As I welcomed my Indian roommate Shiv last night, we will be sharing a room together for about a month. I dont know why I have a strange 'bond' with Indians... When I was in the temporary accommodation in Wellington the 1st week I was there, I shared a room with an Indian guy, then in my hostel, I shared my room once again with another Indian guy for about 8 months. So I thought I will be in Ukraine, gimme a break, but again, another Indian guy -_-" Ok, at least Shiv seems like a nice kid, fingers crossed =p
So we will be celebrating New Year with Ivano-Frankivsk LC in Yaremcha city, then going to Carpatian Mountain! Ok, hopefully there will be a lot of Ukrainian chicks and drinks! XD
Ok, finally to all my friends and dear readers, I would like to wish you all a very happy New Year and merry X'mas for my friends in Ukraine!!!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Snowball Fight!
Ok, after 2 weeks of waiting, finally, it snowed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was really excited because it's fun and funny to see snow!!!
The snow can be very white and cold and fun! Too many adjetive which I can use to descripe snow. Beautiful, romantic, artistic, fun, cold or it can be wet, fast and annoying.
For me who has never seen snow in my life(close range), snow is totally too much fun. I like walking on the snow because it makes a funny 'krufff, krufff, krufff, krufff' sound on the nice fluffy snow. Then it makes 'krushhhh, krushhhh, krushhh, krushhh' sound on the hard snow when it's to cold. Then 'plattttt, plattttt, platttt, plattttt' on the wet and bad snow.
The snow will fall on different direction and ways. When there is no wind, they drop beautifully to the ground. And when they are flyingaround the city violently with the wind, it's annoying because they will get into your eyes, mouth etc. When it's abut -1,-2, the snow is fluffy and with nice shape, best for snowballs! Then when it's too cold, -6 and below, the snow will be like little crystal of ice or glasses, and they are hard, so you cant play snowballs.
My 1st snowball fight!
I wasnt expect the 'fight' when I walked out from school no. 46 after the winter party of the junior kids. I was on my way to school No.66 to deliver my X'mas card to Anna. Then the students from 46 asked me to join them and I thought I should give it a try!
It was... well... actually... 13 gals against 3 guys... plus I'm totally NEW to snowball fight. I grabbed the snow on the floor with my both hands, and tried to forge them into a ball shope snow. It was interesting because it took me several squeeze to form a nice snowball. You need certain degree of rundness and toughness in order to make a 'fightable' snowball. You want t make sure the snowball can somehow 'hurt' the 'enemy' and the snowball can 'fly' to certain distance when you throw them.
We were totally out numbers and it was a tough fight... But we manages to get several good shot on the gals, LOL!!! It was really fun and I really want to play more. But I have to go now! Dima wants me t play Half Life with him! To be continiued...!!!
I was really excited because it's fun and funny to see snow!!!
The snow can be very white and cold and fun! Too many adjetive which I can use to descripe snow. Beautiful, romantic, artistic, fun, cold or it can be wet, fast and annoying.
For me who has never seen snow in my life(close range), snow is totally too much fun. I like walking on the snow because it makes a funny 'krufff, krufff, krufff, krufff' sound on the nice fluffy snow. Then it makes 'krushhhh, krushhhh, krushhh, krushhh' sound on the hard snow when it's to cold. Then 'plattttt, plattttt, platttt, plattttt' on the wet and bad snow.
The snow will fall on different direction and ways. When there is no wind, they drop beautifully to the ground. And when they are flyingaround the city violently with the wind, it's annoying because they will get into your eyes, mouth etc. When it's abut -1,-2, the snow is fluffy and with nice shape, best for snowballs! Then when it's too cold, -6 and below, the snow will be like little crystal of ice or glasses, and they are hard, so you cant play snowballs.
My 1st snowball fight!
I wasnt expect the 'fight' when I walked out from school no. 46 after the winter party of the junior kids. I was on my way to school No.66 to deliver my X'mas card to Anna. Then the students from 46 asked me to join them and I thought I should give it a try!
It was... well... actually... 13 gals against 3 guys... plus I'm totally NEW to snowball fight. I grabbed the snow on the floor with my both hands, and tried to forge them into a ball shope snow. It was interesting because it took me several squeeze to form a nice snowball. You need certain degree of rundness and toughness in order to make a 'fightable' snowball. You want t make sure the snowball can somehow 'hurt' the 'enemy' and the snowball can 'fly' to certain distance when you throw them.
We were totally out numbers and it was a tough fight... But we manages to get several good shot on the gals, LOL!!! It was really fun and I really want to play more. But I have to go now! Dima wants me t play Half Life with him! To be continiued...!!!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
St. Nicholas Day II
So earlier where I mentioned I had a gathering with my OC team for a little celebration. Well, it wasnt really like a celebration, it was more like a catch up. Somehow I felt some of them werent really wanted to be there, but whatever, if all their lifes is about studying or their bf/gf, they are to pethetic =p Also, there is someone from another country coming into your city, your country and you are not eager to show your hospitality or want to know more about this person's country or culture, that is just speechless for me. But well, I met many people like this.
Ok, so this gathering in a special cafe was pretty nice, they have a variaty of coffee, tea, chocolate etc. And the atmosphere of the place is really good. We were there for about 1 hour+. I had white chocolate which I thought was a drink but it was warm chocolate to be eaten.
I got something from St. Nicholas too! Candies and mandarin, LOL! That was good enough for me, to experience something like the Lvivian!
So when I was waiting for Toha/Aton. (Will tell you about different Ukrainian names, they are s much fun like Svitlana is also Svieta, Dmytro is also Dima, etc, the official and nick names of the Ukrainian.) I was expecting some high school student with him. But I saw Tania which I think she should be in the Uni or maybe have fisnished uni. Then I found out she is working for a furniture company and later on found out Aton's parents own the company or at least a bit partner of the company.
So it was crazy for us to walk about 40min to the skating field because Aton didnt know how to get there buy marshurtka (bus). At the skating field, we were lucky because it want too many people, most people are partying somewhere because it was a big Friday night!
Then I was expecting to meet Aton's friend, I was expecting some kids in their 15/16, but I was shocked when they were women from their late 20s to 40s... not kids but employees who work in the furniture company. Anyway, the gals and women are still, pretty.
Havent been ice skating for a long time. The last time I skate probable was 5/6 years ago in M'sia's indoor skaing ring. It was a pain getting into the skating shoe as the previous user kinda fucked up the show lace. Then Aton was helping me fixing it he made sure the shoe fit well or I may get sore legs later.
So we went into the skating ring and i saw people skating, falling smailing, screaming. Well, Some gals screamed before they fell, so it was nice to watch. And I enjoy watching people fell. Come on, where can you find free live comedy?
Most of Aton's friends can skate well, inculding himself. Except Erica which had a bad experience on skating because she fell on her last session. We skated for about an hour and I didnt fall, maybe because I spent to much time laughing at those who fell when I was standing.
It was fun when I skate, it was cold for a bit, especially my hands, but later on it was fine. Many times I was off balance when I tried to do something stupid but I was glad that I'm flexible enough to stay on my feet. And I've learnt how to skate backward!!! Muahahahahaha! Well, not too fast yet but I know the trick now!
There were majority young people skating there and many pretty Ukrainian chicks of course. Then us, like other people tried to do the train where the 'locomotive' were moving all of us in the line. Aton said it was very tiring and I could see why when you are pulling abut 6 people for about 2 min that needs some strength!
So that was for the fun night and Aton was being so nice to ask his parents t sent me back to the school by car. OMG, it was the 1st time I was in a car in Lviv in about 2 weeks+ XD
Ok, so this gathering in a special cafe was pretty nice, they have a variaty of coffee, tea, chocolate etc. And the atmosphere of the place is really good. We were there for about 1 hour+. I had white chocolate which I thought was a drink but it was warm chocolate to be eaten.
I got something from St. Nicholas too! Candies and mandarin, LOL! That was good enough for me, to experience something like the Lvivian!
So when I was waiting for Toha/Aton. (Will tell you about different Ukrainian names, they are s much fun like Svitlana is also Svieta, Dmytro is also Dima, etc, the official and nick names of the Ukrainian.) I was expecting some high school student with him. But I saw Tania which I think she should be in the Uni or maybe have fisnished uni. Then I found out she is working for a furniture company and later on found out Aton's parents own the company or at least a bit partner of the company.
So it was crazy for us to walk about 40min to the skating field because Aton didnt know how to get there buy marshurtka (bus). At the skating field, we were lucky because it want too many people, most people are partying somewhere because it was a big Friday night!
Then I was expecting to meet Aton's friend, I was expecting some kids in their 15/16, but I was shocked when they were women from their late 20s to 40s... not kids but employees who work in the furniture company. Anyway, the gals and women are still, pretty.
Havent been ice skating for a long time. The last time I skate probable was 5/6 years ago in M'sia's indoor skaing ring. It was a pain getting into the skating shoe as the previous user kinda fucked up the show lace. Then Aton was helping me fixing it he made sure the shoe fit well or I may get sore legs later.
