Back in Prague

Prague Part two was and Friday, the tour started in New Town. I don't remember the dates but it isn't new just newer then old town. Kind of like the new testament. It's  old, but the old testament is older.  Of Course our guide showed us a statue and told us who it was, I don't remember. He showed us another statue this time the horse was hanging upside down. The artist wanted people to remember the statue so he changed things up a bit. His plan worked well, I think I will always remember the statue, unfortunately I haven't the foggiest as to who it is that’s on the horse nor the sculptures' name. Both of which facts were heard, acknowledged, then silently forgotten. He showed us the oldest synagogue in Europe in the Jewish quarter of the city. There is also a graveyard their with graves buried on top of others some grave sites have seven people buried their, one on top of the other. This is because sometime during the dark ages this was the only cemetery in the city.. We got to the end of our tour and got back on the buss . Friday we road got into Poland, Saturday morning we crossed into Ukraine, back through Lviv, into Kiev.

Dresden, Germany

We left for Dresden after another continental breakfast at the hotel. The cool thing I remember about Dresden was the women's church. It was partly destroyed and then rebuilt with some of the old bricks. The old bricks are black so you can see exactly which ones ate the original by contrast with the newer white bricks . The whole city has black buildings, partly because they are made of sand stone which turns black after time and also because of fire ; from bombs during WWII. We went to a huge art museum and saw original The Sistine Madonna.

Prague, Czech Republic

We got back on the buss and traveled to Prague. Checked in to our hotel and the next morning had a tour in English so it was just the 6 of us. I liked having a small group it seems like it was faster then a normal tour and it was easer to pay attention. Denis, our tour guide, showed us around the Prague Castle. Their were guards at the entrance that we took pictures by, they just stood their like statues. They are the kind of guards that got their job because they won the staring contest. The castles cathedral was amazing Denis told us a story about St. Charles the 4th. And St. Varslave. In the story think that St. Varslave was a priest that the queen had told a confession to. The King demanded to know what his wife said but St. Varslave wouldn't tell. So the king had him tortured and thrown off St. Charles Bridge. The towns people said they could see 5 stars in the water after the incident. Later when they tried finding his body the only thing that had not deteriorated was his tongue . It fits the story because Varslave wouldn't open his mouth when the king questioned him. The tongue is now in a big silver and gold box in the cathedral. It's quite the ordeal for a little tongue it had a statue on top and everything. In the Church they have a door with locks for 7 different keys. Denis asked us what we though was in in. We were all wrong. I t is the Check kings crown. The keys are given to various important people and sometime they open the door. However, we got to see the change of the guards. My favorite part of the whole trip was St. Charles bridge. Theirs a "magic pyramid" that tells the specific moment they began to construct the bridge 135797531 so it in 1357, on the 9th July(7) at 5:31. we had some free time before meeting up with the group for our dinner cruse . The cruse was a all you can eat buffet for 2 hrs. We got to see Prague and eat some great food at the same time. I had probably 7 pieces of my favorite dessert, and that was after I tired all of them to find out which was my favorite.

Vienna, Austria

The next morning we went to Vienna, and followed another Ukraine tour around the city. Part of it was on the buss. We only had four hours in Vienna and it was not anywhere near enough time to see it all. Not to mention it was raining that day. I love it though, it's a awesome city I would love to go back and see some more of it.

This is apparently the most expensive street in Vienna.

Picks from Budapest

• Budapest, Hungary

First stop Budapest. We got to go to the largest Medicinal bath in Europe. After which we had a Russian tour and got to see a neat little castle thing with a statue that you are suppose to make a wish at and touch the rod its holding. Our hotel was out a little ways from the city and because it was Easter Sunday nothing was open so we ate dinner at the Hotel. I got a chicken and rice plate, it was really good. Hungry uses florins and they don't have any cent pieces so they just have outrageous prices. I got a treat at the gas station that cost 230 florins.

Krakow

Krakow was amazing. Their was so much to do. We wen to Auswitz, Wawel Hill, the Salt mines, had polish ravioli, learned some history/legends/lenguage, and got some great suviniors. We made it back safely Tuesday around 10:30. I made it home by metro around 11. took a shower and chilled, went to the school picked up lunch on the way and got to school by 12:15. I got to say good by to our kindergarten 1 class. The kindergarten 2 class doesn't leave till 1:15 so I got to help teach that class. I went home did some laundry, and went to play volleyball at 6:00. It was a great day actually. The students made me "I love Tiffany" cards and gave them to me as soon as I came through the door. They are so cute. I love em' all. I hade this idea of having Ricky and maybe Jessica get to talk to them on Skype sometime. They would have to stay up extra late but I think they might like it. I hope they will be able to understand each other . If they just asked each other their name and stuff.

