in pictures

school is done, my grants are submitted and here i am with 3 days with a short to do list before i start my summer adventures. ive been lacking pictures lately so here are some from the last few months. 

THINGS I SAW WITH MY EYES. 

 in the beginning of may i went on this amazing jewish tour of bratslav. i knew there was a rich history but it blew my mind. this is part of the old jewish cemetery. 

 my lovely easter paska (easter bread) clearly my love for icing and sprinkles couldnt wait til after i took a picture.

 the lovely spread for our passover seder

happy bday kristin! cake from a box and icing from a can! delicious! oh and a shot of whiskey. pretty much america. 

 we had a miss school pageant. with 3 contestants. and 1 of their tasks was sewing a button...

a view from my friend cait's site. 

 11th form graduation. they dance with their parents/teachers. 

the beautiful park in uman 

 i got my kids to do an art exchange with kids from all over the world. we sent in 25 pieces about ukraine and then we will receive 25 pieces from kids all over the world! i just got our art. and i appreciate the thank you on the envelope :)

 most of my lovely ladies from the 5th form

 the 2nd form at the orphanage........i think about 24 students....

 .... compared to the 2nd form at school #2. ...  

 last bell! the lovely 4th formers... moving up to the big time!

 the 9th formers at last bell. you can leave school after 9th or 11th form

 this is puppy dog ( he doesnt speak english dont worry about it) hes my landlady's dog. he might be the sweetest pup ever. he walks me to school, the bus stop, and the shop. he even gives me hugs. 

home sweet home

some lovely flowers i got from students at last bell

and probably the cutest 3 year old ive ever met. a student's little sister. she even calls me ms. elyse. and she gives me her cherry pits. 

may 9th is victory day. the day the soviets beat the nazis. our very own bratslavian veteran!

 my 7th form boys!

 my first time fishing! some of those fishies in there are mine!! 

right after i posted about march and april i knew i left something out. but i couldnt put my finger on it. it bothered me for a second. then it came to me a few days later. march marked my 1 year anniversary in ukraine. i couldnt believe that i forget that. it did and still does seem like such a landmark. since being here i feel like i have a lot more landmarks/milestones/time markers then before. Every month is an x month anniversary, every week feels like more than just a week. i have activities scheduled months in advance, just because thats how it has to be done. people are busy, start booking. there is always something to look forward to, something to get through...


so a year. where to start. ive thought about it, this, many times. since my language skills dont allow it, most of my deeper conversations are had with myself. and ive thought, and thought what does it mean, how do i feel, what have i done, whats next. and i do really want to put it to paper, or whatever this is but now im finding it rather difficult...


what i do know, is that its not all about me. why im here, what i am doing this for. sure a little is. i dont think its very truthful for anyone to say its not but it wasnt my main reason. i really just want to be able to walk away when its over and feel like ive done the best i could do and maybe that i did something that was of value for them. after one year i dont feel that i have done as much as i could, but i think its good that i know i havent succeeded yet, this time, right now failure isnt really failing. though with time on the clock thats easy to say. i guess the biggest conclusion i can make is that after one year im not ready to leave yet.


a year ago i couldnt even imagine myself now. and i cant even begin to imagine myself a year from now. 

for zboat

giant and radioactive.