It was an idyllic moment. My second art club
featuring "Attentive/Caring" Dolls was a huge success.
One of my former trouble boys made me a doll with two
sprouts of green hair and as I sat down to help my
favorite second grader with her doll, she stroked the
fake fur collar on my new sweater. Yes, I have fake
fur on my sweater. I'm a star.
I'm in one of those phases of life that seem too good
to last. I have the perfect school schedule, my clubs
are overflowing with students, I can't find enough
time in each day to finish all of the work that I have
and I have an amazing support network of friends that
I can call at any time. Not only is life in the field
coming together but I also have plenty of work outside
of the village. I am already booked for three camps
this summer and am planning a trip to Croatia and
Slovenia. I love it here.
I still have frustrations and problems and impossible
situations, but those situations just make all of the
rest seem more real. Russian is coming along now that
I'm dedicating one to three hours a day on it. It's
not easy. "At the end of a word and before a
voiceless consonant a voiced consonant is pronounced
as its voiceless counterpart." Uh-huh.
Working with Crazy Organization Lady is not easy
either. She is just as crazy as ever and I don't
think sanity is going to come knocking anytime soon.
I can only take tears and guilt for so long. They
aren't going to make me understand.
Other worries have come and gone. I worried that the
winter would be too cold for me, but the Ukrainian
icecap that I dreamed of never reared its head.
Before arriving here I thought of Ukraine as an ice
covered winter wonderland with sleighs persistently
being chased by wolves (I'm exaggerating based on a
Danielle Steele book I read in 10th grade). I even
bought a winter coat, aka the "sleeping bag coat," big
enough that I could still wear it even if I were
pregnant with twins. I've worn it three times.
Partly because it's so big and hot, but more because
this country is so caught up with its own fashion – a
fashion credo that does not allow sleeping bag coats.
What the fashion does allow is fake fur and excess.
Not only do I have a sweater with a fake fur collar
and jeans with chains on them, but I dream of a pair
of jeans that I can tuck into some new Ukrainian boots
– preferably with a heal and buckles or something.
The boots will have to be kept to a nice polish
because I wouldn't dare go out with dirt on them. I'd
wear my new outfit with a huge purse and belt and
wouldn't let my watch spoil the outfit.
While I am divulging my inner most secrets I may as
well get this one out. Brace yourself. I have the
new Britney Spears album and I secretly rock out to it
at least once a day. I may be listening to it at the
moment. Ok I admit it. I am.
So prepare yourselves friends. When I come to visit
Americaland shortly I may surprise you. I'll step off
the plane talking to myself and holding a sleeping bag
coat ready to return. I'll confidently strut past
customs with my fake fur and decorative jeans rocking
out to Britney and storm the USA with fake Versaci and
shoe polish. That's right kids. I'm a star.
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