Grind it out time!

Josh Lyman once said, "this isn't a campaign! This isn't airplanes and hotels and 'guess where I am now, mom!' This is GRIND IT OUT TIME! It's three yards and a cloud of dust!" Yes, you guessed it, I am now officially a Peace Corps Volunteer! I was sworn in at a ceremony in Kyiv on Thursday by the U.S. Ambassador and now I'm in Ochakiv, where I will be living, working, swimming, fishing, teaching, laughing, juggling and rocking it all day and night for the next two years. I miss my cluster a lot--they really are some of my best friends ever and it's tough not having all of them to talk to. Still, I'll make it.

OH, and it turns out that I'm smarter than I thought. I got "intermediate mid" on my big language test, which puts me right in the middle of the curve. It turns out that I'm learning Rusian faster than I thought I was, so go me. Oh hey, did you all know that it's Christmas? I had no idea because there are no lights, trees or Santa's to be found over here. Oh well. My host family got my a little tree and a snow globe, so I still feel loved and am getting just enough Christmas spirit to get by! I love you all and miss you a ton! Hugs to Elizabeth Hobbs, Kourtney (again), my dad and my aunt Laurene for the awesome letters! I'm getting a P.O. Box in Ochakiv for mail soon so I'll keep you all posted on how best to send me stuff! HUGS!