Season Finale

For numerous reasons I am taking a blogging hiatus. I will be back for the occasional post (i.e. when I have some big news).
Last weekend I went to a town called Nova Kahovka. I met up with 3 volunteers from that area that are from goup 31 (the one before mine). We had lunch at a nice Italian restaurant which got invaded by stray cats. We went home and made S'mores. Amy got a package from home whicha included graham crackers and marshmallows neither of which can we find here. I never really ate smores, but they were amazing! We also bought a watermelon. Since I've heard watermelons are the best thing about Kherson I was curious. However, it wasn't all that great and I learned that they don't get really good until September. We had many beers and played some games. I went to this guy Cody's flat to sleep which was in a nearby village called Byroslav. The guy has an incedibale DVD collection (by volunteer standards) so I gave him some money to copy a bunch of stuff for me. He had an external DVD burner, but it took a lot of time, but I got all seasons of Futurama, 1 season of The Simpsons, Da Ali G Show, Wedding Crashers, Stranger Than Fiction, Pi, and a few others. He also burned a ton of great music for me as he is really into the indy rock scene and turned me onto some new bands. My only complaint about the guy is his hatred for Dave Matthews and Pearl Jam. Oh well, not everyone can have perfect taste in music ;) The next morning we woke up and watched "Borat" and I finally took the bus back to Kherson Sunday evening.
Things are still awkward at the library...in fact, they get worse everyday. My counterpart has said about 10 words total to me over the last week. I emailed my regonal manager yesterday to tell him to help me escape. They are also dragging their feet on finding a flat for me. I hear they may have something for me to look at today, but it is near my host mother Tanya 45 minutes from work. So there ya have it....the season cliff-hanger. Enjoy the rest of summer and

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVE! (I miss the hell outta you, Bro!)

Bored Ramblings

I'm having an extremely boring week and have not much to report. I've just been studying and playing the guitar to the point where my fingers are developing new calluses and are throbbing in pain. I've already written some songs and learned a few new ones by going through my MP3's. Last night was Dave Matthews' "Lover Lay Down" and the night before was Belle and Sebastian.
So I'm almost done with The DaVinci Code and I can definitelty see how it could piss off the church. It does make you think and the last few days I've been researching the internet for more information; that's how bored I get at this place. Speaking of which, this library has the ultimate filter on their computers. I'm doing research for the library's website and I can't even search for words like "Charles Dickens" and/or "analysis". I'm sure you can figure out why that is. I need to do something about my host organization. There is just no way I can handle 2 years of this. The other volunteers are even making fun of me now telling me to put on puppet shows for them...which is actually pretty damn funny. They tell me to switch organizations or get the hell out because this is a waste of time and they just want me there as a "look at our American" circus side show. I couldn't agree more, and could have told you that from my site visit back in May...wait, I DID tell you. I am actually taking on little productive projects to kill the time, but those can only go so far. First on the list is to remodel their bathroom. No more crapping into a hole in the ground for this guy...no sir! I am going to apply for a grant to install a toilet, new sink, mirror and possibly (and hopefully) an air conditioner for the room I work in because everyday I am on the brink of passing out from heat exhaustion. I also emailed several organizations in the U.S. for book donations. An organization called Darian Book Aid has already shipped out some classic English novels per my request. I can't say enough good things about the people that work for Darian Book Aid! In addition, yesterday Marina turned into Super Moody Woman and it made for an extremely long, uncomfortable and irritating day. It is hard to escape it when there is only her and I in this tiny room for 8 hours daily. I'm not sexist in the least but have a very important question...Why is it that EVERY time in all my places of employment over the years that I have had a female boss, they are always moody and can't just chill out and stay consistant??? Is that really so difficult? Instead they feel the need to piss off the entire staff with their childish behavior and make their bad moods contagious. I don't know. Maybe it's just another one of the mysteries of the female species. I thought maybe it was just an American woman thing, but apparantly it is worldwide.