So we went into the skating ring and i saw people skating, falling smailing, screaming. Well, Some gals screamed before they fell, so it was nice to watch. And I enjoy watching people fell. Come on, where can you find free live comedy?
Most of Aton's friends can skate well, inculding himself. Except Erica which had a bad experience on skating because she fell on her last session. We skated for about an hour and I didnt fall, maybe because I spent to much time laughing at those who fell when I was standing.
It was fun when I skate, it was cold for a bit, especially my hands, but later on it was fine. Many times I was off balance when I tried to do something stupid but I was glad that I'm flexible enough to stay on my feet. And I've learnt how to skate backward!!! Muahahahahaha! Well, not too fast yet but I know the trick now!
There were majority young people skating there and many pretty Ukrainian chicks of course. Then us, like other people tried to do the train where the 'locomotive' were moving all of us in the line. Aton said it was very tiring and I could see why when you are pulling abut 6 people for about 2 min that needs some strength!
So that was for the fun night and Aton was being so nice to ask his parents t sent me back to the school by car. OMG, it was the 1st time I was in a car in Lviv in about 2 weeks+ XD
20th & 21st Weekend
So~ another relaxing weekend, actually, everyday over here are pretty relaxing and fun. Only a few things happened on the weekend, like shopping, a visit to Aton's factory basement. Last week was the most exciting one. Anyway...
Saturday:
Woke up in the morning, read National Geographic magazine about a group of peple traveling in Ethopia, Sudan and story about finind the 1st American. Then was waiting for Dima to call me to go for some shopping. He was cleaning the house and he lives about 8min away from the school where I'm staying now, which also used to be his school.
So the market place is about 20min away and it's one of the end of Lviv city. The market is like made up from hundreds little shops selling shoes, jackets, caps, shirts, well, cloths and some shops sell lights, tv, food etc. The whole market is probably a size of a half football field, but all the shops are very closed together.
We were lucky, becuase it was raining and with a bit of wet snow*, so there werent many people in the market. Else according to Dima, it's normally very very crowded in the market on a weekend.
There were only 3 things I need t get, a fat jeans*, fat socks and winter boots. Yeah, guy's shpping are easy gals =p We went to several shops and looked and tried on some shoes but I didnt really like them or the prices were out of budget.
Dima:'We have many many shps here, if you dont like anything here, we can go to the next shop.' And because of this sentance, we finished our shopping in about 2 hours.
Dima:'If you see anything nice, dont be shy and you can try them on.' But I didnt try much because I hate trying so many things and taking off my jeans and jacket and shirt to try on different things.
The people in the shops are nice people. Well, of course they try to push for sales but they are very polite and nice when you said you dont want anything. And some of them gave me discounts automatically, nice people arent they.
So I spend about 550Uah which is about 70Euro? Maybe for a pair of fat socks, winter boots and fat jeans.
*Wet snow - From Dima dictionary, there are several types of snow, wet snos is the worst snow because they turn into water when they landed. the best Snow is the fluffy snow where you can play snowballs with.
*Fat jeans - From Dima dictionary, these jeans are about double layer, so it's warmer for winter. Actually it was my 1st time knowing there are fat jeans.
*Fat socks - From Dima dictionary, it's the warm socks, hand made from sheep skin.
Then at night, omg, i went to Aton's factory. The trip on marshutka (bus) was a bit crazy. Because Dima sent me to the bus and he told the bus driver where I wanted to be dropped off and because it was too crowded in the bus, Dima explained only in 5 sec and he left me and I'm on a bus t dont know where. Then he called me and I passed my phone t the driver assistant, the person who collect the bus fare. It was strange... And I hope Aton gave the right instrustion to Dima on the phone where sometimes I cant hear properly what they are saying on the phone.
So when the marshurtka stopped at the stop where I should stop, I got off and called Aton and he asked me :'what do you see from the bus stop? Can you see a church? No? What else can you see?'
At that time I couldnt see a church and I dont knwo how to explain what I see, I see shops, bus stop, trees, people and some signs in Ukrainian which I cant read... I thought I was lost for a sec that night. Fortunately I was at the right place and Aton met up with me after about 10min.
So I met some new friends who are working in the factory and I went to Aton neightbour's house. They were very nice to me even thought it was the 1st time they had me in their house ^_^
Sunday:
OMG, I already said so much about Saturday... -_-" Ok, Sunday morning didnt exist because I spelt late talking to Mason. Again, we love free calling from Life :) operator. I can call Ukrainian chicks for free for hours, muaaaaahahahahahahaha!!!
Ok, so I met up with Aton again because other friends are too busy studying for their up coming test before New Year and X'mas breaks. I waited for him for about an hour because of some misunderstanding and some traffic jam from his way to town. But it was ok, I was observing the people in Lviv and watching kids playing with cars.
When I saw Aton, he was with his friend and he didnt look very friendly with his angry face and he cant speak English and they walk so fast I was trying to catch up with my tired legs. But after about a couple of hours, maybe after sme beer the guy became more friendly and he gave me a toss of Ukrainian vodka before I left.
At this bar where were drinkning beer and played some pool, again they smoke in the bar and made me stink. More and more friends joined in the table and they talked and I could only talk to Aton because the others cant really speak English. Something puzzled me before the toss where we left, they were saying something like 'Zell your friend is a very nice guy, let him have this vodka and it's for love.' How would they say I'm a nice guy since we didnt talk much and I was only with them for a couple of hours... I think maybe they were drunk or peple here are to friendly, lol!
Saturday:
Woke up in the morning, read National Geographic magazine about a group of peple traveling in Ethopia, Sudan and story about finind the 1st American. Then was waiting for Dima to call me to go for some shopping. He was cleaning the house and he lives about 8min away from the school where I'm staying now, which also used to be his school.
So the market place is about 20min away and it's one of the end of Lviv city. The market is like made up from hundreds little shops selling shoes, jackets, caps, shirts, well, cloths and some shops sell lights, tv, food etc. The whole market is probably a size of a half football field, but all the shops are very closed together.
We were lucky, becuase it was raining and with a bit of wet snow*, so there werent many people in the market. Else according to Dima, it's normally very very crowded in the market on a weekend.
There were only 3 things I need t get, a fat jeans*, fat socks and winter boots. Yeah, guy's shpping are easy gals =p We went to several shops and looked and tried on some shoes but I didnt really like them or the prices were out of budget.
Dima:'We have many many shps here, if you dont like anything here, we can go to the next shop.' And because of this sentance, we finished our shopping in about 2 hours.
Dima:'If you see anything nice, dont be shy and you can try them on.' But I didnt try much because I hate trying so many things and taking off my jeans and jacket and shirt to try on different things.
The people in the shops are nice people. Well, of course they try to push for sales but they are very polite and nice when you said you dont want anything. And some of them gave me discounts automatically, nice people arent they.
So I spend about 550Uah which is about 70Euro? Maybe for a pair of fat socks, winter boots and fat jeans.
*Wet snow - From Dima dictionary, there are several types of snow, wet snos is the worst snow because they turn into water when they landed. the best Snow is the fluffy snow where you can play snowballs with.
*Fat jeans - From Dima dictionary, these jeans are about double layer, so it's warmer for winter. Actually it was my 1st time knowing there are fat jeans.
*Fat socks - From Dima dictionary, it's the warm socks, hand made from sheep skin.
Then at night, omg, i went to Aton's factory. The trip on marshutka (bus) was a bit crazy. Because Dima sent me to the bus and he told the bus driver where I wanted to be dropped off and because it was too crowded in the bus, Dima explained only in 5 sec and he left me and I'm on a bus t dont know where. Then he called me and I passed my phone t the driver assistant, the person who collect the bus fare. It was strange... And I hope Aton gave the right instrustion to Dima on the phone where sometimes I cant hear properly what they are saying on the phone.
So when the marshurtka stopped at the stop where I should stop, I got off and called Aton and he asked me :'what do you see from the bus stop? Can you see a church? No? What else can you see?'
At that time I couldnt see a church and I dont knwo how to explain what I see, I see shops, bus stop, trees, people and some signs in Ukrainian which I cant read... I thought I was lost for a sec that night. Fortunately I was at the right place and Aton met up with me after about 10min.
So I met some new friends who are working in the factory and I went to Aton neightbour's house. They were very nice to me even thought it was the 1st time they had me in their house ^_^
Sunday:
OMG, I already said so much about Saturday... -_-" Ok, Sunday morning didnt exist because I spelt late talking to Mason. Again, we love free calling from Life :) operator. I can call Ukrainian chicks for free for hours, muaaaaahahahahahahaha!!!
Ok, so I met up with Aton again because other friends are too busy studying for their up coming test before New Year and X'mas breaks. I waited for him for about an hour because of some misunderstanding and some traffic jam from his way to town. But it was ok, I was observing the people in Lviv and watching kids playing with cars.
