tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78299439086961866492024-03-13T04:30:12.482-07:00ILPMindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-66173542037590025252011-06-07T21:09:00.000-07:002011-12-24T14:36:58.713-08:00Once I lived in Ukraine...<div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5TvKvsi0hs/Te74jOhPqiI/AAAAAAAAAoM/Kke-m72aCKY/s1600/IMG_6177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5TvKvsi0hs/Te74jOhPqiI/AAAAAAAAAoM/Kke-m72aCKY/s200/IMG_6177.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">June 7, 2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 months</span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">141 days</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20 weeks</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7,000 miles away from home </span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9,300 kilometers</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AljGNtLaHfA/Te74seets-I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/-oPKQWtEc0A/s1600/IMG_6178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AljGNtLaHfA/Te74seets-I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/-oPKQWtEc0A/s200/IMG_6178.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">25 scared girls</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 day of training</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 "mild" winter</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 different languages</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 different currencies</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">72 hours in train rides</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 metro passes</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 big dogs</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 parrot</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--zUFj0T9u3Q/Te740a2BqVI/AAAAAAAAAoU/q-vnUWyUEYs/s1600/IMG_6186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--zUFj0T9u3Q/Te740a2BqVI/AAAAAAAAAoU/q-vnUWyUEYs/s200/IMG_6186.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cat</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">200+ fish</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 host brother</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 babushkas</span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7 friendly parcels of mail</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">27 awesome Americans</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30+ hours of skype time with family and friends</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">79 episodes of Gilmore Girls</span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-22H3nrwQq04/Te74-arz_yI/AAAAAAAAAoY/vPQ5UpPCa20/s1600/IMG_6202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-22H3nrwQq04/Te74-arz_yI/AAAAAAAAAoY/vPQ5UpPCa20/s200/IMG_6202.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 awesome jam sessions on Rock Band</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">50 hours on a tour bus (approximate)</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">447 games of Unblock Me</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">50 metro stops</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 desire to work for the American Embassy one day</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Black Sea</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 Kyiv Temple trips</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Cooking class</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qyew4849k8o/Te75Hinx0hI/AAAAAAAAAoc/Rn8SemUndJY/s1600/IMG_6205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qyew4849k8o/Te75Hinx0hI/AAAAAAAAAoc/Rn8SemUndJY/s200/IMG_6205.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Sleepover with all the girls</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 different months</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 hours of Russian class</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 Tanias</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 culture shock </span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 bathroom shared by</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 people in my house</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 coordinators at my school</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 many hours on facebook and gmail</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfCZQuRgUiQ/Te75RDSNyAI/AAAAAAAAAog/wGRB-jJnsbs/s1600/IMG_6206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfCZQuRgUiQ/Te75RDSNyAI/AAAAAAAAAog/wGRB-jJnsbs/s200/IMG_6206.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 piano to play</span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1,000,000,000,000+ flying cotton things</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1,000,000+ pigeons</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">40+ visits to McDonalds</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">39 songs on my "coming home" playlist</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">42 blog posts</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1500+ page views</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9 followers</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oKQPAP5IT0s/Te75bLr8jhI/AAAAAAAAAok/vPR9UVShWuQ/s1600/IMG_6207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oKQPAP5IT0s/Te75bLr8jhI/AAAAAAAAAok/vPR9UVShWuQ/s200/IMG_6207.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">48 comments</span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 author, ME</span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">32 hours of total travel time home</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 airports</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 hour layover in Munich</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 different sized airplanes</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16 hours of flight time</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 stamps in my passport</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IlSphBbl2VU/Te75kURDKpI/AAAAAAAAAoo/lra-sBsmGeY/s1600/IMG_6215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IlSphBbl2VU/Te75kURDKpI/AAAAAAAAAoo/lra-sBsmGeY/s200/IMG_6215.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 night in LA for missing our flight</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9 hour time difference</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 bag of no bake cookies brought by</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 awesome parents and </span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 sister greeting me at the airport</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 not hungry stomach, but</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 exhausted girl, happy to be back</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6JdEvQyxriY/Te75rtcey8I/AAAAAAAAAos/pUpVTGkUXE0/s1600/IMG_6216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6JdEvQyxriY/Te75rtcey8I/AAAAAAAAAos/pUpVTGkUXE0/s320/IMG_6216.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you all for your support and love =) I have enjoyed sharing all my adventures with you! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The End</span></div></div></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-49837139836918888792011-06-07T20:52:00.000-07:002011-12-24T14:33:23.500-08:00Farewell Munchkins<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pDiKtfeT4sI/Te7nZEV0FZI/AAAAAAAAAno/MuFfg6zWjfc/s1600/IMG_2540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pDiKtfeT4sI/Te7nZEV0FZI/AAAAAAAAAno/MuFfg6zWjfc/s200/IMG_2540.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMJWeb4-zcU/Te7m_kWoPlI/AAAAAAAAAnc/EWMBsFQN00o/s1600/IMG_2537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMJWeb4-zcU/Te7m_kWoPlI/AAAAAAAAAnc/EWMBsFQN00o/s320/IMG_2537.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMJWeb4-zcU/Te7m_kWoPlI/AAAAAAAAAnc/EWMBsFQN00o/s1600/IMG_2537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1YpWGQW4Woc/Te7lpAAC8OI/AAAAAAAAAm0/z7oKOCHEu3Y/s1600/IMG_2517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-52dRbk4qhZ8/Te7oY0hwmhI/AAAAAAAAAoE/pbENofXPVO8/s320/IMG_2598.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HmAFvXZbCCo/Te7lxczLybI/AAAAAAAAAm4/WTCjdhvRg2E/s1600/IMG_2518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HmAFvXZbCCo/Te7lxczLybI/AAAAAAAAAm4/WTCjdhvRg2E/s320/IMG_2518.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1YpWGQW4Woc/Te7lpAAC8OI/AAAAAAAAAm0/z7oKOCHEu3Y/s1600/IMG_2517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1YpWGQW4Woc/Te7lpAAC8OI/AAAAAAAAAm0/z7oKOCHEu3Y/s200/IMG_2517.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well the semester was finally coming to a close and we had to put together a Spectakle for the parents to watch their kids perform. We decided to center ours on an African Safari theme. The week before the performance we made little crafts that we could hang up on the day of the performance like elephants, zebras, giraffes, and monkeys. It was so hard to tell the kids that we had to hold onto their craft but they would get it back the next week. Kids amaze me by how well they remember things! Every day they would come in and</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p0UMdmQUU2M/Te7l6GNNWhI/AAAAAAAAAm8/jKj9ejR80VE/s1600/IMG_2519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p0UMdmQUU2M/Te7l6GNNWhI/AAAAAAAAAm8/jKj9ejR80VE/s200/IMG_2519.JPG" width="150" /></a>say teacher do we get our zebra today? I would explain to them, no not yet, and they would say oh ok, next week then. It was the cutest thing. Along with making crafts to hang up on the walls we had the kids work on songs they would sing to their parents. We chose 5 little monkeys, the Macarena, Tarzan, Hokey Pokey and the Waka Waka. The one that took the most effort, time, and planning was the Waka Waka. We spent about an hour each day with our kids teaching them the dance moves</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vTxN0XpbpQk/Te7mD-ScMnI/AAAAAAAAAnA/SiNaPffvCCg/s1600/IMG_2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vTxN0XpbpQk/Te7mD-ScMnI/AAAAAAAAAnA/SiNaPffvCCg/s200/IMG_2520.JPG" width="150" /></a>and the words to the music. I thought it was hard keeping kids attention when we were teaching them English, but I was so wrong! It is so much harder teaching them to dance and sing in English! Their motivation barely lasted more than 15 minutes. So after a few days of struggling with them</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8WtQbmrGLbE/Te7mMujAozI/AAAAAAAAAnE/mhUC5prsYBQ/s1600/IMG_2525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8WtQbmrGLbE/Te7mMujAozI/AAAAAAAAAnE/mhUC5prsYBQ/s200/IMG_2525.JPG" width="150" /></a>we decided to buy squirt bottles and put kool aid inside it. If the kids were singing and dancing we would give them a squirt of juice. They loved it and it kept their attention so much more! It’s amazing what kids will do for a little sugar =) We had 3 Spectakles, one on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Each of them went so well and the parents really enjoyed the performance. Our kids totally rocked it =) Then came the hard part, it was time to say goodbye. How do you say goodbye to kids who you have seen everyday for the past 5 </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OYN4ipDjcA/Te7mV0T9ZRI/AAAAAAAAAnI/5s79Lt5UcpU/s1600/IMG_2530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OYN4ipDjcA/Te7mV0T9ZRI/AAAAAAAAAnI/5s79Lt5UcpU/s200/IMG_2530.JPG" width="200" /></a>months? Kids who you have come so close to that you feel like they are forever a part of your life? Kids whose faces you will never forget? Kids who you will probably never see again, who </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIESNGNHUO8/Te7me6LC7lI/AAAAAAAAAnM/jeFlc4eiUtk/s1600/IMG_2531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIESNGNHUO8/Te7me6LC7lI/AAAAAAAAAnM/jeFlc4eiUtk/s200/IMG_2531.JPG" width="200" /></a>won’t ever remember you? It was hard to say goodbye and give our last hugs. I will miss them so much! Maybe by some miracle I will run into some of them later in life =)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are some more pictures of our goodbyes...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6h4RcH22bg/Te7mnvb4RvI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/PseXmANTva4/s1600/IMG_2533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6h4RcH22bg/Te7mnvb4RvI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/PseXmANTva4/s200/IMG_2533.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wkph_KuBySw/Te7mwu3qVWI/AAAAAAAAAnU/6plICk2f7YI/s1600/IMG_2534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wkph_KuBySw/Te7mwu3qVWI/AAAAAAAAAnU/6plICk2f7YI/s320/IMG_2534.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKFdQ7XzAf4/Te7nhm5TdHI/AAAAAAAAAns/qHI5AjVPYrI/s1600/IMG_2541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKFdQ7XzAf4/Te7nhm5TdHI/AAAAAAAAAns/qHI5AjVPYrI/s200/IMG_2541.JPG" width="200" /></a>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-68874892290217935442011-05-26T14:07:00.000-07:002011-12-24T14:25:09.508-08:00I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May 26, 2011</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a song called I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane by Chantal Kreviazuk and a few of the lines really describe how I've been feeling lately. No matter how many times I listen to this song it pulls at my heart every time:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;">All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go<br />
Already I'm so lonesome I could die<br />
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane<br />
I don't know when I'll be back again<br />
Every place I go, I think of you<br />
Every song I sing, I sing for you<br />
Now the time has come to leave you<br />
Dream about the days to come</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;">Obviously this isn't the whole song but these few lines really pertain to my experience here in Ukraine. Of course I am excited to go home and be with my family and friends again. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">But I am so sad to leave this place. Change is a strange thing to cope with. I was finally starting to feel comfortable with my host family and my schedule and now I have to pack my bags and head home. I have been here for almost 5 months. It has been my home. Now I'm packing my bags and I don't know what to feel. A part of me wants to be excited, but another side of me is screaming at me saying why on earth are you leaving this place? Going home I will have to find </span>a job, figure out college plans and get back into the swing of things. I have been so care free for these past few months.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Coming to Ukraine has been an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. I will never forget all the life lessons I have learned here, the friends I have made, or the places I have traveled to. Ukraine has taught me that you do not need much to be happy. The people here do not have very much but they make the most of what they do have. They are so giving and so humble. Being away from home has really taught me to appreciate the simple things in life, things I hope I never take for granted again. Most of all it has made me realize how much I love the examples my parents have set for me. They truly are shining beacons in my life, without them I would not be the person I am today. They set the way and I will be forever grateful for that. I hope one day I can be as good as parent to my kids as they are to me. I also have learned that now is the time, you don't know what tomorrow will bring so you might as well make the most of today. I am so lucky with my family, they are so good to me! Thank you to all of my siblings, brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, and extended family for all of your support. Your letters and emails have made all the difference. Time is quickly coming to a close, people are starting to say goodbye and whether I'm ready or not my plane heads home to America on June 1st. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;">To sum up my feelings </span></span>Kaitlin said it perfect:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I am leaving:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Ukraine in less than a week</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">All the adorable kids who won't remember me a year from now, yet I'll remember them for the rest of my life.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">My dear sweet babushka</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Teaching companions </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Native friends and coordinators</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The most fantastic host family in all of Ukraine</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What? Am I really leaving this place that I have lived for 139 days and learned to call home?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I am kind of freaking out.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Just a teeny tiny bit. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I am excited/nervous/sad/scared/anxious/lost/overwhelmed (yes you can feel that all at once) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Only a few more days here and I hope I can make the most of every moment. </span><br />
