It's a rainy day here in Novoazovsk. It's the kind of drizzling rain that makes going outside just a little bit of an uncomfortable hassle, and so instead you just want to stay inside all day. I don't mind days like this, though. It is almost like having an excuse to do absolutely nothing without having to feel bad about it. It's the perfect day to put back on your pajamas, eat soup, and watch TV shows you have been meaning to catch up on (In my case, I chose season 1 of Arrested Development, which is always good for a giggle or two in my opinion.). I also decided to devote part of this rainy day to updating everyone on what's going on over here. But then I decided that didn’t sound like fun, so I changed my mind. As usual.
Instead, I've decided to make a list. Have I ever told you how much I love making lists? I have been making to-do lists for as long as I can remember. I put them in my planner, on random sheets of paper, or post-it notes and then spend a week or so trying to accomplish its contents. Here lately, a lot of things on my lists are not getting accomplished. I have come to the conclusion that accomplishing tasks is a lot harder when you live somewhere where things don't go as planned, and they definitely don’t follow the schedule you want them to. That's why I want this list to be a happy list. This list has no agenda. It has no time constraints. It is simply a list of the things that make me happy. I wanted to share this list today because lately I've found myself getting bogged down with too many to-do lists and the frustration that ensures when you can't get the items on the list accomplished. I had the same problem in the states, and I've unfortunately let this pesky problem follow me to beautiful Ukraine. However, now that I'm aware of it, I'm going to do my best to put a stop to it. This list is my first step at doing just that. So, here it is.
Things that make me happy:
1. Fall- It's different here, but there is something about the season that is just universal. Fall has always been my favorite time of year, and I'm glad that this hasn't changed even though I now live far away from the Fall I've always known.
2. Big sweaters- I was born and raised in Alabama where big, comfy sweaters were only needed maybe 2 weeks out of the year. Over here, the weather is already the temperature that we consider to be borderline freezing in Alabama. I finally get to wear big sweaters and not have to worry about having a heat stroke.
3. A boyfriend that makes me laugh. And smile. And mixed cd’s.
4. My Ukrainian students that tell me "Good morning" no matter what time of day it is.
5. Ukrainian friends that bring you stuff straight from their gardens.
6. Skype- Although my internet is unreliable and a source of much frustration, it has worked well enough a couple of times to Skype with my family. Being able to see their faces, especially Collins, makes my heart happy.
7. Hot liquids- Ukrainians love tea. They also love coffee. And soup. I have always been a lover of hot liquids, so this aspect of Ukrainian culture suits me just fine.
8. Smart wool socks- As I mentioned earlier, it is already cold here. The heat is controlled by the individual buildings, and doesn't get turned on for another week. This means that my apartment feels like an icebox. Without these socks, I might have already had to have my feet amputated from frostbite. That is definitely an exaggeration, but you get my point.
9. Learning to cook- I have something to admit. I hated to cook before Ukraine. I just didn’t see the point in it when I lived by myself. Instead I relied on quick and easy pre-packaged meals that now make my digestive system want to cringe. Although my family will tell you differently, I have always known how to cook. Whether or not I was good at it is still up for debate. I have had no choice but to learn to cook here. I wouldn’t call myself a Julia yet, but I’m definitely getting better. Most importantly, I’m actually enjoying it.
10. The feeling that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
I hope that the start of your fall is as happy as mine is.
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