When I saw Aton, he was with his friend and he didnt look very friendly with his angry face and he cant speak English and they walk so fast I was trying to catch up with my tired legs. But after about a couple of hours, maybe after sme beer the guy became more friendly and he gave me a toss of Ukrainian vodka before I left.
At this bar where were drinkning beer and played some pool, again they smoke in the bar and made me stink. More and more friends joined in the table and they talked and I could only talk to Aton because the others cant really speak English. Something puzzled me before the toss where we left, they were saying something like 'Zell your friend is a very nice guy, let him have this vodka and it's for love.' How would they say I'm a nice guy since we didnt talk much and I was only with them for a couple of hours... I think maybe they were drunk or peple here are to friendly, lol!
Friday, December 19, 2008
St. Nicholas Day
It's St. Nicholas Day today in Ukraine. Everybody are excited because they will recieve presents from their family. It's a holiday for students in the school, and when I was in the school, they were all very hyped up for this special day.
Well, actually I didnt know St. Nicholas = Santa Clause... Well, it's not too late to know anyway, about the story of the shy guy who wanted to give something to the children.
ANYWAY! I cannot sit in the office! I will go to the school and talk to the kids, then have my dinner, then meet up with my OC for a little celebration, then for for ice skating with a group of students!
TO be honest, kids are more friendly then adults, that's why I like to hang out with kids more, beside, I'm a kid too XD
Have a good weekend peeps! No internet for me in the weekend!
Well, actually I didnt know St. Nicholas = Santa Clause... Well, it's not too late to know anyway, about the story of the shy guy who wanted to give something to the children.
ANYWAY! I cannot sit in the office! I will go to the school and talk to the kids, then have my dinner, then meet up with my OC for a little celebration, then for for ice skating with a group of students!
TO be honest, kids are more friendly then adults, that's why I like to hang out with kids more, beside, I'm a kid too XD
Have a good weekend peeps! No internet for me in the weekend!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
13th & 14th Weekend
It was a fun weekend I must say. I will try and summurize it.
Saturday:
There was a legislation weekend for @ Lviv, and the announcement of new membership status in the LC. You know what, for the @ers in Lviv to become a full member, he/she needs to achive certain criteria, sumbin a quaterly review form, have a review board with their EBs and submit another full member application form with recommendation letter from one of the full member in the LC, WOAH~ Then they granted a girl an alumnus status.
Then the second half of the session was about the performance of the LC. OMG! Their performance, measured SMARTly, totally impressed my. They had for example an initiative, with the initiative begining date, and ending date, goal and achived goal % in the end of the initiative date. Man, @ in Lviv really is something, they set their goals high, and they achived good result, most of them are about 80% achived from communication, information management, project, talant management, leadership application, finance etc.
@ in Ukraine has about 900 members, 16 LC and another new one I heard is about to be born. Their members are super positive, awesome, smart, friendly, passionate they are VERY DIFFERENT background and they achive results. @ in Kiev, Lviv and Donetsk are the best LC in UA, they are best in different area and @ Lviv rocks!
However, the 10.30am-3pm session wasnt all fun t me, they were in Ukrainian and for some staged I was so bored that I wish I could sing some Jay Chou to them.
After that we went for a short drink, it was 3pm right... Then everybody went home before 6pm. It was about 20+ of us and it was hard fr us to find a place to go in the popular Saturday. By the way, I was sitting opposite this @er and she is OMG pretty. SO many pretty gals in Ukraine! I dont want to go back home(s)!!! Let me stay here with one of the Ukrainian gal please!!!
Sunday:
After the tiring early battle with the mouse, I was ready for a futebol game with Slavik. He met me infront of the Opera House in town then me caught the marshutka(bus) to his place. It was cold, -3c for yesterday, and there were some winds.
I arrived at his place and the futebol field is just infront of his house, as concrete field with 2 goals but no nets. I used the internet at Slavik's place for a bit then we were getting ready for the game. I should be more prepared next time, I would need to wear more in their winter...
It was 4 aside futebol and all of them except me are just staying around the area and most of them live opposite the field too. It was so cold that My ears were like 'burning'. Then when the wind blows, it was so so cold...
More about the game. Both teams are quite equal, our score were close. The game finished by 1 team scoring 10 goals 1st. It was scary playing on concrete and on my shorts. I dnt want to fall down or run too fast, it's gonna be nasty when I fall, the condition on the surface was the worst I've been playing in NZ. So I was a bit cautious and I played my worst game in months, scoring 0 goals and lost 8-10. It feel shit not scoring goals in 4 aside game, normally I score quite some goals :~( Anyway, it was a really good game and if Slavik ask me to play again, I'm sure I'm gonna score or I will change my name to something else. By the way, I ran so much and I couldnt break a sweat, it was the 1st time in my life playing futebol and not sweating!
Went back to Slavik's home, and his mum prepared us some food. OMG! yummy Ukrainian food!!! Smachnoho (bon appetite)!!! There were borsh (red soup), kartoplia (potato), miaso (meat), rieba (fish) and other more. Yummy food man, yummy! Especially after the 1 and a half hour futebol game.
Then I had 2 cups of tea, Slavik had 3... and we talked for hours. Well, Slavik is 18 now, he was on the EB when he was 16, and now he is on the NST, and he is just 18... He couldnt understand English and he was like a wood on his 1st @ conference but then he is now fecilitating some sessions and he was the OCP for one of the national conference recently. He knew what he wants to become in the future, and his rle as a Information Management NST is teaching him more than his university. He may now consider applying for MC or complete his studies. As you can see, Slavik is a cool, friendly and handsome guy in @ Lviv/UA.
I got some Ukrainian music from him and I showed him one of the episode in Romance of the 3 Kingdoms (San Guo Yan Yi) my favourite novel/history book. I showed him how ZheGe KongMing 'borrowed' 100,000 arrows from Cao MengDe. Hopefully he found it interesting, well I did, again, LOL!!!
One more thing at Slavik's house, I met this cat of his, Chris. According to Slavik, the Siberian cat, Chris is a present from his friend. OMG, I love dog so much and dog is definitely men's best friend, but this cat, OMG, was super cute!!! CHIU KAWAII!!! That was probably the cutest cat I've ever seen! He is still very young, 1++ months old. Very friendly, active and adorable. It has long grey hair, small and flexible body and soft palms, waaahahahaha. Chris was climbing up the chair, maybe he thought he is a monkey, and he was playing with shoe lace, my leg! my shorts etc. It was fun playing with him! If I ever want to have a cat in my life, which I never ever want a cat anymore because I would love to have a dog instead, Chris maybe an exception :D
End of the mouse fight episode 1 when I got home (hopefully no more drama after this... but I think there is still another one in the room...).
SO!!! FUN WEEKEND!!! UKRAINA! UKRAINA!
Saturday:
There was a legislation weekend for @ Lviv, and the announcement of new membership status in the LC. You know what, for the @ers in Lviv to become a full member, he/she needs to achive certain criteria, sumbin a quaterly review form, have a review board with their EBs and submit another full member application form with recommendation letter from one of the full member in the LC, WOAH~ Then they granted a girl an alumnus status.
Then the second half of the session was about the performance of the LC. OMG! Their performance, measured SMARTly, totally impressed my. They had for example an initiative, with the initiative begining date, and ending date, goal and achived goal % in the end of the initiative date. Man, @ in Lviv really is something, they set their goals high, and they achived good result, most of them are about 80% achived from communication, information management, project, talant management, leadership application, finance etc.
@ in Ukraine has about 900 members, 16 LC and another new one I heard is about to be born. Their members are super positive, awesome, smart, friendly, passionate they are VERY DIFFERENT background and they achive results. @ in Kiev, Lviv and Donetsk are the best LC in UA, they are best in different area and @ Lviv rocks!
However, the 10.30am-3pm session wasnt all fun t me, they were in Ukrainian and for some staged I was so bored that I wish I could sing some Jay Chou to them.
After that we went for a short drink, it was 3pm right... Then everybody went home before 6pm. It was about 20+ of us and it was hard fr us to find a place to go in the popular Saturday. By the way, I was sitting opposite this @er and she is OMG pretty. SO many pretty gals in Ukraine! I dont want to go back home(s)!!! Let me stay here with one of the Ukrainian gal please!!!
Sunday:
After the tiring early battle with the mouse, I was ready for a futebol game with Slavik. He met me infront of the Opera House in town then me caught the marshutka(bus) to his place. It was cold, -3c for yesterday, and there were some winds.
I arrived at his place and the futebol field is just infront of his house, as concrete field with 2 goals but no nets. I used the internet at Slavik's place for a bit then we were getting ready for the game. I should be more prepared next time, I would need to wear more in their winter...
It was 4 aside futebol and all of them except me are just staying around the area and most of them live opposite the field too. It was so cold that My ears were like 'burning'. Then when the wind blows, it was so so cold...
