8th Day of Christmas

So, last night we went to the opera with our host mom as a Christmas gift from her to us! It was so awesome! The voices were amazing, although it was in Russian, I think I understood the storyline, but maybe not the moral, maybe because it wasn't a very good one. But, it was pretty fun! And it was really beautiful! But, that wasn't the only show that has happened in the past 20 hours. Today was our kids performance for their parents, and let me tell you, they did magnificently! We have been preparing for it for over 2 weeks. But, it was so cute! The parents dressed there kids up all fancy, and one of them came into the room dressed as a nut-cracker! So CuTe!!! I will have to show you the videos! When I get home in five days! Our chain is so short! But, afterwards, all of the parents joined us for a great round of 'money, money, whose got the money?' And they really enjoyed it! And, the kids were so well behaved! We even got roses and some candles from various people. Then, there favorite part . . . the treat afterwards, a mountain of cookies, candies, fruit, and every different kind of treat I have seen here! (Don't worry family, I got you some; today infact! but, don't tell you I told you that, It's a surprise) But now I get to jet and babysit! Don't worry, these kids are american and SO Cute! Oh, bytheway, our family has no idea that it is us giving them the 12 days of Christmas! We have our Ukranian notes and are waly to busy to really stay at home, so, we just drop off the gift at the house and go on our merry little way until we get home later that night. So, it is going pretty well, The only sad part is, everything we have gotten goes to waste, because they don't trust any of the food for sanitary purposes, which is understandable, but, she fed Breanne and I the bananas in the morning, which was funny, cause no one else would eat it, but it's ok to feed it to us! It just makes me wonder what else I have been fed here that I really don't know what has happened to it. (Actually I know I have had some crazy stuff!) No worries Amber, I really don't think I can be germaphobic after this! I will usually take a peice of ham or cheese offered to me by one of the children, pop it in my mouth, and then afterwards watch them suck on the same kind and hand it to one of the other kids. Quite the let down! But, whatever, I have decided that if I can survive this, your germs will be just fine! I won't even consider you to have germs!) But, I get to give a talk in church this Sunday. So we will see how that goes! And I really have to go now! So, Love you! Thanks for Everything! Much Love! Peace out! See you all to soon!

Chrstmas is on it's way! And, so are We!

Well! One week ldft! The count down has commenced! (Well, we have actually had a chain for the past 3 weeks) but, it's getting shorter! I can't wait! We have four Christmas Parties coming up in the next couple of days! Two with the kids, one with our coordinators, and another with all of the teachers! And then on top of that, to really get into the Christmas season ( besides the fact that it snowed two days ago, but only after it rained! So, there is a layer of ice on the ground which Breanne has cordially met with her hip!) But, Breanne and I are doing the 12 days of Christmas for our host family, which is so out of the ordinary for Ukranians to do. But, we set something outside of our door each night, and one of them usually finds it before the eveing is over. But, yesterday got a little scary and they started suspecting us and asking us all of these questions. But, we stayed strong and I think we swayed them a little bit. But, to really get 'em, today Breanne and I found the gift and there was a Ukranian Note inside that read "Happy Holidays" in Ukranian of course, which we don't know how to write very well of course. So, tomorrow, we 'aren't going to be home' at all until 9 o'clock, but, we have a bit of time to slip by the house unnoticed and drop off the gift; which we really won't be for more than one second to drop something in front of the door, so, how could we have possibly done it? It's perfect, and we don't know how to write in Ukranian cursive so exquisitely. But, wish us luck, and they are way excited about it. It is way funny to hear them chattering and keep hearing the phrase "whose is it?" But, hopefully it will all work! It was nice to talk to you family! Thanks for always being there for me! Love yah tons! See you in a week! I have already started packing! Can't wait! Goobye!

Poor little Reeb!

So, the other day, Breanne comes up to me a little weirded out . . . Okay, let me start over, We have been fed some pretty strange things here, But, the sickest things have contained fish, and we never really fully know what we are being served all of the time. So, with that said, Breanne came up to me the other day and told me to go look in the fridge. Exact quote: "Karli, go check out the fridge, I just touched a way slimy bag of fish! And I swear they could still be alive!" So, I went and looked and yep, they were pretty gross! And, the best part is, they were probably dripping and contaminating our food, but that's not the point of the story. Our discovery date of this wonderful bag was about five days ago. Luckily, the fish are for our pet cat Matrowskin. So, we don't have to consume them. The funny thing was, today, Stas (Brother) pulled out this fish to give to Matrowskin and sure enough, it started wriggling around! We have had A live fish in our fridge for five days!!!! It was the craziest thing ever! So, Stas couldn't bear giving a live fish to the cat, so he stuck it in the bath tub in some warm water - I repeat Warm water, which made the fish freak out and I think gave it shock which did actually kill it, but he is in denial of the fish dying. So, he threw a bagel in the water for the fish to eat. So, now we have a dead fish and a bagel swimming in our bath tub. Well, there is my little funny story for the day! Turns out fish can live in a fridge up to a week. Bon Apetite!

