It is 8:50PM.

You’d never guess from the looks of it outside and man does it throw me off in terms of knowing how late it has gotten!

edit: this picture DOES make it look a bit lighter out than it actually is, but I think you get the point.

maybesproutwings:

Karl - experiencing what is standard travel for PCVs in Ukraine (albeit while on the Trans-Siberian.)

Third class, that’s what up people! 

So if you are curious about how I travel around in Ukraine, this shows how I roll!

craigariathey:

beingblog:

This anecdote from isopod can’t help but make you smile:

Pascha (Orthodox Easter) is the only holiday where I feel like I have to brush up on my language skills before the liturgy.

During the liturgy, the priest shouts “Christ is risen!” and everyone responds ”Indeed He is Risen!” in many, many languages. It’s also how people greet each other after the liturgy. I can remember the Russian “Khristos Voskrese!” but never remember that the response is “Voistinu Voskrese!” Greek is easier: “Christos Anesti! Aleithos Anesti!” (though, to be honest, this is probably more memorable to me because of too many viewings of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.) And because my priest’s sons love it, I still remember the Swahili, though I’m unsure of the spelling: “Kristu amefufuka! Kweli amefufuka!”

And beyond that, I’ll respond in English “Indeed He is risen!” with a smile and a shrug.

~reblogged by Trent Gilliss, senior editor

This is definitely the first thing I really miss about Moldova.

My counterpart’s бабушка said ”христтос воскрес”to me today and I had no idea about how to respond to it. 

Also…

Damn my lack of not living in my village. I would love to do the middle of the night/early morning church thing here, but I would not want to try to navigate it alone! I guess I know my goal for next year!

peacecorps:

Peace Corps Volunteer Simon Williams is working with his Ukrainian village to build a community athletic field and create a soccer league for the local school. Williams, who played baseball professionally with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, says the current athletic field at the village school is inadequate. 

“The school sits on top of a hill and the field that they have is the size of half a basketball court, which is not sufficient for most physical education activities,” he explains. “Having been active in athletics my whole life, and knowing how soccer-crazy all these kids are, it would be great to see them have an adequate place to play.

“The plan is to make this a very hands-on project,” says the University of Maine graduate, who was Captain of the UMaine baseball team. “The village and its people have very little money but are excited to be a part of building a soccer field for the school.”

Williams has been working as a Youth Development volunteer since 2011, teaching English to students in a Kindergarten through 11th grade school. “We are playing stick-ball and the kids love it. I cut down a broom handle, bought a tennis ball and made the bases out of rocks and they are beginning to grasp the basics. The students always try for a home run, which is hilarious. I like their hustle,” he adds.

In order to receive funding through the Peace Corps Partnership Program, a community must make a 25 percent contribution to the total project cost and outline success indicators for the individual projects. This helps ensure community ownership and a greater chance of long-term sustainability.

One hundred percent of each tax-deductible PCPP donation goes toward a development project. Support Williams’ project in Ukraine

Woot to Group 41 and Simon!

(Source: details for https)

Day Eight: “Window”

Day 7: “Something You Wore”

Day 6: “5 PM”