More about the game. Both teams are quite equal, our score were close. The game finished by 1 team scoring 10 goals 1st. It was scary playing on concrete and on my shorts. I dnt want to fall down or run too fast, it's gonna be nasty when I fall, the condition on the surface was the worst I've been playing in NZ. So I was a bit cautious and I played my worst game in months, scoring 0 goals and lost 8-10. It feel shit not scoring goals in 4 aside game, normally I score quite some goals :~( Anyway, it was a really good game and if Slavik ask me to play again, I'm sure I'm gonna score or I will change my name to something else. By the way, I ran so much and I couldnt break a sweat, it was the 1st time in my life playing futebol and not sweating!
Went back to Slavik's home, and his mum prepared us some food. OMG! yummy Ukrainian food!!! Smachnoho (bon appetite)!!! There were borsh (red soup), kartoplia (potato), miaso (meat), rieba (fish) and other more. Yummy food man, yummy! Especially after the 1 and a half hour futebol game.
Then I had 2 cups of tea, Slavik had 3... and we talked for hours. Well, Slavik is 18 now, he was on the EB when he was 16, and now he is on the NST, and he is just 18... He couldnt understand English and he was like a wood on his 1st @ conference but then he is now fecilitating some sessions and he was the OCP for one of the national conference recently. He knew what he wants to become in the future, and his rle as a Information Management NST is teaching him more than his university. He may now consider applying for MC or complete his studies. As you can see, Slavik is a cool, friendly and handsome guy in @ Lviv/UA.
I got some Ukrainian music from him and I showed him one of the episode in Romance of the 3 Kingdoms (San Guo Yan Yi) my favourite novel/history book. I showed him how ZheGe KongMing 'borrowed' 100,000 arrows from Cao MengDe. Hopefully he found it interesting, well I did, again, LOL!!!
One more thing at Slavik's house, I met this cat of his, Chris. According to Slavik, the Siberian cat, Chris is a present from his friend. OMG, I love dog so much and dog is definitely men's best friend, but this cat, OMG, was super cute!!! CHIU KAWAII!!! That was probably the cutest cat I've ever seen! He is still very young, 1++ months old. Very friendly, active and adorable. It has long grey hair, small and flexible body and soft palms, waaahahahaha. Chris was climbing up the chair, maybe he thought he is a monkey, and he was playing with shoe lace, my leg! my shorts etc. It was fun playing with him! If I ever want to have a cat in my life, which I never ever want a cat anymore because I would love to have a dog instead, Chris maybe an exception :D
End of the mouse fight episode 1 when I got home (hopefully no more drama after this... but I think there is still another one in the room...).
SO!!! FUN WEEKEND!!! UKRAINA! UKRAINA!
Monday, December 15, 2008
The 'thing'
I was arranged to stay in a room provided by one of the small private school called 'Vedrogenia' or it means rebirth in Ukrainian. This room was never used as a room for someone to stay and I wondered why. The 1st time arrived there, I was too tired and it was dark for me to check out every corner of them room and I went for a nap.
It's a room next to the kitchen. There is a toilet in the room and from the window, you can see the old futebol field with mud surface and you can also see some wasted land which you can do nothing on them. If you open the room's entrance, you can see the guard house with 2 dogs and a space where the school burns rubbish and the abondon creepy old looking children playground. Too cold for kids to play now apparently.
The room itself it not too big, not to small, comfortable enough 1 EP to stay. I culd feel the new inferial pink painting on the wall. Tuch the wall and you will have dusty pink fingers. Because it's the kitchen next door, so you can hear people walking earlu in the morning, or maybe in the middle of the night, well, maybe that's when I'm drinking because there is no where 'someone' is in the kitchen in the middle of the cold winter night in this old small private school. Also, because the place is pretty old, the water tap sometimes are not very good, so I can hear water dripping from the kitchen.
At some nights, I can hear dogs barking. Barking at what you ask? I have no idea, perhaps sometings that I cant see at night. Maybe other dogs which trying to concure their area, or some dodgy stranger, perhaps. But the barking sometimes wake me up at night.
For some reason I felt like I am not living 'alone' by myself in this sealed room. I could hear stange noises st night.
And on early Sunday morning, I could heard something scrawling on the carpet or pulling the curtain gentelly. I tried to so to sleep and forget whatever I hear because sleep in very important to me else the next day I will be very drowsey. I tried to go to sleep. Then I tried again. But I kept hearning the annying strange sounds. Then from the carpet, to the curtain, then to the plastic bags on my table.
I got up, turn on the lights, and yes, it was just as I expected, the cured mouse was on my table, trying to taste the cookies in the plastic bags. It's a house mouse. I believe people in M'sia has never seen one of them, all we had in M'sia is filthy rats. House mouse are smaller and some may say they look cute but I hate mouse, I had long bad experience with this 4 legged creatures in my childhood.
The mouse in my room very agile, it was stupid at 1st because it didnt know how to get off the table. but later on it jump to the curtain, then dashed off. I thought that was it, I've scared the bastard and now I should continue dreaming. Then it came again to my table to disturb my dreams. It used all kind of routes to reach the cookies on the table. I moved my table away from the curtain where it jumped to the table, then it found a way to climbed to the chair and reached the table with my bags on the chair.
I then moved the chair away and I had no idea how it got onto the table again, I believed it jumped further from the curtain by clumbing high up the curtain. I turned on the lights for the 3rd time and it was kind of 'trapped' on the table. Honestly, I had an option, I had some srt of wood on my hand with some flat area which can make a good 'mouse smasher', and I'm confident on certain occasion I had a few clear oppottunity to smash the bastard flat dead, plus, I was really angry when it gt my cookies!
I held the 'weapon' on my hand, raised it high, then i watched the mouse ran away... I couldnt kill, amitabha... So yes, the stupid mouse ran away... I then tie my surviving cookies and bread in a seperate bag and hang them on the dor which i'm 300% sure the mouse wnt be able to reach it unless it use asome ninja rope or nad spiderman's wall climbing jutsu.
Of I could heard the mouse trying my climbing the curtain and chanting some katon jutsu, but no where the mouse could reach it, muaaahahahahahaha! I'm sure the mouse is very hungry and maybe it was in the room before I moved in and it couldnt get out since the room is pretty much sealed, or even little air can get in and out the room. So I assume the mouse was very hungry that it keep trying to reach the food despite knowking the danger of me keep monitoring and stopping it to get it's teeth on my cookies.
I tried to set a trap in the room, one Wilson set at The Cube Complex which is very successful. But didnt work on Sunday morning. I decided I would adopt Dima's suggesstion, getting a mouse trap the next day.
Well, I went out at 11.30am and came back at 6pm. The muse was trapped in my rubbish bag with some left over potatoes! It couldnt got ut on time and I chuckked the patato+mouse bag into a bucket and happily walk outside the -3c cold night, and dispose the 'bag' in a bigger bin 300m away from the school.
Finally, I now have a room with my own... Hold on, then I remember WIlson said mouse are never alone, then I started t worry for a bit, but was then too happy that I now have my own room that I forgot about the potential mouse(mice) in my room.
So Sunday night, I had a god sleep, for a few hours, then I believe there is anther mouse in my rom, dammit! I will curse you filthy mouse! I'll get a trap and I'll torture you when I get you for disturbing my sleep and stole my precious cookies and bread!!!
It's a room next to the kitchen. There is a toilet in the room and from the window, you can see the old futebol field with mud surface and you can also see some wasted land which you can do nothing on them. If you open the room's entrance, you can see the guard house with 2 dogs and a space where the school burns rubbish and the abondon creepy old looking children playground. Too cold for kids to play now apparently.
The room itself it not too big, not to small, comfortable enough 1 EP to stay. I culd feel the new inferial pink painting on the wall. Tuch the wall and you will have dusty pink fingers. Because it's the kitchen next door, so you can hear people walking earlu in the morning, or maybe in the middle of the night, well, maybe that's when I'm drinking because there is no where 'someone' is in the kitchen in the middle of the cold winter night in this old small private school. Also, because the place is pretty old, the water tap sometimes are not very good, so I can hear water dripping from the kitchen.
At some nights, I can hear dogs barking. Barking at what you ask? I have no idea, perhaps sometings that I cant see at night. Maybe other dogs which trying to concure their area, or some dodgy stranger, perhaps. But the barking sometimes wake me up at night.
For some reason I felt like I am not living 'alone' by myself in this sealed room. I could hear stange noises st night.
And on early Sunday morning, I could heard something scrawling on the carpet or pulling the curtain gentelly. I tried to so to sleep and forget whatever I hear because sleep in very important to me else the next day I will be very drowsey. I tried to go to sleep. Then I tried again. But I kept hearning the annying strange sounds. Then from the carpet, to the curtain, then to the plastic bags on my table.
I got up, turn on the lights, and yes, it was just as I expected, the cured mouse was on my table, trying to taste the cookies in the plastic bags. It's a house mouse. I believe people in M'sia has never seen one of them, all we had in M'sia is filthy rats. House mouse are smaller and some may say they look cute but I hate mouse, I had long bad experience with this 4 legged creatures in my childhood.
