Ukrainian Style Remedies

It's been a couple of weeks since I've blogged last. But I am finally writing another blog post. We've been here a month now. Work is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Isn't that usually the case? A few weeks ago I got really sick. It was a bad flu, possibly bronchitis. Luckily for me some previous headteachers had left a bunch of cold and flu medicine. I survived on sudafed and nyquil. Most of my group's teachers also got sick. One of them when she started feeling sick got sent to the school nurse. The nurse recommended some Ukrainian remedies. Warm milk with honey, mustard compress on chest and back, and soaking your feet in hot water. Miraculously she was better in just a couple of days. And didn't suffer the horrible coughing up lungs that the rest of us seemed to have encountered.

I started feeling a lot better, everything seemed to clear up except my stuffy nose. Then 2 nights ago I had trouble sleeping. I had an incredibly sore throat and lots of congestion. Sure enough the next morning it felt like the beginnings of what I had had before. It felt like I had swallowed sandpaper. Like my head was in a C-clamp and about to explode. This time I decided to try the Ukrainian remedies. The warm milk and honey tastes great and definitely makes my throat feel better. I tried the compress. It was supposed to get really hot, but never did when I tried it last night. I must've done something wrong so I typed up the directions in Ukrainian on my computer and used google translate to translate it. So hopefully I can get it to work today.

This is what it said:

"спосіб застосування. гірчичники застосовують шляхом аплікацій на шкіру. перед аплікацією гірчичник змочують терлою водою і накладають на шкіру, прикриваючи зверху сухим рушником. час експозиції складає 5-15 хвилин (до появи вираженого почервоніння шкіри, сильного печіння). кількість аплікацій і їх частота залежать від форми і вираженості захворювання, ефективності гірчичників самих по собі або при застосуванні останніх у комплексній терапії.
показання до застосування. гірчичники призначають як протизапальний (відтяжний) засіб при багатьох захворюваннях (моізити, невралгії, бронхіти, ларинготрахеїт, пневмонії, головний біль і т.і.). іноді можна призначати при стенокардії (залежно від вираженності останньої)."

Translated:

mode of application. mustard plasters used by applications to the skin. front applique sinapism wet scrubbed with water and lay on the skin covering the top with dry towel. exposure time is 5-15 minutes(until the appearance of pronounced redness, severe burning sensations). number of applications and their frequency depend on the form and manifestation of the disease, the effectiveness of mustard plasters on its own or with using the latest in the complex therapy.
Indications for use. mustard plasters designated as anti-inflammatory (drawing) tool in many diseases (moizyty, neuralgia,bronchitis, laryngotracheitis, pneumonia, headache, etc.).sometimes can be assigned to the angina (depending vyrazhennosti last).

I hope it works. I don't want to be sick anymore. It doesn't help that its so cold outside. Its been in the single digits (F) here with wind that pierces like a knife. American winter wear was not cut out for Ukrainian winters. (Note to self: Next time bring money to buy a nice warm coat here). I can't wait for spring to come. Or for it to be at least in the 30's (F). I might be running around in shorts and a t-shirt when that day finally comes ;) Just kidding! The babushkas would yell at me a lot.

So far we've spent quite a bit of time walking around the center of the city. Exploring some shopping venues. We've eaten at McDonald's and Dominoes. Ate a lot of parapichka(Hot dogs inside of scones). We've seen the Chernobyl museum. The love/lock bridge. The LDS temple here in Kyiv. And we've had a number of gatherings just to have fun, play games, and hang out with other American friends from church.

In the future we have plans to go see St Sophia and St Michaels cathedrals, Lavra, Big Mama and the WWII museum. Trips to L'viv, Krakow and Auschwitz in Poland, Odessa, Komnyets Podilsky, and I'm incredibly excited to go see my family's village in Western Ukraine sometime! I think it would be incredible to get to help with everyday things in the village. Preparing meals, working with the animals, helping out in the fields. What an amazing experience that would be! I'm itching to do something family history related, but I don't know where to start. Or what I can do from Kyiv. That and I've been really busy with work. Perhaps I'll have to set aside some time to work on that in the near future.

I'm already doing way better at blogging than the last time I was here. But I promise to be better, I will try to blog more often, and I will do my best to make it interesting. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! And thanks mom for calling me out on not having written in awhile.

