December 21, 2007
So here I am, sitting in front of the tv watching some football game, thinking about what Lugansk is going to be like for the next two years, and wondering why it is pitch black (I MEAN DARK) at 4:30 in the afternoon. I guess it is the shortest day of the year, but still, there isn’t even any real snow on the ground.
A lot has happened over the past week, and time certainly went by fast. Last Monday all of the volunteers packed up their things (I had 4 bags filled with cloths and books) and headed to Kyiv for our training closing ceremony. There was a tearful good-bye with our host families in Rokytne. It was very sad to leave the families that had taken such good care of us over the past two months. While my Russian definitely isn’t perfect, my host family was so helpful in me practicing everyday. Monday night we had a re-camp of all of our community projects we conducted in our cities, and had a talent show. It was wonderful listening to groups sing Ukrainian songs and dance. Tuesday morning we were in more meetings and met our counter parts (the teachers we will be working closely with in our new sights). Tuesday was a very long day, and it was nice to relax a little at night with all of the other volunteers, especially since it was the last night that all of us will be together again for almost two years!! We have already had some people leave from the Peace Corps, and maybe more will by the time we are done.
Wednesday morning we all headed out to the Teacher’s House in Kyiv. This was a very large building where the Ukrainian parliament once used to meet. We were there for our closing ceremony, where are sworn in as official Peace Corps Volunteers. The American Ambassador to the Peace Corps was there to swear us in, and it was very neat to all be together, and my host-mother was able to come and watch this special time. After the ceremony there was a short reception and then a buffet dinner back at the ‘resort’ we were staying at. Some volunteers had to leave for their sites that night, but my train didn’t leave till 9 Thursday night, so I had a lot of time to say good-bye to all of my friends and sleep. (training is extremely tiring) So last night along with my counterpart and a couple other volunteers who will be within an hour or two of Lugansk bordered a train, and were here by 11am this morning.
I will try to write more about all of this soon, but I am tired and still have a lot of unpacking to do. Hope you al have a merry Christmas and I wish I could be there to celebrate with you.
Love,
Seth