April 14, 2005

 

Dear Friends and Family,

 

Here I am, a month away from completing my Peace Corps service.  Coming home will be the end of one adventure, and the beginning of the next. It feels more like a beginning than an ending. Although I will miss many friends I have made in Ukraine and I am grateful for the experiences I have had as a Peace Corps volunteer – I look forward to whatever comes next. Without doubt my next endeavor will be more productive, more usefully and more relevant than most of the work I have done over the past two years.

 

This is my third spring in Ukraine and as always spring brings feelings of hope, rebirth and excitement. The grass in green and buds are showing on Kyiv’s famous chestnut trees. In that spirit, I present a top ten list from Peace Corps Ukraine:

 

1. Learning Russian
2. My English club
3. Breaking the Ramadan fast with a group of Muslim Crimean Tatars in Alushta
4. The places I have traveled: Prague, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Budapest, Cracow
5. Hosting my parents in Ukraine
6. Peace Corps volunteer friends who have become like family
7. Ukrainian friends
8. Cooking, and shopping for fresh produce in the outdoor markets
9. Kayaking and camping out along the Desna river
10. Visiting the town where my grandfather was born

 

So many more amazing moments…

 

Thank you all for your letters, your support, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

 

Delilah