LarissaMormon: April 2012

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Me Home Away From Home

On Monday, April 16th, 2012 I was given a new host family.
I moved into their flat just across the Dniper river.
Here's a view from my bedroom window.

This new family consists of 3 people and a dog. His name is Simon.

our GORGEOUS kitchen

the hallway

living

entry way & secret closet

main washroom

my room!

yup! I have a flat screen t.v!

& a closet!!!!

This family is so nice-- and guess what? I LOVE IT!
I feel so welcome and loved here. It's so great!

Don't you put it in your mouth

Have you ever heard that ridiculously obnoxious commercial from back in the 90's? It consisted of two little blue monsters, singing to its viewers about not putting something in your mouth until you asked someone you loved.
Well--they were right, you really shouldn't consume anything if you don't know what it is. I learned this lesson when I purchased a bun at the local Kray grocery store. I saw these delicious looking buns, thinking to myself "I haven't had a bun in forever!" So I bought one and brought it to school for snack time! I love snack time. Hahah!
Surprise! It was STUFFED with onions, carrots, cabbage, and some really odd spice. So ladies and gentlemen, THIS is why you don't put it in your mouth until you ask someone you love--especially in Ukraine!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

I Owe It To The Past

Okay--so as you all know, I'm way too freaking busy to actually blog during my crazy days...so I got up at 7 am to do this!
Okay, to be fair, I got up at 7 am to skpye my two besties back in Fort Mac...but it just so happens that I'm not completely exhausted, so I figured--heck why not blog?
So here it is.
During the last week of March, myself and all the other ILP volunteers in Ukraine were given a week off.
Most of them went on big group tours all around surrounding countries.
But did I join them?
Nay.
In my second semester at Cold Lake High School I had the most amazing Social Studies teacher.
His name is David Yoshida.
He worked me to the bone in that class, memorizing every tiny detail about World War II and really knowing my facts.
During the semester, I basically hated him because he was such a difficult teacher, but looking back, he has helped me so much.
I really look up to this guy.
One day in April 2010, we had talked about the concentration camps used during the Nazi regime, I'm sure most of you know about one.
Auschwitz.
One word.
One bone-chilling word to describe World War II.
That name stuck with me for a very long time.
The more we learned about it, the more I yearned to witness it first hand.
Well, if any of you have fallen victim of my endless facebook status postings, you'll know that I was just recently in Poland.
My second day there, I was blessed enough to be able to make my way to the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp.
I haven't many words to say about what I had witnessed, only that I pray that anyone with the means to do so should find their way to Poland.
The emotions that went through me are indescribable, really.
But I'd like to post a few photos of the camps.
So, here they are.