Still kickin!

While it may seem that I have neglected my poor blog out of callous disregard for its feelings, I assure you, I think about it often. I remember our great times together, our loving gaze across the candlelit dinner table, and shopping for two on Saturday mornings. Sitting up in a wonderfully cushioned bed with no cracks or dips in one direction or another, coffee in hand, I now settle back into its warm embrace to rekindle our spark. And to let you know how these last months have been.

HIGHLIGHTS (because detail would take too long)

September:
School was as per usual. I had fun teaching lessons at my school and didn't really have a schedule, so was able to come and go to the classes I liked best. :)

The 7th B!














General beauty in the Indian Summer for my last few months of Ukraine.

Taken on my running road. GORGEOUS!














October:
COS conference, which is kind of a how-to-leave conference for groups of volunteers. The friends I made more than two years ago were present, some I hadn't seen in almost two years, and it was great. Lots of lovely bonding and catch-up time!

I'm pretty sure that's Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" we're swaying to there.











The Kiev Marathon, which when I registered, I wasn't sure if it really existed. I ran it with a friend I met at a camp over the summer, and had a great time. That same weekend, I also took the GRE (on my birthday!), closed a grant, and completed my "leaving" medical exam. I was BUSY!

My Marafon teammates! I even scored some prize money from this sucker!












Birthday shenannigins!

















HIV/AIDS trainings went of with their standard number of hitches, but were effective programming nonetheless. My counterpart for this project and I organized a training for health teachers in the surrounding villages, and then for our own teachers. We brought in a trainer from Kiev and lives were changed, let me tell you. ;)

Not to be all work and no play, I made it to the far western side of Ukraine one last time and then all the way across to the east for a Halloween shindig for volunteers.

November:
PACKING, GOODBYE-ING, LEAVING. My lovely friend Katie came out to help with this process, which was wonderful. Some parties with my teachers, one last hoopla in the Bunary with neighboring Volunteers, and I was off! Two years done already? WHEW!

Packing Princess Katie!


















Recovery by travel: first Egypt then Spain. Egypt's highlights were hiking Mt. Sinai in the dark in time for sunrise from the summit, snorkeling in the Red Sea, and the city of Cairo, which includes the Pyramids and all that. After a week in Egypt, I arrived in Madrid to see my high school friend, Kate. Tapas and red wine presided. I also made a day trip to Segovia, Hemingway country. Lovely!

Gettin my Egyptian on! Well, my touristness...
















Sunrise on Sinai.
















Snorkeling!

















Friend Kate in Madrid.
















Segovia. Apparently Walt Disney based the castle in Sleeping Beauty off this architectural gem!
















Hittin the ground running, back in the States just in time for Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family. They are LOUD and awesomely so! At the end of the weekend, I made it north for more Thanksgiving feelings with my dad and stepmom. Then back to Cali!

All my cousins, their spouses, and some KIDS! Whew! Life kept going while I was away!












December:
Concerts, reuniting and acclimating ensued.

To be continued!