Back in Ukraine!

I can't believe I'm back in Ukraine. It still feels like a dream even though I've been here a little over 2 weeks. I have days where I am giddy beyond belief and days that I hate it and want to go home. Its all part of the adjusting process. Overall though I'm super stoked to be back. It feels like I'm home. Although its changed quite a bit. The kids I taught 2 years ago have grown up a lot. My school I taught at moved to a new location. They now sell oreos and my favorite shampoo and conditioner here. Change is good.

I've been pretty sick this last week. My body is adjusting to the new strains of influenza that Ukraine has and America doesn't. I can't wait for it to pass. I will be superwoman after I get healthy again. Haha.

Speaking of healthy...I've definitely lost a few pounds since being here. I've pretty much been walking miles everyday. I'm looking forward to my cough going away so I can start working out.

What else? We've been crazy busy with training. I love my group. And the other groups too. I can't wait until we have more time to hang out and enjoy Ukraine! I love our new friends here from America. There are quite a few people here with Nuskin. Very cool. I do also miss my American friends who were here 2 years ago too.

I love how cheap Ukrainian food is! I eat verenyky a lot. I can get a good sized bag that can last at least 2 meals for about 75 cents USD. I'm in heaven!

I posted some pictures on facebook. I'll try to be better about taking and posting pictures. We don't spend a lot of time out on the city. Most of us in our group have been sick and the only daylight hours are when we're in school. So whenever we get done its super dark and cold. So we just go to FHE, Institute, or straight home. I can't wait to see more of the sun. And get to spend more time around the city. I guarantee more pictures then!

I need your input friends! What do you want to hear about? Make this blogging thing easier for me! I'm definitely not very good at it, so I need your help. I am determined to blog this time round!
Miss you all and am looking forward to hearing from all of you!

Speaking of Russian

I made it through the beginning Russian class alive. It was overwhelming at times, but so worth every second. I've learned so much, particularly about Russian grammar. But I still don't feel like I'm even close to comfortable with the language. I don't think I could have a conversation in Russian, even a simple one. I need to practice, which is difficult. I don't know a ton of people who speak Russian, and those I do know are busy with life. I also feel like I'd do better if I were constantly doing Russian homework. But we don't get much homework because its a community ed class and the homework we do doesn't get graded. Next week I start the intermediate class. I'm excited to learn more. Hopefully a lot more vocabulary and lots more practice with grammar. The best way I feel I'll be able to practice is obviously to go somewhere Russian speaking. I'm working on that. Fingers crossed that it works out!

Missing it everyday!

I miss Ukraine SOOOOOO much!
I am currently taking a Russian class trying to understand a little more about that language. And I hope to find a way to live and work in Ukraine as soon as I finish my Bachelor's degree. If not sooner! Looking forward to going back there again. Even if its just to visit!

After Ukraine

I apologize that I never wrote during my stay in Ukraine.
I absolutely loved every minute of it. It wasn't always easy, but the lessons I learned from my experiences there will stay with me forever!
I miss Ukraine each and every single day!!! And can't wait to go back again, hopefully in the near future!
I will hopefully find the time soon to go back and blog about some of the experiences I had while in Ukraine. Feel free to remind me. The more people are interested the motivated I will be to share my stories. Ask questions...it'll help me decide what to write about!

Photos

So for those of you who may be following the blog but are not on facebook, I apologize for not having any interesting posts up. I have just recently been given access to a computer that will allow me to use blogspot. I promise to have more details updates up on the site soon.
Until then here are a couple of links to my facebook photo albums of Ukraine. Take a look at my pictures and see a little of what I've been experiencing!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=59610&id=515924339&l=4dd04

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=59689&id=515924339&l=ebb2e

Enjoy!

UKRAINE!!!

I'm so sorry its taken so long to make an entry. The only computer I have access to won't let me get on blogspot. :(
But I'm super excited to be in Ukraine. Its already been an amazing experience and I've only been here for 2 1/2 weeks! We spend our weeks teaching and our Saturdays touring Kiev. We've seen some amazing places and I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more. If you have facebook I would refer you there to see pictures that I've put up from the trip so far.
I'd love to hear from everyone! Thanks so much for all of your support!!!
Christina