Reunited and It Feels So Good

I'M HOME!!! I'M HOME!!! I'M HOME I'M HOME I'M HOME!!!

As much as I wasn't really excited to come home, it's great to be back. 

Not to mention I missed all the rain and came home to a beautiful summer. 

I miss all my exploring buddies and kids already though && my host family.

I'm so glad I got to live in such an awesome place and have so many great experience while I was there. Olympia may not be as old as Europe or as "cool" but it sure does feel like home. 

This speaking English thing and having people understand me though..

 might take a little getting used to again.

But boy was I excited to get back behind the boat again!!! 

And to be with my family

and to see my bestfriends

and surprisingly to go back to the movie theaters and work

and then start my next adventure!

Almost Home Sweet Home

I can't believe my time in Ukraine and Europe has come to an end. 

Don't get me wrong I am excited to see my friends and family..

But I don't want to go back to America.

It will be a bitter sweet goodbye. 

  

For our last night we wanted to light off these giant lanterns.

Well it's kind of a funny story actually. 

We catch the bus to midan, and walk to the pedestrian bridge. 

To realize that we don't have a lighter..

Then attempt to ask a man in russian for a lighter.

Fail.

Epically.

He thought we wanted a cigarette. But hey he was nice enough to actually try and give us one.

Finally we understood each other and got a lighter. 

We get out on the extremely windy bridge and make our first attempt.

Fail.

Again.

Epically.

We ripped a hole in the lantern with the wind.

Try number two ended with the lantern on fire.

One more chance till we are out of lanterns. 

We manage to rip this one and then light it on fire.

Feel free to tell me how talented I am.

Lucky for us this guy wanted to help  us.

Without speaking any english he got us another lantern and we managed to get this one working.

That is till it blew into a tree and got stuck..

What a memorable last night.

I'm going to miss this place and all the wonderful people I met <3

Plitvice Lakes

Excuse me while I just spam this post with pictures.

Plitvice Lakes are breathtaking.

Enough said.

So yea, lots of water and waterfalls. 

I wish I had longer here.

Island Hopping

Well this is my last Europe excursion for now.

I'm taking a boat to 2 different islands.

ISLAND NUMBER 1

That's right, be jealous. 

LOOK AT THIS WATER!!!

I got to jump off the top of the boat and swim here. 

Then..........

I........

Got.............

to....

EAT THIS........

I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into when I chose fish over chicken.

Note to self: Ask if the food's head will still be in tact.

Good thing I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty.

As you can see it was delicious.

After removing the head, bones, and eye balls. 

ISLAND NUMBER 2

More beautiful water. 

Ice cream. 

& Swimming

Can the boat just leave me here please?

 Just consider it a Birthday present since well my Birthday is tomorrow. 

I'm even celebrating today.

 Well because we are going to be traveling tomorrow we are celebrating tonight.

So this is my birthday dinner. 

As bummed as I am about not being home I couldn't ask for better people to celebrate with.

Not to mention better food. 

Peaches + Chicken = HAPPINESS 

Oh and look, we can see the restaurant we ate at from the window of our hostel. 

 

Another day in paradise

What more is there to say other then this is the best vacation ever?

Today is the day for sandy beaches! Yesss! 

Also the day for much needed relaxing and exploring.

 Slept in.

Worked out.

Got breakfast at the market.

BEACH  TIME!!!

I would be perfectly content with spending the rest of my life here. 

Gorgeous water, cliff jumping, and sunshine. 

We just went beach hopping all day long.

Then ended the day with some delicious gelato and a walk on the boardwalk.

Time is going by way to fast on this trip.

Croatia Day 1

Travel. Travel. Travel.

From Ukraine to Hungry, from Hungry to Croatia.

But to be in Europe seeing all these Beautiful things it is WORTH IT!!! 

After many hours spent on planes, trains and buses we are in Croatia. 

Can you say postcard photo or what? 

I can not get over the fact that I'm here on vacation.

Our first day we get there and we go to find our hostel..

Rumor is it's hard to find. Hard is an understatement actually.

But it's worth it. 

Were staying in this cute square area, that I swear could be in Italy. 

Well.. long story that I'll try to make short.

The hostel got booked for the wrong day. Woops. 

But turns out all the crappy rooms were gone and they felt bad.

Hence a private hostel.

Were talking living room, tv, kitchen, bathroom, laundry and not sharing a room.

I'm livin' the good life you guys.

 

As if it couldn't get any better.

There are sandy beaches and rocky beaches. 

So how else would you start off your first day of vacay then some cliff jumping?