I'm so bummed I'm missing "Big Brother". I've never missed a season and I'm jonsin' for my annual dose of brainless television. I was very fortunate to complete the last season of "Lost". My sister emailed me the world's largest report on the current theory behind the show and now I'm completely confused....thanks, Julie.
I saw AFI released the updated top 100 films of all time, but I still don't see "The Big Lebowski" or "Boogie Nights" in the list so I will keep waiting until they get it right. Anyone besides Chuck see "The Transformers" movie yet? I'm trying to get my old host dad in Chernihiv to mail me a bootleg Russian copy of it, but perhaps I burned that bridge by giving them a bad write-up at the end of training and it got back to them. I don't know nor do I care. He was just my only hook-up for bootlegs out here.
I see Pearl Jam is headlining Lollapalooza in Chicago. It figures that would happen whenI'm not there. I'm counting on Mike and Heather to give me the full report on PJ's only show this year.
I think I'm going to take another road trip this weekend to visit volunteers in a nearby city about 2 hours away. I'll give my report next week.
Let's see, news from home, my cousin is going to prison for 10 years and my parents are coming out here to Romania next week and I'm not able to meet them which sucks. I would love to see Dracula's castle and spend time with them out here, but it's not in the cards this time around. They are taking a river cruise through Eastern Europe...I think to every country except Ukraine. I don't blame them. I love how everyone wanted to come out here to visit me, but after reading my blog it's more like, "Ummm, yeah, maybe I'll just catch ya when you get back" or like Chuck, for example, "Let's just meet in Rome next month". No worries, I'd say the same things. You are not missing much out here. At any rate HAVE A FUN VACATION MOM AND DAD! ...and Chuck too if I don't hear from you.
also...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!

A HUGE thanks to all of you for sending packages to me. I think I have about 8 packages in the mail now and it really helps to stay in a good mood and be excited for something. In these packages I'm getting new CDs from Wilco, Velvet Revolver, Arcade Fire and Beastie Boys and new DVDs like "Black Snake Moan" and "Smokin Aces". The always illustrious Scotty Dangerous is shipping out hundreds of burned bootleg DVDs to me as well...heaven in Ukraine! Also tons of food and other goodies. I love you all for taking the time to do that for me.

My good friend in Chicago (who has been neglecting me out here, but for understandable reasons) is getting married this week and I was really torn as to whether to go home to be a part of it after he invited me to stand up in his wedding. We have been through some crazy journeys together that stem back to the days of us both rockin the mullets together. He lived with me in Montana and I lived with him in Chicago. I'm Dirk Diggler, he's Brock Landers. He's more like a brother than a friend and I hope he understands my reasons for not being there for him on his big day. I also hope since he was MY best man that me declining his offer and not being able to even attend the party of the century we have been waiting for for 15 years + did not permanently damage our friendship. I'm writing in the 3rd person because I don't even think he will ever read this, but in case he does...
CONGRATULATIONS MAR & CARRIE JIMENEZ!!! Here's to a lifetime of happiness together! Have a kick-ass wedding and god bless you both! I truly am sorry I could not be there to celebrate.

Have a good weekend, my peoples!

Моя любимая гитара!
Yesterday I grabbed the bull by the horns and marched out of work (an hour early) directly to the music store and purchased my security magnet. I found the perfect guitar for $100. It's made in Ukraine, but honestly it plays like a Les Paul. I figured for that price it would be junk, but it is by far the best guitar (as far as playing action, Jen) I have ever owned. My fingers are scabbed over right now from playing for 4 straight hours last night. It's funny how life comes full circle. Let me take you back to the 4th grade many moons ago. I was taking guitar lessons from this hippy called Ron. The first songs he taught me were "Money For Nothing", "Stairway to Heaven", "Crazy Train", "Greensleeves" and "Yesterday" by the Beatles. Now you already know from an earlier post that Ukrainians loooooove that song for some reason. It might as well be the national anthem here. As soon as I walk in the apartment yesterday Tanya said to to me. I need to hear you play "Yesterday"! At this moment in time I would like to say "Thank you, Ron, wherever you are". All I really remember about that guy was that he ran over his foot with a lawnmower while cutting his grass wearing sandals. Ever since the 4th grade I have been scared to mow the lawn thanks to that guy. Heed this story, Shawna. No more mowing your lawn in high heels.
At any rate, I have named my new girlfriend Old Chorny or Старый Чёрный (chorny means black in Russian because she is as black as JJ Walker at midnight).

