Hi everyone! I have very busy since Wednesday when we started orientation.

I'm going to take some time to fill you in on a bit of what I have been doing.

I'm setteling in well in my apartment. I bought two small house plants which really helped in the living room. The school had one of the busses take us to a big shopping complex similar to Costco (w/o the cheaper prices). I purchased a fan (what a relief!), the plants, an iron, a stockpot (for making soup), a pillow, and a few other things.

On Friday we were finally able to get into our classrooms. The construction and cleaning is behind schedule so wern't able to get into the classrooms. My classroom has lots of windows on two sides which provides wonderful light! I have started to go thru supplies so I know what I have to work with. I haven't yet gotten my schedule or lists of students.

It is very hard figuring out what is on the groderiy store shelves. I can't find chicken broth, plain oatmeal, walnuts, flour, baking soda and powder, or brown sugar.

To my relatives; I can feel at home here cuz Granny's infamous "bamboo" plant grows all over here and creeping charlie!

I don't have time to post pictures yet. Once I get my classroom computer I can figure out doing that.

Friday, one of the administrative people had a bar-b-que for everyone. They live in a house on the outer edge of town. It was a nice evening. I took pictures of the HUGE vegetable gardens their neighbors have.

On Saturday we were given a 4 hour tour of Kyiv which was very interesting. I will tell more about that when I can post pictures.

Sunday A group of us went downtown to watch the independence day parade; a display of their military personnel and equipment. More on that when I can post pictures. Afterwards we went to TGI Friday's which felt a bit like home. The food was very good. We purused a market, had ice cream cones then went home.

Most American women would die of shoe envy if they could see what women wear over here!

And men wear pointed shoes and carry bags. Some men even carry their wives purses for them!

There many kinds of American cars over here. I have seen a Dodge Truck, Lexus SUV's, Chevy cars, and a new Ford Mustang.

You can buy alcohol at any kiosk and you don't get carded. People drink all over in public.