Then relaxing in your nice hostel. 

This is going to be a good vacation!!!

Budapest by night

Goodbye Ukraine Hello Budapest!!! 

 Sometimes I have these moments where I'm like holy crap I'm in Europe. I just had one and I have a feeling I'll be having a lot more on this vacation. 

First Impressions of Budapest..

Beautiful, clean, modern yet old. 

It's going to be a good vacation!!!

 Anybody that knows me will tell you how much I love food.

I especially love trying new foods.

So you can imagine traveling and restaurants are some of my favorites.

Chicken + peaches + giant dumplings + that sauce = Fat and happy Katlyn :) 

I'm loving Budapest already!

 According to me Budapest is the most romantic place at night. 

They have got all these bridges that just reflect off the river and I can't get over how pretty it is.

Not to mention you could take a dinner boat buffet cruise to see it all.

We just walked all the bridges and didn't take the boat cruise. But note to all husbands, take your wife here someday. I'm in love with this place. 

 This is the parliament building. I don't want to know what their electricity bill is.. but it's worth it to create a view like this. 

Our last night in Budapest we climbed this hill so we could sit on a rooftop and overlook the city. I have never felt so sad to leave a place. This has been the best vacation I could ever ask for.

Summer Camp Pt. 3

The End...

I can not believe that this is my last group of kids before I go home.

Teaching them has been a struggle at times but they have taught me so much and I have loved it all.

All of the teachers are sad to leave..but ready for our vacation!

 Olia our wonderful camp director presented us with these traditional Ukrainian head bands after our last talent show. My feelings of going home are so bitter sweet.

Now on to my next adventure!!!

Church

I love the temple, I love church, I love institute. 

I love everything about being Mormon. 

I love that I am across the world thousands of miles away from home and it's still the same.

 Since I have been teaching at the summer camp I have had the opportunity to go to the Temple every single Tuesday and do baptisms for the dead. Even though most the time the ordinances are done in Russian and I don't understand I still feel the spirit and understand the importance of what I am doing.

This has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. 

Then I get to go to Institute afterwards and learn more about the Gospel from my lovely institute teachers. I love them so much!!! 

I can't say enough how much I love the church. I know it's true, no matter where in the world I go. 

I love the Lord and am forever grateful to Joseph Smith for restoring the true gospel on the Earth. I couldn't be happier with my life and all my many blessings.

Host Weekend

I know I say this all the time but only because it's true..

MY HOST FAMILY IS THE BEST!!! 

So this weekend they decided to take me out to meet one of their friends and go kayaking.

I don't have a picture of it (sad I know) but while we were out there we saw this "sacrificial scarecrow" that the people said they planned on burning that night. Pretty cool..or weird I guess.

 This is the Dnipro river.

 After such a fun day we went back to Vitalii's apartment to eat pizza, watch the sunset and drink juice out of giant classy wine glasses. 

My life is Ukraine is really great!!!

And the weekend isn't even over yet..

HOORAY!!!

This weekend was the big soccer game.

UKRAINE VS RUSSIA

 We even celebrated before the game by more pizza and juice out of wine glasses. 

This is my host family Igor (host dad), Kate (host mom), Natalya (host moms sister).

This soccer stadium is HUGE and packed full of crazy soccer fans

Oh and I can't forget the crazy drunks that spill beer on you.. 

Even though I can't read the soccer ticket I love showing it to people and telling them that this game cost me like $2.00. 

Going back to prices in America is going to be killer..

OFFICIAL EUROPEAN SOCCER GAME!!!

I never thought I would go to a American soccer game let alone a European one is UKRAINE.

Team Dynamo (It's said Dee-Nam-Oo not Dynamo) won!!! 

         Such an exciting night and exciting weekend. 

Adventure with Alia

I feel like a kid on Christmas morning everytime someone wants to go to town with me!!! 

Don't get me wrong I love being at the summer camp but I love the city. 

Plus it's the 4th of July.

Which has nothing to do with absolutely anything. Happy 4th!!! 

Since it's America's independence day we decided to go to the Kiev day celebration spot, arsanalna.

I love walking around and looking at all the statues and museums. 

I also like to pose awkwardly and make Alia take selfies for me to post later. 

Hellllllllo Handsome :) 

I mean really check out his chiseled face structure, I just couldn't resist. 

If your reading this and judging me.. 

Well I don't blame you, judge on. 

I'm perfectly content having statue boyfriends and splashing in fountains for the remainder of my time in Ukraine.

I'm living the life right now.