6 weeks to my departure.

I would like to dedicate this entry to Ira K.! She deserves an award for her dedication to reading PC Volunteer blogs. She reminds me when I need to update mine (thanks, and sorry it's late and long), but more importantly she is a great Ukrainian young woman and friend.

10A Class

So... 6 weeks left!!! Maybe you expect some cliche like, "it seems like just yesterday that I was writing an entry 6 weeks before my departure TO Ukraine." But actually, it doesn't seem like yesterday at all. Goodness! The past MONTH seems like a year. And in these two years, I've experienced enough to make me feel much older. Many unexpected things have happened from revolutions to weddings, supermarkets and women telling me they're expecting (congrats, Sally and Inna!).

bucket o' shrooms

But the most surprising is that my life as a Peace Corps volunteer has FAR exceeded my expectations. I've made it to the end without feeling like I want to leave. I really love Ukraine, and want to thank my family and friends (you), Peace Corps Ukraine and Sokal for being patient and supporting me.

However, I am still left with the question-- how to evaluate and explain these two years? I just finished writing my official DOS (Disclosure of Service) and site history for Peace Corps. These documents included the hours I've worked, # of children and teachers I worked with, organizations I assisted, a long contact list for Sokal, projects I helped start, grant money I won... but I finished reading what I wrote, and it feels empty. It doesn't explain how meaningful Ukraine has been to my personal growth.

Fall Bells

I've learned how to stand strong and alone as a woman in our crazy and unfair world. I've learned how flexibility and positive attitude can make all the difference... that laughter and smiles are clear in any language... how to take care of myself, and not feel scared or lonely. I've shaped my life goals, and understood what I want/ need to be happy.

I've also learned that some people are unhappy, negative, drunk, confusing or just plain nasty- it's life. Likewise, terrible things happen daily- mistakes, denied travel visas and shattered dreams, unexpected death, deafness, small girls with rare bone tumors in their spine who cry because they live in constant pain and her family can't afford the operation, cancers, kidney failure, miscarriages, wars, theft, sexual assault, parents living abroad and sending money home, cheating, dishonesty, selfish leaders, beatings, nepotism, racism, men coughing up blood on the sidewalk, parents smoking cigarettes while carrying infants, AIDS/HIV, etc. And there are some items I would have included as tragic 2 years ago, but not today (for example, lack of "necessary" utilities, bribery, poverty, toilets covered with maggots, strong BO, walking miles in the freezing cold, 30 people stuffed in a 16-passenger van). In 2 years in Ukraine, I have seen and felt first-hand emotions regarding ALL these things, except wars (although I have talked to people who survived WWII, which is pretty close).

Fall leaves

Most of all, I return to America with the feeling that my skin is a lot thicker. Maybe I could walk across broken glass now? It won't hurt because I understand that there are some things that cannot be controlled or stopped. We live in an imperfect world, but my life in the USA is a pretty nice place (considering).

I can tell my skin is thicker because I feel pretty calm about coming home. In fact, I don't think I've ever prepared to make such a huge life transition, and felt so normal about it. There isn't much else to say.

The past few weeks have been nice- it's a bittersweet time- teaching, a weekend in Lutsk, a week in Kyiv for an HIV seminar, a visit from Sophie Buxton (a Quaker girl I met 5 years ago at a UN program in Geneva), a teacher's seminar at my school, conversations with Ben (who reminds me how fast my experiences in Ukraine will seem exciting and distant) and lastly, gorgeous fall weather! "Babena Lito," it's called, "granny's summer."

Fall Liza

My plane tickets have been purchased... on December 5th I'll arrive to Eppley Airfield, Omaha about 3:30pm. And, on December 29th, I'll move to Boston. 6 weeks until my departure from Borispil Airport, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Fall on Sokal Bridge

Fall Shadows

Fall Windmill

Highway and cow?

International Dinner

Liz and Taras

Lutsk Castle

Lutsk Catholic Church

Lutsk Market

Puee Feeling

pumpkin spotting

Sophie and Liz

Teaching Seminar

Teaching with Sophie

Uh-oh!