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<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;">How do I adjust to real life again? I</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t has been 139 days since I left my home in Boise and headed to Ukraine. I had no idea what to expect and things have been more amazing than I could ever hope for. Soon I will have to say goodbye to this beautiful place. I won't get up each day to my babushkas voice telling me its time for breakfast, I won't have to travel 40 minutes to my school, I won't take buses and metros to get everywhere, I won't be with the wonderful girls I have come so close to, I won't be able to teach the kids I have fallen in love with, I won't be with my host family anymore and I don't know when or if I will ever be back. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frodo said it best "How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back. There are some things that time cannot mend, some hurts that go to deep that have taken hold." My Ukrainian adventure is fast coming to close. I have cried, laughed, learned, taught, danced, traveled, and experienced so much! Thank you ILP for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow so much. I will remember this experience for the rest of my life and cherish it always.</span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-52057469666389324882011-05-26T13:14:00.000-07:002011-12-24T14:17:19.280-08:00BBQ-ING Ukrainian Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May 21st 2011</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dvCatzNuAjk/Td6n3Plz7UI/AAAAAAAAAlg/GHkPa73n3fw/s1600/225336_212253215463953_100000378274305_660910_3095623_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dvCatzNuAjk/Td6n3Plz7UI/AAAAAAAAAlg/GHkPa73n3fw/s320/225336_212253215463953_100000378274305_660910_3095623_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday was such a great day! It started off with all of our group and Kayla's group meeting up and heading to a BBQ/ talent show our coordinators put together for us. We were out in the woods right next to a little lake and it was absolutely beautiful. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The food included hot dogs, chips, and fruit, what could be better? While we were eating I kept feeling like we were camping and that I needed to be setting up a tent! I guess that means I miss camping or something =) After eating we had our own little talent show:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4OLfaAYq4Q/Td6n4TLJUQI/AAAAAAAAAlo/SVohSXgHvEA/s1600/249878_212253718797236_100000378274305_660921_5277636_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4OLfaAYq4Q/Td6n4TLJUQI/AAAAAAAAAlo/SVohSXgHvEA/s200/249878_212253718797236_100000378274305_660921_5277636_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBNKgpQwqXU/Td6oBBfM-jI/AAAAAAAAAls/z1mdFqI85oQ/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBNKgpQwqXU/Td6oBBfM-jI/AAAAAAAAAls/z1mdFqI85oQ/s320/IMG_2472.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ameri wrote some lyrics to 'Hey There Delilah' about our time in Ukraine for Igor and Tanya. We had never practiced it before... so it was ... interesting. Props to Ameri for writing a way cute song though!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tanya and Igor did a little skit to "there's a hole in the bucket." It was the cutest thing ever! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kayla's group did handstands and a little dance! They are so talented! </span><br />
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<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s3lFbzlBJCo/Td6o0hAhxTI/AAAAAAAAAmA/p6YD3zhip68/s1600/IMG_2506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s3lFbzlBJCo/Td6o0hAhxTI/AAAAAAAAAmA/p6YD3zhip68/s200/IMG_2506.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Center school did a little puppet show! It was a really cute story about a little 'roll.' Very creative guys!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NYCf1M8mUWg/Td6zIcUgppI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/tkDTKAXi5GA/s1600/IMG_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NYCf1M8mUWg/Td6zIcUgppI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/tkDTKAXi5GA/s200/IMG_2509.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tanya and Igor are the best Native Coordinators ever! I love them to death and I'm going to miss them so much! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They gave all of us personalized certificates that congratulate us on completing the semester and give us rights to come back to Kiev whenever we want. That was super sweet! They also gave each of us flower head dresses. Each one is different and unique because they had a group of children with autism make them for us. Can you say COOLEST gift ever! I love it so much! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After this BBQ was over we all headed over to the Robert's house for another BBQ! It was just as amazing as the first! These people are so nice to feed us all the time! Along with feeding us we played some Rock Band which was a BLAST! I have missed Nintendo a lot since I have been here! It was so fun to just hang out with everyone and play around. I cannot believe how fast time is flying by! </span></span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-44949790338065658532011-05-24T11:10:00.000-07:002011-12-24T14:14:15.712-08:00Folk Dance Concert<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> May 24, 2011</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HEB5h7O4m0Q/TdvxdoDJYKI/AAAAAAAAAlY/1yayTCnwHps/s1600/IMG_2461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HEB5h7O4m0Q/TdvxdoDJYKI/AAAAAAAAAlY/1yayTCnwHps/s200/IMG_2461.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">About a month ago we all got tickets to go see a folk dance concert on May 20th. We weren't really sure what to expect but our coordinators told us it would be really neat. Well the concert hall was HUGE and so many people were there! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lDZySwgBHCs/TdvxqCneeKI/AAAAAAAAAlc/RhVQ2gH9yr0/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lDZySwgBHCs/TdvxqCneeKI/AAAAAAAAAlc/RhVQ2gH9yr0/s320/IMG_2466.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We got in and found our seats and then the show began. There was dancing and singing and an orchestra playing. It was absolutely beautiful! The people were so talented. Here are some pictures from the show =)</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HgTJIW3gyVE/TdvxWNAW93I/AAAAAAAAAlU/wDH9ZbVdatc/s1600/IMG_2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HgTJIW3gyVE/TdvxWNAW93I/AAAAAAAAAlU/wDH9ZbVdatc/s320/IMG_2458.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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</span>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-12894396086235278362011-05-24T10:52:00.000-07:002011-12-24T14:13:28.763-08:00I Love to See the Temple<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-kjDc8X3MA/TdvvOF5wk9I/AAAAAAAAAlM/agASYMXG1pU/s1600/IMG_2442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-kjDc8X3MA/TdvvOF5wk9I/AAAAAAAAAlM/agASYMXG1pU/s200/IMG_2442.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4TKxZCxcSk/TdvvENesYQI/AAAAAAAAAlI/rls5QC-VYbc/s1600/IMG_2438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4TKxZCxcSk/TdvvENesYQI/AAAAAAAAAlI/rls5QC-VYbc/s200/IMG_2438.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May 24 2011- Since we are heading home soon we decided that we wanted to go to the temple one last time before we came back to America. We have been so fortunate to have a temple so close to where we live. We all headed to the temple for the 5 o'clock session. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had the privilege to hear from the temple president again. He is a really cool guy! H<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">e talked about how to get the temple inside of us.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">1. Pray with temple words</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> 2. Read the scriptures with temple eyes</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> 3. Thank your ancestors. I didn't realize that this is the first temple to be </span><br />
<div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eMu6d90B6SY/TdvvVz8ChxI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/QL3-k6Gul60/s1600/IMG_2452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eMu6d90B6SY/TdvvVz8ChxI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/QL3-k6Gul60/s320/IMG_2452.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">built in the USSR region! How cool is that =) The session went amazing of course then afterwards we decided to take some pictures around the temple. It was a beautiful day outside. I'm so glad we decided to go one last time. I am definitely going to miss the Kyiv temple a lot and all the friends we made there! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My life is good. I've been blessed with so much. I owe it to my ancestors to do their temple work. </span></span></div></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-70890925489714266402011-05-24T10:39:00.000-07:002011-12-24T14:11:57.831-08:00Young Single Adult Conference!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-meins7mxgR8/Tdvo8LMaZdI/AAAAAAAAAlE/7QN6-EbOhAI/s1600/IMG_2388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-meins7mxgR8/Tdvo8LMaZdI/AAAAAAAAAlE/7QN6-EbOhAI/s200/IMG_2388.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>May 24, 2011- We took a 2 hour bus ride through the most gorgeous mountains overlooking the Black Sea. Finally we arrived in Sevastopal and it was buisness as usual. We were so completely lost. All we knew was we needed to find a bus that would take us downtown.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We were quite the site walking back and forth not knowing where to go. We finally chose a bus to get on but we had no idea when we needed to get off. We ended up getting off late so we had to backtrack. From there we had to catch a ferry. We found the dock alright but we had no idea where to buy our tickets or where we needed to wait to get onto the ferry. There was a little boy nearby with his mom who happened to know some English and he helped us get on the ferry. The waves</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ouHGEAHWSM/TdvnuEG59dI/AAAAAAAAAkg/_BH6Dqr3wtA/s1600/IMG_2314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ouHGEAHWSM/TdvnuEG59dI/AAAAAAAAAkg/_BH6Dqr3wtA/s320/IMG_2314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> were at high tide so the boat was rocking like crazy! It was a super short ride but really fun. We got off the ferry and all we knew was that we needed to find a bus to take us to Marsukoba. Where that bus was we had no idea! We walked around a bit then waited at what we thought was a bus stop. Twenty five minutes later we decided to walk up further to find a bus. We flagged down 2 buses but niehter of them knew what Marsukoba was. We were at a </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--amyS0XC5S0/Tdvn4eYatzI/AAAAAAAAAkk/scL_uNHiRrw/s1600/IMG_2317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--amyS0XC5S0/Tdvn4eYatzI/AAAAAAAAAkk/scL_uNHiRrw/s200/IMG_2317.JPG" width="200" /></a>complete loss at what to do or where to go. I have never felt so hopeless in my life! We were starting to </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2-NZDzj-Ms0/TdvobxI-5JI/AAAAAAAAAk0/BMem1Em6LfM/s1600/IMG_2357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2-NZDzj-Ms0/TdvobxI-5JI/AAAAAAAAAk0/BMem1Em6LfM/s200/IMG_2357.JPG" width="150" /></a>give up hope of ever getting to the YSA conference when a bus came up and knew where to take us. He drove us to a bus station where we got on another bus that took us to Marsukoba. We finally found the conference! I have never been so excited to arrive somewhere. Once there we had to register and get into our rooms. Ameri and I were rooming together. The room was in this little cabin with two beds. After we got settled in we headed down to dinner to find our groups.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92BqXrec_bc/Tdvo0WWv4cI/AAAAAAAAAlA/pOehPa49AIs/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92BqXrec_bc/Tdvo0WWv4cI/AAAAAAAAAlA/pOehPa49AIs/s200/IMG_2380.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was in group 'siem' or seven. We were all given different groups... which made things really hard because we don't speak any russian and barely any of the people there spoke any english. After dinner there was a fireside but </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_N5bxfBVGU/TdvoAI2I6PI/AAAAAAAAAko/OPuPIS3XF60/s1600/IMG_2318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_N5bxfBVGU/TdvoAI2I6PI/AAAAAAAAAko/OPuPIS3XF60/s320/IMG_2318.JPG" width="320" /></a>Auvi, Derrik, and I decided to go down to the beach and watch the sunset instead. It was absolutely beautiful! I felt like I was inHawaii again! Afterwards we headed back up for a dance, it was Greek themed so everyone was dressed up in togas.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qdOmFca5hX4/TdvoOdhOLhI/AAAAAAAAAkw/48Lb_Y9T3n8/s1600/IMG_2334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qdOmFca5hX4/TdvoOdhOLhI/AAAAAAAAAkw/48Lb_Y9T3n8/s200/IMG_2334.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> It was a pretty fun dance despite the fact they kept the lights on. The next day the sun woke me up and I headed down to breakfast. Our rooms were so freezing, it was warmer outside at 7am then in our room under our blankets! Kind of ridiculous. After breakfast there was a seminar then later we headed down to the beach. It was kind of chilly outside so we </div><div style="text-align: left;">were sitting on the beach in pants, shirt, jacket and tennis shoes! It felt so wrong but it was still really fun! That night the temple president held a fireside, it was on preparing yourself to go to the temple. It was a really<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INPzLn8czQw/TdvoH5WImMI/AAAAAAAAAks/5Sph5MrLxJI/s1600/IMG_2328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INPzLn8czQw/TdvoH5WImMI/AAAAAAAAAks/5Sph5MrLxJI/s320/IMG_2328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> cool talk, and he spoke in English so that was really nice for us. Afterwards we had dinner then went straight to the talent show. It was interesting to see a talent show in Russian. We didn't understand anything but it was still fun! They ended the night with</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sk_137elQok/TdvolMp12MI/AAAAAAAAAk4/T_U--hanlhQ/s1600/IMG_2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sk_137elQok/TdvolMp12MI/AAAAAAAAAk4/T_U--hanlhQ/s200/IMG_2375.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjsTncg-H08/TdvoskNtdnI/AAAAAAAAAk8/SRsviIcIPVk/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjsTncg-H08/TdvoskNtdnI/AAAAAAAAAk8/SRsviIcIPVk/s200/IMG_2378.JPG" width="200" /></a> another dance which was so fun. Then we headed to bed for another cold night in our cabins. The next morning we got up and ate breakfast and then packed up and headed back to Sevastopal. This time some people from the camp helped us get a taxi which was so nice! We made it back to the train station then took the 15 hour bus ride back to Kyiv. It was so nice to be back in a nice bed with home cooked meals. The vacation was very much needed and I loved every moment of it! I can't believe how many places I have been able to travel to! Only a few more weeks until I go home! </div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-51833652997372160872011-05-17T02:18:00.000-07:002011-12-24T14:05:27.950-08:00Yalta!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hncgwJgIPQ8/TdIzXJ1JwjI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/oqIjOVX_iMw/s1600/IMG_2296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hncgwJgIPQ8/TdIzXJ1JwjI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/oqIjOVX_iMw/s200/IMG_2296.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">May 17, 2011-After staying in Poland for 2 1/2 days we got back on our beloved bus and headed back to L'viv to take a train to Kiev. We left pretty early and didn't do anymore site seeing in the morning because we were not sure how long the border would take this time and we didn't want to miss our train in L'viv. Well we got to the border quick enough and then the dread started to set in. None of us were looking forward to sitting for hours on end doing NOTHING. We decided to play a 'get to know you' game. One person would ask a question and then we would all go around answering it. It was pretty fun and it helped pass the time. Ironically enough we got through the border in just 3 hours!