Days Ninety-Six to Ninety-Nine.

I've been in shock the past few days, realizing I have just over two weeks left. As of today, I only have sixteen days left in Ukraine.

Since Thanksgiving, I've been pretty busy. I went to our branch presidents house for Thanksgiving- his wife cooked for just about twenty girls. We all pitched in by bringing something. I made a rectangle apple pie (they don't have pie plates in Ukraine) and it was quite delicious. I had a second Thanksgiving on Friday with Anna and Emily Milne, their host family and the Elders. Saturday we had a branch talent show- I played Part of Your World for one of the girls who sang it and of course the sheet music got mixed up. It was comical, to say the least.

A few more people I'm grateful for

KateLyn. She's been my best friend (though we've almost killed eachother a few times) for as long as I can remember. I can't say how grateful I am for you enough.



And of course, the rest of my sisters, their husbands and their beautiful children. I'm so excited to see everyone together for the first time in a few years this coming summer. It's been way to long. Thanks for your blogs. They keep me connected, even though I'm on the other side of the world.
[Sorry if I stole some of your pictures- I don't have much on my laptop.]

Days Ninety-One to Ninety-Five.

Since it's the time of giving thanks, I'm going to do just that. [Part One].

Aunti Di. For as long as I can remember, her and Mom have made it possible for Jazzy and I to visit eachother every summer. Though I don't know most of my cousins well, at least I feel close to one. Thanks for that.



My health. Though I wouldn't say I feel perfect all the time, I'm so thankful that I was born healthy, with the ability to do things, like climb mountains and see beautiful snowpacks in July.



Chef. Sadly, I think I probably saw him more than Mom and Dad for two years running, but I don't regret it. He taught me so much, and not just about culinary.


Aunt Kathy. If I need to talk, I know that she's always there. Thanks for all the help, especially over the past few years.



Dad. Clam chowder and riding on the back of the lawnmower (then subsequently destroying the blade.. wheels.. screen door.. at least the lawns looked nice). Thanks for putting up with me.



Mom and Dad. They raised me. Thats enough to put me in debt for at least the next 18 years, right?



Our house in Maine. I'm so grateful that I can look back on the place where I grew up as not just a house- it was and still is my home. I love the woods, the gardens, the fire place, the yellow kitchen.



Nature. Livining in a city for the past four months has made me realize how much I value the peace and calm of nature.

Days Eighty-Nine to Ninety.

Kiev Pechersk Lavra



You have to walk quite a ways to get into the center of the Monastery, where the Lavra is.






A beautiful nativity outside of the entrance of the catacombs.



The whole complex is huge- it's incredible. No wonder it's one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine.



After going through the church.



Obeying the rules.



Part of the Monastery.



No shorts, public displays of affection, dogs or taking pictures. Even my jeans were inappropriate- they made me wear this apron thing when I went through the catacombs.



This area was founded in 1015 and is the center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe.



A Pepsi table, right next to the Lavra.



One of the many churches in Kiev. It's around the Arsenal'na area.



This tree was the entrance to some museum.



The next three pictures are of the same memorial. I'm not sure what it is for, but it was beautiful.








Obelisk in the Vichnoi Slavy Park.



Overlooking the river. I live on the opposite bank, to the right of the bridge.



Another monument in the park.



Obelisk.



This flame never goes out. It's at the base of the obelisk. Though I can't read what it says, I beleive it has to do with WWII, as there are stones with peoples name and the years they were born and died lining the path up to the obelisk. They call died around 1942.

Days Eighty-Five to Eighty-Eight.

Yet another week of the quarintine. When we finally start school again on Monday, we're going to be teaching an extra hour every day. Since I can't go anywhere far away (they keep on telling us that "we could start working any day now") I've been trying to see as much as Kiev as possible.

While exploring downtown the past few days, I've seen some interesting things. Like this cat made out of forks. It's a cork. Or a fat.



Today it was raining all day. I slept until 11 am because it was so dark out, I thought it was still early morning.



Around 3:30 pm, the rain stopped and the sky partially cleared. It's so beautiful.

Day Eighty-Four.

Poland pictures that please me. [And maybe you, too]

Trolley tracks are the so quaint.



Sporting my $15 Polish boots. Oh yah.



Outdoor market.




Isn't the kitchen cozy?



In the Old Town Square.



Huge, hallow head sculpture. It was in front of the church in the square.



Inside of the Balloon Hostel.



Outside of Warsaw Castle.



Street artist.



Warsaw Castle in Krakow.



The rain was trying to fill up the empty fountain.



Warsaw Castle.



Genevieve and I switched clothes for a day.



View from our room in the Balloon Hostel.