"Scusi Scusi, Pizza e Vino. Grazie. Ciao."

Peet-tsahhh!

My two previous attempts of learning Itallian failed. Playing Super Mario Bros. and watching Jersey Shore Season 2 were probably not the best ways to approach it.

My "Zia Katerina" was visiting from Italy and she's been teaching me a thing or two. I'm going to visit her next month in Italy. I bought an "Italian for Dummies" book and hope to learn at least some basics before I go to Italy. My goal is to learn Italian on this trip.

So far, I think i'm already an expert. This is what I know:

• Pizza (pronounced peet-tsah)
• Spaghetti (spah-geht-tee) 
• Mozzarella (moht-tsah-rehl-lah)
• Cappuccino (cahp-poo-chee-noh)
• Vino (vee-noh)
• Amore (ah-moh-re)
• Ciao! (chah-oh)

Well thats probably all I'll need, anyway. Right?

(Super Mario Bros and Jersey Shore weren't a complete waste of time either. Mario taught me how to pronounce words (I imagine I'm Mario and pronounce everything just like he pronounces "it's me Maaario!" And Jersey Shore has taught me just about everything I should probably not do. Thanks.)

Lviv, A Gem in Eastern Europe

Lviv (Ukrainian), Lwów (Polish),  L'vov (Russian), Lemberg (German), or Leopolis (Latin). Whatever you may call it-- the city is full of history, art and culture. 

Although I was born here, I never realized how much the city had to offer until now- so many art galleries,  coffee shops, cathedrals, monuments, bazaars, museums and more. 

Lviv has a very rich and diverse blending of cultures (as seen by all the different names for the city) that is reflected though the arts and architecture throughout the city. Some churches and buildings have been around since the 13th century and as you walk through the city you can see all the different styles (gothic, renaissance, baroque, traditional). Even though the city has been rules by various nations-- Lviv was under the Austrian Hapsburg empire, then was a major Polish and Jewish cultural center before World War II, then was under German occupation, then was under Soviet control, and finally part of independent Ukraine-- much of its diversity is still preserved throughout the city.

The Question On Everyones Mind

I'm visiting extended family in Ukraine. And no matter where I go or who I'm with, everyone always asks  about the same topic...

Me: "I just graduated from one of the top universities in the U.S."
Them: "Yea, but ... when are you getting married?"

"I'm going to be backpacking through Europe for a few months."
     "Ehhh... But do you have a boyfriend??"

"I'll be looking for a full time job when I get back."
     "Ok, but are you seeing anyone???"

"I'm looking forward to starting a career soon."
     "But what about kids?"

"It's good to see everyone again."
     "Have you seen the handsome and available men around here?"




Dear Everyone,

     I fully appreciate your concern and suggestions (and nosiness into my personal life). But I'm only 22  and would like to take the time to see the world and start my career before I settle down. But don't worry, I will keep you all updated if situations change. And I definitely won't forget to invite you to the wedding (just as long as you bring lots of gifts).

Love,

Olena

America, The Land of Comfort and Convenience

Living in the U.S., we may take many of the little (and sometimes big) comforts for granted.

Within a day in Ukraine, I had to get accustomed to a completely different lifestyle here. My grandparents live in the countryside far from the city. It's absolutely gorgeous out here—but very different from the city life that I'm used to back home.

First, indoor bathrooms don't exist. Your only options are the stinky outhouses that are filled with flies, or finding a hidden spot somewhere out in the field. My personal fave: the cornfields.

Cornfields = bathroom

Second, showers are impossible. There is no indoor plumbing, so if you need water, you have to walk to the well with a couple of buckets to get some clean water. Using the well is bicep workout in itself. Then you have to lug the heavy buckets back to the house, trying your best to spill as little as possible. And of course, the water is freezing because it is from underground, so you have to get the wood to start the fire in the oven. And then when the fire finally gets burning, you can heat that pot of water up so you can wash all your important places.