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So we arrived in L'viv at 6pm... our train was not due to leave until midnight... so we decided to hang around L'viv for a bit. We were all</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTOnsr4dhSk/TdIyhjsWmSI/AAAAAAAAAj4/9XE1vwBLcsM/s1600/IMG_2243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTOnsr4dhSk/TdIyhjsWmSI/AAAAAAAAAj4/9XE1vwBLcsM/s200/IMG_2243.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FiAct_H5BK0/TdIyaq_kWfI/AAAAAAAAAj0/I6UKA4dIP-o/s1600/IMG_2242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FiAct_H5BK0/TdIyaq_kWfI/AAAAAAAAAj0/I6UKA4dIP-o/s200/IMG_2242.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> really excited to go back to the crepe place because we loved it so much! But since our luck is so good the crepe place was under construction and not open! Figures. So a few of us decided to go to McDonalds, eat some dinner and then just sit until we needed to leave. We seriously sat there for a good 3 1/2 hours just talking! It was pretty great. Well we got on the train and headed home. Once in Kiev we had about 10 hours to go home, repack, relax, and shower before we had to be back at the train </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">station to head out to Simferopal. It was a 15 hour train ride and surprisingly I loved every hour of it! I pretty much slept or read the whole time =) We arrived in Simferopal and then had to find a bus that would take us to Yalta. It was about a 2 hour ride through the most gorgeous mountains. It is so tropical and beautiful! We all thought we were in Hawaii! Once in</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtjI2PbaLj0/TdIyqjeAG0I/AAAAAAAAAj8/swr6kvPd22U/s1600/IMG_2254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtjI2PbaLj0/TdIyqjeAG0I/AAAAAAAAAj8/swr6kvPd22U/s320/IMG_2254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yalta we took a car to our apartment for the night and then set out to explore! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me and Nat riding up the Gondola.</span></div></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1EDYbn8tPR4/TdIyzN1u9xI/AAAAAAAAAkA/1UgPnamqe-0/s1600/IMG_2256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1EDYbn8tPR4/TdIyzN1u9xI/AAAAAAAAAkA/1UgPnamqe-0/s320/IMG_2256.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MCnZ4XYD_0Y/TdIy7PyHs-I/AAAAAAAAAkE/prHlUdnqf5I/s1600/IMG_2261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MCnZ4XYD_0Y/TdIy7PyHs-I/AAAAAAAAAkE/prHlUdnqf5I/s200/IMG_2261.JPG" width="150" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first thing we did was a gondola ride to the top of a mountain to see over all of Yalta! It was a little overcast but still really warm because of the humidity! Our little cart was green =) </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After our ride up the mountain we wandered around on the dock of the Black Sea! There were so many people </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ID3fGr9qp5I/TdIzMnXdP6I/AAAAAAAAAkM/6jHTkcgCdE4/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ID3fGr9qp5I/TdIzMnXdP6I/AAAAAAAAAkM/6jHTkcgCdE4/s320/IMG_2290.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zz_tMPJ8V2w/TdIzFMyRdCI/AAAAAAAAAkI/kQJHFCBW4cM/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zz_tMPJ8V2w/TdIzFMyRdCI/AAAAAAAAAkI/kQJHFCBW4cM/s320/IMG_2267.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">walking around and selling things! It was so nice to just walk around without any destination and just enjoy everything! Later that night we sat down and saw this speed boat that would take people on a 5 min ride! I of course was all for doing this because #1 I love boats #2 it was a boat ride ON the Black Sea #3 It was once in a lifetime #4 only 3 bucks =)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I finally convinced a few to come with and it was so very worth it! The ride was really short but we were going so fast and we got sprayed with water and it was just soo much fun! After the ride a few girls wanted to head back up to the apartment for the night but Auvi, Ameri, Nat and I stayed out and played around. I mean we only had one day in Yalta so might as well enjoy it right? We walked along the dock, ate some ice cream, rented bikes and raced them, played follow the leader, and laughed so hard! It was such a fun night =)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AVqtSJ3AUtY/TdIzwBlHeaI/AAAAAAAAAkY/_jXa7fw2MsY/s1600/IMG_2298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AVqtSJ3AUtY/TdIzwBlHeaI/AAAAAAAAAkY/_jXa7fw2MsY/s320/IMG_2298.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrGfLtlHnF8/TdIzhQQrtxI/AAAAAAAAAkU/LqoJSrdc3bM/s1600/IMG_2297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrGfLtlHnF8/TdIzhQQrtxI/AAAAAAAAAkU/LqoJSrdc3bM/s200/IMG_2297.JPG" width="200" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next morning we had to head out to Sevastopal. I was so sad to leave Yalta! It was absolutely gorgeous and the weather was beautiful and sunny as well! Someday I will live somewhere tropical and sunny!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Below: Us waiting for the bust to take us to Sevastopal! =)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBNnVNFldeg/TdIz6_LykaI/AAAAAAAAAkc/2x-xwUZOEsE/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBNnVNFldeg/TdIz6_LykaI/AAAAAAAAAkc/2x-xwUZOEsE/s320/IMG_2304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-8915323395210188342011-05-15T13:13:00.000-07:002011-12-24T14:01:05.957-08:00The Sharlee Game =)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May 15 2011 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuJrUR1tB4M/TvTvVsvMLtI/AAAAAAAAAqI/EvoHSX0BYBw/s1600/IMG_2197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuJrUR1tB4M/TvTvVsvMLtI/AAAAAAAAAqI/EvoHSX0BYBw/s200/IMG_2197.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other than seeing Auschwitz and trying to catch up on sleep from our never ending bus ride we did go exploring around Krakow! Of course mother nature decided to be nice and give us some sun... couldn't she have done that when we went to Auschwitz? Oh well. We wandered around for a bit and then decided we wanted to go see Oscar Schindlers' Factory. W</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">e had been told that on Mondays it was free. Well we arrived at the Factory only to find that along with being free every Monday it was also closed the first Monday of every month. Go figure. We got some pictures of the sign though =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9yRKBrKxlV8/TdAZMtHasyI/AAAAAAAAAio/Rr-Fs_4my3U/s1600/IMG_2196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9yRKBrKxlV8/TdAZMtHasyI/AAAAAAAAAio/Rr-Fs_4my3U/s320/IMG_2196.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-emLprB-V2qw/TdAZicRBizI/AAAAAAAAAiw/aT3Qh4CEPBA/s1600/IMG_2199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-emLprB-V2qw/TdAZicRBizI/AAAAAAAAAiw/aT3Qh4CEPBA/s320/IMG_2199.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> After seeing his factory we headed over the river to the other side of town. Sharlee, a girl from Christina's group, wanted to come with us to Poland and we were so glad she did! Sharlee loves to take pictures of anything and everything! I mean why not? You probably will never be here again so why not catch EVERYTHING on camera! That is what started the Sharlee game. Some of us decided to jump on the bandwagon with her and take pictures of anything and everything. Since this is the case I am just going to show a bunch of random pictures. Enjoy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K4fUcds02j8/TdAbwyCnT8I/AAAAAAAAAi0/gb_sIRL2qxE/s1600/IMG_2174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K4fUcds02j8/TdAbwyCnT8I/AAAAAAAAAi0/gb_sIRL2qxE/s320/IMG_2174.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me and Sharlee: the maker of the game =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mbShYCFbQA/TdAb53AGuuI/AAAAAAAAAi4/ik3iabzfP_k/s1600/IMG_2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mbShYCFbQA/TdAb53AGuuI/AAAAAAAAAi4/ik3iabzfP_k/s320/IMG_2176.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love to get pictures in phone booths, it </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">always reminds me of Harry Potter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I may or may not have visited the Ministry of Magic </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">while I was in Poland.. =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kvkwnrVVkpY/TdAcKNVq-uI/AAAAAAAAAi8/aoVhH8uSxog/s1600/IMG_2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kvkwnrVVkpY/TdAcKNVq-uI/AAAAAAAAAi8/aoVhH8uSxog/s320/IMG_2188.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0ReaoEfdGY/TdAcQRgzPkI/AAAAAAAAAjA/WZwt0Wa8f6k/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0ReaoEfdGY/TdAcQRgzPkI/AAAAAAAAAjA/WZwt0Wa8f6k/s320/IMG_2193.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was so green and beautiful while we were there! All the trees and flowers were in bloom, oh how I love spring =)</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also wandered across the bridge, the river was beautiful! It seems every European country we have visited has a river that runs right through the city.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XXbQO7mgPE/TdAcWCLwCPI/AAAAAAAAAjE/ZQS8OmkZXLQ/s1600/IMG_2203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XXbQO7mgPE/TdAcWCLwCPI/AAAAAAAAAjE/ZQS8OmkZXLQ/s320/IMG_2203.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you believe in magic</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a young girls heart =) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> After wandering a bit more we decided to go look at a castle and found out apparently it is the second largest in Europe. Not sure what the name is ... but it was beautiful and huge!! Oh to live in a castle =) Below the castle there was a carnival going on that we played around at for a few hours so that was a lot of fun. Below are some pictures from it. All in all it was a pretty relaxing day! =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McpYOoTKr0Y/TdAdX6zaF2I/AAAAAAAAAjM/PE0hC5Q8xSo/s1600/IMG_2210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McpYOoTKr0Y/TdAdX6zaF2I/AAAAAAAAAjM/PE0hC5Q8xSo/s320/IMG_2210.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-93NSxxlGIco/TdAi1Ng_uCI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/VZtDjAeLstI/s1600/IMG_2214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-93NSxxlGIco/TdAi1Ng_uCI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/VZtDjAeLstI/s320/IMG_2214.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The castle really was enormous! </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were so many people there walking around! They even had their own cathedral built inside the walls! Makes me wonder... did they ever leave the castle walls? </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a story behind the dragon.... but I can't recall what it was. But it was pretty cool to see! </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pSKBeSw6hzw/TdAi9eS-6lI/AAAAAAAAAjU/OkrLSVPhDSc/s1600/IMG_2217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pSKBeSw6hzw/TdAi9eS-6lI/AAAAAAAAAjU/OkrLSVPhDSc/s320/IMG_2217.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1AIl4DQ4Za4/TdAjK3QdJmI/AAAAAAAAAjY/WbsUNhi4WYg/s1600/IMG_2224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1AIl4DQ4Za4/TdAjK3QdJmI/AAAAAAAAAjY/WbsUNhi4WYg/s320/IMG_2224.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a dragon's den you could go in as well, but we could only find the exit... maybe you have to be a dragon tamer or dragon lover like Hagrid to be able to find the entrance. This particular dragon would breath fire every few minutes. Pretty exciting =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_mFAi0BiQxo/TdAjTQJ9piI/AAAAAAAAAjc/TEq_mZn1u_8/s1600/IMG_2227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_mFAi0BiQxo/TdAjTQJ9piI/AAAAAAAAAjc/TEq_mZn1u_8/s320/IMG_2227.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking around town =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Lu1uEqA1qE/TdAjc639-JI/AAAAAAAAAjg/mCpjzz8ipdE/s1600/IMG_2229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Lu1uEqA1qE/TdAjc639-JI/AAAAAAAAAjg/mCpjzz8ipdE/s320/IMG_2229.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CzqYPdllus/TdAjl5ALS9I/AAAAAAAAAjk/tA9384HR3hU/s1600/IMG_2231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CzqYPdllus/TdAjl5ALS9I/AAAAAAAAAjk/tA9384HR3hU/s320/IMG_2231.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are everywhere! they look like statues right? WRONG! They are people posing.... they sit there for hours pretending to be statues and if you want a picture with one you have to pay them. They are so smart! I do not know how they stand so still! They looked like real statues! I could never do that lol</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is our adorable little Hostel Decco =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stayed in room Arabella!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nL5i4PjEpFc/TdAjtEvxE8I/AAAAAAAAAjo/Foi_OfExvG8/s1600/IMG_2235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nL5i4PjEpFc/TdAjtEvxE8I/AAAAAAAAAjo/Foi_OfExvG8/s320/IMG_2235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our little room of bunk beds that went around the</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cute little room =) Although I must say all the </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pictures of Arabella on the walls were a little creepy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UJGFXCBdId4/TdAj1F4mQtI/AAAAAAAAAjs/GSeIejR8tKA/s1600/IMG_2238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UJGFXCBdId4/TdAj1F4mQtI/AAAAAAAAAjs/GSeIejR8tKA/s320/IMG_2238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i-2N6mim6DA/TdAj7lq29HI/AAAAAAAAAjw/gBmxU5SNVzA/s1600/IMG_2240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i-2N6mim6DA/TdAj7lq29HI/AAAAAAAAAjw/gBmxU5SNVzA/s320/IMG_2240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was the little lounge area, complete with </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TV, couches, bean bags, computers, and movies!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Poland was BEAUTIFUL and I hope to come back someday! =)</span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-66549406715034863892011-05-15T13:12:00.000-07:002011-12-23T13:41:51.625-08:00Auschwitz Camp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May 15 2011</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_qprJdgNA_o/TvTwGuaLbMI/AAAAAAAAAqU/E9jpXN6e4XA/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_qprJdgNA_o/TvTwGuaLbMI/AAAAAAAAAqU/E9jpXN6e4XA/s200/IMG_2050.JPG" width="200" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we made it across the border it was another 3 hours until we arrived at our hostel and we seriously checked in, stowed our bags, and then headed out into the rain to find the bus station. Being the geniuses we are only 2 of the 9 of us brought umbrellas.... ya i was one of the non smart ones who forgot hers in Kiev. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nd_mdXFANtk/TvTwTPb7xNI/AAAAAAAAAqc/ycZFikHmiC4/s1600/IMG_2054+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nd_mdXFANtk/TvTwTPb7xNI/AAAAAAAAAqc/ycZFikHmiC4/s320/IMG_2054+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> OOPS! I learned my lesson. It was a 15 minute walk to the bus station and once there it was business like usual... none of us knew what bus we needed to get on, where to buy tickets, when the buses left etc. We wandered around for a bit and then I decided to see if anyone knew English. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first person we asked happened to know exactly what we needed and pointed us in the right direction. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We got on the bus and headed out to Auschwitz Camp. I was not really sure how I felt about visiting the camp</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P7u6jRDYLj4/TvTwbjK9iSI/AAAAAAAAAqk/Fw9UbcAcSpY/s1600/IMG_2057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P7u6jRDYLj4/TvTwbjK9iSI/AAAAAAAAAqk/Fw9UbcAcSpY/s320/IMG_2057.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and if I was ready. Well ready or not we arrived at the camp and it was still raining. We bought tickets to be part of an English tour. Our tour guide was really nice. She took us around Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II: Brikenau. It was so weird actually being there where so many people died after learning all about it in school. