Auschwitz Camp

May 15 2011

 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. 

 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. The first person we asked happened to know exactly what we needed and pointed us in the right direction. We got on the bus and headed out to Auschwitz Camp.  I was not really sure how I felt about visiting the camp

 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.  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 

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. 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 

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 

Holocaust.  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 

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.  

Border = Boredom

May 15, 2011

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?  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 =) 

*On the border again, I can't wait to get off the border again*

Easter Weekend

April 26,2011
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 

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 

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 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 

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 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 

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.  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... 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

 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 =)

 Here are some more pictures from my weekend =)

 Left: After spending a night barbecuing this was our view =)


Right: Vova was trying to teach me how to skateboard, he is super talented

 Left: This loving dish is called 'blood of a pig' still think it looks good? Think again :/


Right: Easter Eve barbecue, the food here is AMAZING

 Left: Looking out over the river above the beach


Right: Behind me is the bridge we walked across to get to the beach, do you notice the SUN! =)

 Left: Natalie and Auvi being so silly! Gotta love height differences =)


Right: Sorry I cut off your face Nat!I love these girls <3
 Happy Easter!

"This Has Gotta Be the Good Life"

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 

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, 

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 

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.  All in all it was one amazing concert =) 

It Has Been Foretold...

April 15,2011
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! 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. =) 

 There ended up being about 7 braids 

in my hair =) super cool.  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.  

The 1's mean: I have a strong character
The 2's mean: Lots of energy
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 =))
The 4 means: I will be healthy and well off
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 =))
The 6's mean: Love to work, good with my hands 
Not having 7's meant: I have a lot of freedom with my life
The 8 means: I have a strong love for my parents and responsibility to care for them
The 9's mean: Good memory


Some other notable points:
Family is really important to me
I will want to give money to others, service
I must find a job I will be happy with
I think a lot, must pray to God
Good with people
Teach 
Don't be lazy
Like to have things NOW
Find a husband who listens to me
Children will mean a lot to me
Develop talents
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 =)

A Solution to Happiness

April 15, 2011
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 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 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.... 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 =)

They make it in this fire pot thing! 

It is the coolest thing ever! =)

Only takes like 5-10 min

Jennii and I so excited to eat our bread and chocolate =)

What a good dinner!

 The bread is so warm that the chocolate 

starts to melt the minute you put

it on it =)

 A 15 minute bus ride is the perfect length to finish

this treat =) Afterwards we sorta feel like fatties...

but it was sooo good we don't even care =)