It's the remedy, It's the experience.

WEll, I have been cooped up in this house for the past five days! Two more days and then sweet freedom! My bronchitis has gotten a little bit more toned down! I am healing up nicely, I think. But, let me tell you. When you get sick in sucha backwards place as this, you might just want to pick it up flip it over and spin it around a couple times and then stick it on it's head! Cause I have had some very strange 'remedies' and 'treatment'. Let's just say, I really am not a fan of hot-mashed potatoes and Mustard on my chest, gagging on spoonfuls of honey and then later mushed up liver. But, I have made six stockings since being stuck in the house, sowed up a hole in my boots, read two books, and 50 pages in my Book of Mormon, Written three letters, breanne and i decorated our oom with over 60 paper snow flakes, and much much more! I have also planned my future 3 weeks and the rest of my meals for four months! I am set! I have learned a ton about tolerance this past week to. All-in-all, it has been a pretty good experience, besides the rice crispies that seem to be lodged in my lungs. But, hey, even that isn't all that bad. No worries though, I take a med buffet three times a day, and am in the care of a very loving family! And am being watched over from on high. All is well! Can't wait to come back to regular civilization in 2 weeks! Can you believe it? 2 WEEKS!! Love you all!

The Castles Rocked!

Okay! Ukraine is officially gorgeous! We went to a couple of natural caves, and fortresses and castles and believe it or not, it is still stinkin green here! It was so dead and yellow when we got here, but, now it is so luscious and lovely! But, very cold. I went to the doctor's yesterday becuase everytime I breathe in, I crackle and pop. Turns out I have bronchitis and can't go outside for a week. But, right now I am breaking the rules and at someones house for Thanksgiving Dinner! Lovely! And, we have the internet! So, this will probably be my last blog for a little while! Just know that I am going to live! And I am in good hands here! If you are concerned, just speak with my mother for an update. She knows all about it! Welp, Turkey time! Gotta run! Later! Pictures when I can actually leave the force field of my home within the next week! My host mom loves me to death and is very concerned for my well being! So, we'll see how it goes! Later!

Castles

Well, I am going on a little trip this weekend to some castles in the . . . south or western part of Ukraine. Well, somewhere in Ukraine! I am just giving you a heads up so that when I get back and blog about it, it is not one big shocker! So, look forward to some saweet bloggin on tuesday! Yahoo!

Singin' in the . . . Sleet

Man! My hair grows like a stinkin weed! But, I love it! Breanne did a tremendous job cutting my hair! I just shower, sleep on it, get up in the morning and go! And it does this awesome 50's style wave! So cool! Oh, And I have totally turned European! Bought some sweet knee high boots and a bucket hat and a scarf! They are cooler than I just described them though! Way exciting! Well, I bought them mainly because my host mom won't let me leave the hose unless every inch of me is covered! And! We had our first official Snow flake fall yesterday! But, it didn't stick around for long! It just got really windy and rainy! In the middle of NOVEMBER!!! Man, this place is crazy! The days are going by so quick! Before i know it, I will be home! Bitter-Sweet, Can't wait to see my family and eat a healthy portioned meal, but, it is going to be very odd to have to leave these people that i have grown to love! But, the end of something is the start of something even better, we just have more experience! And i tell you what, I have definitely learned a Lot!

Circus

I always watched yogi the bear, but I had never thought that a real bear could actually ride a bike, walk up stairs on 2 legs, walk on a disco ball, or ride a scooter, but Where there are no laws against animal cruelty, I have definitely been proven wrong! But, the circus was crazy! I don't think I will ever go again. At least not in a foreign country! I think I will just stick to Disney on Ice. But, it was a great experience nonetheless!

