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How can little kids hugging you and saying, "Byee Teacher Kayla!!" not make you tear up just a little


alsooo I finished The Picture of Dorian Gray.... you should read it.

lovely lovely

the temple.
ПУЗАТА ХАТА.
which is pronounced pizata hatta. our favorite Ukrainian buffet.
andrivsky street.
beauuutiful weather.
end of semester performances
fhe goodbye party

Right now Kiev days are happening, where people celebrate the awesomeness of Kiev, and flock to the streets and play folk music and give you better deals on souvenirs.
it has been a lovely week.

mixing it up

Once upon a time I wanted to mix my workout up. I had heard from many sources that power walking works different muscle groups and can burn more calories than running. I can't attest to the truth of it burning more calories, but I can attest to the fact that you will feel like a dork power walking when you have your entire life labeled yourself as a runner. But let me tell you something, if you want to work your booty, DO IT. Maybe someday I should start a workout blog. Workout blog/ Chocolate Goodnesses I Bake blog. Called "how to get off to a healthy start and then demolish it with a fudgey brownie"

I feel like I have been demonstrating my butt workouts for people quite a bit though. Maybe I will post them. Or maybe you should just buy the Windsor Pilates video that I got them from.


8 days. Untill I am on a plane heading to the states. I still have so much to do and places to go one last time it will fly by I am sure.

I feel like I should write something about Ukraine.. on account of I live here...

Dear Ukrainian Men,

It's never ok to leave the house in just a mesh top. Mesh is for fishing nets. Please put on a real shirt.

Sincerely,
my gag reflex


alsooo... I read The Painted Veil last week. READ IT. It has landed itself a spot among my favorites. It's takes place in China during the 1920's. I would try to summarize it but it wouldn't do it justice, and everyone takes different things away from books anyway. And I am almost done with a new book called Secret Daughter, about a girl who was adopted from India and her family.

In conclusion, I am loving Kiev and this weather, and all the bbq's, and chilling with our well traveled international branch members, and my teachers and how awesome they are, and making chili and making plans for lasts in Ukraine.


luvs,
kayla

the pros and cons of public transportation

pros:
I don't have to do things like look at the road and pay attention to speed limits and pedestrians.
I get to read.
You don't have to look for your car keys. Because you don't have any.
You just walk to the stop and wait for it to pick you up. It being the trolley bus. It looks like a giant bug.

cons:
waiting for it to pick you up.
sometimes you don't get to read, because you are jam packed like sardines with people who smell less than attractive, and you don't get a seat the whole ride. Unless you want to deprive some 100 year old babushka of a seat. Please don't.
sometimes your bus doesn't show up. whilst a car just you know, is in your driveway.
I have probably forgotten how to drive.


There are 16 days until I am back in the states. Eastern Europe is awesome. I have seen beautiful things and amazing places and have grown up so much since I left in January. I have been so privileged to have this opportunity. But I am ready to come home. And sometimes it takes mucho effort to not just want to hibernate and count down days. I try to keep busy to make time go by. I have a list of things I need to do and see before it's time to go and I am plodding along checking them off. And the weather has been lovely. Kiev has been lovely. But I need hugs. From Elliott. And dryers. And an bed. And actual food. And my actual home country.

You could be laying on the coast in Bali sipping a pina colada getting a killer back massage, but after 4 months of the most amazing vacation in the most beautiful place in the world, you would be totally ok with saying, alright, peace out, I want to go weed my garden with my fiance in the middle of nowhere, Washington.

I think it takes bravery to go abroad for extended periods of time, and immerse yourself in a new culture and be far away from your family and friends. I think it takes bravery to leave everything you know behind. I think sometimes it takes more courage to stay.. and bloom where you're planted, and be the best you can be where ever you are and whoever you are with and whatever you are supposed to be doing.

And in my future travels I hope that my luv will want to tag a long and explore with me : ) Because there is still so much to see, it just means more with those you care about.

Luv,
Kayla

This is a metro. I ride it every day of my life.