I have a big project coming up that I’ve probably talked to death, but it can take over my life at times and can be a rather good reflection of my service here.

Last week there was a professor from the Lviv Technical Forestry University that came out to look at several of the sites we are wanting to plant trees. As seems to happen so often, things don’t go exactly as I would like, some of my counterparts here at site weren’t able to meet him, so I ended up meeting him with several students from my school and a woman I know who studies at the University Graduate program. She also helped translate some things for me when the language got above my head. I felt at a disadvantage because I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when he showed up and wasn’t able to provide some of the materials he ended up wanting because of that. It ended with me feeling as though I had a heck of a lot of work ahead of me to keep on pace for the planned planting date of April 21, which is really soon.

But on the upside of the rollercoaster ride, is I had the final confirmation the money will be available and after the initial freaking out of the amount of work the professor wanted me to do (get precise measurements of a variety of different distances to plan for where to put trees) I realized I needed to simplify my plan and most of the work he had asked for is already basically done. So I was able to get a hold the required maps and I think I may be able to keep on track here. I guess I’m just feeling as if there is a knife-edge that I’m walking to keep this going and so far I’ve been able to keep moving forward. Will be looking at some different types of trees next week.

On a more personal or general note, at least, for those of you who pay attention to the news, the political situation in Ukraine is in upheaval again with some news organizations saying the biggest crisis since the Orange Revolution. I haven’t really seen much of any activity where I live and those of you with televisions probably know more about what is going on than I do. I just read what news reports I see. But otherwise life is continuing as normal here and I haven’t been affected by what is going on in Kyiv at all. Just makes life a little more interesting is all. No reason to worry at all.