COSing

Or in Peace Corps lingo, Continuation of Service-ing.

Last Wednesday began Peace Corps Ukraine Group 40's (that's my group) Continuation of Service Conference! For 3 days we talked about how to wrap-up our service over the next few months (some Group 40ers are leaving as early as November - some leaving as late as January 2014!) You may be asking yourself, why Continuation? Well, all of our services just don't stop or close in Ukraine...we continue them back to the States, sharing what we learned here in Ukraine and bringing it with us in everything we do in the future. This conference was a great way to share those ideas, and give us the start to some sort of closure here in Ukraine.

For me, the COS Conference was quite surreal. Our Group hasn't been together since we Swore-In in December of 2010. We've lost a few along the way, but 80 of us still managed to make it the whole 27 months here in Ukraine.

Peace Corps Ukraine Group 40!
The Biggest Group PC has ever seen...we're still 80 Volunteers STRONG!

Also, I'm not leaving just quite yet, so the whole "How to Readjust" and "Life after PC" topics were distant for me. I was getting ideas for new projects and networking with Volunteers to see what I could do in the next 9 months. A lot of people were really ready to leave...but not me, not just quite yet.

Me and Rocky - The Gr. 40 Volunteer Advisory Council Reps...
apparently peering into our distant and uncertain future

 

My Training Cluster and Link!
All 10 of us have made it the 27 months in Ukraine :)

You might remember us - Ben, Asia, Laura, and Evan
Kivshovata Training Cluster
September-December 2010 :)

After the conference, I made my way down to Odessa with four of my closest friends in Ukraine! We had an extra long weekend down by the sea. The city was beautiful in all it's Soviet glory and the weather was perfect for a little time on the beach.

Val, Evan, Laurent, Ben and Grace on some famous stairs in Odessa

In front of the Potemkin Stairs!!!

Let's go back right now!!!

Odessa!

Now, finishing school tomorrow with...TEACHER'S DAY! Yes, this Friday, the 11th Formers will be taking over the school and letting us teachers have a relaxing day at school celebrating us! A Teacher's Day 2012 Blog - equipped with photos and stories coming soon, along with a photo of an award that I won today in Regional Center!