Christmas/New Year's Celerbration

The Christmas/New Year's celebration in Pervomais'ke was held by the Christmas tree. 

Father Frost is coming to town.

There was a Father Frost contest.

Kids and parents watching the contest

New Year's

New Year's is the big winter holiday in Ukraine.  In the Soviet Union era religion was not allowed so the Christmas traditions were moved to New Year's, and they have not switched back to Christmas.  This year I went to my friend Tonya's apartment for New Year's.

New Year's dinner and Lona in his holiday costume.  

The New Year's program from Moscow had karaoke lyrics so you could sing along at home! 

A group of us on New Year's.

After midnight we went to a few different apartments to celebrate.

The celebrations were not over, Monday night some of the ladies from the fitness class went to the bar!

A group of the Adult English Club wanted to have a New Year's Party.

Volleyball

This fall I was asked to play on the Rayon's volleyball team.  It has been a wonderful way to meet new people. Also, it has given me something on every Wednesday and Friday night.  We play against guys who come to the sports hall,  and we have been in two tournaments.  Last week was our last practice and next month handball will start.  I am excited to try a new sport!

Some of the team and coach after our last practice.

They are serious about their volleyball with a ref and all.

Christmas in Simfer...

 After our time in Pervomais'ke, Amy and I headed down to spend Christmas in Simferopol with a bunch of other volunteers.  It was a great day and we got to meet some of the new Volunteers who had just gotten to their sites (which means I have been at site for 6 months!!).

Collette (in the green shirt) was nice enough to host all of us in her apartment!

A group shot of some of the volunteers who came

Simpferopol's Christmas tree.

Walking around town taking some pictures

Amy's visit

Amy is a friend that I met before we departed for Ukraine.  We connected over a Peace Corps Ukraine, Group 41 Facebook group.  We meet up for coffee and went to each other's going-away parties.  It was great already knowing someone when we took off.  She is now living in Luhans'k, the Eastern part of Ukriane.  She made the 16 hour train ride down to Crimea for Christmas.  We spent a few days in my town where we had a birthday party to attend and several Christmas celebrations around town, and then we headed to Simpferopol for Christmas day with many other volunteers.  

It was Igor's (my Russian tutor's husband's birthday), and we were invited to the celebration.

Decorating the Christmas tree.  My town has the best Christmas tree I have seen in Ukraine!

The House of Culture hosted a Christmas show for the kids. Father Frost gave each kid some candy.

2012 Budget Time

Some of the village librarians came into our office to work on the 2012 budget.  Next year I am going to push for this to be done on a computer, but this year all lines, words and numbers were done by hand! 

As you can see everyone is wearing hats and sweaters... It can be cold in the library.

AIDS Day

December 1st is World AIDS Day.  I held a seminar at a school for the 9-11th forms.  Ukraine has the fastest growing rate of HIV in Europe. In Crimea (where I live) the number of people infected and the rate of infection are the highest in the country.

In the evening I helped the house of culture hold a World AIDS Day concert for the town. A lot of people showed up, and it was a great event!

 I was lucky that my Russian tutor could come and translate for me.

Some of the dancers at the event.  Please note the boys in black mesh shirts!!