Pictures from my amazing weekend in Ukraine...
Marina and Tanya teaching em how to make fresh raspberry vareniki in our kitchen.

Yelena and Ana picking fruit at the dacha.

This is Yula. She is the cutest 11 year-old I've ever seen. She loved talking to me as she is learning English in school.

Ana offering me the best plum on the tree.

Igor cooking up a mean BBQ!

Vodka and Kabobs.

Yelena and I stumbled upon this HUGE field of sunflowers (my foavrote flower). This was such an amazing sight. Too bad the picture turned out like crap.

Ana and Yelena stopping for a classic photo on our hike.

Yelena and the Dniper river...and the only cows I've seen in Ukraine.

Farewell to the Dacha and new friends.

This is Mike from Bilazerka and Ben from the West and Mike's huka pipe.

My turn to hit the huka.

Our view from the huka to the boxing fight from Mike's balcony. A love this picture witht the flags in the background and the Ukrainian/American fight in the foreground.

A Breath of Fresh Air

The results are in. I had the chance to weigh myself the other day and it looks as if either the scale was broken or I have lost 35 pounds.

I caught word today that Group 32 suffered its next victim as another person quit and went back to the states. I was wondering what was taking so long. At any rate, she was a cool person and I will miss her.

I had a killer weekend and I feel revived. Thursday after work I went with my host mother Tanya to meet her ex-husband's family and Ana from Israel. We walked down to the river and drank beers and then went to a fancy cafe and went all out. The down side of this fun night was a goal of mine was broken. At some point in my past when I was about 6 years old I made a pact with myself probably while playing with my G.I Joe action figures and watching Tom & Jerry cartoons that I will never EVER eat fish eggs (AKA caviar). I turned agains myself on Thusday when Tany's ex-husband Igor ordered me something he guaranteed I would love....red caviar stuffed in pancakes. I felt bad that he paid all that money for me so I had to suffer through not only one but 6 of these monsters each tiny little egg popping as I bit into them. Luckily there was a stray cat in the area and I kept throwing some of the eggs on the ground for it. Just another Peace Corps duty...feeding starving animals. During dinner Ana asked me if I wanted to go to her family's dacha ( a small house in the village where they garden and rest). I responded that I would love to, but had to work Friday. Tanya jumped in saying that she would call into work for me so I could go. I was reluctant at first because I barely knew these people, but thought, what the hell, it beats working in a hot boring library so I was all in.
Friday morning I woke up around 730am and I went to Igor's house where only his other daughter Yelena was at that time. We hung out and she tried to impress me with her collection of Scorpions MP3's. Finally the whole family showed up and we hit the road. We drove to the countryside and got to their dacha which also happened to be on the biggest river in Europe the Dniper. This dacha had an amazing selection of wild food. Nut trees and fruit trees (plums, apricots, cherries, apples, grapes, every kind of berry and I could go on) they also grew potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, carrots and several other vegeatables. It was like some sorta produce Mecca. After picking fruit with the family, Yelena and I walked down tot he river and hung out for about an hour talking. She is learning English in college right and I think she enjoyed chatting about life. We headed back to the dacha, unpacked all the food and set up for a huge picnic. Igor BBQ's some kabobs and we pigged out with a huge feast and, of course, vodka. After dinner Ana, Yelena and I went hiking through the countryside. This moment was one of the greatest moments of my life. It was just all so beautiful and for the first time since my arrival here I was able to say to myself, "Man, I am really living life right now!". I will never forget that day. This family is really something special and I have the upmost respect for all of them and I hope to stay in touch after Ana goes back to Israel.
