omg

Sooo this might be last post for a little while. Once I get to Ukraine (Sunday) I am not sure when will be the next time that I will have internet access. Remember, no news is good news.

I am ALMOST done packing. I know I know, I should've finished like, 5 days ago, but that's how I roll--last minute. Actually I am not feeling too stressed. I mean I haven't weighed my bags yet, but I am feeling pretty good about my packing. It's weird to think that all of the clothes/shoes that I will wear for the next two years has fit into basically one suitcase.

I've got some serious goodbyes to make tonight. I'm very sad. Not looking forward to them. But I am looking forward to Mexican food and bowling with my mom and some of my besties.

I'll catch ya'll later. Next time I post will be in Ukraine!!!

SHUENFJDNFHTEUHTERJSANJSHDDHGDFNJSADUHE (that's me freaking out.)

Love,

Rose

PS: I wil have my U.S. cell phone with me and on until Saturday afternoon, so feel free to call and text me up until that point. And if you don't have my number, then you probably shouldn't be reading this blog right now....

See you LATER

down to the wire...

So my time here in the US of A is coming down to the wire. Friday morning I will be flying out of Manchester NH to Philadelphia, will have about 7 hours of orientation in Philly, then we all take a bus to NYC that Saturday morning, sit in JFK for HOURS and then fly to Frankfurt, Germany, and finally reach our destination of Kiev sometime on Sunday. It's gonna be hectic, especially since I am an incredibly nervous traveller when it comes to planes. As long as I can hold hands with the person next to me on the plane, I should be alright. I hope they know what they are in for!

I had an amazing weekend. Saturday night was a Razzy's karaoke party, and so many of my closest and dearest friends were there. It was so much fun. Of all the karaoke nights I have had there (and trust me, there have been a lot) I think that was definitely one of the best. Highlights: singing "A Whole New World" with Fionna, Lola's rendition of "Bust a Move", the dance party at the end, Hampshire people together (Miranda, Njambi and Christina), people who sang songs for me (Nina, Jenny, Fionna, Matt), almost getting sprayed by a skunk on Somerville Ave.... fun times!

Sunday night, my mom threw a party for me, which was equally amazing. It was a mix of neighbors, old friends, family friends, and people from throughout my life that have meant a lot to me. It was wonderful to have them all together. Highlights: Scott wearing his Russian hat, mom wearing her orange revolution scarf, my favorite elementary school teacher Rich surprise showing up, my old neighbor Will surprise showing up with his wonderful family, my moms delish cooking and baking, and lastly--having people I love and care about all together, so for that, thank you everyone!

And lastly, for those of you that have not seen this, you should watch it. It is from the TV show "Ukraine's Got Talent" and it's really beautiful:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/08/amazing_sand_animation_from_ye.html

high heels?!?

I am trying to decide if I should bring high heels with me to Ukraine. I probably wear high heels once a year, if even that. The Peace Corps literature and many past Peace Corps Volunteers have said that Ukrainian women wear stilettos in all weather. No matter if it is hot and humid out, or whether it is icy and freezing, they are in their high heels. Yeah, that's kind of intimidating. I am already dwarf size, so to already be crazy short and then feel even shorter because everyone around me is wearing 6 inch heels makes me feel kinda blah. Some people have said that they did not wear heels while in Ukraine, and that people didn't say much. Basically what it comes down to (and I have been told this) is that as an American, I will stick out no matter what, so I shouldn't even try to fit in--especially when it comes to clothing.

So then I come back to the question, do I bring heels or not?

a little scared....

So here are some of my fears about going to Ukraine:

1. I won't have hot sauce readily available to dump on everything and anything I eat.

2. I won't be able to make "That's what she said" jokes.

3. I won't be around other Red Sox/baseball fans. 

4. I won't be able to blast gangster rap.

5. I will have to hide my tattoo for a long time.

Okay I have some real fears too, like about successfully learning the language, fitting in with my community, teaching, the distance from home, lack of communication with friends and family, etc etc. It's easier right now to think about those silly unimportant fears--makes me less nervous/scared about going. I think I am trying to look at my departure as this hilarious thing that is happening, not a really sad thing. I mean it's great and I am so SO excited to go on this adventure. There is nothing else right now that I want to do with my life. But still, it sucks to be leaving.

I don't get this blog thing. Is it like a livejournal? I don't think people want that. My journals are weird. And definitely private. I also tend to draw bizarre pictures. I recently found a little sketch book from my childhood with some REALLY disturbing drawings. One of them was a picture of some weird serpent creature with breasts on its hips, and some liquid coming out of the breasts, and that liquid is falling into the mouths of these little floating heads. Oh and also there is a giant X over the entire drawing. I mean, really. That's bad news. I drew that when I was a little child. What is wrong with me?!?! Should I have written that here? YIKES.

I can't believe I am starting a blog

So I am giving in and starting a blog thingamajiggy. I figured that it might actually be a nice way to keep in contact with people while I am in Ukraine. For anyone who is wondering, my blog has this title because before I found out that Ukraine was my Peace Corps assignment, someone asked me what Eastern Europe was like, and I said, "Eastern Europe is like, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!" Yeah it doesn't really make any sense, but what else is new.

I hope people actually read this... Anyone reading this? Blogs are weird.

In two weeks I will be in Kiev. That's what's up.