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I saw first hand that terrible place, the gloom, and the lies. I saw the place where millions of people were murdered. The piles of hair from dead people's heads, the massive amounts of shoes, and the meager </span></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_1Egrgqonk/TvTw6IX6KGI/AAAAAAAAAq0/rYXOA63PYvs/s1600/IMG_2086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_1Egrgqonk/TvTw6IX6KGI/AAAAAAAAAq0/rYXOA63PYvs/s200/IMG_2086.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R-lE71f1PmQ/TvTwkIGs9JI/AAAAAAAAAqs/7BkerXDiEbA/s1600/IMG_2062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R-lE71f1PmQ/TvTwkIGs9JI/AAAAAAAAAqs/7BkerXDiEbA/s200/IMG_2062.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">possessions that were taken from the prisoners. I honor the people who lived through such pain. I honor their will to live, their optimism, and their courage.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Auschwitz was closed the next day for the March of the Living, and lots of living Jews and descendent's of the survivors had gathered. Some of the older people recognized the people in the pictures. The March of the </span></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ju2RPkZZM88/TvTxEGorzDI/AAAAAAAAAq8/9o8U-CDnLH8/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ju2RPkZZM88/TvTxEGorzDI/AAAAAAAAAq8/9o8U-CDnLH8/s200/IMG_2089.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AB3au96wyJI/TvTxPTSOsXI/AAAAAAAAArE/7ncOfth6jvc/s1600/IMG_2092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AB3au96wyJI/TvTxPTSOsXI/AAAAAAAAArE/7ncOfth6jvc/s200/IMG_2092.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Living is where the living Jews march from Auschwitz to Birkenau. It's about a fifteen minute bus-ride. It was humbling to be there with people who had been directly impacted by the </span></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holocaust. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Auschwitz was a bunch of Army barracks that the Jews originally stayed in. A lot of it had been transformed into a museum. This is where they piled shoes, hair, and some of </span></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7e9Gui3hafU/TvTxjrL5K5I/AAAAAAAAArU/KiuypWHDSoY/s1600/IMG_2096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7e9Gui3hafU/TvTxjrL5K5I/AAAAAAAAArU/KiuypWHDSoY/s320/IMG_2096.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1roiS0pr_VQ/TvTxZfqw5bI/AAAAAAAAArM/Hj6VqmNH_a0/s1600/IMG_2094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1roiS0pr_VQ/TvTxZfqw5bI/AAAAAAAAArM/Hj6VqmNH_a0/s200/IMG_2094.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the belongings of the survivors. Brikenau was a bit more gloomy, because the place wasn't constructed for soldiers- it was built by prisoners, for prisoners. It poured rain on our tour. The remains of the gas chambers and the crematory were in Brikenau. </span></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvdEVGJTVD0/TvTyDGTpgXI/AAAAAAAAArs/K2lqnsrdA7g/s1600/IMG_2163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvdEVGJTVD0/TvTyDGTpgXI/AAAAAAAAArs/K2lqnsrdA7g/s320/IMG_2163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-42095214807691590782011-05-15T10:36:00.000-07:002011-12-23T13:08:16.787-08:00Border = Boredom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">May 15, 2011</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our ten day vacation started off with all of us being very excited to leave Kiev with the hope we would be escaping the cold to get some sun. I think mother nature decided that life would be too good to give us nice weather because instead of sun we had rain and lots of it. But hey its a vacation nonetheless so I can't complain. On Saturday, April 30th, Jennii and I headed to the train station. We got on a train that took us to L'viv. This was by far our favorite train! It was super clean, the right temperature, and the top bunks had bars which made us a lot less worried of rolling off. The train ride was also during the day! These things all made the 9 hour trip go a lot smoother. We arrived in L'viv. Once there we needed to find a bus that would take us to Krakow, Poland. The only thing we knew about this bus was its license plate number and a name (that none of us could pronounce). Could you say lost? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For some reason I was chosen to go find the bus. Have they not learned from previous experiences that I am really good at getting us lost? After a 20 minutes of searching we found our tiny bus amidst all the double decker buses. It was a small little 20 seater that looked more like a mini van. This turned out to be super convenient because we each got our own window seat and had plenty of room to spread out. None of us knew how long it would take to get to Krakow what with our luck of getting across the border. But we figured it couldn't be longer than 5 hours. I mean we were a TINY bus! We were very VERY wrong. We arrived at the border and we were seriously 20 feet away from the gate. We began to get very hopeful and started to make guesses on when we would get through. The longest we thought it would take was 3 or 4 hours. Well 2 hours went by and we still were not even THROUGH the gate. We seriously were so close. We played a few games that kept us busy and after 3 hours we made it through the gate... but that was just the beginning... We had to go through the grueling process of collecting the passports - getting our passports stamped for leaving Ukraine-being bored- 5 hours-trying to get comfortable- returning the passports- driving a few feet- stopping- driving some more- repositioning- collecting passports- getting them stamped for entering Poland - 7 hours- returning passports - driving a few feet- stopping- falling asleep- waking up- watching the sun rise- 9 hours- giving passports again- being so confused- needing a toilet- driving a few feet- 11 hours- finally out of the border- bathroom break- 12 hours- can you say RIDICULOUS! I don't care how much I want stamps... it is so not worth waiting that long. Do not ask me why it took that long because I have no flipping idea. It was a great way to start our vacation =) </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*On the border again, I can't wait to get off the border again*</span></span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-47212064381708108662011-04-26T13:25:00.000-07:002011-12-23T13:00:38.939-08:00Easter Weekend<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">April 26,2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This long weekend started off with Jennii and I teaching a double shift on Friday. This meant we taught the morning group from 9-1 and the afternoon from 3-7. We did this as a favor to the morning teachers because they willingly taught a double for us a few weeks ago so we could get better. I was super nervous for it.... I mean it's hard enough trying to make it through 4 hours of teaching but 8? Thank goodness I had </span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T8TaSYWppHc/TbciegRRWXI/AAAAAAAAAfU/b8NzDwGhMeg/s1600/IMG_1996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T8TaSYWppHc/TbciegRRWXI/AAAAAAAAAfU/b8NzDwGhMeg/s200/IMG_1996.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jennii right there with me because she kept me positive and energetic =) Teaching in the morning was actually a lot of fun! The kids were fun and silly and there was only half as many of the kids we have in the afternoon so it was super nice. We got done teaching the morning half and had a few hours to eat and get ready for round two. Somehow I made it through the next 4 hours of teaching... not sure how I did that without falling asleep but I did! Needless to say I have never been so exhausted in my </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNmHks9beWs/Tbcg6WBXtzI/AAAAAAAAAek/FDHPsFK2sy4/s1600/IMG_1970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNmHks9beWs/Tbcg6WBXtzI/AAAAAAAAAek/FDHPsFK2sy4/s200/IMG_1970.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgcHxB50S34/TbcgwtXqWHI/AAAAAAAAAeg/5eEhx4KQqpc/s1600/IMG_1969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgcHxB50S34/TbcgwtXqWHI/AAAAAAAAAeg/5eEhx4KQqpc/s200/IMG_1969.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">life! Kids wear you out! But I'm glad we could give the other girls a break =) So after teaching I headed home for my 3 day weekend! I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">spent the first night staying up really late watching Gilmore Girls =) On Saturday I slept in and then spent the whole day at home with my host family basking in the sun. It was about 70 degrees here! It felt like heaven! I was outside about 95% of the day playing with my host brother, reading, tanning, sleeping, eating, catching butterflies, playing soccer, etc. It was so fun to hang out with my family because I don't usually have a lot of time to spend with them. We also spent some time painting eggs and making Easter cake. It was a very relaxing Saturday =) Then on Sunday we got up and headed over to my host Uncles house and spent Easter with them. I played with the kids, went on an Easter egg hunt, ate delicious food, and soaked up the sun. It was definitely weird not being home for Easter, I'm glad we had an Easter egg hunt =) It was funny because my host mom hid the eggs and </span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6q0l3F1XfnU/Tbcf4Ocg0lI/AAAAAAAAAeY/c-BVTQc4Y00/s1600/IMG_1966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6q0l3F1XfnU/Tbcf4Ocg0lI/AAAAAAAAAeY/c-BVTQc4Y00/s200/IMG_1966.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_enjIF-6Uk/Tbcgn-ahQ5I/AAAAAAAAAec/OrcGs-OYb8Q/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_enjIF-6Uk/Tbcgn-ahQ5I/AAAAAAAAAec/OrcGs-OYb8Q/s200/IMG_1967.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6q0l3F1XfnU/Tbcf4Ocg0lI/AAAAAAAAAeY/c-BVTQc4Y00/s1600/IMG_1966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">in the end we couldn't find one! This reminded me of how Dad can't ever remember where he puts all of his eggs. I told my Host mom we should have made a map of where she hid them and she just laughed at me. Since I found the most eggs I got some chocolate as a prize =) On Monday I slept in and took my sweet time getting ready and then headed out to hangout with Natalie, Auvi, and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ameri. We all met at Khrishatic and decided to people watch for a little. After only being there for a few minutes we noticed a guy that was cleaning off his bench before sitting on it. He noticed us looking at him and waved to us, so we of course waved back.... bad idea. He then </span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kDn8MdNlVM4/TbchfEqf-kI/AAAAAAAAAe0/uzIl-SbxFa4/s1600/IMG_1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kDn8MdNlVM4/TbchfEqf-kI/AAAAAAAAAe0/uzIl-SbxFa4/s200/IMG_1980.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jC8izhsE578/TbchmMrCbDI/AAAAAAAAAe4/Nf7h-df4qZ0/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jC8izhsE578/TbchmMrCbDI/AAAAAAAAAe4/Nf7h-df4qZ0/s200/IMG_1981.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">proceeded to come toward us and since we don't speak very much Russian we just sat there awkwardly while he, Artem, rambled on and on and tried to use some English here and there. We finally found a way to escape and as we were getting up to leave Artem put his fingers up to his lips, meaning he wanted a kiss before we left. We all just laughed and walked away. Gotta love people watching =) We then headed over to Friendship Arch. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They have a few amusement park rides over there and we decided to try one out. It was called the Matrix and looked a lot like the Magic Carpet ride. It turned out to be SUCH a fun ride! The seats were really big so while it was going around and around you would just bounce around in your seat. I forgot how much I love going on rides! After the ride we headed across the bridge to go spend some time at the beach, little did we know it was a nude beach...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> JUST KIDDING =) It was so nice out and there were so many people out making sand castles, playing cards, tanning, and reading. I could have spent the rest of my day there! I definitely plan on going back another day! We spent some time soaking our feet in the freezing water and then headed</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iw1KQlhFrLM/TbciBDL4foI/AAAAAAAAAfE/Px0RT_LjwcM/s1600/IMG_1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iw1KQlhFrLM/TbciBDL4foI/AAAAAAAAAfE/Px0RT_LjwcM/s200/IMG_1988.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LMQ8NGTmZ-k/TbchweEC8SI/AAAAAAAAAe8/MTy7mnk74I4/s1600/IMG_1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LMQ8NGTmZ-k/TbchweEC8SI/AAAAAAAAAe8/MTy7mnk74I4/s200/IMG_1982.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> back across the bridge. I absolutely love 3 day weekends =) It's amazing how much the sun has opened my eyes to how beautiful Kyiv is and that I really am going to miss it here! This weekend we head out on our 10 day vacation to Poland and Crimea, and then after that we will only have 2 and 1/2 weeks left of teaching! I cannot believe how fast time has flown! Since I have such little time left I have decided I am going to LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT =)</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Here are some more pictures from my weekend =)</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WjL4h7YphY/TbcfwRliguI/AAAAAAAAAeU/CWrNquNEthg/s1600/IMG_1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WjL4h7YphY/TbcfwRliguI/AAAAAAAAAeU/CWrNquNEthg/s200/IMG_1960.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tFBtu54TkN0/TbchAIUczDI/AAAAAAAAAeo/1zDvfJgZMcI/s1600/IMG_1972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tFBtu54TkN0/TbchAIUczDI/AAAAAAAAAeo/1zDvfJgZMcI/s320/IMG_1972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Left: After spending a night barbecuing this was our view =)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Right: Vova was trying to teach me how to skateboard, he is super talented</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CZyyzl8BHXc/TbchGZDharI/AAAAAAAAAes/3q3AfZlR9sg/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CZyyzl8BHXc/TbchGZDharI/AAAAAAAAAes/3q3AfZlR9sg/s200/IMG_1974.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sm_Wh6Mzvio/TbchPnbAYxI/AAAAAAAAAew/nlFqsLlxg4c/s1600/IMG_1977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sm_Wh6Mzvio/TbchPnbAYxI/AAAAAAAAAew/nlFqsLlxg4c/s320/IMG_1977.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Left: This loving dish is called 'blood of a pig' still think it looks good? Think again :/</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Right: Easter Eve barbecue, the food here is AMAZING</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iFePCLrBr5s/Tbch5rvfLuI/AAAAAAAAAfA/tPIlgm51pfU/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iFePCLrBr5s/Tbch5rvfLuI/AAAAAAAAAfA/tPIlgm51pfU/s320/IMG_1983.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yM429slhEwA/TbciJWb7PeI/AAAAAAAAAfI/FAV2u3bjsCc/s1600/IMG_1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yM429slhEwA/TbciJWb7PeI/AAAAAAAAAfI/FAV2u3bjsCc/s200/IMG_1989.JPG" width="150" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Left: Looking out over the river above the beach</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Right: Behind me is the bridge we walked across to get to the beach, do you notice the SUN! =)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FENl7THDM58/TbciX9m8LPI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/0kbIig3rwnw/s1600/IMG_1993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FENl7THDM58/TbciX9m8LPI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/0kbIig3rwnw/s200/IMG_1993.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTR_R8pfPWo/TbciRDS4Y1I/AAAAAAAAAfM/VRKDlIFri2o/s1600/IMG_1990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTR_R8pfPWo/TbciRDS4Y1I/AAAAAAAAAfM/VRKDlIFri2o/s320/IMG_1990.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Left: Natalie and Auvi being so silly! Gotta love height differences =)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Right: Sorry I cut off your face Nat!I love these girls <3</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Happy Easter!</span>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-61911523584630931292011-04-26T12:15:00.000-07:002011-12-23T12:54:10.315-08:00"This Has Gotta Be the Good Life"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTzEfGPZGB0/TbcWyfhzT8I/AAAAAAAAAd4/ALtoRrN-jAM/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTzEfGPZGB0/TbcWyfhzT8I/AAAAAAAAAd4/ALtoRrN-jAM/s320/007.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CFdWocKNcMw/TbcXrps6jzI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/yAPfX7ElSrc/s1600/IMG_1369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CFdWocKNcMw/TbcXrps6jzI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/yAPfX7ElSrc/s200/IMG_1369.