Sheeeesh! It’s only been 24 hours and I’m already feeling stretched. Some of that has to do with a terrible case of jet lag, so I’m doing my best to keep all judgments on hold. Speaking of jet lag, I want to sleep for three days straight, but that is not a possibility. For those of you who know me, I am NOT a morning person. This morning my roommates attempted to wake me up and it was a huuuge mistake on their part. I told them in no uncertain terms that I did not need to wake up just then and that I would get out of bed when I was ready. Poor girls.

Kiev is great! I am still grasping the fact that I’m in Europe and that this is something most people would find fascinating and exhilarating. It’s not that I’m not excited to be here, but it’s familiar. The smells, the sights, the food, the sounds are all what I’ve been around before. So it’s not brand new, but it’s like returning to an old home. I’m happy to be here, and I’m sure there will be some surprises here and there, but so far nothing has shocked me. The hallways of the apartment buildings are still sketchily dark and still smell like cooked cabbage and old garbage. The people still smell like BO. There are still stray dogs running around everywhere. And you know what? I love it! I’m in Eastern Europe and I know that this is where I belong for this time in my life.

Registration for the DTS starts tonight at 6:00 so I haven’t met everyone yet. There are 15 people all together, 9 girls and 6 guys. I am in an apartment with 4 (yes, f-o-u-r) other girls. Oy. Right now it’s just me and 2 of the girls, the other 2 arrive some time today. And so far, I’m the oldest girl, the other 2 are 17 and 18, so I have instantly become the ‘responsible’ one. Also since I speak English and a choppy Russian I have already acted as the occasional translator between Marta (the 17 year old Ukrainian who speaks broken English) and Arielle (the 18 year old American from Ohio who doesn’t speak a word of Russian). This could be interesting.

And you all were right, my Russian is coming back VERY quickly. Marta especially appreciates it. I hope I keep remembering more words; I would really like to be able to communicate especially since there are students who don’t speak any English. I can see our conversations being a jumbled mix of the languages we know in order to get to know each other. Oh, good times are ahead!

Prayer requests:

1) They have yet to find apartments for the boys. They are looking for 2 places but have only had possibly found one so far. Pray that find places for them to live soon!

2) For good sleep for me to help me get over jet lag.

3) Grace!!! Again, part of it the jet lag, but I want to love my roommates and have grace for our cramped living quarters. Pray that they have grace for me as well, I know that I can be pretty difficult. ;)

Thanks, love and miss you all!!!

I'm sitting at JFK, "enjoying" 15 minutes of complimentary Wifi. 15 minutes?!?!!? Ok, I'll type fast.

Everything worked out, I have my meds, I have my tickets, bags are packed! (Don't know how that happened, but it did). My flight leaves in about an hour, and the reality of the fact that I am leaving for 6 months has not quite set in. Maybe when I step off the plane in Kiev?

Please pray for safe travels. Once I get settled I'll be able to post more regularly and put up some pictures!

I love you all, thank you for everything. You will be missed.

Here we goooo!!!

Those poor people

I'm starting to feel bad for the DTS staff in Kyiv. I've sent them about 1 million emails asking all sorts of questions (and sometimes repeating myself if I don't get an answer fast enough or if I didn't get the answer I wanted). Today I got an email from Kate (one of the staff) kindly saying to be patient and to stop bugging them! Ok, she didn't put it that way but it came across. Those poor people. I'm not even there and they're already having to put up with me.

On a happier (?) note, I've got my visa, ticket, and international insurance! All the major things. I had about a day of panic after I bought my plane ticket. It's so final. No turning back once you click that 'book this flight' button! Up until that moment I had the idea that I was leaving in my head, but right then it became reality and reality was a little overwhelming to me.

If you're of the praying persuasion, please pray for 2 major things:

1) Peace. There's a ton of little things that still need to get taken care of before I leave (less than 2 weeks now!) and I constantly feel like my brain is running away on me. Peace would be appreciated.

2) That I would be able to work it out so that I can get a full 6-month supply of my medicine. Right now my insurance will only give me 3 months and that just won't work! I have the Kyiv staff asking if I can get my medicine there (again, those poor people) and I'm still bugging CDPHP about it, but this is a major thing that needs to be worked out soon! Pray that it would all work out, please.

3) OK, come on, who ever really has the amount of prayer requests they originally said? Pray for my travels. I'm going JFK-Moscow-Kyiv. Pray that the flights are on time (I don't want to be stuck in Moscow!) and just for general safety. Also that they'd serve edible food on the plane- last time I flew Aeroflot they gave us raw swordfish for breakfast. Yummmm.

Big huge amazing thanks to everyone who has sent support in! You prayers and your checks are greatly appreciated!!! I'm thinking I'll have enough money for this trip, which is great, needless to say. I'm getting excited about this, can't wait to get over there and start posting pictures on this blog. Thanks to you!