So last time I posted I was preparing for my departure from the lovely little village of Starry Bilous. It was very difficult when I started packing up my things and getting ready for whatever the future held for me. I ended up crying like a baby when I had to say goodbye to my host family. I truly believe that they were the reason for such a successful training over the past 3 months. Because of them I had very little homesickness and learned a lot about how to live the Ukrainian life. They taught me how to cook 3 different types of borsch, how to hand wash, how to take bucket showers, and really just how to live a simpler life. Looking back on this now, I think these are key aspects that will prepare you for life on your own.
Anyway leading up to our "graduation" ceremony in Kiev, we were not informed of ANY information about our permanent site until we arrived at the University in Kiev for our 4 day retreat (June 14th-17th). During the first day we finally received basic information about the location where we will be living and the organization in whom we will work with. With all 72 nervous volunteers waiting patiently they slowly called out each group of volunteers by region (1-8). Mine is the last region #8 and it includes three Oblasts (or states) Dnipropetrovsk (my oblast), Donetsk (has the largest soccer stadium and where my friend Conor lives), and Zaporozhye which are all located in the south eastern part of the country. My city of Krivoy Rog is in the western most tip of the Dnipropetrosk Oblast. You can probably Google it to to get a better idea of the location.
So after we were informed of our regions we were given one piece of paper regarding our organization. My organization is a Charitable Foundation called "Shelter Plus". Their mission is to provide charitable aid to the target audience (kids, teenagers, youth) helping them to become self-sustainable personalities through building constructive relations, developing necessary soft and professional skills and organizing various events for the target audience. I was informed immediately that I would have my own apartment and that my working schedule is Tuesday through Saturdays. I was relived in many ways for all this information. Even though I knew no details, just the fact of knowing "something" was an amazing feeling.
Anyway leading up to our "graduation" ceremony in Kiev, we were not informed of ANY information about our permanent site until we arrived at the University in Kiev for our 4 day retreat (June 14th-17th). During the first day we finally received basic information about the location where we will be living and the organization in whom we will work with. With all 72 nervous volunteers waiting patiently they slowly called out each group of volunteers by region (1-8). Mine is the last region #8 and it includes three Oblasts (or states) Dnipropetrovsk (my oblast), Donetsk (has the largest soccer stadium and where my friend Conor lives), and Zaporozhye which are all located in the south eastern part of the country. My city of Krivoy Rog is in the western most tip of the Dnipropetrosk Oblast. You can probably Google it to to get a better idea of the location.
So after we were informed of our regions we were given one piece of paper regarding our organization. My organization is a Charitable Foundation called "Shelter Plus". Their mission is to provide charitable aid to the target audience (kids, teenagers, youth) helping them to become self-sustainable personalities through building constructive relations, developing necessary soft and professional skills and organizing various events for the target audience. I was informed immediately that I would have my own apartment and that my working schedule is Tuesday through Saturdays. I was relived in many ways for all this information. Even though I knew no details, just the fact of knowing "something" was an amazing feeling.
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