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">April 26, 2011 About a month and a half ago my head teacher Ameri found out that One Republic would be doing a European Tour in April. This meant that they were coming to Ukraine on the 13th. A few of us decided to get tickets because we love One Republic. We went and bought are tickets and then decided it would be really fun to get all dressed up for this concert because it was being held in a really nice club called the Crystal Hall. For the next few weeks we all searched for some really cute outfit to wear. The concert was on a Wednesday night and started at 9. So after teaching we hurried and changed and got all ready and headed over to Crystal Hall. Getting ready took a little longer than we expected and by the time we got to the hall </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DS_8XzIw8vg/TbcW_mdIKyI/AAAAAAAAAd8/lxMHZWmh1AA/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DS_8XzIw8vg/TbcW_mdIKyI/AAAAAAAAAd8/lxMHZWmh1AA/s200/010.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">there was a really long line out the door. We thought that this was a line for people who hadn't bought tickets; we were wrong. It was the line for the people with tickets. We hurried and got in line and anxiously waited to get inside, not just because we were really excited but also because it was raining and we didn't have umbrellas or hoods.... not the best planing on our parts. I guess we forgot the nursery rhyme "April showers bring May flowers." Finally after waiting for 40 minutes we got inside and checked in our coats and found a spot on the dance floor. I really was not expecting the place to have that many people in it considering it was an American band. Boy was I wrong. It was the most crowded concert I have ever been too. Then again I have only been to 3, but still it was super crowded. We got all situated and then had to wait for One Republic to come out. The concert finally started at 10, and they played about 14 or 15 songs. It was a really good concert, they played all my favorites: Marching On, Goodlife, Apologize, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXvZ-wLGBec/TbcXR9WRWyI/AAAAAAAAAeE/_HNWTdrClCk/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXvZ-wLGBec/TbcXR9WRWyI/AAAAAAAAAeE/_HNWTdrClCk/s200/025.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uAiqUtVT9D4/TbcXG7wUklI/AAAAAAAAAeA/2KNgJmsiiWg/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uAiqUtVT9D4/TbcXG7wUklI/AAAAAAAAAeA/2KNgJmsiiWg/s200/019.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secrets, All the Right Moves, Say All I Need, etc. The best part about the concert, other than the fact that they were amazing live, was that they let you take pictures! Everyone had their cameras and phones out. I took a bunch of videos but of course none of them turned out... at least I got a few decent photos =) The concert got done and then we had to go through the miserable rush of trying to get our coats. Imagine 1500 people all trying to cram into one little hallway to get their coats. That is pretty much how it went... not the funnest </span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-60srwnHJjLM/TbcXqgCvRKI/AAAAAAAAAeM/bX5AOqXU1-c/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-60srwnHJjLM/TbcXqgCvRKI/AAAAAAAAAeM/bX5AOqXU1-c/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iz9pyLpiKvE/TbcXhvMMXLI/AAAAAAAAAeI/mDGDEgNRTCY/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iz9pyLpiKvE/TbcXhvMMXLI/AAAAAAAAAeI/mDGDEgNRTCY/s200/027.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">endeaver. We finally got our coats and headed outside and realized we didn't have enough time or energy to make it to the Metro before it closed so we decided to take a cab. Our driver was super cool and knew really good English. Surprisingly enough he said he had been a singer in New York for a while and he let us listen to his CD. He was a super nice guy =) I was so thankful we were able to drive instead of walk because after standing in heels for almost 3 hours my feet were pretty tired. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all it was one amazing concert =) </span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-87664018600536605112011-04-15T15:58:00.000-07:002011-12-23T12:50:27.984-08:00It Has Been Foretold...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m20aJRJw6iQ/TajK4LkNdaI/AAAAAAAAAds/nATgna2orRI/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m20aJRJw6iQ/TajK4LkNdaI/AAAAAAAAAds/nATgna2orRI/s320/001.JPG" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">April 15,2011</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last Sunday we watched the Sunday morning session of General Conference and afterwards a few of us headed over to Rockie's house to hang out before going to a Relief Society birthday party later that night. Rockie has the sweetest babushka *grandma* ever! She is such a sweetheart. She made us an amazing dinner and afterwards wanted to read mine and Jennii's fortunes. Jennii went first and while she was gone Kami played with my hair. She is so talented with her hands! This was the final outcome! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was super cool. I felt like Kira Knightly in Pride and Prejudice when Jane is doing her hair for the ball. Hopefully one day I will learn to braid my own hair. =) </span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fjMaHugfx3A/TajK-dXF0GI/AAAAAAAAAdw/JxdLgE0CYqE/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fjMaHugfx3A/TajK-dXF0GI/AAAAAAAAAdw/JxdLgE0CYqE/s320/003.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There ended up being about 7 braids </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in my hair =) super cool. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jennii finally came back and it was my turn to have my fortune read. She started off by getting my birth date and from there made a 3x3 square and put in how many times I had each number ranging from 1-9. From there each number meant something. I turned out to be a number 6 overall which meant: I am good with my hands. This is what the fortune looked like in the end. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSLGxEsIqdI/TajK-x0ALuI/AAAAAAAAAd0/t7yo3eZ5MZs/s1600/fortune.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSLGxEsIqdI/TajK-x0ALuI/AAAAAAAAAd0/t7yo3eZ5MZs/s1600/fortune.png" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The 1's mean: I have a strong character</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The 2's mean: Lots of energy</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since I didn't have any 3's it meant: No math skills, more of the artsy type (I didn't need a fortune teller to know that =))</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The 4 means: I will be healthy and well off</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not having 5's meant: I have no logic and I like to daydream (I always knew there was something wrong with me... guess I'm lacking logic =))</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The 6's mean: Love to work, good with my hands </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not having 7's meant: I have a lot of freedom with my life</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The 8 means: I have a strong love for my parents and responsibility to care for them</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The 9's mean: Good memory</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some other notable points:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Family is really important to me</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will want to give money to others, service</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I must find a job I will be happy with</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think a lot, must pray to God</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Good with people</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Teach </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Don't be lazy</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Like to have things NOW</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Find a husband who listens to me</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Children will mean a lot to me</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Develop talents</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was weird how just from getting my birth date she could give me all this information about myself and how a lot of it was right! It was a really cool experience =)</span>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-11001404190664773422011-04-15T15:22:00.000-07:002011-12-23T12:47:20.052-08:00A Solution to Happiness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ea2DsXDsj8M/TajDG8lbO-I/AAAAAAAAAdo/uAKpIppRh6Q/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ea2DsXDsj8M/TajDG8lbO-I/AAAAAAAAAdo/uAKpIppRh6Q/s320/051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">April 15, 2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have learned a lot about myself while being in the Ukraine. One of those things is my love for chocolate. It never can go wrong and it never seems to get old =) That being said my fellow teacher, Kenzie, discovered a combination that is TO DIE FOR. She had the genius idea to put a chocolate bar in bread. I'm not going to lie, when she first told me this I thought ' are you kidding me? That sounds disgusting!' Well since then I have indeed had a change of heart. Sometimes I wonder </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">why it never crossed my mind to think of this genius invention giving how much I eat chocolate. It is seriously the most amazing combination ever! And it just so happens that they have these shops here all over Kyiv that make bread right in front of you and then sell a fresh loaf <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">for 5 hryvna which is less than a dollar! I mean who can resist that? The bread is amazing by itself but with the chocolate bar it's DELISH! I would say try it and find out for yourself what you think? But that would require me sending you a loaf of this amazing bread and a bar of the little babooshka chocolate for you to truly understand why we love it so much. How long do you think bread lasts? I'm not sure it would still be good after 20 hours of flying.... </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Oh and it just so happens there is one right next to our bus stop and after a stressful day at school its the perfect solution to happiness. I might be a little bit addicted =)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Lk7kZdQ_cY/TajCnzxGbhI/AAAAAAAAAdU/hJZU7Z877Rc/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Lk7kZdQ_cY/TajCnzxGbhI/AAAAAAAAAdU/hJZU7Z877Rc/s320/040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They make it in this fire pot thing! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is the coolest thing ever! =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only takes like 5-10 min</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KKkHZwxpFQg/TajC0qIaNCI/AAAAAAAAAdc/YJzFwqiFQ-A/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KKkHZwxpFQg/TajC0qIaNCI/AAAAAAAAAdc/YJzFwqiFQ-A/s320/044.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0EX9vupAD3Q/TajCttdhllI/AAAAAAAAAdY/WoZH40WtwaE/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0EX9vupAD3Q/TajCttdhllI/AAAAAAAAAdY/WoZH40WtwaE/s320/043.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennii and I so excited to eat our bread and chocolate =)</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a good dinner!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7WQpmRSs80/TajC6lEM_XI/AAAAAAAAAdg/05baZCbAqtU/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7WQpmRSs80/TajC6lEM_XI/AAAAAAAAAdg/05baZCbAqtU/s320/047.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bread is so warm that the chocolate </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">starts to melt the minute you put</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it on it =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OhcyAHikqrI/TajDArgmEFI/AAAAAAAAAdk/OuCShx4FQ0A/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OhcyAHikqrI/TajDArgmEFI/AAAAAAAAAdk/OuCShx4FQ0A/s320/049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A 15 minute bus ride is the perfect length to finish</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this treat =) Afterwards we sorta feel like fatties...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but it was sooo good we don't even care =)</span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-69059208740137091652011-04-09T11:42:00.000-07:002011-12-23T12:44:32.226-08:00Arachnophobia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1UansceZgNs/TaCn5ZSi-rI/AAAAAAAAAcc/EA2A-MKO-Cc/s1600/IMG_1891%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1UansceZgNs/TaCn5ZSi-rI/AAAAAAAAAcc/EA2A-MKO-Cc/s320/IMG_1891%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">April 9, 2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today marks a very big day in my life. I was sitting at home watching a video on my laptop when out of the corner of my eye I saw something scurry by on the floor. It was a spider. My heart immediately started to pound. I tried to just push it out of my mind and continue watching my show but then I started thinking 'if I don't get it now it could crawl on me during the night!' The spider was about 5 feet away from where I was sitting. I wanted to run out of my room for a few minutes and just wait for it to leave but I knew if I did that I would never get any sleep for fear of seeing it later. I slowly stood up and grabbed my slipper and started inching toward the spider. It of course just sat still and watched my every move. I lifted the slipper above my head and tried to get my arm to swing down to smash the spider but </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I couldn't get myself to do it! I was having an inner battle with myself. If I were back home my fearless parents would save me from this horrid situation but I'm not at home and I didn't want to risk asking my host parents to help me in the fear that the spider would scurry away. I began to laugh at myself, "just do it!" I decided I should have a bigger shoe to kill the spider so I grabbed my tennis shoe and inched closer to the spider. Still it did not move a muscle. I gathered all my energy and swung my arm as hard as I could at the spider. The shoe hit the spider but it wasn't dead yet it needed another smack. I summoned up one more swing and was able to kill the spider. I quickly moved away from it, grabbed some toilet paper and threw it down the toilet! My heart was still racing and my hands were shaking and my mind was racing. I just killed my very first spider! This momentous occasion doesn't really change much of how I react to spiders. I am still just as terrified as ever maybe even a little bit more. But at least I know that if I summon the courage I can kill it! =) </span>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-43089484070358593042011-04-07T12:58:00.000-07:002011-12-23T12:42:28.312-08:00Self Portrait<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">April 7, 2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week we had open class. This is where the parents come in and watch us teach. I get nervous just teaching by myself, add parents watching and I'm a mess! Side effects of this dreadful week are usually, but not limited to, anxiety, panic, stress, no appetite, no sleep etc. After having 2 days of this I got home tonight and I was pretty tired and hoping to get to bed early to catch up on my sleep... my plans did not work out. I walked in the door and was first greeted by my dogs, then my babooshka. I then was hoping I would be able to sneak into my room and my bed. My room is right across from the kitchen so this is highly unlikely. So as I was sneaking toward my bedroom of course my host mom stopped me and asked her favorite question, "Mindy, are you hungry?" I always feel really bad when I say no, and tonight we had company over so of course I said yes thinking I would hurry and eat then slip out to my room. Well I started eating and was about to slip away when </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my host mom asked me to play Titanic for them. I love to play the piano but I get really nervous when I have to play in front of people. I was able to make it almost all the way through the song then my mind went blank... this always seems to happen in the same spot in this song and its super frustrating. I of course went bright red and said sorry I couldn't remember it, they just laughed and smiled and said "Mindy its ok!" By this time I realized I actually was not too tired so I decided to hang out for a little. Little did I know that while I was sipping my tea Misha, Jennii's host brother, was drawing a portrait of me. He comes over to me with his big drawing pad, points to the picture he has drawn, then points to me, meaning "this is a drawing of you." I try and be nice and tell him it looks just like me because I don't want to criticize him for trying. He then continues to show the rest of the guests his drawing and they all BURST out laughing! Here is the portrait of me, see the resemblance =) </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qiFYd9vtSdU/TZ4WhBkYgLI/AAAAAAAAAcY/BKDOBCe6wEI/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qiFYd9vtSdU/TZ4WhBkYgLI/AAAAAAAAAcY/BKDOBCe6wEI/s320/003.