the tale of the first week and other tidbits.

After my first week of teaching, I cant help but think one day of training was a little inadequate. But maybe that’s just because I don’t feel up to par! However, we are all learning how to get these adorable kids to pay attention to what we are doing a little more each day. I am one of the lucky teachers here who only has to prepare one lesson a day. Most everyone else is working on two or even three! My kids are all from 4 to 8 years old. I am already in danger of kidnapping a couple of them when I come home!

The food here has been interesting. If it looks questionable, my policy is just don’t ask. These Ukrainians put sour cream on everything, along with fresh onions. They don’t really use sauces, and ranch dressing is non-existent. I’d love a fresh salad right now! :) Mostly the meals consist of some kind of meat with some kind of rice, potato, or pasta, usually boiled. My host mom did make these really yummy pumpkin pancake type things that are sprinkled with sugar and then dipped in (of course) sour cream. That’s probably been my favorite so far!

 Today I have been feeling a little under the weather. My host mom has as of now given me 5 different kinds of medications to swallow, sniff, rub, and spray myself with, had me eat some weird thing that kinda burned that I have no idea what is was and a raw onion on a piece of bread, and fed me soup and two different kinds of tea with honey, lemon, and grapefruit. I was also sentenced to bed rest this afternoon.  As per usual for me, I didn’t wake up for a while! It is now midnight and here I am typing because I’ve already slept seven hours! (: Larisa also disapproves my coat because it isn’t long enough! Well, I can definitely say that she is very concerned for my well-being and is certainly going above and beyond the call of duty! I hate to be a hassle though.

I’m excited to begin exploring Kyiv! On Saturday we went on a short tour type of thing around the square, where there are gorgeous churches and old buildings mixed with the newer ones that had to be replaced after WWII. I’m starting to get the hang of the metro, and can now stand without holding onto something and only fall every once in a while! Us ILP girls always stand out when we take public transportation, because even if we were to speak Russian, the mere fact that we were talking would give us away! Nor do we have the stiff, no-emotion demeanors. Also, a lot of the women are wearing leather boots, mini skirts, and huge coats with fir.

I’m also excited to start going to the temple. It will open up again next week, and some of us might see if we can help clean it this week.

A side note on the weather – its totally warmer here then Rexburg, it’s just more humid. There’s hardly any snow on the ground and it’s not at all what I expected.

Anyway, I really miss everyone and love you all!!