Thank you for taking the time and having the interest to check out our new blog. As some of you may know, I have been invited by the United States Peace Corps to serve as a volunteer in the country of Ukraine for the next 27 months. I am scheduled to leave from Washington, DC on March 21, 2011. This blog was set up as a way for El and I to keep each other up to date with our lives while we are apart and we hope you will be interested enough to follow, comment, and maybe even learn a bit about Ukraine. Lesson 1: it is NOT "the Ukraine", it is just "Ukraine" ["the Ukraine" sounds like a region, but Ukraine is an independent country].
Some FAQ's:
1) Where's that?
Ukraine is in Eastern Europe to the west of Poland, Hungary, and Romania. South of Belarus and Russia. And to the North of the Black Sea. It is cold in the winter and hot in the summer.
2) Will El be going?
No. El will NOT be joining me. She will be holding down the fort in Clifton Park. We expect she will come to Ukraine to visit when possible.
3) What will you be doing?
Not sure. The assignment is called "community economic developer", but that could mean anything. I will get an assignment once I arrive there.
4) Do you speak the language?
Not yet. I will be training intensively for the first 3 months, learning Ukrainian and how to live and work in the country.
5) Where will you live?
For the first 3 months, with a host family who will help me with the language part. After 3 months, I may get an apartment, dorm, or another host family, depending on what is available in the town I am assigned to.
6) Will you have internet access?
Some people have satellite internet in their apartment, others have internet at work, and some have infrequent access. Right now it is a crapshoot as to what I will have access to.
We have no idea what the next 27 months has in store for us, but we know we will get through it...we can do anything for 2 years!
sim
I also have a few FAQs that have come up when sharing the news with friends and family.
ReplyDelete#1 - What do you mean you're not going?
The simple answer - it's just not the right time for me...but that doesn't mean it's not the right time for Sim. In fact it's a great time for Sim to accept this once in a lifetime opportunity. Maybe when we retire, we can both serve together, but right now I need to stay local, and hold down the fort.
#2 - Will you be able to visit Sim or will Sim come home to visit?
Volunteers do get vacation time, and I'm hoping to meet Sim somewhere interesting as opposed to having him come home.
#3 - What are you going to do for 27 months? Give me a month or two to get used to being on my own...but don't worry - I've got a lot of great things planned for myself...stay tuned!
We look forward to your comments...with our family and friends around us...we can do anything for 2 years!
Great idea guys! Looking forward to keeping up to date with your new adventures.
ReplyDeleteIs it HOSTILE there ?? Oh wait, Kev will probably want to ask that question... :)
ReplyDeleteDear Sim,
ReplyDeleteOur love and admiration will follow you to Ukraine or anywhere else for that matter. One of the many qualities that we admire about you is your ability to treat people with dignity. What a perfect place to weave your magic and make a little piece of the world a little bit better. Love, MOM & Dad
Wow, Sim, this is such great news!!! Sounds like a great opportunity! Can't wait to hear all about it (and what Eleonora has in store for herself!). We'll be staying tuned! love, Jenn and Jim (and boys)
ReplyDeleteHi Sim , I think that is great,our prayers are with you.Love Rose & Fran
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fabulous. Now I can find out if they really have Chicken Kiev in Kiev. We'll be in the Baltics in September...we could meet up in Riga or Villnius. Hope you enjoy your PC experience as much as we enjoyed ours.
ReplyDeleteWow Sim!! I cant believe you are doing this. I am sure it will be a great experience. Can't wait to hear more. All the best to you and to El too!
ReplyDeleteGood or bad, it'll be an experience to remember, right? Good luck! We'll be thinking of you and hoping you're doing all the things you want to be doing. Can't wait to share your experiences through this.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Amanda, Brian and Lavinia
Holy Camoly, Batman! I have been so out of the loop. I have a lot of reading to do to catch up on what you have been up to.
ReplyDelete