Close of Service

Final day as a Peace Corps Volunteer!

How do you wrap-up a dream come true? Most of you know the story -- 9 year-old Ben writes to a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal and a dream is born. Fast forward a few years and Kolky is that dream come true. Well, today was the day. Today, I rang my "last bell" and finished one of the best, hardest, most rewarding and most amazing adventures of these 25 years. To say the least, I've certainly experienced Ukraine and now I'm a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer!

So many emotions ringing that bell! 

From reading this blog over the years, this 33-month Peace Corps journey has been nothing short of amazing. Ukraine, especially Kolky, has given me one of the greatest, most intangible and precious gifts ever given to me. They will never know the impact they have had on my mind and heart, but I know and sometimes that just has to be enough. 

But how does it just stop? Am I just supposed to move on? I guess you travel to new foreign places and eat a lot of Mexican food stateside -- I'll be doing that. I guess you cry when saying goodbye to new family and cry reuniting with the ones you left -- I'll certainly being doing that. I guess it's time for me to figure it out, taking what I've learned here and continuing to share the love that was Kolky and Peace Corps Ukraine. And of course, visit again and again. It doesn't stop, because the lessons learned, the memories made, and the amazing relationships established will certainly last a lifetime. 

My two favorite countries and cake, combined!

This is my last day as a PCV, but this isn't my post, because I will have more to share. I'll be posting about my Poland/Germany trip with the delegation from my school, some of my travels throughout the Balkans, and for sure some readjustment stories as a RPCV. 

For now, I say thanks for reading and for all the love and support. I've been incredibly blessed these years to know so many people were rooting and praying for me from both near and far away. I'm so looking forward to reconnecting with everybody and seeing what the future has in store! 

As a wise President once said, "What's next?"

Final Daze in Kolky

This last month has flown, and I've just wrapped up some of my final days in Kolky. Of course, I'll return for 2 days/1 night with after I get back from Germany/Poland with a group from Kolky Lyceum which makes leaving this time a little easier. 

I've been embracing it, really. Enjoying my morning coffee on my porch, saying yes to every invitation for tea/picnic/late night High School bonfire in my garden. The last few weeks, I've been going to school, where the kids are having "School Camp" - which is pretty much government sponsored organized chaos. That's been fun to get some final days with the kids, and easier than me just peacing out while they are still having lessons. 

I've been taking lots of photos of pretty much everything, trying to capture all that I can, so here are some of the happenings from the past month or so -- check the captions for some explanations to a few. Pretty much they just show a lot of summer fun, Kolky love, and the wrapping up to the greatest experience of my life. 

Prayers are always appreciated as I have just arrived to Kyiv to close my service and start the whirlwind month of travelling before finally arriving to Grand Junction on July 23! 

With 2 of my Counterparts at Last Bell

My sash reads: Favorite Teacher

Some of the flowers I was given 

The parents waiting for the graduates to come out for the Graduation Parade! 

Here they come! 

Parading through town -- the band, then graduates, then teachers, then parents

Both of these teachers taught the graduates from the 1-4 forms. 

Roma's Dad addressing the graduates

Roma receiving his gold metal (valedictorian) 

...and the other gold medalist - Sophie!!! (Both were two of my favorites)

Surprise! Roma whipped out this little number without anyone knowing

Some of my kids sing an English song they wrote to all the English teachers. 

Graduation party! 

Morning at the bridge - waiting for the sunrise! 

Students on the road...parents below drinking. 

One last tour around Lutsk - the old German Lutheran Church (now, Baptist) 

Lutsk Castle

Those of us on the tour - Mark, far left, is the new American working in Kyiv

Surprise picnic with my favorites - 830 p.m. never looked so good! 

Cheers! 

4 Course Sunday Dinner at Natalia's house

The teachers ensamble singing at the last Teachers Meeting

My present from the teachers - a Ukrainian doll, but it's a guardian to protect and keep me sa

Every thing is handmade, hand stitched, hand beaded by one of the teachers.

Another late night picnic/bonfire - 10:00 is still pretty bright! 

Best Ever.