Saturday I met up with Peter, Marcia, Leah and some volunteers outside of Kherson. This volunteer called Ben was also in town from someplace out West. He was backpacking through Ukraine and was in Kherson for a couple days. We walked around Kherson and stopped for lunch and some beers and then Leah and I went to a nearby village called Bilazerka where Mike and Renae live. The village life was different than I expected. It was more populated and aside from wild goats, chickens and geese everwhere, was pretty normal. There has always been friction between city volunteers and village volunteers (AKA the village people). I don't see what the big argument is about. So he has to bathe in a bucket and crap outside while I take warm showers and sit on an ivory thrown...what's the big deal ;) Anyway, we took the bus there and relaxed before making, sit down for this...tacos!!! Renae's family mailed her taco seasoning and we had an amazing Mexican feast. It was everything I ever dreamed of. After dinner and drinks I went with Ben to Mike's apartment. Mike is the American who got married last month to a local Ukrainian. She was gone for the night so we spent the night at Mike's place and partied late into the night. Mike had a huka pipe and we enjoyed that with some beers and we watched the live boxing fight that I'm sure a lot of you in the states watched too. The only difference was it started at midnight here. At any rate to fill you in for those who don't care for the sport. Long past are the days of Holyfield and Tyson. Nowadays the heavyweight champion of the world is this gigantic white boy from Ukraine....Ukraine's saving grace. This boy is unstoppable and he pounding on Don King's boy from America who gave up in the 9th round. It was so cool to watchit from Ukraine's point of view. Sunday we woke up around noon and ate stuffed eggplants for breakfast which totally rocked. Mike's wife made them for us. We then hiked to the lake in Bilazerka and hung out before I caught the bus home. I stopped at a store on the way and found the perfect guitar for $120. I am spending this morning debating whether I should buy it today or not. After spending time talking to Mike and Ben who have been here for 2 years and are getting ready to head home, I was newly inspired from their stories. Last year they backpacked through Europe for super cheap and now that I'm reading The DaVinci Code, I really want to get to Paris. My struggle now is to spend money on this guitar or keep saving for travel. I guess there could be worse problems to have. When I got home I called my parents, my brother, Shawna and some volunteers in the area. I miss ALL of you!!!
Farewell from a great 3-day weekend!

Kherson Website

I've been getting requests from people who want to know more about my city of Kherson and see some pictures. I posted some back in May when I visted here. Also, here is a link to the city website which also contains pictures and information about my "hood":

http://www.kherson.com/

Happy 4th of July!!!

Today I have been up for only 2 hours so far and already I'm mad homesick due to the holiday. I love the 4th of July and all it has to offer. I had a great holiday last year with Jessica in Chicago and today find myself missing her company. Chicago is ultimately the place to be on this day. Taste of Chicago, Schaumburg Fest and other township festivals, Milwaukee Summer Fest, amazing fireworks shows, BBQ's, bean bags...AHHHHHHHHHH!!!
What am I doing today?? Working. Ukraine's Independence Day is August 24th and I'm sure I'll have the whole week off, but things such as camping and BBQ's don't exist here. I think at that time I will visit Geoffrey in Crimea and parasail over the Black Sea or visit Hung-Chee out West and take a few days into Poland with him. At any rate, I'm thinking of you, my American friends and family, on this beautiful day!
I haven't been doing too much. My new ATM card does not work and that is the only way I can get my money from Peace Corps. I need to go to the bank on lunch and try to talk to someone with my lame-ass Russian skills. My favorite is how they all look at me like I have gerbils crawling out of my mouth when I talk. I have also been looking around for guitars. I may have to break down and make the big purchase this week. Other than that, just been reading, watched "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and remembered how much I love that film and also watched "From Dusk Til Dawn" and "The 40 Year-Old Virgin", a film I hated when I first saw it but for one reason or another I keep rewatching it and it gets funnier every time. I've also been hanging out with Tanya's daughter Ana from Israel and this girl called Olga who works here at the library a lot this week.
That's it.
Happy 4th of July, y'all!