The mouse in my room very agile, it was stupid at 1st because it didnt know how to get off the table. but later on it jump to the curtain, then dashed off. I thought that was it, I've scared the bastard and now I should continue dreaming. Then it came again to my table to disturb my dreams. It used all kind of routes to reach the cookies on the table. I moved my table away from the curtain where it jumped to the table, then it found a way to climbed to the chair and reached the table with my bags on the chair.
I then moved the chair away and I had no idea how it got onto the table again, I believed it jumped further from the curtain by clumbing high up the curtain. I turned on the lights for the 3rd time and it was kind of 'trapped' on the table. Honestly, I had an option, I had some srt of wood on my hand with some flat area which can make a good 'mouse smasher', and I'm confident on certain occasion I had a few clear oppottunity to smash the bastard flat dead, plus, I was really angry when it gt my cookies!
I held the 'weapon' on my hand, raised it high, then i watched the mouse ran away... I couldnt kill, amitabha... So yes, the stupid mouse ran away... I then tie my surviving cookies and bread in a seperate bag and hang them on the dor which i'm 300% sure the mouse wnt be able to reach it unless it use asome ninja rope or nad spiderman's wall climbing jutsu.
Of I could heard the mouse trying my climbing the curtain and chanting some katon jutsu, but no where the mouse could reach it, muaaahahahahahaha! I'm sure the mouse is very hungry and maybe it was in the room before I moved in and it couldnt get out since the room is pretty much sealed, or even little air can get in and out the room. So I assume the mouse was very hungry that it keep trying to reach the food despite knowking the danger of me keep monitoring and stopping it to get it's teeth on my cookies.
I tried to set a trap in the room, one Wilson set at The Cube Complex which is very successful. But didnt work on Sunday morning. I decided I would adopt Dima's suggesstion, getting a mouse trap the next day.
Well, I went out at 11.30am and came back at 6pm. The muse was trapped in my rubbish bag with some left over potatoes! It couldnt got ut on time and I chuckked the patato+mouse bag into a bucket and happily walk outside the -3c cold night, and dispose the 'bag' in a bigger bin 300m away from the school.
Finally, I now have a room with my own... Hold on, then I remember WIlson said mouse are never alone, then I started t worry for a bit, but was then too happy that I now have my own room that I forgot about the potential mouse(mice) in my room.
So Sunday night, I had a god sleep, for a few hours, then I believe there is anther mouse in my rom, dammit! I will curse you filthy mouse! I'll get a trap and I'll torture you when I get you for disturbing my sleep and stole my precious cookies and bread!!!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
12th Dec
It was a sunny day today!!! I love sunny days! After the class in the morning in Vedrojinia, I was wondering about another unexplored map of the city.
It was a really cool exploration! I browsed through some markets and random shops on the other side of the city. All the shops reminds me of Malaysia and New Zealand. The things I saw today, especially the shops, the things they sell and the equipments like scales, container, vehicle etc were actually more old school than in M'sia, as I thought M'sia's pasar malam was cacat enough, you should see these market in Lviv. Anyway, I like these markets because it looks old and reminds me of the old days in M'sia. And You will never see those in NZ.
I nearly got lost because I've never been to that area before. But it was ok even if I got lost, I think I would simply follow the railway then I'm sure I will get to the train station and I can roughly remember how to get to the town from the train station.
Oh and my washed shoe is dirty again after kicking the futebol... maybe i shouldnt wash it since I cant resist the round thing. But maybe I should wash it for the good impression. Maybe I should get another pair of shoe for futebol. Maybe I should stop playing for 1 months. Maybe I should go and get some drinks with the others now! CIAO!
It was a really cool exploration! I browsed through some markets and random shops on the other side of the city. All the shops reminds me of Malaysia and New Zealand. The things I saw today, especially the shops, the things they sell and the equipments like scales, container, vehicle etc were actually more old school than in M'sia, as I thought M'sia's pasar malam was cacat enough, you should see these market in Lviv. Anyway, I like these markets because it looks old and reminds me of the old days in M'sia. And You will never see those in NZ.
I nearly got lost because I've never been to that area before. But it was ok even if I got lost, I think I would simply follow the railway then I'm sure I will get to the train station and I can roughly remember how to get to the town from the train station.
Oh and my washed shoe is dirty again after kicking the futebol... maybe i shouldnt wash it since I cant resist the round thing. But maybe I should wash it for the good impression. Maybe I should get another pair of shoe for futebol. Maybe I should stop playing for 1 months. Maybe I should go and get some drinks with the others now! CIAO!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
11th Dec
OMG! Finally! They have fixed the light for my entrance and toilet!!! After showering in the dark, well, not really in the dark, 50% dark, dark enough not to be able to see all the 'things' carefully yes. Man, it was so cool to have a shower in a lit room! (WTF!)
The weather is getting colder but still, no snow yet. I was playing with the frozen ice from the puddles of water. It's actually FUN! You can break them in 1 stomp, or several stomp or you may fell into a trap that it's still not frozen yet and you will splash all the mud on yourself. And you can skate on top of them, wow!
Ok, there is nothing to talk about today, boring~ I'm waiting to be a guest in one of the English class in the uni. Hopefully the gals will like me like the gals in the high school XD
Oh, not so boring but intense now when talking about all the TM stuff in our LC and replying emails to Joey @.@
The weather is getting colder but still, no snow yet. I was playing with the frozen ice from the puddles of water. It's actually FUN! You can break them in 1 stomp, or several stomp or you may fell into a trap that it's still not frozen yet and you will splash all the mud on yourself. And you can skate on top of them, wow!
Ok, there is nothing to talk about today, boring~ I'm waiting to be a guest in one of the English class in the uni. Hopefully the gals will like me like the gals in the high school XD
Oh, not so boring but intense now when talking about all the TM stuff in our LC and replying emails to Joey @.@
10th Dec
Unbelievable, it's only the 2nd weeks for me invading into school, it felt like I have been doing it for ages. Anyway, today has been a really long and fun day, I almost slept in the marshutka (bus) on the way back.
Ok, 1st of all, the dinner and breakfast in the school of No.46 and No.66 is better than the school where I am currently staying at, Vedrogenia. I still feel funny how all the government school are all numbers like no. 46, No.66 instead of a name like Kolam Air, Convent, Wellington High etc.
Anyway, I was at school No.46 this morning and I went to 2 classes in that school. I told them about New Zealand and something about Malaysia in both classes. Some of them like it, some of them had no expressions, but I dont give a fuck about those who are not interested in me because there are a lot who are interested and that's enough for me, they are my target audience, people who are eager to know about other people and culture and to practise their English.
Then I walked to school No.66 which is just the next building. I'm a good friend of one of the vide principle in No.66, she is very friendly and she wants to know about other cultures. Then I went into this special class. Why is this class special? Because this class almost made me lose my voice to try and control them, they are out of controls!!! Like some drunken monkeys in some AIESEC parties!!! They couldnt really understand me and they were so noisy!!! BUT!!! They are very interested in me and asked me all kinds of questions, well, they tried! They were so happy to see their name in Chinese and all of them, about 40 of them in the class, they all ask for my signatures on their book, ask for my emails, ask for my phone numbers etc. I felt very popular signing all my autographs XDXD and one of the gal gave me a candy.
For some reason I think the gals like me very much. Most of the time the gals are those who asked the most questions. The gals in the next class, LOL all of the gals took like an individual photograph with me on their camera and cellphones. So that's why I felt like a celebrities in the school where I gave out autograph, gals come and ask to have a photo with me, recieving biscuits, candies, x'mas cards from my 'fans'! I felt so much love!!!
So for the 3rd class, it's another special class where these are the students who request from the vice principle to have me back in the school because they want to talk to me and practise their English. About 16 of them, and only 2 guys. I think little boys ages below 11 likes me more than the little gals, then the other way round, more gals above 11 likes me more, LOL!!!
So today I went to 8 classes + one with 8 English teachers. It's strange to talk infront of 6 English teacher in a school in Ukraine and all of them ages from their late 20s till 50. Actually it was a bit scary... But all good! I could still feel the loved from the gals, muaaahahahahahaa!!!
Then the vice principle, Anna wanted to find out the reaction of kids who have poor English aged 11 and 6. She would like to know what kind of questions they would ask me in these 2 age groups. So, the level of English = the level of my Ukrainian. But the point is they like foreigners, they want to know more about me and they asked a lot of questions and the teacher next to me help to translate. Ok, some random qestions from the kids like what exotic fruits do you have in NZ... I was speechless but I told them durian from M'sia. Then they ask me what flowers do we have in NZ... I was like 'yeah... flowers... right... WE HAVE ROSE GARDENS IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS!'. Then another questions like how are the trees looks like in NZ. 'Er... ... ... ... !! They needs to be very strong because Wellington has very strong winds!!!'
