First mail received!

I went to the post office on Tuesday to check my mail, thinking it was probably still too soon, but that I might have something from the Peace Corps. Peace Corps sends us a mail package every two weeks--I am expecting my first soon--with any administrative notices, the PC Ukraine newsletter, our free Newsweek subscription, and (I hope) any letters that might have been sent to me at the Kyiv office. Packages are not forwarded--we must go to Kyiv to pick them up, although Peace Corps is kind enough to tell us when they arrive. I know, for example, that there is something waiting for me when I go to Kyiv again in March. It's a bit of a torment, to have to wait for another month and a half.

But, in any case, on Tuesday I went to check my mail. This was my third time to check since I opened the box at the beginning of the month, and I really expected it to remain empty until at least later this week. (Or only have another returned letter--apparently I must address all mail using blue or black ink. Green is not acceptable.) But joy! There was a letter in the box, and not from the Peace Corps! My very first letter came from America, not Ukraine. (Wonderful confirmation that the address is, in fact, correct.)

My mom sent the letter on January 6th. I received it on the 18th. A little less than 2 weeks en route--very good! I'm happy.

My mom asked me a question that I think I'll answer here: Am I happy about being in Crimea? Wasn't I hoping for someplace cold? (Did I think all of Ukraine was cold?) I do like the sea, right?

Am I happy about being in Ukraine? I'm not sure, actually! If I'm being honest, that is. There are a lot of good things about where I am. For example, my friends will want to visit me. And by friends I don't mean you all back home--although of course I hope you'll want to visit me, too. My Peace Corps friends will want to visit. My site makes me a Destination. If you want to go to the beach in the summer, you go to visit a PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) who lives on the beach, like I do, and crash on the floor for a few days. Being in Crimea also means I'll have some wonderful fruits and vegetables during the summer. That would be true anywhere in Ukraine, but it's especially true here, and the growing season is longer here--because it's warmer. My Russian will probably improve a lot here, because most people speak it exclusively. I probably won't pick up much Ukrainian. (For the most part, Crimea doesn't consider itself part of Ukraine. I find myself thinking that way, too. I live in Crimea, not Ukraine.) There's a lot of diversity here, which is nice. And my town is bigger, which means there's internet. On the other hand, I think it will be awfully hot in the summer. There will be huge crowds, and I don't like crowds. Things will be more expensive, because I'm in an (up-and-coming) resort town. But...those are small things, really. And I am where I am. It's in my best interests to be happy with it. I don't think too much about what I wanted. What good does that do?

Wasn't I hoping for someplace cold? Yes. I wanted heaps of snow in the winter. I wanted cool summers. I wanted to trudge uphill (both ways) to school every day and come home with the beginnings of frost bite, wrap myself in a blanket, and drink tea while I wrote in my journal or worked on lesson plans. I don't know why this appeals to me. I'm a little weird.

Did I think all of Ukraine was cold? No. I knew it was warm in parts of Ukraine, but I didn't really expect to be sent to those parts. The vast majority of Volunteers go to cold places; anywhere in Crimea is considered prime because it's warm. I also told Peace Corps I'd be happy in the cold, so I fully expected to be sent to some remote little village in Eastern Ukraine. I was really surprised to get a site in Crimea; I hadn't thought it was a possibility. (Most of the Trainees studying Russian dreamed about a Crimean assignment.)

I do like the sea, right? Yes, I love the sea. I love to look at the sea, and listen to the waves and the birds. I love the smell of the air. I love walking barefoot in the sand. I love scanning the beach for shells, and letting the waves lap at my feet. I like to sit in the sand with a book or a paper and pen. I don't like to swim in the sea, though--I like rivers. (Wondering why? Because I can't stand all the sand that gets in your swimsuit when waves crash over you.) I prefer empty beaches, though. I like the solitude of a lonely walk along the coast. It's been a long time since I've gone to a crowded beach. I guess I'll see what it's like in a few months--because the beaches here will definitely be crowded!

All in all, I'm looking forward to summer. I'll be living on my own then--I'm really anticipating April, when I move into my own apartment. I'm excited about cooking for myself, and all the bounty of produce that will be at the markets. I want to learn how to can, which is good--I'll be really glad to have the canned goods in winter. It will be nice to walk around in short sleeves. And I'm very curious to see what this town looks like when all the stores are open, and the streets full, and the trees green. I think the transformation will take me by surprise, even though I am expecting it.

My friend Raisa talks about how she would love to open up a coffee shop in her town. I have the same fantasy. A nice, American coffee shop, with an espresso machine. And maybe a bookshelf with books in English. And big, comfortable, plush chairs. And wireless internet access! Someplace you could sit and drink endless cups of coffee, and have quiet conversation. Oh, it would be heaven. I think that would be a good way to live. (Although I have no idea if you could actually make a living at it.)

Note: Three posts today. Have written several times since I last made it to the Internet Club, so continue below....