The Longest Weekend of My Life

I can't believe it's July already. Today is my first official pay day!!!
Okay so Peace Corps often warned us how bored we would become once we got to our permanent sites and I was able to witness this first hand this last weekend. I had 4 days off of work due to the holiday and since I don't know too many people here and my host mom and counterpart don't like to go out, it made for a long and boring weekend. Luckily I had enough mind-numbing things to do around the house.
First off...Thursday. By far the weirdest thing that has happened to me since my arrival in this country. Remember I thought I was going to be on the Tonight Show? Well, it was quite different than I thought. I met the host around 2pm and we headed to the station. I said, "So I suppose I will talk about the Peace Corps and why I'm here for about 10 minutes and head home". He respnded, "Actually, the show is 3 hours and you will be on for 2 of them. It's a live call-in talk show that airs in 7 regions of Ukraine." I get there and there are 2 hosts. One to ask me Russian questions and the other to translate for me. The show is Ukrainian MTV so it is a laid back atmosphere where we talk live on tv and then watch some music videos and this goes on for 3 hours. So wew start and right away they start pounding me with questions. "What would you change about your consititution?", "What is different about the youth in our country?", "What is the Peace Corps?" "How old are you and why aren't I married?" and my favorite..."If you are a business development volunteer, then why are you working in a childrens' library?" I responed, "Dude, that is the question that lingers in my head all day long with no answer in sight." As for phone calls, one viewer asked me to tell an American joke and another asked me if I was a spy like 007? This led to several questions about James Bond and his films. They made me introduce some wacked-out music videos in English and Russian "This is So and So with their song So and So comin' atcha!". All in all it was a fun time and my few hours of celebrity fame. Afterwards they invited me to Kiev for a festival, but I couldn't go due to PC rules within the first month. Instead they invited me to the premier nite club in Kherson with VIP tickets for later in the week. The club is simply called Chocolat.
Friday I didn't leave the house.
Saturday I met up with Leah, Peter and Marcia (volunteers from my group in Kherson) we walked around, ate lunch and drank beers. Afterwards we met this guy called Patrick who is from Florida and has been living here for several years. This guy was a trip. I still don't quite know why he is living here. He had a coupon business in Florida and sold it. His friend has a mail order bride business here that he helps with. Whatever the case is, this guy is my new idol. He flew his Mercedes here complete with Florida plates. He completely gutted out the entire soviet block trashy apartment and made the most amazing bachelor pad imaginable with a home theater that would knock your socks off. He also had a fresh stock of American food complete with popcorn, Golden Grahams, A1 steak sauce, Tobasco, etc. I hope this guy throws a party at some point in the near future. His flat is right in the center of town too.
Sunday we didn't do anything exciting.
So in all the hours of boringness this weekend, I read half of the DaVinci Code (which although I'm 2 years behind the times, I am really enjoying how brilliant the book is and want someone to mail me his other books :), I played a PC game called The Movies which may be the most addicting game ever made, I studied my butt off learning new Russian vocab words and I even started reading the bible on a daily basis....yes, it's come to that. While out here I plan to do many things I didnt have the time for back home. One of which is to actually read the good book so I can be more educated about my place in this multi-religious world. I am also getting notes together to start my next screenplay. So I guess free time isn't all that bad. There is a lot I have sitting on the back burner.
As my life grows less exciting, my posts will be few and far between. If you really get an itch to hear what I'm doing, shoot me an email otherwise I'll be back when I have something worthwhile to say.