The Road Home

This blog entry is long overdue. I've been home for one week and I am just now getting around to writing about our final days in Ukraine. The last two weeks were really hectic in Novomoskovsk. Packing up the apartment and preparing for the journey home was quite a chore. Who knew a person could accumulate so much stuff in just 2 years? Needless to say it was a bit crazy and a lot of work.

After all was said and done the time came to pack up my most precious bundle...Miss Mouse...and head downstairs for the final goodbye to my neighbors. Waiting for me downstairs was Luba, Galena, and of course, Natasha....who had been helping me get all my bags down the stairs. One of the members of my English club had also arrived to say goodbye, which was such a pleasant surprise. I never expected to see Marina and was really happy she made the effort. It was 6 am and the sun was shining, which I considered to be a good omen since every other time I traveled out of my town it was pouring rain, freezing cold, or blistering hot! When I got downstairs Veronica and her brother were just pulling up when Natasha announced that she would be coming with us to the train station...which was simply the best surprise. It was so sad to say goodbye to everyone. Everyone was crying and I was such an emotional wreck...I had been crying for close to two weeks at this point and was just exhausted.

We got to the train and the time for saying goodbye to Natasha had arrived and it was just awful. She and I had become the best of friends...in fact, she was the first person I met when I came to my new community. I love her dearly but you know what? My Russian is terrible and she doesn't speak English, so it is really true that friendship knows no barriers. I now know that friendship without language can be as strong as with a common one.

Me and Natasha with her granddaughter Masha 2012

After a few days in Kiev with Veronica, running back and forth to the office to sign papers and then ringing the final bell, it was time to say goodbye. My emotions were just reeling...I was excited to return home, afraid for Miss Mouse traveling in the plane's cargo hold, and dreading leaving my Ukrainian daughter, Veronica. When the moment came to say goodbye at the airport I was sad and happy at the same time. So, needless to say, the time for leaving was bittersweet and to write about how I felt in that moment when we said goodbye is impossible to describe.

So I left my adopted country with a heavy heart but also with a pride I have never known before. I am proud of all I accomplished and know I will never forget any of my experiences or any of the people who have touched my life so deeply. Thank you Peace Corps...and thank you Ukraine!

In Kiev with Veronica

In Kiev

Getting ready to leave for the Airport



Miss Mouse and I

In the Peace Corps Office with Sam and Veronica

With Kathryn Herrera

Close of Service....Last Bell!

Saying Goodbye

Yesterday some of the members of my English clubs...friends all... threw me a going away party and today I had to say my final goodbyes to them. It was really difficult...in fact, this whole week has been. These wonderful people have made my time here memorable. I think without them I would have been very lonely. I appreciate all of them and now I know, they appreciate me too. One of the real hardened old-timers who I never thought would ever be positive for Ukraine's future surprised me by hugging me and thanking me for helping them. As I looked at him I realized he was crying and for a Ukrainian man to do this on the street is unheard of. Normally very stoic and militant, Vlad revealed another side of himself and I am honored.

 

 

FYI: Ukraine Stuff

Fact: A friend of mine submitted a letter of resignation and his boss wouldn't sign it. If he decides to leave anyway, his work history will be ruined because his quitting without "permission"will be written down in his "official workbook" and he will have a hard time finding a new job.

Fact: The Ukrainian people who did not live in or near Chernoble knew nothing about that horrible disaster until many many days had passed. In the words of my girl Veronica..."Can you imagine"?

Five for the Road

As I was puttering about the apartment this morning I heard my name being called from outside. I went out to the balcony and there is my neighbor Natasha holding up a box of my favorite tea. She came up to my place and gave me the tea...all five boxes! She said it is for me to take home to America. I am going to miss this dear sweet lady terribly.

Finding my Place in the World...

I am so close to understanding what I want to do…what I NEED to do. I can feel it…taste it…it is virtually exploding in my brain. Art…Girl Power…Change-Making…Hope Giving…can I fashion a career out of this? Can I go home and start an art-for-girls group?  Perhaps a non-profit that would take a young woman in hand and give her the tools she needs to be powerful? Can I start local and end up global?  Do I have the courage?  Do I have the strength? Is it enough to have the idea? I have had many ideas in my lifetime but have never been able to go through with the plan because of lack of money.

It is not enough that my heart is in the right place.

I need money in the right place.