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YJjND_sfLW4/TZ4WaVnB3gI/AAAAAAAAAcU/vyx84ZwMhFU/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YJjND_sfLW4/TZ4WaVnB3gI/AAAAAAAAAcU/vyx84ZwMhFU/s320/002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here is the artist holding up his masterpiece of me =)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all it was a pretty good night! </span>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-62568602895259499542011-04-03T05:25:00.000-07:002011-12-23T12:39:49.533-08:00"Best. Day. Ever"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BzjEDOU2fno/TZhekrspj-I/AAAAAAAAAbU/lPUK9L6TNaA/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BzjEDOU2fno/TZhekrspj-I/AAAAAAAAAbU/lPUK9L6TNaA/s320/IMG_1776.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JItVD5mDIUk/TZhev7qSWxI/AAAAAAAAAbY/hPhm_r-d-Ts/s1600/IMG_1777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JItVD5mDIUk/TZhev7qSWxI/AAAAAAAAAbY/hPhm_r-d-Ts/s320/IMG_1777.JPG" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">April 3, 2011</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After our trip to Dresden we had the next day in Prague to do whatever we wanted. We decided that we would sleep in a little and then head out. Natalie was so nice to do my hair and let me wear her coat because the weather was so nice I didn't want to wear my big one. Thank you Natalie! We headed out and just wandered around Prague with no destination in mind except to explore places we had not been yet. We happened to run into this big wall of graffiti where you can write whatever you want on it. Later I learned </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it is called the Lennon wall. We picked a spot and all signed something on the wall. It was amazing all the different things that were all over the wall! I decided to put up my favorite quote, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." - Jimi Hendrix. It was pretty cool to put my mark up on the wall! </span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc4IXJVw4YU/TZhfE_6ONPI/AAAAAAAAAbg/Uk9grUqmRVk/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc4IXJVw4YU/TZhfE_6ONPI/AAAAAAAAAbg/Uk9grUqmRVk/s200/IMG_1788.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp1aaPidH_g/TZhe5njGBgI/AAAAAAAAAbc/1nFSjwncv7I/s1600/IMG_1780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp1aaPidH_g/TZhe5njGBgI/AAAAAAAAAbc/1nFSjwncv7I/s200/IMG_1780.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After spending some time taking pictures around this wall and adding our notes to it we headed on. We then ran into a lock bridge. Actually it was more like a lock wall! There were so many locks! We didn't have a lock to add but it was cute watching all the couples add </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rmeNci43LL4/TZhfMjYmZhI/AAAAAAAAAbk/ZRe0zQBe5ug/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rmeNci43LL4/TZhfMjYmZhI/AAAAAAAAAbk/ZRe0zQBe5ug/s200/IMG_1789.JPG" width="200" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">their locks to the bridge. We decided we wanted to head over Charles Bridge again and look at all the different shops. Who knew that crossing a bridge could take almost 2 hours?! We stopped at every single little shop. There are so many jewelry shops and places to get caricatures.</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOx3y5ByUB8/TZhfUf69PyI/AAAAAAAAAbo/QLCmG4gcfk0/s1600/IMG_1796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOx3y5ByUB8/TZhfUf69PyI/AAAAAAAAAbo/QLCmG4gcfk0/s320/IMG_1796.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While crossing the bridge you hear a lot of different things but something that we loved was listening to the 'bridge band'. It was a group of old guys playing their instruments and singing. They were so cute and happy! Their music was pretty awesome as well. They even had a CD you could buy if you wanted. How fun =) We mostly just spent the day going around looking at different shops and getting souvenirs. At the end of the day we were pretty tired. Ameri wears a pedometer and it counts how many miles she walks. The final count for the day was 11.5 miles! We were out from 9 am until 10 pm! I don't think my feet have ever been so tired! But it was totally worth it! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day we packed up all of our stuff and got on the bus. We had our last little tour of Prague Castle, Stragovskiy Monastery, St. Vitus Cathedral and Caldshtejnsky Garden. We </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">were all pretty tired from the walking and busing everywhere that I didn't catch much of what the tour guide was saying.... oops! Here are some pictures from the tour: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DgNpYhDsdDg/TZhfhKBp0ZI/AAAAAAAAAbw/eRUWJVCwA58/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DgNpYhDsdDg/TZhfhKBp0ZI/AAAAAAAAAbw/eRUWJVCwA58/s200/IMG_1806.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t6VxpcSJfag/TZhfZkSSyoI/AAAAAAAAAbs/WT8DGtPRGoc/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t6VxpcSJfag/TZhfZkSSyoI/AAAAAAAAAbs/WT8DGtPRGoc/s200/IMG_1802.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking out over Prague. It was pretty foggy so </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you can't see much but it was beautiful! The building above was the town city hall. This is where they held any kind of town business. Below is the gateway into where the 'president' of Czech lives. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pi94zx3hQVs/TZhfooPsfoI/AAAAAAAAAb0/V0_TmBVZjFc/s1600/IMG_1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pi94zx3hQVs/TZhfooPsfoI/AAAAAAAAAb0/V0_TmBVZjFc/s200/IMG_1812.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-exwITfOj3C4/TZhfxF_yR4I/AAAAAAAAAb4/4RFBknXNNpg/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-exwITfOj3C4/TZhfxF_yR4I/AAAAAAAAAb4/4RFBknXNNpg/s200/IMG_1821.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are guards that stand at the gate and our tour guide told us to 'go make laugh' but we all thought he said 'go make love!' =) we all decided to take a picture with one of the guards and he was having the hardest time keeping a straight face... poor guy. =) We then headed inside the cathedral.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">huge! and so gorgeous! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is not in practice anymore but it was cool to look around.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cxFkTSb3S54/TZhf7mzP_0I/AAAAAAAAAb8/59pgJ4oWb5M/s1600/IMG_1830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cxFkTSb3S54/TZhf7mzP_0I/AAAAAAAAAb8/59pgJ4oWb5M/s200/IMG_1830.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MzUacqIr1q4/TZhgDO5bZSI/AAAAAAAAAcA/9ZCMIhTL62s/s1600/IMG_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MzUacqIr1q4/TZhgDO5bZSI/AAAAAAAAAcA/9ZCMIhTL62s/s200/IMG_1834.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a really cool mosaic. Our tour guide told us that it was made up of 70,000 pieces! Can you imagine putting all of that together! It would take so long! It's amazing that it has been preserved after all these years! We then continued walking and ran into this Barbie exhibition! It reminded me of Rat Race when they go to the Barbie museum. So funny! We didn't actually go in but it looked pretty fun. The last place he took us were the gardens.</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3vd_LA07riM/TZhgIAEt5sI/AAAAAAAAAcE/JHgm2Ig-8GM/s1600/IMG_1836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3vd_LA07riM/TZhgIAEt5sI/AAAAAAAAAcE/JHgm2Ig-8GM/s200/IMG_1836.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WyRVrsR5Rpo/TZhmIH2MocI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/7sRz_V-Xz3c/s1600/201464_10150120962737515_655557514_6325152_339215_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WyRVrsR5Rpo/TZhmIH2MocI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/7sRz_V-Xz3c/s200/201464_10150120962737515_655557514_6325152_339215_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were beautiful! It had the most gorgeous outlook over all of Prague. After our tour we packed up the bus and headed home. We went through the whole country of Poland so that was cool! The border only took about 4 hours this time so that was nice! After a 30 hour bus ride we returned home to Ukraine. I absolutely loved my tour of eastern Europe! It was so much fun to go to all those different countries! I definitely learned a lot! I will miss Prague the most but someday I hope to go back and see it all again!</span>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-67195594968950806582011-04-03T04:44:00.000-07:002011-12-22T13:52:21.642-08:00Here Comes the Sun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kwvcyesZr8w/TZhZ1YsIAFI/AAAAAAAAAak/fcQOpTKm5q4/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kwvcyesZr8w/TZhZ1YsIAFI/AAAAAAAAAak/fcQOpTKm5q4/s320/IMG_1690.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tGfjeSRAmhk/TZhZ6XOPnHI/AAAAAAAAAbA/ZW3nIijFGkg/s1600/IMG_1713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tGfjeSRAmhk/TZhZ6XOPnHI/AAAAAAAAAbA/ZW3nIijFGkg/s200/IMG_1713.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
April 3, 2011<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The next morning we got up super early to head over to Dresden, Germany. The bus ride was about 3 hours so not too bad. It was pretty early so I was planning on sleeping the whole time! Once we got there we were told we had a little over 4 hours to explore the city. Dresden is one of the largest cultural capitals of Europe. The city was completely destroyed by the controversial Allied aerial bombing towards the end of World War II so the monuments and buildings we saw were replicas of what had been there before the bombing. We walked around a lot and saw </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the Katholische Hofkirche, the Semperoper, and the Dresdner Frauenkirche. The weather here was SO warm it felt amazing! We didn't have a guide showing us where to go so we just wandered around. I tried bratwurst for the first time and absolutely LOVED it! No wonder people eat it all the time! Here are some pictures of things we saw/did:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRF43bsIwd8/TZhZ0u5gE8I/AAAAAAAAAag/QkZ0bXe5_kQ/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRF43bsIwd8/TZhZ0u5gE8I/AAAAAAAAAag/QkZ0bXe5_kQ/s320/IMG_1689.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L3eMG_117cw/TZhZ1_-DlcI/AAAAAAAAAao/DIvyh7ZwBbY/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L3eMG_117cw/TZhZ1_-DlcI/AAAAAAAAAao/DIvyh7ZwBbY/s320/IMG_1691.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eating some Blueberry and Vanilla Ice cream! It was </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">soooo freaking good! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3z3IDUJack/TZhZ3zDYfpI/AAAAAAAAAaw/87qAJuIzuiA/s1600/IMG_1696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3z3IDUJack/TZhZ3zDYfpI/AAAAAAAAAaw/87qAJuIzuiA/s200/IMG_1696.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zbySvLA34c/TZhZ2-1vD5I/AAAAAAAAAas/uvOkTmlsDHM/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zbySvLA34c/TZhZ2-1vD5I/AAAAAAAAAas/uvOkTmlsDHM/s320/IMG_1692.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stumbled upon the coolest park ever! It had huge slides, swings, and a trampoline!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could have stayed there all day but the rest of the girls wanted to keep </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">exploring! What can I say? I love swinging!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cMfMLR3ebDo/TZhZ42KpWGI/AAAAAAAAAa0/i1M_H-w5hZg/s1600/IMG_1701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cMfMLR3ebDo/TZhZ42KpWGI/AAAAAAAAAa0/i1M_H-w5hZg/s320/IMG_1701.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wzFnZPVJZ7s/TZhZ5Sf36II/AAAAAAAAAa4/lNSbOPB9u_4/s1600/IMG_1703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wzFnZPVJZ7s/TZhZ5Sf36II/AAAAAAAAAa4/lNSbOPB9u_4/s200/IMG_1703.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was a group of kids from a private school taking a tour, I dunno about you</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">but when I saw them walking around I immediately thought </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QP9PHNf7f2A/TZhZ9OY4EsI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/8AZPhGXCdQk/s1600/IMG_1727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QP9PHNf7f2A/TZhZ9OY4EsI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/8AZPhGXCdQk/s320/IMG_1727.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrCSKgrcvqw/TZhZ687tcpI/AAAAAAAAAbE/C8SQ357ljHA/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrCSKgrcvqw/TZhZ687tcpI/AAAAAAAAAbE/C8SQ357ljHA/s320/IMG_1714.JPG" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">they looked like the Gryffindor quidditch team in their red uniforms!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xLSH86q8ul8/TZhZ8UEqVWI/AAAAAAAAAbM/tL3-OWO3TRo/s1600/IMG_1721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xLSH86q8ul8/TZhZ8UEqVWI/AAAAAAAAAbM/tL3-OWO3TRo/s320/IMG_1721.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To the left is a picture of a really shiny statue... not really sure what the importance of it is but it looked really cool! To the right we have yet another castle! They really are everywhere. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This mosaic took up the whole wall all the</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">way down the street! It was pretty neat.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V0eJ_hBns6U/TZhZ7mBR-9I/AAAAAAAAAbI/dwq5XMctivU/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V0eJ_hBns6U/TZhZ7mBR-9I/AAAAAAAAAbI/dwq5XMctivU/s320/IMG_1717.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After walking around for a long time our feet </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">started to get really tired so we crossed the bridge to the </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">other side and found a grassy area to just sit and relax. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was our gorgeous view of Dresden. There were so many people </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">out having picnics, roller skating, riding bikes, and relaxing. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After sitting for a while we headed back to the bus to head back to Prague. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dresden was really cool. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">I'm sad we only had a few hours to explore but it still was a lot of fun! I </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">will miss the beautiful weather!</span></div></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-52792813309234432942011-04-03T04:23:00.000-07:002011-12-22T13:53:17.298-08:00Czech Me Out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2DOsfJsua0/TZhO9ACiyXI/AAAAAAAAAY4/2Ou-ipwI9K8/s1600/IMG_1589+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2DOsfJsua0/TZhO9ACiyXI/AAAAAAAAAY4/2Ou-ipwI9K8/s320/IMG_1589+-+Copy.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HpiRbVbaooQ/TZhNFd5b8SI/AAAAAAAAAY0/EkdNOM_AfZE/s1600/IMG_1880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HpiRbVbaooQ/TZhNFd5b8SI/AAAAAAAAAY0/EkdNOM_AfZE/s200/IMG_1880.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">April 3 2011- We arrived in Prague and checked into Hostel Dum (pronounced DOOM). Natalie and I were room buddies again. We were all pretty exhausted from the bus ride so we fell asleep straight away. The next morning Ameri and I headed down to the bus to go see Sychrov Castle. It was about an hour and half away from our hotel. Once we finally got there we got out and toured around the castle. We then had a tour through the castle and all the rooms. It was pretty neat to see how people lived back then. I don't have any pictures from the inside because you had to pay extra if you wanted photos. The one thing I can remember is that the castle was SO cold! I am so glad we don't live in castles because they are freezing. Apparently this castle was made during the 19th century and is known for its secrets and legends about ghosts. Maybe that is why it seemed so unfriendly. After the tour </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we were given some time to walk around the grounds outside. This was my favorite part because the grounds were beautiful! It made me think of Pride and Prejudice and Mr. Darcy's home. =) Ameri, Cailtin, Anna, and I took some fun photos on the grounds:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FyXUA6qruuc/TZhO-kKHm1I/AAAAAAAAAZA/Zf-LsMhfzRk/s1600/IMG_1592+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FyXUA6qruuc/TZhO-kKHm1I/AAAAAAAAAZA/Zf-LsMhfzRk/s320/IMG_1592+-+Copy.JPG" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3lWoYH-tII/TZhO-OfcBQI/AAAAAAAAAY8/-GSoee44hs0/s1600/IMG_1590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3lWoYH-tII/TZhO-OfcBQI/AAAAAAAAAY8/-GSoee44hs0/s320/IMG_1590.