My address in Ukraine

Where did the time go? I remember starting an approximate countdown half way through the summer: two months, a month and a half, 25 days... 15 days... and now!? There are no days left! I leave to start my grand adventure today. Now, that doesn't mean that this evening I'll be in Ukraine. Around 5pm my mom and I will leave to drive downstate. My Aunt Peg lives in Mechanicsburg (very near Harrisburg), which is where we'll spend the night. Friday morning, we'll meet my Nanny (grandmother) for breakfast at the turnpike entrance and then boom! Once we jump onto 76E, there is no turning back! My mom will drop me off at the Hampton Inn in downtown Philadelphia and then I'll report for duty and start meeting in person all of the other wonderful Peace Corps volunteers whom I've been meeting all summer on Facebook. I know that they'll be just as funny, good spirited and supportive in flesh and bones as they've been on our "Peace Corps Group 37 Ukraine" page. To continue with the itinerary, Friday afternoon we'll have several hours of "pre-departure briefings" and then by 7pm we'll have free time... to go to bed! Our bus leaves Philly for JFK International Airport at 6.30 Saturday morning. Our flight leaves New York City at 4pm, we change flights in Frankfurt, Germany, and then onward into Kyiv! We'll be in Ukraine's beautiful capital (the temporary image under the title in this blog, "Собор Святої Софії") by Sunday morning at 10. My first thought was, "Well, that's perfect timing for missing church!" I haven't missed a single Sunday all summer and finding a new church and perhaps learning all about Orthodoxy has been a big topic on my mind these past few weeks. So, that's the deal! :-)

Of course, I encourage you to write to me, if you wish. I promise to reply to all letters I receive! I'll try to give a brief description of my address. During the first three months while I'm at training, I'll have a temporary address (it's Peace Corps headquarters in Kyiv). Twice a month they'll bring our mail to us from the capital to our training site. So, my replies will be slow, but if you write me a letter, you can count on a reply from me! :-) Also, this address is only for flat envelopes (letters, postcards, pictures and the like). Peace Corps will reject any packages. Once I'm at my permanent site and start teaching in January, I'll have a permanent address, which will be able to receive all sorts of mail (including but not limited to chocolate chip cookies!). Three quick tips: 1) The address may look "tall", but if you put each peace of information on its own line, as I've formatted it, it'll make it easier for Укрпошта (Ukrainian post) to sort and deliver. 2, 3) Please date and number your letters - that way, if a letter gets lost, we'll take notice.

(Address valid from Sept. 25, 2009 - Dec. 17, 2009)

(address removed)

If you can write in Cyrillic, that will be the best way to address any correspondence to me. The English address is a P.O. Box at the central post office, whereas the Ukrainian address delivers the mail right to the Peace Corps' doorstep! ;-)

(address removed)

Although I am already packed, I still have much to do before my departure. I promise to write a post as soon as I have a chance, probably within my first week in Ukraine. Don't worry about me, but know how much I appreciate the prayers, the kind words, the loving support... May God bless you all! And to end this entry with a quote form Ambassador Kosh (from Babylon 5):
"And so it begins..."

Wecam test

Yes, it is true - you'll still be able to see and hear me while I'm abroad! :-)

Welcome! Ласкаво просимо!

Hello dear friends & family and welcome to my blog!

The purpose of this blog will be to keep you updated on my news in Ukraine.
Starting on September 25th, I will be deployed as a Peace Corps Volunteer to Ukraine. My mission is Secondary English Education. (I'll be a TEFL teacher.) I will undergo a three month intensive training course this fall, (October, November & December) and around Christmas I will be sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer (before the swearing in, I am simply a "Trainee"). Afterwards, in January, I will begin teaching at my permanent site.

Well, many details are yet to come! I promise to fill everyone in as I go. For those of you that have Facebook (I assume that everyone reading this linked to my blog from Facebook), I already have several notes there about my experience thus far in the Peace Corps. Feel free to check them out if you have some spare time. Sorry, I am not shortwinded. ;-)

Thanks for the interest, love, support, friendship and patience in my Peace Corps decision and in my life! May God bless you all.

Love, Matthew


Disclaimer: The opinions that I publish here are my own opinions and do not reflect the official or unofficial views of the Peace Corps. Everyone who joins the Peace Corps has a unique and individual experience, some with more positive or negative aspects than others. Take me with a grain of salt! :-)