I’m less than 1 week away from my trip to Ukraine. There has been so much preparation for this trip, it’s like a full time job. I hope it’s worth it.
Since I used to live in Odesa, my challenge has been to find places and attractions that I have not seen before. I have found several museums that look really cool. The smuggler’s museum (about secret gadgets from the cold war that spies used) looks very interesting (the “James Bond” in me is hyperventilating). There are several art museums, and one dedicated to Ukrainians who fought against the Nazi’s in WWII (Odessa was occupied by Germany for much of the war). So that has been a lot of fun research.
My main mental dilemma is trying to figure out why I love Ukraine so much. Is it an obsessive fad like “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries” (I once tried to get a job on the show—willing to move to Australia in the process….the interview didn’t go well), or Avril Lavigne (I followed her concerts around the US and loved her early albums). Or is this more than that? I honestly do not think I will have the answer until I am sitting at the airport in Odessa, waiting to fly back, and either think “I’m so glad to go home,” or “I can’t believe I am leaving my home.” I honestly don’t know which it is. We will see.
There are a million last minute little things to prepare and get ready for. But my friend Tom is already there and I hear he is enjoying himself. I will spend 3 days in Odesa (meeting up with Tom then), then head to Kyiv for the Independence Day parades and seeing the capitol for 4 days (I’ve never really been there before, apart from the airport and train station), and then back to Odesa to spend 3 days on the seashore just enjoying myself with a good book (hopefully in Ukrainian).
I just want to leave already!!! But there are a million little things to be done. I want everyone to know how excited I am though!
Jeff: Aug 12, 2016.
jeffinukraine2016 