The Three S's

August 21, 2011
If you like sweating, squatting, and sunflowers, Ukraine is the place for you. After two days in Ukraine that included a 14hr train ride- I've gained some knowledge. First I realized/ remembered exactly how much I sweat in Ukraine [substantially more than any other place I've been]/ how much people in general sweat in Ukraine. We spent the morning in Kiev and we were told it was in the high 80s with 90% humidity. It felt like a hot day under a crappy swamp cooler. We had our "orientation" with Cliff, which pretty much consisted of him scaring everyone about the train ride and how hot camp was going to be/ how horrible the food is. And then it was time to hope on the train. Ten Americans plus one Ukrainian with their own bags plus nine big duffel bags full of games and crafts was nothing short of comical to see try and get in and settle in with out causing to much of a disturbance. The first 5hrs of the train ride was like a sauna. I literally repeated in my head over and over "It's okay to be sweaty, you're okay being hot." I also tried to hold my pee, but 14hrs of staying hydrated also means bathroom breaks- and the bathroom on the train was not pleasant. The first time I went it was no big deal (successfully squatted etc). But apparently they don't like to change the toilet paper roll, because at 4:25 am after 2hrs of trying to hold it and go back to sleep there was none to be found. Our train got in at 6am and the train attendant guy enjoyed watching us try to get all our luggage off as quickly as possible. I don't blame him because we were all laughing as Craig chucked duffel bags in Katie's face for a quick exit.
By 7:30 am we arrived at camp exhausted for a full day with kids. Luckily the kids are adorable because let's be honest if they were ugly... [** I can't believe I actually wrote that] But seriously they're great. We felt like it was noon when we arrived so a breakfast of sausage and boodles was as bad as it will be tomorrow morning. After breakfast was murky water, seaweed excessive sea time. The water felt great, but trying to rinse off the sea weed afterwards- not so much. I thought sand was bad. But the kids loved us and despite the language barrier most of them are not shy. After swim time it was lunch and quiet time. Though we should have spent more time thinking up how to teach English, a nap seemed much more necessary. I was OUT. A fact which also didn't help the 2 sec before prep of English. We all aught and it went...ok. But we've talked and it will improve. Our translator, Masha, gave us some ideas too. Then it was games and then free time. Dinner was actually not bad, but chapel was probably the hardest thing. We thought we were told to sit amongst the kids- so we did, but we didn't have anyone to translate that way. You try staying awake in a hot room listening to Russian. Now we wait until 11pm for a staff meeting. Andrey (our "host", he picked us up and has taken us everywhere) showed us where to get ice cream. Maroshena. And now we are trying not to fall asleep before the meeting.
oh I forgot to mention the sunflowers on the way into camp. Like an ocean of yellow. Beautiful.