Experiencing Ukraine: March is the Best!

Quiz:

Why if life in March so good for Mr. Benjamin?

A. New Age.
B. New Apartment.
C. New Weather.
D. All of the above.

Easiest quiz ever.

My birthday was awesome and I couldn't have dreamed of a better weekend. I spend the first part of the weekend at school, because we had classes on Saturday to make up for out lack of school on Women's Day (March 8). After the morning lessons, I went to have dinner with my friends in Lutsk. My friend Melissa spoiled me with empanadas...the perfect birthday dinner for sure. Then our group met up with some Ukrainian friends to do a little dancing and celebrating, Ukrainian style! Why I didn't take pictures at dinner or the cafe I don't know, but it was a fantastic way to ring in 23!

On Sunday, I went back to Kolky to have a celebration with the English teachers. They told me they would be coming over to my place for a celebration, but that quickly turned into them taking me to a cafe to celebrate with a man who also had his birthday on the 13th. (So much for all the food I prepared!) An interesting situation to say the least because the English teachers didn't exactly stay at the cafe. Instead I was left awkwardly sitting with 40+ strangers, all of us collectively wondering why I was there and why I was way under-dressed.I was able to make a quick escape 3 hours into the party (that's a very short party in Ukraine) because of a phone call from America. (Thanks guys!) I also opened my care package from my family. Check it out and be jealous:

Thanks to everybody who contributed to the love and amazing gifts that were in my box. I continued the celebrations at school where my day of birth was celebrated with way too much fanfare. You are supposed to bring in treats to share with the other teachers, (candy, juice, fruit, cookies, etc.) so I made Snickerdoodles and Double Chocolate cookies to share. They were a hit, but only about half of the teachers really believed I made them. My day consisted of gifts from all of the forms that I teach, gifts from the teachers, a mini concert for Mr. Benjamin, a few toasts, and about 10 groups of students singing "Happy Birthday" to me throughout the day. All of my gifts were things I conveniently needed for my new apartment, so now I am all set!

(Check out the pictures of all the festivities below! I will try to load some more pictures tomorrow morning, including some of my new place!)

That's right, I've moved! I knew that my previous living situation was only temporary, so I never really felt completely unpacked or at home. It would have been the perfect living situation for this Volunteer, but I could only live there while my permanent place was being renovated. I'm all moved and all unpacked, now I need to organized everything and buy a few things. Although my new place is quite a bit smaller than my previous place (and all of my previous college Res Hall rooms), it's all mine, and I like that. It's got everything I could ever need, plus a sightly defunct washing machine. AND I can cook on my stove from the shower! YES!

Short day tomorrow (not sure why classes are short...probably a concert) and then it's Spring Holiday! I'm headed to Kiev on Saturday to meet up with Evan, my clustermate, and we shall head to Kivshovata for a few days of smiles, laughter, awkward Ukrainian conversations, way, way way too much food and tons of Kivsho lovin'! I'm excited to see Lecia, Spook, Baba Hanna, and the gang, but also to hang out in a place where I feel like I grew up. From there we will travel to our friends Asia's house near Turnopil, spend a few days visiting Volunteers around there, and conclude the break with a hike to the highest Ukrainian mountain, Mt. Hoverla! Busy as ever, of course, but excited to be on the move for a little bit.

After posting photos tomorrow (hopefully), I will be internet and computer free for a week! I will only have a backpack, Atlas Shrugged, some Candy Corn, and idealism with me...as well as a great big smile. Talk soon and I hope March is treating you as well as it's treating me.