Rest and Relaxation

This has been an unconventional week, to say the least. Tuesday started out super fun because it was Kate's birthday! Since we were planning on going to the mall that morning, we got up extra early to get our workout in. Tanya made cute heart shaped fried eggs for breakfast and then we got dropped off at a metro station so we could make our way to our favorite place--Ocean Plaza!

We spent most of the morning shopping. I have to say, I really like the shops here a lot better than the ones in the US. Unfortunately, I am lacking the funds I need to carelessly buy every piece of clothing I fall in love with: the sad life of a poor college student in Ukraine. I did, however, buy a semi-matching outfit with Kate. We've been toying with the idea of getting some sweet harem pants and at one store, we found the perfect ones. Do not be alarmed if you see me wearing black and white, paisley patterned pure awesomeness in the future. And a shirt to complement the craziness, of course.

We ended our shopping morning with really expensive gelato. It was good, but I think I'll just wait until we go to Germany to get some more.

Yay! Overpriced gelato!

Kate thought we were heading back to eat the school lunch, but why would I do that to someone on their birthday?? Unbeknownst to Kate, I had been conspiring with Alysha to provide cheese, chips, and salsa for a Mexican birthday lunch surprise! Kate was happy to have "nachos," but I think we're going to have to put to rest our hopes for legitimate Mexican food in Ukraine. When your salsa is closer to ketchup (although pretty good ketchup, just not salsa) than what you were hoping, it's better to just wait it out to get the real stuff.

The red blobby stuff is actually ketchup disguised as salsa, but it's
pretty darn good with potato wedges

The rest of the day continued as usual. Teaching was good, especially because we had fewer kids than usual, meaning we only had two groups rotating instead of three. That night we had a great dinner consisting of homemade raviolis, and this amazing cream and pastry cake.

Making ravioli happiness. All the pasta is colored with
natural things, like carrots and whatnot

Full of ravioli happiness

Nineteen candles--Kate's getting old

What was unusual that day was the sudden surge of violence between the protestors in downtown Kiev and the police. Public transportation (metros, buses, etc.) was closed and so many of our fellow teachers had difficulty getting back to their homes from the school. Luckily, we are usually driven home by our host family, although the traffic was a lot worse than usual due to the closing of public transportation. Because of the events on Tuesday, we have been sitting pretty at our house for the last few days. We have been cautioned to avoid going outside our houses, not necessarily because it is intensely dangerous, but because we want to minimize the risks of anything at all bad happening. Since Tuesday there have been a lot of deaths and injuries, but there have also been steps taken towards peace and resolution. ILP continues to watch the situation and we are updated daily on recent happenings and how they affect us.

FYI-this is what our host family does to stop
the car beeping without putting on a seatbelt

For Kate and I, it's mostly been a party. We are lucky because many of the teachers live by themselves, with families that hardly speak English. But here in our little village, Kate and I have been having a pretty good time. We've had pedicures and manicures, experimented with hair, played with the baby chinchilla, eaten amazing homemade bread, watched (and cried over) Pushing Daisies, worked out (we're almost twenty days strong!) and generally enjoyed some much needed rest and relaxation. However, today we watched "Groundhog Day" for the first time, and I think we're beginning to feel our lives are becoming a little like that, the same thing, over and over.

This picture reveals a lot: Kate doing my hair (because I can't do it myself,)
beautiful mani to the left, and Pushing Daisies on the laptop.
The perfect setup

I'll probably find a way to bring one
of these things home with me.
Can you say hidden apartment pet?

 

Homemade bread and fab new outfits make for a wonderful morning

On Friday we were able to get out of the house for a while because Kate wanted to buy some exercise clothes. We went to a nearby shopping mall and walked back with Tanya. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the air was a crisp fifty degrees. It was incredible! I was so happy to be outside and walking through a forest and around a lake--it was a much needed break from being indoors constantly.

Just a casual nature shot on our walk

Sorry our eyes look demented. We haven't seen the sun in weeks.

Part of the cute path we run on,  although it's
a lot cuter when you're not gasping for air

The only bummer to being at home so far is that we've been told to stay home from church tomorrow. Kate and I are so close to it that I think we would be fine going, but of course we'll listen to ILP because they know best. Hopefully the situation will be on the mend enough by Monday that we will be able to resume our normal schedules. It's been an interesting experience, but be assured that we are all safe and in good hands!