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jumping in front of the caslte</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7WXtO0GfkM/TZhPAGQlAmI/AAAAAAAAAZE/iv3iN-BHoms/s1600/IMG_1597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7WXtO0GfkM/TZhPAGQlAmI/AAAAAAAAAZE/iv3iN-BHoms/s320/IMG_1597.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ameri doing her 'cartwheels around</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the world'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BjEAvY32h54/TZhQ3e406RI/AAAAAAAAAZI/XIPAPYPUnkc/s1600/IMG_1605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BjEAvY32h54/TZhQ3e406RI/AAAAAAAAAZI/XIPAPYPUnkc/s320/IMG_1605.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After going to the castle we headed into town to meet up with the rest of the girls. When we arrived we met our English tour guide. I can't remember his name but he was HILARIOUS! I really wish I had gotten a picture with him. He definitely knew his facts. To give you a visual image of what he looked like picture the Boss from 13 going on 30 =) He took us on a walking sightseeing tour. We saw the Powder Tower, Old Town Square, Charles Street, Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. My favorite part was Charles Bridge. It was beautiful to look over the river. There were so many tourists it was insanely crowded. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p6j97aBzqCw/TZhQ6Otk0VI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/XaDyEHhT8u8/s1600/IMG_1614+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p6j97aBzqCw/TZhQ6Otk0VI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/XaDyEHhT8u8/s320/IMG_1614+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq7CL57RXuo/TZhQ5Kr63XI/AAAAAAAAAZM/V1RPArW-xYw/s1600/IMG_1611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq7CL57RXuo/TZhQ5Kr63XI/AAAAAAAAAZM/V1RPArW-xYw/s320/IMG_1611.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He told us that the Vltava River that runs through </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prague has flooded 3 times in history. Once</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in 1890, then 1940, the last in 2002. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some pictures of the flood. The water covered the first</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">story of all the buildings in Charles Street. It was the highest</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the River has ever flooded.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prague Castle and Old Town Square behind me</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oduhjHzdi7w/TZhQ7yLBg3I/AAAAAAAAAZY/Hek7mq1OvUE/s1600/IMG_1624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oduhjHzdi7w/TZhQ7yLBg3I/AAAAAAAAAZY/Hek7mq1OvUE/s320/IMG_1624.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_QYLAEpt2cU/TZhQ7RhMqKI/AAAAAAAAAZU/qf0ClROetoI/s1600/IMG_1615+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_QYLAEpt2cU/TZhQ7RhMqKI/AAAAAAAAAZU/qf0ClROetoI/s320/IMG_1615+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vltava River</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apparently if you rub this and make a </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wish it will come true!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVUvnwGiLpE/TZhQ9i54clI/AAAAAAAAAZg/8fFwiS320aA/s1600/IMG_1633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVUvnwGiLpE/TZhQ9i54clI/AAAAAAAAAZg/8fFwiS320aA/s320/IMG_1633.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XiP9NNadhqg/TZhQ9Beq9fI/AAAAAAAAAZc/C5dt-_dyHTU/s1600/IMG_1628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XiP9NNadhqg/TZhQ9Beq9fI/AAAAAAAAAZc/C5dt-_dyHTU/s320/IMG_1628.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The oldest synagogue in Europe</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prague Castle</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FFqqLaev7vY/TZhQ_jIabPI/AAAAAAAAAZo/5OkV9IhnhNg/s1600/IMG_1639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FFqqLaev7vY/TZhQ_jIabPI/AAAAAAAAAZo/5OkV9IhnhNg/s320/IMG_1639.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This clock has been here since the 18th </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">century and chimes every hour. After </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it is done chiming a man plays his </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">trumpet. It was pretty cool to watch. It reminded me </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of Shrek when they get to Dulock and that thing sings</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to them! So cool! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some other little things that our tour guide showed us were, the Pissing Men, The worlds tiniest street, and public bathrooms.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tiniest street! It has to have a traffic light</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so you know if you can walk or if people are coming up</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the other way! Good thing I'm not claustrophobic. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Mn81Zz1K7o/TZhT_jB2RAI/AAAAAAAAAZs/5qAlS3jjOUQ/s1600/IMG_1602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Mn81Zz1K7o/TZhT_jB2RAI/AAAAAAAAAZs/5qAlS3jjOUQ/s320/IMG_1602.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2JRnhRefFAM/TZhUAj64DbI/AAAAAAAAAZw/zHQlytqqVvw/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2JRnhRefFAM/TZhUAj64DbI/AAAAAAAAAZw/zHQlytqqVvw/s320/IMG_1630.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have these bathrooms EVERYWHERE!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were all so tempted to use them</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but they cost 10 crowns! Little side note: Public Bathrooms in </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Europe COST! I miss American toilets that are free!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZzKDcOoJoc/TZhUKTXYyUI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/_GcTurLyHH0/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZzKDcOoJoc/TZhUKTXYyUI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/_GcTurLyHH0/s320/IMG_1764.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Lastly the Statue of the Pissing Men. Not </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sure what the significance behind this statue is but I</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thought it was pretty funny! The pedestal they are standing </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on is actually the shape of the Czech Republic!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNx6BEmncd8/TZhV-HQ6ifI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/FQH51eUfoCc/s1600/IMG_1643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNx6BEmncd8/TZhV-HQ6ifI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/FQH51eUfoCc/s200/IMG_1643.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h4oW3T_FDAI/TZhV_Cgl1JI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/bWkFHGrgp4Y/s1600/IMG_1645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h4oW3T_FDAI/TZhV_Cgl1JI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/bWkFHGrgp4Y/s320/IMG_1645.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After our tour we had about an hour to just look around until our River cruise. but we were all so tired from walking around we just sat and relaxed. The weather was so gorgeous it felt like summer! We all have missed the sun so much! We headed over to the river to go on our cruise/buffet. I was looking forward to this the most! The food was amazing! They had fish, fried chicken, fries, salad, fruit, potatoes, and dessert. I got a little bit of everything and it was DELICIOUS! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljO_l4MeJ4Y/TZhV_tSGakI/AAAAAAAAAaA/iDztZT28D9c/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljO_l4MeJ4Y/TZhV_tSGakI/AAAAAAAAAaA/iDztZT28D9c/s320/IMG_1649.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YJhXnE0btI/TZhWAWQWpZI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Drt4RjkFCLY/s1600/IMG_1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YJhXnE0btI/TZhWAWQWpZI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Drt4RjkFCLY/s320/IMG_1650.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The river cruise was so much fun! It wasn't a super long ride but it was really cool to see things from sitting on a boat. Here are some pictures from the cruise:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-puihhvaC18o/TZhWxwMw63I/AAAAAAAAAaM/YY6qZSB5uV0/s1600/IMG_1658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-puihhvaC18o/TZhWxwMw63I/AAAAAAAAAaM/YY6qZSB5uV0/s320/IMG_1658.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-59LKJCaL2a0/TZhWxMg815I/AAAAAAAAAaI/dAdSy4afV4o/s1600/IMG_1653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-59LKJCaL2a0/TZhWxMg815I/AAAAAAAAAaI/dAdSy4afV4o/s320/IMG_1653.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going under the bridge, we saw soo</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> many swans they were so pretty!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x58x8n2KFCE/TZhWzgLrhoI/AAAAAAAAAaU/duWoznhseyQ/s1600/IMG_1660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x58x8n2KFCE/TZhWzgLrhoI/AAAAAAAAAaU/duWoznhseyQ/s320/IMG_1660.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8kCPLnTDWlI/TZhWyymvpmI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/mWXJFXI9Ht0/s1600/IMG_1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8kCPLnTDWlI/TZhWyymvpmI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/mWXJFXI9Ht0/s320/IMG_1659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Gorgeous view of the castle from the river and </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> some guys practicing rowing! Wouldn't it be so fun</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to live by a river like this one?!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--fCWZtoteD4/TZhW1Pqh8mI/AAAAAAAAAac/J0ulA5_J6q4/s1600/IMG_1670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--fCWZtoteD4/TZhW1Pqh8mI/AAAAAAAAAac/J0ulA5_J6q4/s320/IMG_1670.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day ended with this beautiful sunset! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I freaking love Prague so much!</span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-4628013996286425182011-03-31T11:56:00.000-07:002011-12-22T13:51:49.137-08:00Vienna Waits For You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlZ4jDp4Qss/TZTLyCpuoqI/AAAAAAAAAYI/sZNTsQFabjY/s1600/IMG_1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlZ4jDp4Qss/TZTLyCpuoqI/AAAAAAAAAYI/sZNTsQFabjY/s200/IMG_1486.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2_8xtxLkvgM/TZTLzOHjhEI/AAAAAAAAAYM/WlypRDkmVto/s1600/IMG_1498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2_8xtxLkvgM/TZTLzOHjhEI/AAAAAAAAAYM/WlypRDkmVto/s200/IMG_1498.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">March 31, 2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After staying the night in Budapest we had to be up really early the next day to head over to Vienna, Austria. We all were hoping there would be some hills we could run in and sing "The hills are alive with the sound of Music!" But the bus dropped us off right in the center of the city where there weren't any hills, so we decided to just sing the song anyways! Thank you Sound of Music for getting that song stuck in our heads =) Unfortunately going from Budapest to Vienna we didn't</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5_vlvc0wlg8/TZTLzqH58qI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/olGurCaFv94/s1600/IMG_1502+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5_vlvc0wlg8/TZTLzqH58qI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/olGurCaFv94/s200/IMG_1502+-+Copy.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">get our passports stamped. This was definitely a bummer because I love getting stamps, but then again I guess it was nice not having to wait at the border. Once we arrived in Vienna we were told that we had 4 hours to look around. This time we didn't have an </span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lEwWEdWLUB0/TZTL0X01yLI/AAAAAAAAAYU/zXy2KedPJIA/s1600/IMG_1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lEwWEdWLUB0/TZTL0X01yLI/AAAAAAAAAYU/zXy2KedPJIA/s200/IMG_1509.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">English tour guide so once again we just wandered around. There was so much to see with so little time! We walked around some castle grounds. It's kind of nice not having a tour guide because then we get to do whatever we want! We found this cool Sigmund Freud park that was interesting. It had this really big table with chairs that we decided to sit at. After sitting there for a few minutes some Austrians approached us and tried to sell us some magazine. We had no idea what they were saying but it was pretty hilarious because Auvi took a picture of one of them and then he wanted to 'see how good he looked.' Oh the things that happen when your a tourist! After walking around for a little we got hungry and saw a little place called Funny Noodles. It was a street market that had chow mein! We were so excited. I ordered Chow Mein with fried chicken and it was absolutely delicious! Then after eating we headed back to the bus. The bus then drove us to Prague. Vienna was pretty, but we didn't have a lot of time to explore so I can't really say if I liked it or not. One highlight though was that Natalie and I found a big tree and climbed it! It was so fun!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jtQA6Jgy_vo/TZTL06O1zFI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Z3rPZWPAeZM/s1600/IMG_1511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jtQA6Jgy_vo/TZTL06O1zFI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Z3rPZWPAeZM/s320/IMG_1511.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This picture is pretty self explanatory!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIlCVcqQqA8/TZTL1QU5PwI/AAAAAAAAAYc/vioBZ_K8UdM/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIlCVcqQqA8/TZTL1QU5PwI/AAAAAAAAAYc/vioBZ_K8UdM/s320/IMG_1513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Natalie and Ameri decided they want to do </div><div style="text-align: center;">Cartwheels all around the world!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-69NK38yFTSM/TZTL2DmHnJI/AAAAAAAAAYg/f_6kGQoNc1Q/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-69NK38yFTSM/TZTL2DmHnJI/AAAAAAAAAYg/f_6kGQoNc1Q/s320/IMG_1519.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Me and Auvi sliding on the Parliament Building</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i7sNxELhcaU/TZTL22QtCYI/AAAAAAAAAYk/R8gNtyBv9Us/s1600/IMG_1526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i7sNxELhcaU/TZTL22QtCYI/AAAAAAAAAYk/R8gNtyBv9Us/s320/IMG_1526.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Swinging from a tree!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TuQoammjQiI/TZTL4O9y8dI/AAAAAAAAAYo/km2A8rxtqws/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TuQoammjQiI/TZTL4O9y8dI/AAAAAAAAAYo/km2A8rxtqws/s320/IMG_1536.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We love to climb trees</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fl74cY5PHZM/TZTL48z5Y6I/AAAAAAAAAYs/gPX0IiDryME/s1600/IMG_1548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fl74cY5PHZM/TZTL48z5Y6I/AAAAAAAAAYs/gPX0IiDryME/s320/IMG_1548.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Sigmund Freud Park, Super cool table!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JHEGU6fi9xg/TZTL5tspYYI/AAAAAAAAAYw/acnkkHLlauA/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JHEGU6fi9xg/TZTL5tspYYI/AAAAAAAAAYw/acnkkHLlauA/s320/IMG_1565.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This Chow Mein was </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">AMAZING!</span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-10425812831322004292011-03-31T11:34:00.000-07:002011-12-22T13:54:00.665-08:00Getting in touch with Buddha<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ld9RK-RE_EU/TZS9soHnidI/AAAAAAAAAW8/XhLlGK6Yv_4/s1600/IMG_1404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ld9RK-RE_EU/TZS9soHnidI/AAAAAAAAAW8/XhLlGK6Yv_4/s200/IMG_1404.