Kolky for Christmas

Hello dear friends and family,

Another christmas has come and gone but this year I spent the wonderful day of Christ's birth in a small village called Kolky. It is located just 30 minutes up the road from Kivertsi. My good friend, Benjamin Hogue (from Grand Junction, Colorado), lives there. On Christmas eve we attempted to make the national dish, borscht and it was delicious. We were pretty impressed with our efforts and having been our first time, it was probably some of the best borscht I have had since being in Ukraine. Ben had a small christmas tree that was accompanied by many gifts his students had gotten him so the feeling of Christmas was present. My teachers and students gave me a wreath with a candle so we used that as decor as well. My teachers were very dear in writing me a sweet card and presenting me with candy and even a glass angel that lights up as a token of their seasonal greetings. I felt very loved and embraced around a holiday that is very much family oriented. It was difficult to be away but I am starting to develop a circle of my own in Kivertsi. I am appreciated and they never stop showing that to me.

On Christmas day, Ben and I enjoyed quite the dance party and opened gifts. We just spent most of the day watching movies and eating delicious sweets. It was nice to relax after the first week in school. For christmas dinner, we prepared grilled cheese and some mashed potatoes. It was a random combonation but suited the occassion. The next day, after Christmas, we went to the bazar and met up with Ben's counterpart. He invited us to his home for brunch and to meet his family. He had a very sweet family and we enjoyed some wonderful food and tea with them. We sang songs and played with his grandchildren. Ukraine has the most hospitable people I know, everyone wants us to be apart of their family, to feel loved. It is unlike anywhere I have yet to venture, it is truly making me fall in love with this culture. I hope that I can only learn from their ways and execute them once I return to the states. Their hearts are still full of compassion regardless of all the adversity they have undergone in the past 20 years. The people of Ukraine have yet to cease in amazing me. I am blessed to be apart of their transition into an independent state, their democracy is young but has enormous potentional (quote from Benjamin Hogue).

I hope everyone had a wonderful christmas filled with much love from family and friends. I love you all.

Happy New Year!