Ok, so for those of you who wants to go into school as a foreigner and tell them about your country and you dont know their lauguage, you have to be full of ENERGY! LIKE ME! Else i'm sure you may faint in some classes XD
Enough blah blah blah for today!!! Ciao aminco!!
Ok, 1st of all, the dinner and breakfast in the school of No.46 and No.66 is better than the school where I am currently staying at, Vedrogenia. I still feel funny how all the government school are all numbers like no. 46, No.66 instead of a name like Kolam Air, Convent, Wellington High etc.
Anyway, I was at school No.46 this morning and I went to 2 classes in that school. I told them about New Zealand and something about Malaysia in both classes. Some of them like it, some of them had no expressions, but I dont give a fuck about those who are not interested in me because there are a lot who are interested and that's enough for me, they are my target audience, people who are eager to know about other people and culture and to practise their English.
Then I walked to school No.66 which is just the next building. I'm a good friend of one of the vide principle in No.66, she is very friendly and she wants to know about other cultures. Then I went into this special class. Why is this class special? Because this class almost made me lose my voice to try and control them, they are out of controls!!! Like some drunken monkeys in some AIESEC parties!!! They couldnt really understand me and they were so noisy!!! BUT!!! They are very interested in me and asked me all kinds of questions, well, they tried! They were so happy to see their name in Chinese and all of them, about 40 of them in the class, they all ask for my signatures on their book, ask for my emails, ask for my phone numbers etc. I felt very popular signing all my autographs XDXD and one of the gal gave me a candy.
For some reason I think the gals like me very much. Most of the time the gals are those who asked the most questions. The gals in the next class, LOL all of the gals took like an individual photograph with me on their camera and cellphones. So that's why I felt like a celebrities in the school where I gave out autograph, gals come and ask to have a photo with me, recieving biscuits, candies, x'mas cards from my 'fans'! I felt so much love!!!
So for the 3rd class, it's another special class where these are the students who request from the vice principle to have me back in the school because they want to talk to me and practise their English. About 16 of them, and only 2 guys. I think little boys ages below 11 likes me more than the little gals, then the other way round, more gals above 11 likes me more, LOL!!!
So today I went to 8 classes + one with 8 English teachers. It's strange to talk infront of 6 English teacher in a school in Ukraine and all of them ages from their late 20s till 50. Actually it was a bit scary... But all good! I could still feel the loved from the gals, muaaahahahahahaa!!!
Then the vice principle, Anna wanted to find out the reaction of kids who have poor English aged 11 and 6. She would like to know what kind of questions they would ask me in these 2 age groups. So, the level of English = the level of my Ukrainian. But the point is they like foreigners, they want to know more about me and they asked a lot of questions and the teacher next to me help to translate. Ok, some random qestions from the kids like what exotic fruits do you have in NZ... I was speechless but I told them durian from M'sia. Then they ask me what flowers do we have in NZ... I was like 'yeah... flowers... right... WE HAVE ROSE GARDENS IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS!'. Then another questions like how are the trees looks like in NZ. 'Er... ... ... ... !! They needs to be very strong because Wellington has very strong winds!!!'
Ok, so for those of you who wants to go into school as a foreigner and tell them about your country and you dont know their lauguage, you have to be full of ENERGY! LIKE ME! Else i'm sure you may faint in some classes XD
Enough blah blah blah for today!!! Ciao aminco!!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
9th Dec
Still struggling to get my schedule next week, what time I have to go nto which school etc. Hopefully it will be sorted ASAP so that I can... feel better? Yeah, so that I can plan for my afternoon activities easier.
So, Anisa, Canty VPTM arrived in Poland yesterday, she was talking about traveling in Europe together. Not sure where I will go, but possibly Poland since Lviv is like 90km away from Poland boader. But maybe not anywhere too far away looking at the figures in my ASB account.
So this morning actually I was teaching English classes in the school. My teaching has been so diverse from a 'special guest' of the school, to someone who promote GREENPEACE, to today, an English teacher and a random guest in a class where I was dragged into by an 11 years old kid.
All the the classes are pretty fun today. Especially the last one where they only inderstand 10% of what I'm saying. Strangely, the kids decide to teach me Ukrainian instead of me teaching them English. Interesting enough when the kids told me the level of my Ukrainian = their level of English XD
So they taught me some Ukrainian, and I wrote them down. Then they were showing off with kids from other class how good a teacher all of them were who taught me Ukrainian when they asked me how to say some phrases to the other kids. Of course I'm a very smart student, I can learn fast and they will be impressed when they test me tomorrow XD
Alright, LCM tonight, before that will go and try some yummy cookies with Dima, Mariana and Oksana. Then Ukrainian revision~
So, Anisa, Canty VPTM arrived in Poland yesterday, she was talking about traveling in Europe together. Not sure where I will go, but possibly Poland since Lviv is like 90km away from Poland boader. But maybe not anywhere too far away looking at the figures in my ASB account.
So this morning actually I was teaching English classes in the school. My teaching has been so diverse from a 'special guest' of the school, to someone who promote GREENPEACE, to today, an English teacher and a random guest in a class where I was dragged into by an 11 years old kid.
All the the classes are pretty fun today. Especially the last one where they only inderstand 10% of what I'm saying. Strangely, the kids decide to teach me Ukrainian instead of me teaching them English. Interesting enough when the kids told me the level of my Ukrainian = their level of English XD
So they taught me some Ukrainian, and I wrote them down. Then they were showing off with kids from other class how good a teacher all of them were who taught me Ukrainian when they asked me how to say some phrases to the other kids. Of course I'm a very smart student, I can learn fast and they will be impressed when they test me tomorrow XD
Alright, LCM tonight, before that will go and try some yummy cookies with Dima, Mariana and Oksana. Then Ukrainian revision~
8th Dec
As I have 30min of internet on Saturday and no internet on Sunday, I could not update anything here, haha~
Anyway, heaps happened on Saturday which is the direct opposite to Sunday.
For Saturday, after breakfast at the popular puzataharta, I met up with some of the kid in the school where I'm staying. Guess what we did, we went to computer club, or in Malaysia, we call it cyber cafe! Havent been playing counter strike for a long time and the 2 hours training was good enough to make me the top killer in my team, muahahahaha!!! Well, they are actually pretty good for their age, to bad they were playing against me, haha!
Ok after that I met up with Mariana, then she asked her friend, Roman and Andrew. We had, according to Roman the best hot-dog in town. Then we played come arcade games, well, i believe those machines are at least 20 years old, no kidding. Then we played Russian pool in an at least 30/40 years old cinema, in a park in Lviv, Lviv has more than 80 parks, and that park is famous for the swans and different types of trees. The funny thing about the Russian pool is they have only 1 colour balls and it's played in different rules. It was fun anyway after some beer and snacks =p (I like how the people here must eat something while drinking.)
The fun part about Saturday was about all the activities and also because of people. Roman is a very interesting young man and we had some funny conversation. Things like he is a criminal student where he paid to pass his English. He can speak English flunetly after heaps of vodka, he will be the general of Ukraine army, he doesnt eat any junk food etc.
Ok, Sunday we had a perfect plan. BUT! It was raining from the morning!! Gutted! Futebol game canceled, a visit to the high castle cancled....... =( and it was raining, I cant walk around and everybody refuse to go out because it was raining. So I played my own game on the street called, evade the puddle of water/mud and escape the splash from the vehicles. It requires some experince and patient to win the game. Ok, fortunately it's free to call from the operator I'm using, Life. So I called some Ukrainian chicks to kill my time =p
Ok, seems like I havent say anything about today. Ok, I dont want to say anything about today, I hate long post!
Anyway, heaps happened on Saturday which is the direct opposite to Sunday.
For Saturday, after breakfast at the popular puzataharta, I met up with some of the kid in the school where I'm staying. Guess what we did, we went to computer club, or in Malaysia, we call it cyber cafe! Havent been playing counter strike for a long time and the 2 hours training was good enough to make me the top killer in my team, muahahahaha!!! Well, they are actually pretty good for their age, to bad they were playing against me, haha!
Ok after that I met up with Mariana, then she asked her friend, Roman and Andrew. We had, according to Roman the best hot-dog in town. Then we played come arcade games, well, i believe those machines are at least 20 years old, no kidding. Then we played Russian pool in an at least 30/40 years old cinema, in a park in Lviv, Lviv has more than 80 parks, and that park is famous for the swans and different types of trees. The funny thing about the Russian pool is they have only 1 colour balls and it's played in different rules. It was fun anyway after some beer and snacks =p (I like how the people here must eat something while drinking.)
The fun part about Saturday was about all the activities and also because of people. Roman is a very interesting young man and we had some funny conversation. Things like he is a criminal student where he paid to pass his English. He can speak English flunetly after heaps of vodka, he will be the general of Ukraine army, he doesnt eat any junk food etc.
