February 6

Probably bc I have only been here for a week and a half, I still am washing my hair and fixing it with my new hairdryer. I try to make it look at least somewhat like it is supposed to look. I dont dry my hair often at home but it is way to cold to go outside or even stay inside with wet hair.

After drying my hair, I put on my balaclava and my hood, the first of about one dozen times this exercise will be repeated throughout the day. Immediately, my hair is totally messed up. Oh, well.

Today is my brother's birthday. My family is getting together tonight and I miss being with them.

It is evening here and it is snowing horizontally outside. We have not had much sun in Chernivtsi the past 2 days and it has been windy and COLD.

Today I went to the train station to pick up a packet that came in from Kyiv on the overnight train (gotta love express mail Ukrainian style!). It was a decent walk down and then up a hill, with the wind blowing against me. BRRR. I had to stop to get a kava Americano at this really cute cafe on Vul Holovna.

Then I went to the Chernivtsi art museum. They had some nice pieces, but I couldn't help but think about Dawn Hammatt about the Upcountry History Museum and how I wish she was with me so I could see her reaction to their style of labelling (thick tape on the artifacts). I have learned much from her about exhibit presentation in the past 2 years. Some of the pieces I enjoyed are below, including this 17th century reigious woodcarving and the pysanky (eggs) for which Ukraine is known.

After the museum I went to this cafe that we had been to a few days ago. I ordered borsch, my new favorite!!! It certainly helps warm my frozen feet and hands.

Afterwards, I went to this store on Vul Olgy Koblyianski to try on a sweater and a dress I saw yesterday and then we went to the market, where I bought some bananas, Ukrainian red wine (will no doubt devote a blog entry to this at some point), frozen veggies, shampoo, my favorite Ukrainian cheezits, and mouthwash.

I always like coming back to the flat after being out after I feel like I've had some decent walking exercise. Temps like this are one thing when one has a car; when one must walk everywhere and is constantly outside in these temps it is nice to come home and thaw.

Ate dinner in tonight...I just couldn't stand the thought of going back out in that cold. I had leftovers from Knaus and lunch today, and they tasted good bc I had salt!!! Found some yesterday at another market...had to buy a rather large bag of it, as you can see.

Btw, I am trying to catch up on this blog. I took so many pics the first few days it is taking a while to get this all organized. So sometime very soon I will post the blogs I have written about my first day of class, etc. It will be slightly out of order.

The hot water is heating. You wouldnt even believe what I have to do to get hot water for a shower. I am going to shower and head to sleep bc I have to be ready early because tomorrow is Election Day!!