With a Little Help From My Friends

     Before we get things rolling, I wanted to answer a question that came up twice in the comments on yesterday's blog post. It basically asked how the rest of the American team is doing. Save for one exception, I'd say the common word is rough. Whether mentally, physically, or emotionally, it's been a long rough week. Some of us, too, aren't completely sure about how the transition back to American life will go. I dealt with this back in 2014 after my first English camp. Basically, the word rough will apply to the next while or so for all of us.

Everybody Hurts

The dining hall on the left, the lecture hall on the right.

     Right, SITREP (situation report). I seem to have caught something again. Or whatever it was that I had earlier in the week is back. The simple list is a sore throat, a pair of weak/sore legs and a headache. The legs and headache are related to the higher level of activity than I am used to. The sore throat, I suspect, is a result of the dry air combined with my cold from earlier. Yes, I'm drinking a lot and trying to stay hydrated. I also am getting as much sleep as possible and taking acetaminophen as necessary. No need to worry. Just pray.

You Can't Always Get What You Want...

...but sometimes you get what you need. Like this bonus post of photos that I haven't been able to squeeze into the other posts. This is just a gallery post. Minimal writing. Enjoy.

The skies over Poland.

Hurts So Good

     Well...on second thought, not so much. Today was the quest and it left me with multiple hurting muscles in my chest, stomach and arms. Like I needed any more aches this week. I'm just glad I made it through the quest in one piece....Sheesh, I sound like an old man.

Only Time Will Tell...

     ...how this camp will turn out. But right now, I have high hopes. As a preview for later in the post, there's been some pushback from students on certain things as usual but overall the mood is positive.

Wish You Were Here

     The weather is beautiful. Or as my dad likes to say, "The weather is here, wish you were beautiful."
     What a day. I guess I'll begin at the beginning (what a novel concept) and we'll see where this goes. Not hitting writer's block just yet but it'll certainly feel like it soon.

Still the Same

The view north towards Padol on the Dnipr.

     I'm not sure what I was expecting when I came back to Ukraine. Would things be the same? What will have changed in the months since last September? To be honest, during all the preparation, neither of those questions ran through my head. But now that I'm here, I'm constantly seeing things that have changed, been upgraded, or improved. And yet, so much is still the same. The Rodina Mat (Motherland statue) still stands guard over the city. Street vendors still hawk their wares from nearly every street corner. And the marshrukas still worry the inexperienced.

Same Old Song and Dance (edited)

Surprisingly decent airplane food. Well, most of it.

     It's that same old feeling again. Cramped quarters, cabin air, airplane food, and shared experience that makes traveling with friends so interesting.

Takin' Care of Business (pt 2)

     That's right folks. I'M BACK! The Brian and Ukraine blog is officially back in business. The crew here (that is, just me) is all ready to bring you more exciting content from Brian's travels to the land of vyshyvanka and dill-in-everything. I should explain.