and Bre eating this entire Pizza ourselves...

In my defense.. actually forget it. When in Europe do as the Europeans do and EAT!!!

Okay I might have slightly modified that but you get the point..

I love Ukraine!!!

 

Summer Camp Pt. 2

I love this new group of kids!!! 

But the last session has gone by way to fast.

Only 1 more month left in Ukraine.. I can't believe it.. 

I won't go into detail about everything we did because well it's basically the same thing as last session just with a new group of kids. Talent shows, forest excursions, teaching, discos ect. But they knew a lot more english and I just got super close with them! It's been great. Not to mention we had Holiday week! Celebrating holidays with these kids has been so much fun. Of course I had a blast with Halloween day :) 

Oh and the weather has been GREAT!!! 

I love sunshine. 

So the last Friday we have with a group we always have a water fight.

We get a bunch of bottles and poke holes in the top and hide them around the camp and GO CRAZY!

Being the American teachers though all the kids love us, therefore we end up getting totally drenched.

It's so much fun!!! 

Only 1 more group of kids till my vacation to Budapest and Croatia :)

Forest Excursion

Just another awesome adventure to add to my list of the many I have had so far. 

The summer camp we are teaching at is awesome. 

We rounded up all the younger kids (the ones I teach) and headed out for a forest excursion. I wasn't really sure what to expect. We walked through this sandy forest area for a while and I had no idea what we were doing or where we were going. All I knew was we were doing something fun in the forest. 

Then we found water!!! I LOVE WATER. It was a great walk, a sunny day, and we were going to play games outside, slackline, and ride canoes. Not to mention it's just fun doing anything really with these kiddos. 

Guys this is where I live.. Sometimes I just forget that I'm in Europe. But then it hits me and I feel extremely lucky. I never pictured living in Europe, especially Ukraine. But it is so amazing here. I have loved every moment of my trip and honestly don't want to come home as soon as I have to. 

Lazy Weekend

You know how tired you are when you get home from a week long vacation? Well..

Imagine how exhausted you get when you are on a 3 month vacation, and then go on vacation from that vacation. 

This weekend was one of those PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME DO ANYTHING weekends and it was the best thing ever!!! 

Well my host family was yet again going to be out of town so Lynn and I went into the city friday for a sleepover away from camp. As lazy as I may be, I am NEVER to lazy to hike a few stairs to enjoy this view for a while. So that is what we did. Who doesn't enjoy a nice talk with a nice view? 

Not to mention our dinner we got.. 

YUM! YUM! YUM! 

Finally!!! I had been craving sushi for the longest time. It was delicious and worth every greevnah spent. So much for budgeting till Croatia.. Oh well :) 

With full tummy's and happy hearts we made it back to my apartment for movies and sleep. Well Lynn watched the movie, while I just slept.. 

Sunday morning breakfast.

Call it bragging, call it impressive, whatever you want but these things were DELICIOUS!!!
I was pretty proud of myself for making Syrniki all by myself for the first time.

Oh how I am addicted to sweet cheese. Don't worry, I found a recipe to make home made sweet cheese when I am back in America. It only takes 3 days.. But it will be worth it!!!
Now I'm rested and ready for the next week of camp! 

Odessa

I love Ukraine, I love the beach, I love the ILP girls, I LOVE MY LIFE!!! 

This weekend we once again departed Kiev on a sleeper train. 

Although I was forced to face my fears of sleeping on a top bunk it was a fun ride as always. 

We got to Odessa in thunder and lightning, which I love love love. 

Once it cleared it we set out to find this famous stair case. 

We came across this beautiful park on the way there. Everything here is so green and wonderful!!! Also I have to admit, I am proud of my navigation skills. Usually I am terrible with directions but living here I swear has forced me to pay attention to wear I'm going and gain a since of direction. 

The famous stairs. 

Oh how I love the cobblestone streets in Europe.  

Despite the rain and bad weather Odessa is such a beautiful city. Not to mention I saw a large body of water, other than the ginormous puddles in the city. I am missing the lakes back home. But don't think that means I want to go home because I DON'T!!! 

SAND, WATER, SUNSHINE. 

I am one happy travler!!! 

Although the Black Sea was not very clean I enjoyed every minute of tanning on the beach, swimming and feeling sand between my toes. 

But then the rain came back.. 

And we got to cram on this trolly with the entire population of Arcadia beach. It's a love hate being crammed in public transportation with stinky sweaty Ukrainians, but I think I might even miss it a little. 

But as always vacations go by way to fast and it's time to get back to the city before you know it. 

Summer Camp Pt. 1

SUMMER CAMP!!!

I can't believe session 1 of 3 is already coming to an end. 

Time here is FLYING. 

The American Teachers

I'm not going to lie coming to summer camp was hard for me. 

I was going to miss living in the city, spending quality time with my awesome host family, and having to take public transportation everywhere. 

YES you heard that right. I LOVE RIDING THE METRO & PUBLIC BUSES! 

But I love living with all the girls, getting to spend so much time with the kids, and being done with teaching by 2 instead of 7. It's great!!!

My home group Vanya,Nastya, Dasha, Kristian, and Dennis. 

From teaching them for four hours a day, to dancing with them every night at the disco and going to their random Ukrainian activities I had a blast with this group of kids and I'm sad to see them go home. 

All Drugged Up

Can someone please invent a special surgery for me to get an immune system trasplant?

Whenever I'm around someone who has a cold I end up getting sick too, but like 10x worse. 

I ended up getting sick a few weeks ago and well here I am at the doctors now with strep throat and a double ear infection. 

But check out this cool shoe modification that you get at the doctors. 

The head coordinator Big Tanya and her husband Igor took me and were my translators. Although the doctor seemed to just enjoy poking me and knowing the response based on my natural reaction. 

Also I'm pretty sure the doctor thinks I'm dying because I got eight different prescriptions. EIGHT!!! 

I have never been so happy to have medicine though. Not to mention I Tanya and Igor got me this delicious food thing. I say food thing because I don't know how to describe it. It was like an elephant ear but instead of sweet it tasted like dinner and had some cottage cheese in the middle. Anyways hopefully the medicine kicks in soon.  

Sleepover

I just want to start of by saying..

I HAVE THE BEST HOST FAMILY EVER!!! 

For real though. We had a sleepover this weekend with them Audrey & Jonathan. It was so much fun!

We ate lots of fruit and pizza. 

Had a jam session on the guitar and piano.

And then watched Despicable Me. 

I'm going to miss them so much when I have to go back to America.