A Week On My Own

So this last week has been my first without Kate. It started out a bit rough (withdrawals and whatnot) but I've gotten used to it. In fact, it's been almost liberating to have to navigate Kiev by myself. I'm completely responsible for myself and what I do with my time, and it's been really great to have some time completely to myself.

Monday was my first real experience of a day without Kate. I'm proud to report that I excercsied and practiced my piano like the responsible adult I am! I still felt a little sad and more than a little lonely. It's a pretty big adjustment to go from always having someone to talk with, to being alone most of the time. But I filled the time with talking to my friends back home, my family, and even Kate! She posted a picture of the two of us on Facebook and left this really nice message:

"For three months straight I have been with this girl 24/7, there was rarely a moment that I wasn't where she was. Through all of the good and bad she has always been there. I didn't realize the big part she played in my life until we said goodbye. It is really hard being apart from someone you're with constantly and have grown to love so much. Kristina Jorgenson thank you for everything you have done for me and for our wonderful friendship. I miss you already and can't wait to see you in June!"

Friends 5ever

That definitely took the edge off the loneliness! It's amazing knowing that I've grown so close to Kate, and I'm glad that I got to spend those three months with her. It's an experience that will always be close to my heart!

Tuesday was a magnificent day. My dad said that sometimes when we experience great sadness and suffering, our capacity for the amount of joy we can feel expands. I believe that whole-heartedly! Being on my own has forced me to become an integrated part of Ukraine. I feel so connected to this country and this people, in ways I haven't before. The city is blossoming and becoming so green, and the weather is perfect. I love every part of my day--riding marshrutkas, teaching the kids, coming home to a green backyard full of flowers--I just can't stop smiling! Spring came at a perfect time for me.

I almost died when I saw how green the school is now!

After school on Tuesday I went with Alysha and Brynne to one of our favorite areas in Kiev. We got some shawarma for dinner and then walked up Andrivsky Street. Most of the stands were closed so we decided to hike up some deceptively steep stairs to a lookout spot. It was so beautiful, and it only amplified my feelings of peace and happiness. Then we went to the Lviv Chocolate Factory where we met up with Cheila and Keeley for some chocolate treats. I got the Lviv Hot Chocolate, and we sat and talked until the sky turned dark.

If you look closely, you can see Kiev in the background

The rest of the week was business as usual. After school on Friday I went with Alysha and Brynne to eat some delicious pizza near downtown Kiev. We even had ginger lemonade, which was super good!

Bogdan is one of the cutest kids!
Look at his little balloon ladybug!

 

That's Artom's hiding spot in Hide-and-Go-Seek.
The guns on that kid...

I woke up earlier that usual on Saturday morning so I could meet some people to do baptisms at the temple. It was a beautiful morning, and I was so happy to be up. I walked past the little village lake and through the little forest near my house. There were a lot of people at the temple, so we ended up being there for almost two hours! Afterwards, we met up with some people to have lunch, and then I headed home. The rest of the day was very relaxing, and Tanya made this delicious cake that I am definitely making when I get back home! It's called a Russian Honey Cake, or Medovnik. It's sooo good!

Just my casually beautiful walk to the temple...

 

Over the quaint bridge we go

 

Who doesn't love springtime??!?

 

After baptisms on a beautiful day!

Sunday was quite an interesting day. It was stake conference, so we had to meet at an auditorium downtown. Let me just tell you, there were so many missionaries! Since missionaries in the south and east of Ukraine had to be moved out due to the political instability, there are arund 200 missionaries in the Kiev area! That's insane! A lot of them are also getting sent home a transfer (six weeks) early because there are just so many of them here!



Going to church without a jacket...success!

Obviously, stake conference was in Russian. We English speakers were equipped with a headphone set that a translator spoke into, but it ended up not going so well. We went through multiple translators, lots of static, and in the end, I understood maybe a quarter of the conference. But it wasn't all bad, since I got to see another beautiful part of Kiev!

Later in the afternoon my host family took me to see the Botanical Gardens of Kiev. It was another perfect day, and it was so refreshing to be walking outside surrounded by trees and flowers. Funny story: a few days ago my host dad asked me if I like trees and flowers. Of course I told him I did and he responded with, "As do all women." I'm pretty sure liking flowers and trees is a human thing, not a woman thing, but if someone knows someone who doesn't like either of these things let me know!

 

 

 

 

Hanging with the magnolias

Yesterday, Monday, was the start of another week, and I started it off right with a 4.5 mile run! I've been nervous about running on my own, due to the feral dogs and strange people (or strange dogs and feral people as Taris put it) but I sucked it up and did it! It felt great, but today I'm pretty sore in my entire lower body.

On a completely unrelated note...look at this cool ice cream I got!

Now it's Tuesday and the week is almost half over! I say that because this week we get Thursday and Friday off! I'll be heading off to Lviv, Ukraine with three other teachers for a little vacation. For now though, I need to focus on my new online class! With Kate gone,  my parents thought I needed to fill the gap with some good ol' school work. My American Heritage book arrived in the mail today and I'm about to get going on it! No more TV for me!

Ahhh! Back to school already!