April 6, 2009
Day Eight:
I’ve only been in Ukraine for two whole days; but on this Peace Corps adventure for a week now. It all started last Monday with a flight to Philly.
My thoughts after a week with the Peace Corps: I’m not really sure. I don’t have too many thoughts; or rather I have so many that it’s hard to decipher just one or two.
I am going to like mornings here at my host family. Everyone leaves at 7:30am for work and school while I have until at least 8:30 to leave for classes. I get about an hour to start my day and at least kind of collect my thoughts before starting the day. The biggest thing right now is trying to figure out if this is really what I want to be doing. I haven’t had any horrible days and the only thing I have to want for is internet access and more contact from home. But, all things considered, that is not bad at all! I got to speak with my parents again last night; we will be able to talk only on the weekends since that’s the only time that will work for both of us. I was hoping to speak with Aaron again last night, but I guess he was busy. I did get to check internet yesterday and he said he would try to call. I know he just wouldn’t call for no reason. I hope he can call me tonight.
As if I haven’t learned a lot of it already, I’m continuing to learn patience with myself. I’m still trying to adjust and the hardest thing is for me not to wish that I were somewhere else; perhaps with another host family, only because of the internet. (I think I found my one thing that is hard for me to deal with). ON the other hand, why shouldn’t other PCV s want to be with my host family? They are a lot of fun and I’ve already experienced a Ukrainian birthday party and picnic in the woods! But honestly, this is only a temporary thing, for in 3 months we will be heading to our sites. And then that is also only permanent as we have 2 years to stay there. I didn’t want to fall into a heavy routine right out of college, but I think that by the time I return home I will be ready for a routine, ready to settle down. We’ll see how I feel by the end of service!
I really like my host family. They are all so very nice and it will be so much better once I can get more Russian learned and can communicate better. I fear that they think I do not like them or am not friendly. I wouldn’t say that my first night here was full of conversation; I was still in shock and of course not sure what to say to them. I started on my own Ukrainian lessons back home, but then was told at the retreat to learn Russian…completely different for the most part.
OH, the first lesson I learned; don’t wear flats…at least not if you are going to spend the day walking the city. Your feet will be filthy by the end of the day.
I am still trying to work on my community mapping…it takes me about 5 minutes or so to get to town by bus; I have ridden it several times already, but I still do not really know the way. If I had to find it myself I most definitely could not. Well, I had better go and get ready for the day.
Love.