Peragova

We went to the biggest museum in Ukraine on Saturday. Called Peragova. They basically took old structures from across the country of Ukraine and stuck them all on one big plot of land! It was so pretty! The fall colors. The Sunset. The miles of open rolling fields and Colorful forests and massive ponds! But, It was FrEeZiNg! So, Lena gave me an awesome hat to wear! And, in order to warm up, We played a sweet round of football (soccer) to get our blood pumping, naturally, I lost, but I didn't go down without a fight! I accidentally kicked Stas over a couple of times, needless to say he has got some pretty sweet grass stains on his pants now, but, all is well. It was so much fun! I don't think I have ever seen so many old wind mills in my life. How exquisite! pictures aren't gonna work right now. Sorry! Maybe later!

Me Mama Ee Me Papa! W/ a little surprise . . . Kerri!!

The Family came to visit me!!! So fun! We took many adventures all throughout the Ukraine! So Fun!!!

Elder Villiams

We drove to Eastern Ukraine and got to go see our good friend Elder Williams. It was pretty fun! Oh, the kids are here, maybe tell you more later!

The Rental

So, we rented a car right. Well, it went through a lot. But, it was totally worth it! We spent over 40 hours in that thing bobbing around like little rag dolls at times. But, the best part was, we were in Europe, and not just any part of Europe, The Ukraine. Where there is practically no English. So, it got a little crazy. And we know that the round abouts are pretty intense, so one time, we knew we needed to go through a round about, but, it wasn't coming up, so naturally, we had to go around something. So, we went right through a ditch ( very long ditch) that just happened to have the softest most fertile soil in the world! So, we got stuck. After getting EVERYTHING out of the car, ripping a couple of cement pillars apart for some hard stuff for the tires to get traction on, and digging out from behind the tires. We pushed, tugged, pulled, reversed, went forward, Moved NOWHERE with the mud flying all around us, we got pretty dirty. But, then a man and his wife stopped. he pulled into the ditch, hitched on to our car, and freed us from the engulfing land. YAY! Oh, and the reason our tire was missing. Well, we hit a hole next to a rail road track that I am pretty sure still had the rail way car in it. But, it was pretty awesome! And we made it out alive! Good thing we had just gone grocery shopping the day before though, or else I would have panicked! :)

The Black Sea

We took a little Sail Boat on the Black Sea how neat was that!

The Dolphinarium

So, one of the hotels that we stayed in had dolphins in the backyard. So, naturally, we paid the fee and went and swam with them! It was so sweet! And . . . for those family members of Breanne, She actually did touch a dolphin! She just had to cling to one of us while doing it. But, mission accomplished. And we came to the conclusion that dolphins are good animals!

The Whole Reason We are Here!

I figured I would put some pictures of the kids on, because, that is what brought us here. So, here they are.
YEGOR The Big Brown eyed Teddy Bear
VIOLA the Crazy Cat!

ALICIA the I Don't Want to do that, I have my own idea kinda girl

ASIA (Pronounced Awseeyah) Our Little Innocent Princess

NIKITA the Little Kung-Fu Master

Happy Halfway Day!

We are finally halfway done! We are on the downward slide! And I miss you guys so much! My Bestest Oldest Sister in the whole wide world recorded a video of my niece that was so stinkin cute! So, if you want to see it just click on the 8 feet of fun blog link to the right here. It is so stinkin cute! Anyway! I LOVE ALL OF You! Now no worries! Last weeks mishaps are completely in the past! This week has been going a lot better! I think it is just because we have come to the realization that everything is crazy here and we are just expecting it to happen! And the fact that my parents are coming in four days makes everything bearable! WE even got a heeping plate of cauliflower, brussel sprouts, carrots, and beef yesterday! It ROCKED! And, our host grandma used all of the oil on a dish that she prepared for stas. So, NO OIL!!!! YAY!!! And for breakfast, we had a way yummy rice pudding because the power was out, so all that she could use was the gas stove! It was sweet! Shower by candle light! I am just glad that the water was warm and not orange this morning! Well, I thank all of you for the strength that you give me! Thank you for all that you have inspired in me! Learning lots, Karli!

The Dacha!

We got to go to our host families summer house this weekend! And it was so perfect! We had a bbq and was secluded from the smoke and garbage of the city! It was wonderful! We picked over 300 grapes. took over 420 pictures! And got to watch the sunset over the river. it rained for about 10 minutes and then it was clear. and glorious! I loved it!