Ok, Sunday we had a perfect plan. BUT! It was raining from the morning!! Gutted! Futebol game canceled, a visit to the high castle cancled....... =( and it was raining, I cant walk around and everybody refuse to go out because it was raining. So I played my own game on the street called, evade the puddle of water/mud and escape the splash from the vehicles. It requires some experince and patient to win the game. Ok, fortunately it's free to call from the operator I'm using, Life. So I called some Ukrainian chicks to kill my time =p
Ok, seems like I havent say anything about today. Ok, I dont want to say anything about today, I hate long post!
Friday, December 5, 2008
5th Dec
Uncertain on what I will be doing on the weekend. Mariana suggest playing volleyball with her and Oksana and other gals (HELL YEAH!!!!) or maybe I can arrange to play some futeball with Igor close to his house (maybe after I check ut the chick at volleyball). And these kids from the school asked me to go to the computer club with them in the city, I wonder what we will be ding there, CS? DOTA? NFS? Anyway, I willmeet up with the kids 1st and work out other plans, hopefully some volleyballs, hiak hiak hiak hiak.
It has almost been a week since I'm in Ukraine. Actually, I feels like time goes by very slowly, I felt like I have been here slightly longer. It's not a good or a bad thing, but so far my experience here has been very positive despite all those negative incidents.
Oh yeah!!!! Beer time tonight with the other!!!! Wanna join me? meet at AIESEC Lviv office at 6pm tonight!!!! YeeeHaaaa!!!!!
P. S. I've uploaded some pics on facebook!
It has almost been a week since I'm in Ukraine. Actually, I feels like time goes by very slowly, I felt like I have been here slightly longer. It's not a good or a bad thing, but so far my experience here has been very positive despite all those negative incidents.
Oh yeah!!!! Beer time tonight with the other!!!! Wanna join me? meet at AIESEC Lviv office at 6pm tonight!!!! YeeeHaaaa!!!!!
P. S. I've uploaded some pics on facebook!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
4th Dec
Alright, I suspect it's jet lag, must be!!! Well I'm having this pumping headache in the past 2 days. I feel completely fine but it's just the head. I cant sleep properly at night and I feel asleep after 4pm here...
However, my headahce is gone when I'm having a nice meal or talking to pretty Ukrainian gals, see, that's why it's not too serious and MUST BE JET LAG!!!
The director of the private school came and try to fix the light bulb in the toilet but I think I will still have a dark toilet tonight again when he has time to come again and fix it. Then he block the hole under the wall to prevent my mouse friend to come and visit me without invitation.
I went to 2 classes today, about 20min each to just stand there and let the students shot questions at me, again like yesterday. But this time some of their English level are pretty bad, so they are rather quiet which is a shame.
Well I'm picking up some Ukrainian words from my teammates and the pupils in the school to impress other pupils in the school. It's actually a lot of fun learning another new language.
I had a walk alone in the city centre and was charmed by it's beauty. I really like this simple and historical city. Maybe I will marry one pretty Ukrainian gal from @ Lviv and stay here, muaaahahahahahahhaa!!!
Anyway, I have to prepare some information about Green Peace organization for my classes tomorrow!!! Ok, I better make sure I'm not in my room after dinner at 4pm else I'll sleep till next morning!!! Maybe some social drinking time!!!
However, my headahce is gone when I'm having a nice meal or talking to pretty Ukrainian gals, see, that's why it's not too serious and MUST BE JET LAG!!!
The director of the private school came and try to fix the light bulb in the toilet but I think I will still have a dark toilet tonight again when he has time to come again and fix it. Then he block the hole under the wall to prevent my mouse friend to come and visit me without invitation.
I went to 2 classes today, about 20min each to just stand there and let the students shot questions at me, again like yesterday. But this time some of their English level are pretty bad, so they are rather quiet which is a shame.
Well I'm picking up some Ukrainian words from my teammates and the pupils in the school to impress other pupils in the school. It's actually a lot of fun learning another new language.
I had a walk alone in the city centre and was charmed by it's beauty. I really like this simple and historical city. Maybe I will marry one pretty Ukrainian gal from @ Lviv and stay here, muaaahahahahahahhaa!!!
Anyway, I have to prepare some information about Green Peace organization for my classes tomorrow!!! Ok, I better make sure I'm not in my room after dinner at 4pm else I'll sleep till next morning!!! Maybe some social drinking time!!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
3rd Dec
So some of you may wonder when I will be starting my internship. Actually my status was on realized on myaiesec.net yesterday. However, I actually started my internship today, this morning at 9am at a private school for children.
Basically all I did was went into this class of children aged 12 i guess in their English class, with the accompany of their English teacher, tell them about myself and my countries, Malaysia and New Zealand. It's a private school, where parents care more about education of their children and they pay a bit more for tyhe private school to educate their children better. It was a small class, 8 of them there.
My main purpose would be encourage them to ask me more questions so that we can have some conversation and they can practise their English, then know more a bit more about things happening in another part of the world. The kids are very cute and a couple of tham are very bubly. They do ask questions like 'how old are you?', 'are you married?', 'do you like Ukrainian gals' etc.
It was funny that they asked me to write something on Bahasa Malay and Chinese then they will all go 'WOW!' and then they jotted them down in their notebook. Funny how 1 of the kids watch Naruto and Death Note, then another one play Need For Speed and support Italia on futebol, so we have something on common. These 2 kids, skipped their next class, came and talk to me while I'm having breakfast in the caferetia, and continue the conversation.
They were very nice too, they tought me Ukrainian and they tell me more about themselves, now we are good friends. However, the conversation went on for a bit too long and I was almost late to my next class.
I could have taken the bus to the city but I forget the word 'stop' which I need to say when I want to stop in the city. So, I had my 1st jogging session in the city of Lviv!
Fortunately I made it on time with a bit of sweat XD. The next class was really fun too, that was an English class in an university. One of the pretty girl in my project had her English teacher to invite me to her class and speak the same thing as I did on my 9am class today. Oh well, talking with uni students... It was a small class too, about, maybe 15 students. These bunch of students asked more questions and it was quite fun actually.
Then I finished my 1st 2 classes today, both about 40mins and I cant believe I've talked so much with them XD I'm glad that the teacher and students enjoyed my presents (well they better do!). More classes to be schedualed in! Looking forward to it!
Basically all I did was went into this class of children aged 12 i guess in their English class, with the accompany of their English teacher, tell them about myself and my countries, Malaysia and New Zealand. It's a private school, where parents care more about education of their children and they pay a bit more for tyhe private school to educate their children better. It was a small class, 8 of them there.
My main purpose would be encourage them to ask me more questions so that we can have some conversation and they can practise their English, then know more a bit more about things happening in another part of the world. The kids are very cute and a couple of tham are very bubly. They do ask questions like 'how old are you?', 'are you married?', 'do you like Ukrainian gals' etc.
It was funny that they asked me to write something on Bahasa Malay and Chinese then they will all go 'WOW!' and then they jotted them down in their notebook. Funny how 1 of the kids watch Naruto and Death Note, then another one play Need For Speed and support Italia on futebol, so we have something on common. These 2 kids, skipped their next class, came and talk to me while I'm having breakfast in the caferetia, and continue the conversation.
They were very nice too, they tought me Ukrainian and they tell me more about themselves, now we are good friends. However, the conversation went on for a bit too long and I was almost late to my next class.
I could have taken the bus to the city but I forget the word 'stop' which I need to say when I want to stop in the city. So, I had my 1st jogging session in the city of Lviv!
Fortunately I made it on time with a bit of sweat XD. The next class was really fun too, that was an English class in an university. One of the pretty girl in my project had her English teacher to invite me to her class and speak the same thing as I did on my 9am class today. Oh well, talking with uni students... It was a small class too, about, maybe 15 students. These bunch of students asked more questions and it was quite fun actually.
Then I finished my 1st 2 classes today, both about 40mins and I cant believe I've talked so much with them XD I'm glad that the teacher and students enjoyed my presents (well they better do!). More classes to be schedualed in! Looking forward to it!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
30th Nov Night
I was in this room, with 2 Ukrainian stranger. Previously Svitlana briefly introduced us and I couldnt be bothered. I thought I will just go to sleep and they can eat or drink or do whatever they want in the cabin. But, interesting happened.
When the trained moved, one of them actually was speaking ENGLISH to me. He was nie and he asked me to put my luggage on the top bed, I didint understand why until they bring out their food, which means they will need to use the table in the middle of the cabin and my luggage was actually kind of in the way.
So another 2 random Ukrainian dudes came in to join them for dinner. Then they pulled out their Ukrainian 'Vodka'. No, they dont say 'Vodka' coz that's Russian, they are the awesome Ukrainian so they have their own name, which is, I cant remember =p. Well I will find out soon from Dima, my good friend in Lviv. Befaore they started to drink, they actually offered me some. For some of you who know about my vodka=phobia, I should reject them, especially I was so tired and I dont want to get sick. Anyway, I have to take it because I'm representing NZ and M'sia, so I have to be part of their culture.