Auswitz

Some goings on

Wednesday, 17th
This week is Peter Pan week. I decided to do Indians Monday, Tinker bell Tuesday, Pirates Wednesday, the lost boys both Thursday and Friday. We have had so much fun. The kids loved pretending to be Indians, talking about fairies and wearing their eye patches. Today after school Amy, Jessie and I went and got waffles. They were so good. I don't know what they put on them but it's amazingly tasty. Afterword, Amy and I road the metro to the end of the red line looking for boots at a big warehouse. We couldn't find it, and when we called to ask for directions we found out we had gone to the wrong end of the metro line. In the interest of time we went home. Go figure. I'll get boots tomorrow. I've been thinking that for the past few weeks. It's not that bad just an annoyance but because I'm on this side of the world it's just an experience.
Friday, 19th
Well tomorrow came and tomorrow went. Still no boots, but today I found a way to walk to school with out walking through two inches of water. Yesterday our meeting in the evening got canceled. I got on facebook for a sec and got to talk to Jo the Pro. That was fun, he asked if I was in Ukraine. It will be fun to go back and tell everyone where I was all of last semester. I got to talk to Lizzie through Skype Wednesday morning. I haven't really talked to her yet either. She said that Bro. Palmer asked where I was, we used to go everywhere together. I thought that was funny also. Because our meeting was canceled I got to go play volleyball with my host dad. You know how last semester I would go play soccer with Andrew and I was the only girl. The feeling of minority was tripled because of my being the only girl, the only person under six feet and the only person that doesn't speak Russian. It's defiantly the best volleyball experience I've ever had or ever will have. I'll be sure to tell you about Poland next time.

Valentines Day

For valentines we had a party with our students. They got to decorate cupcakes, which they didn't eat, and then dance to the Macarena. It was fun at least, if not educational. We also got some pictures of the students. We are learning so much, I wish I could learn faster though. Life seems like a constant realization of life. I want to just know everything sometimes, but then life might not be as much fun. Well here are some pictures of the party.

Odessa Trip

My group and I went to Odessa last weekend. We took a train Friday night after everyone got done teaching. It was my first train ride so I got a picture of it when we got off. We meet some of the teacher’s friends and they showed around. We went to a ballet at apparently the 2nd best Opera house in the world, with the 3rd best philharmonic orchestra, watching some of Tchaikovsky’s best, which included Swan Lake.

Then we went to a jazz club and I got apple pie. We went to the 200 steps, a bridge with tons of locks on it, touched the black sea, and went to an orthodox church. Quite the list for just two days, it you don’t mind my saying so.
Fun Fact: The locks represent the love two people have for each other. They put the lock on the bridge and through the key into the sea.

The Bridge with locks on it

The 200 Steps (Potemkin Steps)

Theater and Borsh

Borsh, the soup in the picture, is great! I love it. their is a lot of onion, and potato, and stuff. I have had my host moms twice and ate the whole thing. For city orientation we ate at a restaurant and I got borsh but it was cold and I got the part that was pretty much only onions and it was cold, unlike the borsh my host mom made.

I bought Ukrainian cookies yesterday, they are a lot like the ones Ryan brought home.This week was just getting familiar with everything. It's not to hard when it comes at you 90 mph. It's like getting hit by a train then realizing your alive. Meaning I don't know how I got here, and I haven't had time to internalize it, all I know is what I have to do everyday, and that I love every bit of this experience. so, the ballet was so cool, we watched Snow White. The theater is had four floors, box seats, a red curtain with gold tassels, an orchestra, everything like phantom of the opera, except before you go in their are place for you to give them your coat and they would hang it up for you.

Things are looking up!

Teaching is a work in progress, it was insane on Monday, but now I think it just might be possible. Tomorrow, Friday, our group wants to have a slumber party at the head teachers apartment and watch chick flicks. great huh. But Saturday promises to be better with a Snow White Ballet, and city orientation. I have been able to get to know my host mom a little more the past two days. They showed me some pictures from Christmas and New Years, at the "country house." They said we might get to go their for Easter. I'm excited. The pictures from last years Easter were amazing. The flowers and grass looked like a painting, or photoshop. I took some pictures today and put them on my computer, so tomorrow maybe I can post them or something while I'm at the school. I hope you guys all have a great day
Love you, Tiffany

My sleeping quarters

Ryan asked me to describe my room and the rest of the house in one of his emails. This is just for anyone else who'd also like to know! : )
I live in a small pink and purple room with a purple covered bed and hearts on my pellow, the armchair has a flower print blanket on it. :)I don't have a closet, but i get to use a cubboer with three shelves for my clothes. I have my own room. and I think that the mom and daughter shair the other room. i haven't met my host dad yet, he dosen't work in keiv. I will get to meet him on tuesday. I guess he sleeps on the couch, maybe. It's an apartment on the 4th floor, the two bedrooms, the "big" room and a kitchen. The table is small. I eat dinner by myself but my host mom puts five plates out just for me. She asked me why I didn't eat this morning and I said I had some cerial and she said I should not eat like a mouse.

Here is a picture of my room!

Monday

First day of teaching! wow that was fun. It's so hard to get kids to pay attention all the time. Tomorrow will be a lot better, I'll get the hang of it soon enough. On the way to the school this morning I got lost so I went back to the metro station and tried to retrace my steps. Then I found Amy and Jessica and we found it together. We got there later then planed so we didn’t get to prepare as much as we were hoping. We got through it, learned the kids names and how not to do a lot of things. We are going to FHE tonight at 7:30 and hopefully I can stay awake till then and get on a workable sleep schedule. Now I’m getting tired in the afternoons and want to take a nap but then I can’t sleep at night. I didn't get a chance to post this sooner, but this was written on Monday. Hope everyone is doing well!

I'm off!

Tomorrow is the big day! I will be at the airport in Phoenix at 5:30 a.m. From there is off to Chicago where I am supposed to meet up with the rest of my group. From Chicago we catch a flight to Dusseldorf Germany. We should be in Dusseldorf around 7:30 a.m.(their time). From there we board our final plane that will take us to Kiev! That’s the itinerary but we’ll see how everything goes.

This is my mailing address

Igor Vavilov
Tiffany Quinlan
P.O. Box 68
Kiev, Ukraine 03035