Every day Breanne and I wake up thinking . . . “Well, at least today can’t be as bad as yesterday”, and every day we go to sleep finding we were wrong

This was probably one of the roughest weeks of my life (I agree; Breanne), and I am so glad it is over. But, the neat part was, with how bad everything really was, there was always something just as sweet as it was bitter. For instance, we were fed ground up deep fried liver (sickest thing I have ever tasted) at the school after a long day of running around and catching kids to try and grab their attention for a split second. Tangent: (everything is in oil here, even if it is not cooked. It is said that you don’t receive vitamin A unless the oil is there to bring it out, so, our cauliflower (deep fried) our salads (slathered in oil) oh, the salads don’t even have lettuce, our pasta, (basically deep fried), oh, I can smell our breakfast right now, smells like blini (pancakes)! Cooked in half the bottle of oil! Excellent! The best part is, that when you say thank you for the meal, they reply with the phrase, “for your health”. I think I think that my body is the weakest it has ever been in my entire existence (true; Breanne), it practically hates me right now; I just can’t wait to get some real vegetables one day, so to all of you kids . . . EAT YOUR VEGETABLES! THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO YOUR HEALTH! (Oh and on top of this week, two of the teachers from our school ended up in the hospital. One teacher with tonsillitis and the other with a stomach virus and an inflamed pancreas. So, who gets to take over their kids? Breanne and I. we taught 11 hours one day! We have done the work of four teachers everyday this week! I am pretty sure I would not still be here if it weren’t for Breanne! Okay, tangent over, the double fold into good. One of the sweetest men in the world and his wife came to Kiev this week to help us with our teaching and to see how everything was going. He was the director for our program and seriously one of the happiest, intelligent, loving men on the face of this planet! He helped us realize our true potential, he calmed our worries about what wasn’t happening with the kids, he made me realize how much I actually have learned, and that there is a brightness of hope in the future! What a great couple! So, they came to our school, helped us with our teaching, helped us improve immensely, and then fed us the best pizza (okay, maybe not as good as the pizza that Stephanie and I make) But, it is claimed to be the best pizza in Kiev, and I am a believer of that statement! Then he fed us ice cream with melted peanut butter, fudge sauce, bananas, and whipped topping! GLOURIOUS!!! (Why not, eh? We are already eating a ton of garbage anyway; why not make it tasty garbage instead?) But, he completely lifted our spirits and made everything seem like such a small moment that will make such a huge impact. Oh how grateful I am for the ability to endure and for others to show you how to endure well. This experience has been such a blessing already, and I have grown immensely! (To bad that is not just spiritually speaking . . . curse the oil!) But, seriously! Life is so grand! And we don’t realize how blessed we really are! To all of you that have influenced my life, I thank you deeply! I love you all! And thank you for all of the time and talent that you put in to living each day! “Vashe Zdorov’e” (to our health)
(Dido; Breanne)

чудесные сярпризы (wonderful surprises)

Someone loves me! Man alive! I can't even believe it! There is modern civilization somewhere in this solar system! Я люблю вас! (I love you)

Well, on Saturday we went to a place called Lavra. We got to go into this church and then into the tombs of the important people in the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. We got to wear knee length skirts and scarves on our heads and then we got to there worship service, and listen to the church bells chime, it was very interesting. Man, I love our Gospel! It was a very good time.

More Pictures!

Well, Europe has various ways of getting around the country through many underground systems. This is one of them, under the Chainbridge in Budapest. We had a ton of awesome foods as well! This is practically dough spiraled around a rolling pin and baked! Than caked with coconut, sugar, chocolate, or nuts! So Good!!! Then Me at the church in Eger. And then me holding all of the many for one of our excursions. It may seem like a lot, but really, 1000 Florins is about dollars. Anyway, I am a Hungarian Millionaire! Then, a picture I took of Budapest in the Evening! It was such a Gorgeous place! If you ever get the opprtunity to go there . . . GO!!! It is so worth it! How fun! Well, Until next time! Thanks for Reading! :)

Pictures!

This is our group at the Parliament Building. Then our Anonymous Architect Sculpture in Budapest at a castle. Then me in front of the Summer Palace in Vienna. And me sitting on a fountain at the palace doing what I do all the time! Taking pictures! I took over 1600 last week! The Last one is of the teachers in Kiev One in front of the biggest church in a place called Eger (Hungary). Sweet times!

The Train!

My first European Train! And it felt exactly like Anastasia! The best part was, the lady coming around and giving us towels had man legs! Her leg hair was at least as long as my dads! She was awesome! And probably a bit less muscular! No one beats my dad! Sorry!