reveling in red rock

I don't have anything creative to say. My college education is doing a spectacular job of teaching me to think analytically, and as a consequence, I have no original thought left in my mind. My life of reading, writing papers, deleted papers, rewriting papers, and midterms is not worth recording.

So, to keep up the facade that my life is actually exciting and adventurous, I post photos of only the exciting and adventurous things I participate in. And while I've been to Moab and Arches National Park more times than I can really remember, I'd say this trip counts as exciting and adventurous no, i have no similes for those two words, for it was my first time camping in a blizzard. Given, I did not sleep in a tent, but the outhouse had no roof. adventure!

And you are welcome for that tidbit of information.

If you haven't been to Delicate Arch before, change that. I mean come on, it's on our license plates and everything. My 78 year old grandparents did the hike too. So you have no excuse. 

 Companions

Perhaps the greatest result of the trip is that I can now firmly and solidly recommend paying the extra 4 dollars to explore around the slot canyons of the Fiery Furnace. I might have fractured my toe from a pathetic fall, but it was totally worth it.

Above is our favorite picture because Jordan is bringing us beef jerky.

And below is the second favorite picture because Jordan squeezed into an impossibly small area to save a Frito.

Please note the very visible and accessible permit clipped to my backpack. 

We obey the rules.

#savethesoil

So yeah, I'll just keep pretending my life is as cool as I make it seem, when in reality I am crying in the library over my dashed dreams and loss of hope. 

Fortunately, ski season is upon us.

peace and BYU football

posters are on sale in the bookstore for $1.25

rrw

utah lake

One of my most cherished past times is to take "personal adventures." It's when I do my best thinking minus the shower because let's get real, i've solved world hunger, scripted exactly what i would say to Harry Potter if he was real, and chewed out Putin to the extent that he exiled himself to Siberia while in the shower. These adventures are times to refocus, get outside my comfort zone, talk to strangers, and appreciate my surroundings.

I've given Utah Valley a bad rap before no, i literally made a bad rap about Utah Valley but the truth is it's a good place. I'm happy to be here and there are some beautiful areas. Man I feel like breaking out into the state song, which I have done on multiple occasions in the last 48 hours. It's normal.

Yes I am so vain that I use the self-timer. But I mean come on....that light though.

I'd suggest going out into the world to see what it has to show you. You might even find even find a little cove where people to do drugs. But only if you're lucky.

peace and scooter rides.

rrw

a ukrainian proposal

As I have already said dozens of times and in a variety of different ways, living in Ukraine is an adventure. Which I absolutely love. I mean, I may or may not have eaten a granola bar made of bull's blood today. (and when I say "may or may not have" I mean "most definitely did.") Did I know it was made of bull's blood before I ate it? No! But that's part of the adventure! And now my hemoglobin levels are just skyrocketing. I can feel it.

My adventures range anywhere from trying food, teaching 3 year old Ukrainians, going to the grocery store, trying to get off the metro, trying to get on the metro, being yelled at on marshrutkas, attempting to leave the flat while not wearing tights (my host mom dies a little inside every time my bare leg shows), and being pursued by men.

Yes indeed. That last little category of adventures has probably been the most adventurous of them all. (ok, minus our 3 hour stint on the Ukraine/Hungary border during the middle of the night in which I accepted the possibility that I might not ever see another sunrise) I haven't really talked about this part of my experience much because I mean, why would I? Sure, maybe it's given me some reassurance. Now I know that if I never find a guy in Provo, there's always a drunk Bulgarian that would be happy to take care of me. Am I right? (please. tell me I'm not right.)

Most of them just talked with me briefly, invited me to one thing or another, and then were gone from my life. Others have been more persistent, asking to hold my hand, take pictures with me, or adding me on facebook when I panicked under pressure and couldn't think of a way to avoid telling them my name. (Plus I'm just a terrible liar and the only name I could think of in the moment, other than my own, was Penelope Clearwater)

Yes. It's been an adventure. And I haven't shared because I didn't want anyone to worry unnecessarily. hi grandma. Please know that I am absolutely, perfectly safe. I ate a granola bar made of bull's blood remember? I'm untouchable.

But when I got the following in my facebook messages, I knew it was time to share.

"Hello, I want to be very open, I am looking to start a permanent relationship with you without any kind of limits. I am aware that you may have to many options, but this time it's my turn if you reject me it would be a lost in this life for a couple to find eternal happiness so I will wait for you to respond and invite me to get to know each other and later the one and only for life and yes I am proposing you to get married if you and I are honest, straight romantic and clear about your life goals."

So who knows? This girl might come home with more than a nesting doll and some chocolate for her souvenir.

peace and proposals

rrw

happy at st. andrew's

Guys. Things here just keep getting better. I've had bad days for sure, but for every bad day I have I get a week of spectacular ones. And even on the bad days I end up being pretty happy because Bruno Mars will come on my ipod and tell me how my hair falls perfectly without me trying, even though it's completely soaked through and plastered to my forehead. #yep #didnteventry. Or I'll crack myself up with Ukraine puns (sometimes I think I'm the most clever person I know). I'll be happy because babushka gives me medicine for my stomach/throat, keeps a bowl of cookies on the table, and offers applause when I play the piano for her.

I'm happy because the little girls I teach know my name and draw pictures of me holding flowers, even if my body is a square with 4 sticks poking out of it (actually, that might be a pretty good rendering of my current appearance...I mean, did you read what I said up there about the bowl of cookies?!)

I'm happy here because of the little things. But then I go and have crazy fun adventures around Kiev too. Earlier this week two other teachers and I went and explored around Kiev. I wanted to find a place called Andrew's Descent. Look it up on google. Ok fine. I will. CLICK HERE. Did you do it? I even set it to open in a new window so you don't lose your place on my post. I know, I know. I'm super considerate.

Anyway, see why I wanted to find it? Well, we wandered and wandered. I finally took out my camera and started taking pictures like a tourist. And then we were approached by a couple and after a few words finally realized we were being spoken to in English. We made friends with the Canadians who picked us to talk to because apparently I have a neon sign above my head that reads "I'm taking pictures of this wall so obviously I'm American!" #redwhiteandblue #throughandthrough #murica

Anyway, they had a map and told us where to go. So away we went. It was one of the best times I've had here. Although I say that about everything I do so....

yeah, i've tried my hand at being hipster a few times

firehouse

romantic

and my future husband

"i *heart* borscht"

among other things

st. andrew's cathedral

friend and fellow teacher Jerem looking crazy cool

helloooooooo kiev!

 co-teacher Amanda and I ready to go to church

#headscarvesaddclass

beautiful view at the top of the stairs

waffles so good you'll...eat them

chocolate and banana

caramel, banana, kiwi

If you are nice enough to look through all my photos on facebook then I'm sorry for the double post. But I need to do this so my beloved family (who don't have facebook) can see what's going on in my life. Because like, I think they care.... jklolhags. i know they do.

peace and packing
our europe tour starts tomorrow!

rrw