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYZjSv9NgSI/TZS9tsSDRXI/AAAAAAAAAXA/uG4Pg5LfHwI/s1600/IMG_1408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYZjSv9NgSI/TZS9tsSDRXI/AAAAAAAAAXA/uG4Pg5LfHwI/s200/IMG_1408.JPG" width="200" /></a>March 31, 2011<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After sitting on a bus</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">for 25 hours we were all pretty excited to finally make it to our first destination: Budapest, Hungary. We got off the bus and were told that since we didn't have an English guide to show us around we had 3 hours to explore the city. This was fine with me because then we could goof off and do what we wanted =) Some sites we saw were, Heroes' square, Millenary Monument, and Vajdahunyad Castle. Of course we took some silly pictures, it wouldn't be memorable without them! After 3 hours we headed back to the bus and much to our surprise </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">they had either hired or somehow found, an English tour guide for us. She then decided to take us around all the major sites. It was nice to have someone explain all the monuments and know the history behind them instead of just looking at them and not knowing anything about them except that they are important and old. =) </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJ2MJjjzN-Y/TZS9urqm89I/AAAAAAAAAXE/N0Pzwvi3BEk/s1600/IMG_1411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJ2MJjjzN-Y/TZS9urqm89I/AAAAAAAAAXE/N0Pzwvi3BEk/s320/IMG_1411.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Diving into Buddha! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7rgOtE7Pzg4/TZS9veZdH3I/AAAAAAAAAXI/3ovS2Ml-yvc/s1600/IMG_1414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7rgOtE7Pzg4/TZS9veZdH3I/AAAAAAAAAXI/3ovS2Ml-yvc/s320/IMG_1414.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We like to climb on things =)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We found a park and we were all pretty excited about </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the swings!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UKn_P5DtTUY/TZS9wAe1wXI/AAAAAAAAAXM/pceaP-doZEk/s1600/IMG_1420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UKn_P5DtTUY/TZS9wAe1wXI/AAAAAAAAAXM/pceaP-doZEk/s320/IMG_1420.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me swinging =) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cNd86KokCfE/TZS9w4DM7CI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/FnXh4KP5Nk0/s1600/IMG_1421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cNd86KokCfE/TZS9w4DM7CI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/FnXh4KP5Nk0/s320/IMG_1421.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ameri</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn3sw30bjD8/TZS9x-gyyvI/AAAAAAAAAXU/2JrwYRwq81E/s1600/IMG_1426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn3sw30bjD8/TZS9x-gyyvI/AAAAAAAAAXU/2JrwYRwq81E/s320/IMG_1426.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kenzie & Audrey</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wh8w-gmFPpg/TZS9ykKkZtI/AAAAAAAAAXY/pcGK4_F4iJw/s1600/IMG_1429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wh8w-gmFPpg/TZS9ykKkZtI/AAAAAAAAAXY/pcGK4_F4iJw/s320/IMG_1429.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Natalie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8oRGP7uDlY8/TZS9ztXeGpI/AAAAAAAAAXc/kcGm8uGKZn0/s1600/IMG_1432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8oRGP7uDlY8/TZS9ztXeGpI/AAAAAAAAAXc/kcGm8uGKZn0/s320/IMG_1432.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kamila wanted to swing on the </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">little swings and was </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">brilliant enough to flip the </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">swing over so she could fit on it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvaSv0iVYOo/TZS91IddjII/AAAAAAAAAXg/lmjoLmEb6SM/s1600/IMG_1434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvaSv0iVYOo/TZS91IddjII/AAAAAAAAAXg/lmjoLmEb6SM/s320/IMG_1434.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I may or may not have gone to the </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ministry of Magic while I </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was in this booth =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa0j6iotEgo/TZS918P_lyI/AAAAAAAAAXk/9knznVK2CVk/s1600/IMG_1435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa0j6iotEgo/TZS918P_lyI/AAAAAAAAAXk/9knznVK2CVk/s320/IMG_1435.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennii likes to climb poles </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c8kH2mRjOIw/TZS92tsefiI/AAAAAAAAAXo/da_PbPFfSnE/s1600/IMG_1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c8kH2mRjOIw/TZS92tsefiI/AAAAAAAAAXo/da_PbPFfSnE/s320/IMG_1439.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We found a Subway wrapper </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and got so excited! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--wb5Yn-EvXI/TZS93rjrPVI/AAAAAAAAAXs/kHI94unOC0Q/s1600/IMG_1443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--wb5Yn-EvXI/TZS93rjrPVI/AAAAAAAAAXs/kHI94unOC0Q/s320/IMG_1443.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">George Washington is also in Budapest</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vfGpyMeuDGA/TZS94n1VBdI/AAAAAAAAAXw/DY2p6eORC14/s1600/IMG_1447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vfGpyMeuDGA/TZS94n1VBdI/AAAAAAAAAXw/DY2p6eORC14/s320/IMG_1447.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking to a monument called: uniting one another,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we were all walking towards it and I </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thought it looked really cool!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pja5zHFhMBs/TZS95oJCUkI/AAAAAAAAAX0/mzQTiochdag/s1600/IMG_1461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pja5zHFhMBs/TZS95oJCUkI/AAAAAAAAAX0/mzQTiochdag/s200/IMG_1461.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After our tour of the city got done we headed to the other side of the river. We found out that the river divides the town, so one side is Pest and the other is Buddha. So the first half of the day we explored Pest and then headed over to Buddha. We toured around Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church, Royal Castle, and Chain Bridge. I must say I enjoyed Buddha's side a lot more, It was high above everything else and you could look across the river and it was just BEAUTIFUL! Finally after a lot of sight seeing we headed over to our hotel for the night. It was a small little place in the middle of nowhere. Natalie and I were roomies so that was a lot of fun! We decided to all go in on dinner by getting stuff to make sandwiches. After eating dinner we were all pretty exhausted and in need of sleep. It was pretty funny though because it was only 7 pm because Austria is an hour behind Ukraine. I guess that's what happens when you're on a bus for 25 hours though. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TUM-qG_YNbU/TZS96NRdfZI/AAAAAAAAAX4/XgTyQBuF4Ig/s1600/IMG_1465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TUM-qG_YNbU/TZS96NRdfZI/AAAAAAAAAX4/XgTyQBuF4Ig/s320/IMG_1465.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fisherman's Bastion</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TUSDLwJyojA/TZS96jyYExI/AAAAAAAAAX8/-1uPUy64lrI/s1600/IMG_1466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TUSDLwJyojA/TZS96jyYExI/AAAAAAAAAX8/-1uPUy64lrI/s320/IMG_1466.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kiev 2 group is the BEST! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I freaking love these </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">girls so much!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I0_rCylsPKE/TZS97KdlZzI/AAAAAAAAAYA/-tuXHo0oOFY/s1600/IMG_1474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I0_rCylsPKE/TZS97KdlZzI/AAAAAAAAAYA/-tuXHo0oOFY/s320/IMG_1474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ha, I took a picture of this tree because </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it looked like the tree from LOTR,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">yes I know i'm a nerd =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KyhhV0KfgKA/TZS978pMcTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/vIJAQ0mOE-M/s1600/IMG_1482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KyhhV0KfgKA/TZS978pMcTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/vIJAQ0mOE-M/s320/IMG_1482.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved being in Budapest, it was so beautiful and fun. The people were so nice. It was weird because we all just thought the town felt so familiar and friendly. I would definitely love to come back again sometime and spend more time there if I could! </span>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-41208853360636115292011-03-27T09:40:00.000-07:002011-12-22T13:54:21.416-08:00Double Decker = Double The Fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4fZf_N_3BvE/TY9kLVlCwdI/AAAAAAAAAVc/LfBt1c9AGnY/s1600/IMG_1378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4fZf_N_3BvE/TY9kLVlCwdI/AAAAAAAAAVc/LfBt1c9AGnY/s320/IMG_1378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">March 27, 2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The European Tour began on March 19th. We headed to the train station where our bus would be taking us all over Eastern Europe. Little did I know how much time I would spend with this bus. I was really hoping it would be a double decker and to my anticipated surprise it was! I felt like Harry Potter getting on the Knight bus! The bus was so high off the ground, there were times when I was worried we were going to tip over, but thankfully we didn't =) There were 17 of us in our group and we were all so excited to get started on our new adventure. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My bus buddies were Rockie, Kynde, Kami, and Ameri. We had so much fun being obnoxious and loud when everyone else was sleeping... I mean what? Me? Never! But we did have a lot of fun laughing hysterically, crying *from laughing so hard*, trying to sleep and failing, taking some pills to help sleep *thanks Ameri* and making up stories/songs. Oh the funny things you do to stay amused. Thankfully I had some good books to keep me sane! Our bus took off at 10 am and we finally arrived in Budapest at 11 am the next day. Yes that's right, 25 hours on a bus ride.... this does not mean 25 hours of driving, it means stopping every 3 hours for a toilet break, staying at some stops for 1 hour, and being stuck at the border for 5 hours! As much as I was looking forward to getting stamps in my passport, sitting in the same spot for 5 hours was not very fun. At the time I was pretty loopy because I was trying to sleep and for some reason my body did not like being stopped that long because I woke up about every half hour and was so confused why we were still in the same spot! Even though the wait was long, I am really excited that I have a few more stamps in my passport now! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some fun pictures from the bus:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QbRFwbsWOow/TY9kOsELa0I/AAAAAAAAAVs/Zbjc1d15DN4/s1600/IMG_1390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QbRFwbsWOow/TY9kOsELa0I/AAAAAAAAAVs/Zbjc1d15DN4/s320/IMG_1390.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> There was a cupboard under the stairs... Harry Potter anyone?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8fyj2MXAao/TY9kL1GFbPI/AAAAAAAAAVg/vptLFAnUwMc/s1600/IMG_1379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8fyj2MXAao/TY9kL1GFbPI/AAAAAAAAAVg/vptLFAnUwMc/s320/IMG_1379.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In case you can't tell, this is a picture of everyone</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">covering their speaker because our bus guide</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was talking so loud over the intercom </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and we were trying to sleep!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrrF_Pnrm28/TY9kMvsxrpI/AAAAAAAAAVk/M1kuoHid3J4/s1600/IMG_1388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrrF_Pnrm28/TY9kMvsxrpI/AAAAAAAAAVk/M1kuoHid3J4/s320/IMG_1388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perley Trans our handy dandy double decker</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0NVr1me8vDc/TY9kNWDWQGI/AAAAAAAAAVo/BKOaDojwhUs/s1600/IMG_1389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0NVr1me8vDc/TY9kNWDWQGI/AAAAAAAAAVo/BKOaDojwhUs/s320/IMG_1389.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep that's right we sat on the second level!</span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-60784718753651604722011-03-18T04:34:00.000-07:002011-12-22T13:54:41.306-08:00I gave in....<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nWdK6yNILs0/TYNCUXvBH7I/AAAAAAAAAVY/uTL4DH42mIA/s1600/IMG_1373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nWdK6yNILs0/TYNCUXvBH7I/AAAAAAAAAVY/uTL4DH42mIA/s320/IMG_1373.JPG" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">March 18, 2011</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">So I sort of have this obsession with coats... you all probably know that. Before I came to Ukraine I said I was going to buy some boots and a coat. Well I bought boots and I love them but I always felt incomplete without a new coat. I knew exactly what kind I wanted the minute I got here. SOOO many girls wear them here and they come in all different colors and styles and every time I see one I get super jealous and think I WANT THAT COAT! I have even caught myself thinking "maybe I could get them to sell their coat to me" What can I say? I'm a girl who loves coats! Well two nights ago I saw a coat and I immediately fell in LOVE with it! It was exactly the coat I had pictured myself buying! Well I tried it on and of course I loved it but I didn't have enough money with me so I hung it back up and promised myself I would be back the next day with enough money to buy it. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well today rolled around and I got out of bed and the first thing I thought of was the coat. I was already attached to it and i didn't even have it yet =) As I left my house I sort of had an internal struggle on whether or not I should buy it because it was kind of pricey but I kept picturing myself wearing it and loving it. I finally convinced myself I would go to the store try it on and then decide. I got to the store and there it was, hanging exactly where it had been the night before. I tried it on and looked in the mirror and immediately knew I would be buying it. =) I handed it to the lady and had her remove the tags so I could wear it right then! I was pretty excited about my new coat! The best part was throughout the day I had 3 or 4 Ukrainians try and talk to me and ask things; of course I didn't understand them, but they asked me because I looked Ukrainian! Or at least that's my theory. So I was pretty excited =) Here is a picture of me in my coat.</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Totally Ukrainian don't you think? </span>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7829943908696186649.post-21296269887934280302011-03-18T04:20:00.000-07:002011-12-22T13:54:58.371-08:00Off to See Europe!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">March 18, 2011</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Well the time has finally come to go on our European Tour and I am so happy! No happy doesn't even begin to describe it so lets try again! I'm excited, delighted, ecstatic, elated, joyful, cheerful, enthusiastic, and upbeat! I think you get the picture. We leave tomorrow morning and we are going to Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and Dresden! True being on a bus for 20+ hours is going to be crazy but it's so worth it! Here is a look at everything I will be doing on this trip:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Travel to Budapest</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Tour around the city: King’s palace, Fisherman’s bastion, Matiash church, The Heroes square (millennium monument), central park, Andrashy avenue</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Go to Vienna. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Walking tour to historic sites of Vienna: parliament, Ratusha, Vienna opera house, Hofburg-former Gabsburg residence, Maria Teresa Square, St.Stefan Cathedral.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Free time in Prague.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Walking tour around Prague.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Dresden trip. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Walking tour around Dresden</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">DRESDEN ART GALLERY </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Tour around Prague</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Leave Prague</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Return Kiev </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I should really start packing but I am just too excited to focus! Be prepared for lots of pictures and blogs when I return! I'm so excited, need I say more? =)</span>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13844837684096497444noreply@blogger.com0