I could see that they were delighted when I finished the drink and joined them for dinner. OMG, they are so nice and friendly. Later on they introduce themselves, but I only remember Igor and Roslan, too bad I dont remember they guy who offered my the Ukraininan beer and fish, yum! The dinner was really nice, I was full from kunch but I did not want to reject their kind offers. Igor said I must have proper food when I'm having vodka. Maybe that was the reason why I did not have a major hang over the next day.
I had probably a quater of the vodka and heaps of bread, chicken, sme fish and a beer, YUM!!! Dyakuya! You guys are really nice!!! Igor asked me to drink more because he said I can have more rest on the train and they will be leaving to their small town of Vinnitsa whish is 250km away from Kiev. Actually, they did not realiezed I may have hang over and they next day I may wake up in Poland because they train's last stop is one of the city in Poland!!!! Anyway, all of us were in the high mood and we were so loud that people from other cabin asked us to keep our voice down, LOL!!! And we seriously didnt give a fuck and Roslan started to sing! It was a crazy night and all of us had fun.
Igor is 38, and has a 10 years old daughter. He said they just finished their business talk in India and Roslan intentionally asked the taxi driver to drive them to Mumbai to have a look at the terrorist... Naughty... So Igor have business partners in Osaka, Taiwan (spare parts, scooter), India (pepper for vodka) and a cafe in his town, very impressive!
Finally, it was time to say goodbye to them, I grabbed Igor's business card and I gave him my business card too. He was actually impressed by what @ is doing! Well, I just sent an email to him and hopefully he will reply me and continue our friendship.
Zzzzz continued on the train and I arrived in Lviv safely with the beautiful Nat picked me up in the station 7am in the morning!
When the trained moved, one of them actually was speaking ENGLISH to me. He was nie and he asked me to put my luggage on the top bed, I didint understand why until they bring out their food, which means they will need to use the table in the middle of the cabin and my luggage was actually kind of in the way.
So another 2 random Ukrainian dudes came in to join them for dinner. Then they pulled out their Ukrainian 'Vodka'. No, they dont say 'Vodka' coz that's Russian, they are the awesome Ukrainian so they have their own name, which is, I cant remember =p. Well I will find out soon from Dima, my good friend in Lviv. Befaore they started to drink, they actually offered me some. For some of you who know about my vodka=phobia, I should reject them, especially I was so tired and I dont want to get sick. Anyway, I have to take it because I'm representing NZ and M'sia, so I have to be part of their culture.
I could see that they were delighted when I finished the drink and joined them for dinner. OMG, they are so nice and friendly. Later on they introduce themselves, but I only remember Igor and Roslan, too bad I dont remember they guy who offered my the Ukraininan beer and fish, yum! The dinner was really nice, I was full from kunch but I did not want to reject their kind offers. Igor said I must have proper food when I'm having vodka. Maybe that was the reason why I did not have a major hang over the next day.
I had probably a quater of the vodka and heaps of bread, chicken, sme fish and a beer, YUM!!! Dyakuya! You guys are really nice!!! Igor asked me to drink more because he said I can have more rest on the train and they will be leaving to their small town of Vinnitsa whish is 250km away from Kiev. Actually, they did not realiezed I may have hang over and they next day I may wake up in Poland because they train's last stop is one of the city in Poland!!!! Anyway, all of us were in the high mood and we were so loud that people from other cabin asked us to keep our voice down, LOL!!! And we seriously didnt give a fuck and Roslan started to sing! It was a crazy night and all of us had fun.
Igor is 38, and has a 10 years old daughter. He said they just finished their business talk in India and Roslan intentionally asked the taxi driver to drive them to Mumbai to have a look at the terrorist... Naughty... So Igor have business partners in Osaka, Taiwan (spare parts, scooter), India (pepper for vodka) and a cafe in his town, very impressive!
Finally, it was time to say goodbye to them, I grabbed Igor's business card and I gave him my business card too. He was actually impressed by what @ is doing! Well, I just sent an email to him and hopefully he will reply me and continue our friendship.
Zzzzz continued on the train and I arrived in Lviv safely with the beautiful Nat picked me up in the station 7am in the morning!
30th Nov Evening
From the place where Liuda, Sasha and I had lunch, we walked abut 20min to another restaurant, pretty similar style to the one where I had my lunch. I could not have anything else over there, I was too full. Beacuse there were about 6 of us, so we cant fit into any of the tables there which normally fit 4/5 people. Then we were in a children room where cartoon are playing and we have big tables at the back.
When we are there, we had random discusstion and because of jet lag, all of us from NZ were very quiet and tired. Some more @ers joined us for dinner and I did not get the chance to talk to one of them but this bubbly gal, Svitlana was there to ask a lot of questions.
So we left the restaurantand heading to the train station where i will catch my train to Lviv from Kiev. It was a 9 hours journey and there was some interesting stories there. I collected my bags in 2 different location around the train station because it was unconvenient to carrying my 20kg luggage around the city. Celia and Anistasiia left us to went back home and then Tania went for another meeting at 7pm and finally Mason and Tanya left to home. So I was accompany by this smart and cute Svitlana.
She is a very interesting @ers. And she is in the Young Leadership Development program where she was in Romania representing Ukranian parliment for discussion. She is also an English teacher. The impression I have on Kiev @ers are, they are insanely busy. They have work, uni and @ work and friends and etc. Yet, they can managed them, balanced them, and do well in many of the areas. I'm very impressed by them, especially when they are very young! 17-20 and they are so active in @ Kiev. I should really bring back some of them to inspire NZ, students of NZ. They should learn from this young Ukrainian student's, learn about thier energy, passion for the development of their country and actively participate in useful activities like @.
Back to the story... Making sure that my train is on latform 5, departing at 8.42pm, Svitlana got me a simcard to communicate with other @ers in Lviv. She suggested the cheapest Life :) It's is s cheap and it's free to call other Life :) numbers!!!
Finally I said goodbye to Svitlana on the train =( and I was on my own in the train with another 2 Ukrainian stranger in cabin VI...
When we are there, we had random discusstion and because of jet lag, all of us from NZ were very quiet and tired. Some more @ers joined us for dinner and I did not get the chance to talk to one of them but this bubbly gal, Svitlana was there to ask a lot of questions.
So we left the restaurantand heading to the train station where i will catch my train to Lviv from Kiev. It was a 9 hours journey and there was some interesting stories there. I collected my bags in 2 different location around the train station because it was unconvenient to carrying my 20kg luggage around the city. Celia and Anistasiia left us to went back home and then Tania went for another meeting at 7pm and finally Mason and Tanya left to home. So I was accompany by this smart and cute Svitlana.
She is a very interesting @ers. And she is in the Young Leadership Development program where she was in Romania representing Ukranian parliment for discussion. She is also an English teacher. The impression I have on Kiev @ers are, they are insanely busy. They have work, uni and @ work and friends and etc. Yet, they can managed them, balanced them, and do well in many of the areas. I'm very impressed by them, especially when they are very young! 17-20 and they are so active in @ Kiev. I should really bring back some of them to inspire NZ, students of NZ. They should learn from this young Ukrainian student's, learn about thier energy, passion for the development of their country and actively participate in useful activities like @.
Back to the story... Making sure that my train is on latform 5, departing at 8.42pm, Svitlana got me a simcard to communicate with other @ers in Lviv. She suggested the cheapest Life :) It's is s cheap and it's free to call other Life :) numbers!!!
Finally I said goodbye to Svitlana on the train =( and I was on my own in the train with another 2 Ukrainian stranger in cabin VI...
30th Nov Morning
Alyona 'passed' us 3 to Anastasiia and another @er (Sorry I dont remember the name, all Ukrainian names are quite hard for me to remember). Then I was then accompany by another @er called Liuda.
Liuda is tall and pretty (most Ukrainian gals are pretty!) and very friendly. She then contacted another friend of her, Sasha who is studying aviation with her in the same uni. Sasha is very knowledgable when it comes to the history of Ukraine, weapons etc. They are very nice to bring me touring around the city and they are very open minded and speak English all the time while I was around.
So we were at the Larva, War Memorial, Good Relationship Memorial,Main shopping street where we have our lunch. The restaurant translated 'eat healthy' is very huge. There was a funny gal who took so much food in a bowl, her action amused almost everybody. honestly, the food there was super awesome. After the meal, I said goodbye to Liuda and Sasha who spent so much time with me, then I was with Anastasiia, Tania and Tanya.
Liuda is tall and pretty (most Ukrainian gals are pretty!) and very friendly. She then contacted another friend of her, Sasha who is studying aviation with her in the same uni. Sasha is very knowledgable when it comes to the history of Ukraine, weapons etc. They are very nice to bring me touring around the city and they are very open minded and speak English all the time while I was around.
So we were at the Larva, War Memorial, Good Relationship Memorial,Main shopping street where we have our lunch. The restaurant translated 'eat healthy' is very huge. There was a funny gal who took so much food in a bowl, her action amused almost everybody. honestly, the food there was super awesome. After the meal, I said goodbye to Liuda and Sasha who spent so much time with me, then I was with Anastasiia, Tania and Tanya.
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