Lutuhyne Bound

I've been busy, as you can imagine. Training ramped up to a maelstrom of hectic stress, with teachers rotating, projects culminating, and a speech in Russian to prepare for the embassy, just to top it all off. We took trips to Kyiv and Chirnigov, the nearest surrounding cities. We cooked, chopped, built, planted, and conducted. It was a busy time, but the hard part was the lack of ownership. Everything in training was temporary: the town, the family, the school. By the eleventh week, as we all gathered in the capital for our swearing-in ceremony, I felt completely psyched being just days away from my own town in which I could integrate, my own students with whom I could interact, and my own kitchen in which I could cook in nothing but underwear.

In Kyiv, on May 31st, my fellow members of group 43 and myself officially joined the ranks of the Peace Corps, swearing in at the brand new American embassy. Unfortunately, there is no video documentation of my phenomenal rolling 'R's featured throughout my Russian speech, but rest assured that they were magnificent. Much handshaking took place as later that hour I found out I was elected to represent my group in the Volunteer Advisory Committee, a body through which the volunteer community can address it's concerns with the management in the head office. What a proud day it was.

Goodbye to my Oster family: Luda, Nikolai, and Ram

I was introduced to my counterpart, Tatyana Sergeyovna. More on her later, but suffice it to say I was scared out of my pants. Everyone knows I love to talk, but I found it hard to get a word in edgewise through all of her plans and opinions. At least her English is extraordinary and her enthusiasm is top notch. It certainly was a long train ride together though, out to the eastermost oblast (province?) with nothing but time and women beleaguered with goiters and snores.

But now I'm finally home in Lutuhyne (loo-TOO-gi-nuh), and so much is going well. The town is fantastic: green and friendly, located in the midst of rolling hills near a lake. There's so much possibility for good work here! I've already begun establishing connections with the directors of the music and art school, the mayor, the department of social work, and the House of Culture. I've been invited to concerts, tea, and family dinners by my neighbors, all of whom are absolutely welcoming. My apartment is sizable and comfortable, and my friend Slukom has joined me. I've worked at two English summer camps already, thanks to the extremely friendly community of other volunteers in my area. I really feel like this is going to be a good year. It's so wonderful to show up in the middle of berry season rather than the dead of winter, isn't it?

Good things to come, but next up: a bumping vegetarian borscht recipe!