Internat and Castle's

So, since I have last blogged a LOT has happened. I will start by saying that Jen and I have finally been able to visit the internat! This feeling was extremely overwhelming. We were escorted by our tutor Oksana, and took the smallest most crowded bus/van to the middle of nowhere. When we approached the building my nerves were mounting. Soon we met a teacher who works at the internat named Irena (she will be our go-to while working there). Not far behind came running a small girl we learned was named Rosa, whom immediately clung to Jen’s arm and started a train of girls who similarly attached themselves to us for the remainder of our visit. I felt like my skin and arms were high-selling real estate that all these girls wanted in on.
Jen and I got a quick tour around the building, which was in surprisingly better shape than I had expected. Our first glimpse of the girls was a lot to soak in: I saw crying, laughing, little bodies in bed trying to nap, pushing and shoving and yelling surrounding meal time… you could tell that these girls have been through a lot of crap that I’ll never have to even imagine. Some girls were really shy to even approach us… and I realize that while at the internat it will take a conscious effort to tend to each girl equally.
Jen and I returned the next day again to watch a short concert the girls put on, took some pictures…and just enjoyed getting slightly better acquainted with the atmosphere again. We will visit again during our free time at the university on both Monday and Thursday of this week, and start full-time the following Monday June 1! A billion ideas are going through my mind of ways to reach and enjoy time with these girls…and I am looking more forward to this portion of my experience to truly begin.
Saturday was an amazing day. The group was in for an excursion to old fortress’s and castles in Ukraine. The day started off with a phone call home and birthday cake on the bus (thanks to my fellow classmates, THANKS SO MUCH GUYS!). Being able to travel, chat with the group, see amazing architecture and learn more about the history was indescribably enjoyable. Everyone has been so pleasant and I am so grateful to be with such a compatible, humourous, and thoughtful group of students, tutors, and even teachers. The teachers and tutors even all pitched in to buy me a box of chocolates! As if this wasn’t all enough, I got home from my excursion to find that my host family had bought me flowers, a decorative, wooden Ukrainian box (which I will us for small keepsakes and notes), and a glass swan collectible. The insisted on taking pictures of me with my flowers, and I were very happy when I said I wanted to keep them in the kitchen for all of us to enjoy.
Today I slept in, organized photos from yesterday, and was asked to join Tanya and Luba on a trip to the bazaar. I thought the bazaar would be a 30-60 minute trip to pick up some groceries…but when I got there it turned out to be clothes and shoes galore. Before this experience I thought shopping with my sister was the most excruciating way to pick out clothes possible… but today taught me differently. Little did I know that Luba had a friend in every other bazaar booth whom she sat and talked with for a good chunk of time. Just when I thought we might leave the store because she was standing up, I realized she would try on another outfit or two before talking for another 20 minutes. Once I thought we had reached the back of the bazaar, I realized that there was entirely new genre of shoes to explore in behind. Once we had finished exploring literally every table of shoes, we started making our way back out of the bazaar, passing each friend again and stopping to chat or buy something else as well while we did so. I explained to Tanya and Luba that my brain was worn out from not understanding any of the last 4.5 hours on the way home… and when I finally got to my room and unloaded my belongings Sacha came in and gave me a thumbs up and said “Bazaar Super!” in a sarcastic way, laughing at my experience. I think he has learned to avoid this particular excursion with his family.
Shortly after getting home I was out the door again to meet Jen and a native Ukrainian boy who will help us get to and from Lviv on Tuesday to pick up the third girl working at the internat with us this summer. The only real information Jen and I have thus far is that her name is Miri, but we look forward to meeting and working with her for the next few months! More info to come.
Just when I was forgetting that my birthday had even occurred, I came home to find that my family was literally preparing an army sized meal in celebration. And that is where we stand at the moment. Luba has been in the kitchen for a while now…and I see bananas; cucumbers; cake; chicken; bread with tuna, carrots, mayonnaise, and mushrooms on top; eggs; potatoes; and cake. I am most excited for cake, naturally.
This is all I will say for now, as I felt an update was due. Again I thank you for your continued support in reading and commenting!
Pa-pa!