It's been quite the whirlwind. It seems as if I just left RI yesterday, yet here it is Friday already! I am currently in the small city of Chernihiv, located about 45 km from the border of Belarus. After arriving in Washington on Monday afternoon, I've barely had enough time to stop and take a breath! Orientation consists of meetings, informative sessions, language assessment, medical stuff (more innoculations) introductions, welcomes....so much! I was feeling great and ready for the challenge until I woke up on the plane somewhere between Frankfurt and Kiev with a sore throat. Woof. Since then I have battling a terrible head cold, complete with chills, fever, laryngitis and a disgusting dripping schnozola. Woof again.
After landing in Kiev, we were bussed two or so hours north to Chernihiv, for another 2 days of conferences and meetings. Since I've been sick, it's been really hard to keep up, to say the least.
There are 106 volunteers. Some of us are TEFL teachers, some are in Community Development, and the rest are in Youth Development. The TEFL people (myself included in that group) are lucky to be placed in centers of commerce as they are called. I am guessing they are small cities. The other groups are being sent to various sites, some of which are quite rural, where they may not even have running water.
I am leaving this afternoon to travel to my next site, which is in the Kyiv Oblast, a town called Myronivka. There I will stay with my host family for the next 11 weeks of training. Afterwards, I will move to (hopefully) own apartment.
My biggest fear here is the food. So far it's proved to be much like Romanian standards...and you all know what happened to me last October after eating the food there. If you are not familiar with that, have a look-see... http://papergirlsstudio.blogspot.com/2010/11/in-my-dirty-hospital-johnny.html
Well, I need to shove off. Packing, more meetings, and the 7 hour bus ride to my site is on the menu for today. I'll blog when I am able..although whether or not I will have internet access is up in the air. Please write everyone!
After landing in Kiev, we were bussed two or so hours north to Chernihiv, for another 2 days of conferences and meetings. Since I've been sick, it's been really hard to keep up, to say the least.
There are 106 volunteers. Some of us are TEFL teachers, some are in Community Development, and the rest are in Youth Development. The TEFL people (myself included in that group) are lucky to be placed in centers of commerce as they are called. I am guessing they are small cities. The other groups are being sent to various sites, some of which are quite rural, where they may not even have running water.
I am leaving this afternoon to travel to my next site, which is in the Kyiv Oblast, a town called Myronivka. There I will stay with my host family for the next 11 weeks of training. Afterwards, I will move to (hopefully) own apartment.
My biggest fear here is the food. So far it's proved to be much like Romanian standards...and you all know what happened to me last October after eating the food there. If you are not familiar with that, have a look-see... http://papergirlsstudio.blogspot.com/2010/11/in-my-dirty-hospital-johnny.html
Well, I need to shove off. Packing, more meetings, and the 7 hour bus ride to my site is on the menu for today. I'll blog when I am able..although whether or not I will have internet access is up in the air. Please write everyone!
You are amazing Jo!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brave spirit. I hope you heal quickly. It is overwhelming enough to be there with no one you know, a different language and iffy food!
I look forward to reading about your adventures.