Air-conditioning is non-existent here. Sure, finding a shade from the sun can help and drinking the ice cold water from the well helps, too, but public transportation in this sauna is a nightmare! Not only is the 100 degree weather a pain on its own, but being cramped into a bus full of other sweaty (and stinky) commuters is the worst!

What's more, there are no paved sidewalks or roads in the countryside, only beaten and/or stoned paths. Riding on these uneven rocky roads makes everything shake, jiggle, and bounce. Good luck just trying holding on to whatever (or whomever) you can to keep yourself up.

Electricity, too, is a problem in some areas. Although my grandparents do have it, it's only available during certain hours of the day. You're usually in bed by the time the sun is down, or it's dim candlelight while you try to wash up before bed, or if you're like me, write before bed.

so ....

... As all of you sit in your comfortable lazyboy chairs in your lovely air-conditioned suburban houses filled with toilets, running water, and constant electricity—take a moment to appreciate all those little comforts that you have at your disposal.

"Privit" Kiev, Ukraine's Capital

My brother and I in front of St. Michaels Monestary.

Two main reasons why I went to Kiev. 1) To be a tourist, of course, and 2) to ship my brother off, back to the States. My brother was visiting Ukraine for the summer, and now he's going back to school.

We took an overnight train to Kiev, which was composed of playing durak, a traditional Ukrainian card game, with my cousins and brother, devouring bread-kubasa-tomatoes and napping on the hard benches. We arrived at Kiev at 6am and did a walking tour of the city. We visited the parks, monuments and the old colorful monestaries that were all over the city. We even saw a political demonstration (I have no idea what it was about because Ukrainian politics are impossible to understand).

A One Way Ticket

Chicago to Lviv

Embarking on my journey, a one-way ticket to europe.

• 10.5 hours in a tiny airline seat
• 35,000 feet in the air
• 550 miles per hour
• 5,000+ miles
• 3 lovely airlines meals
• 5 crying babies
• 20 minute waits for the bathroom
• 2 cheesy romantic comedies
• 1 very excited traveler

I checked-in early, just to make sure I got a window seat for my flight. And when I got there, a 10-year-old Pawełek was already there and I didn't have the heart to tell him that he was in MY seat.

Pawełek was a cool kid, though, traveling back to his family in Krakow. He gave me some tips on Poland and told me of places I should visit while there. Pawełek made me feel super old by calling me "pani" (a Mrs. in Polish). I've never been a Pani Olena before. When I think of Panis, I always think of old Polish ladies sipping tea on Sundays afternoons in their old-fashioned floral dresses, cutting out coupons for household items. Wait a minute, that is going to be me one day, isn't it...

I slept most of the flight to Warsaw. During the transfer to Lviv, I met a friendly old Ukranian grandpa. He was traveling back home after spending some time with his sons in the States. Old people love giving advice to anyone that will listen. His one piece of advice was for me to find a wholesome young Ukranian man to marry while I was in Ukraine. I told him I'd keep my eyes open.

End of the flight, in a heavy Eastern European accent, the flight attendant announced: "Vee hope you enjoyed your flight wif Lot. Tank you for your corporation."

My Fascination with Airports

Airports are the best place to people watch! (Also one of my favorite past times). 

Waiting to board my flight on Lot (best airline ever!
They have the most gorgeous flight attendants.)

I've been flying since I was 5 years old. Having to wait for flights gives you ample opportunity to (subtly) creep on other people. I watched a million different people walk by, of all different shapes, colors and sizes. As I watch, I like to guess where they're from and where they're headed (and sometimes I eavesdrop to try to figure out what language they are speaking and what they are saying). And where there is a lack of information, I just use my imagination to fill in the gaps. 

The best part of airports is that they are so full of raw emotion. You can see joy and excitement as old friends reunite with one another, couples filled with sadness as they depart ways, travelers cursing under thier breath for missing a flight, consultants furiously typing away on their laptops, emo teenagers listening to thier ipods, siblings fighting, moms yelling, babies crying, grandpas sleeping, ... and me, always people watching.