Premier Palace Kiev

... things will go well on Monday and he keeps telling us that we look alike so that's a good sign! I will take what I can get! I know that I will be praying as often as I can the next two days!

Well, I am going to get something to eat and help Scott unpack. By the way, my crohn's is doing really good so far! No problems! Whew! We love and miss everyone.


Lauren and Scott

... fields to sit and graze during the day...(much like the duck situation). They're on a long chain that allows wide movement. When I've had a particularly long day or just a *******e, as I walk past them I usually make fun of the goats--however childish or stupid it may seem. In those precious moments of goading I get to speak english. I usually stand just out of their chain range and it really annoys them...knowing they can't butt me. I've only been ...

... my town. (If there will be housing available or not.) My future is now dependent on the answers that Monday holds.

Tomorrow is my last day here, and I couldn't have asked for better plans. I will finish packing in the morning and then my whole family here (and my Ukrainian teacher) will celebrate a party in my honor. Food, family and fun--I'm excited and sad...I've become close with my friends here and I have tears thinking about when I ...

... months lat** in neighboring Guatemala, on July 2, 1997, the same two volunte**s Gilmour had watched being gang-raped that Christmas night w**e walking from the Magic Place movie theat** in downtown Guatemala City when they w**e attacked by anoth** group of armed men intent on raping them. One of the women fled; the oth** was abducted and, for a second time in seven months, gang-raped while s**ving in the Peace Corps. "They put a white T-shirt ov** my head and told me if I ...

... celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, but it would be only a religious holiday. The big holiday seems to be the New Year's celebration where families get together and eat, drink, dance and party. If I understand correctly, gifts are exchanged then too. The official "Grandfather Frost" arrival comes on January 6th - another holiday. And maybe "Grandfather Frost" brings gifts to children then. He is not our typical red and white Santa, he comes from ...

... in the sun + humidity! The problem was that it was virtually impossible to eat out past 22h00 in downtown Kiev... weird. Another thing that struck me was that so many leaves in the trees were brown and dead. I was told that recent pollution killed most of them... what kind of pollution kills such leaves? What kind of impact on the people Kiev? I have not yet find those answers. I am looking forward to be back. Endless love Erriuc

... Carpathian). Someone has gone to much expense and effort collecting homes, schools, churches and many different farm buildings from around the country and brought them to this wonderful place. The buildings are all pre-soviet so have much hand work and folklore. Very eye-opening and a "must see" for any Ukrainian tourists. I hope the pictures do it a bit of justice. We were lucky in that there was also a folklore festival going ...

... us around. Our apartment faces the main drag here in Kiev (Khreshchatyk Street). They close this street off on the weekends for pedestrian traffic only. Luba, our facilitator, took us to the Museum of the Great Patriotic War honoring fallen soldiers that have protected Ukraine. There were many WWII artifacts (tanks, guns, etc.). Next to this was a beautiful monastary sp? We started to tour this, but it turned dark before we ...

... d** politische Männ**welt: hübsch, witzig, klug, aufgeschlossen. Am Abend hält sie noch eine Massengebet "Für die Ukraine", sie gibt sich politische neutral, als eine Mutt** d** gesamten Nation. Auf d** Bühne wird **st gesungen und getanzt, ukrainische Volkslied** und Tänze, dann kommt sie, redet kurz, dann beten alle im Chor und dann geht sie wied**. Keinen Kilomet** entf**nt, auf dem Unabhängigkeitsplatz, tobt Popmusik. Die Partei d** Regionen will die ...

... for the metro, once you put your token in, pass through quickly! If you hesitate the little gate that slams shut behind you, will leaves a nasty bruise on your bottom). Took the shuttle bus into the city and then the metro to the hostel, where there were two awesome English girls staying as well, one of which had been living in Russia. Ended up going out with them, it made life so much easier being with someone who spoke Russian! First we went to the train station to book tickets for ...