Countdown: Nine Weeks

It's hard to believe that I will be finishing up my service in just 9 weeks. It went so fast it almost feels at times like I have just arrived. I already know that leaving here will be bittersweet...I will be torn between the excitement of going home to the US to be with my family and friends and the sadness at leaving my Ukrainian family and friends. Many have asked if I will come back and this I cannot answer. Some day I hope to return, but without money for travel it will have to remain a dream.

I began looking for work back in October. I had hoped to return to university teaching and applied to over 30 schools and have not yet been contacted for work. I'm worried because I don't want to return to the life I had before I came. No work, no prospects, and no money. It saddens me that although I have many years of experience and 3 university degrees, I still worry that I will be left out once again. Art teaching jobs are scarce and extrememly competative and I've done all I can and will keep on looking but for now I am just 1 person in approximately100 looking to fill just one available space.

I have also been looking for work with the Peace Corps. These jobs too, are highly competative and there are not many I am qualified for but I would be honored to be able to work for this amazing agency. Working as a volunteer has been an incredible experience and I have so much respect for the people who run this agency. The amount of work that they do and the schedules they keep are just mind-blowing. The staff are all so kind and helpful and I don't think I ever worked any place that had people on the staff quite like this.

So, for now I will sign off with a few pictures of the people I will miss the most when I leave Ukraine.



Yaroslav

Max (with Julia)

Yuri



Yarik (one of my students)

Nik

Natasha

Julia

Valentina

Veronica

Alex

Arina and Natasha