Hello world.

It’s a beautiful spring Thursday in Kyiv, before the first of three holiday weekends this May. Now that I’ve told my family, close friends and Peace Corps, I am happy to announce that Christopher, who moved to Ukraine last July to be with me, and I are engaged. We hope to marry this July in Colorado.

Christopher is teaching English at two private schools to adults and editing a daily e-newspaper. I’m so proud of the way he’s adapted and thrived here and that he would leave behind a good life in Colorado for the vagaries and uncertainty of life and work in Ukraine of all places, speaks to his great intelligence and spirit for adventure. Obviously, I’m a big fan.

If I can be indulged a moment, I’ll tell the story of the proposal. Under subterfuge, Christopher took me to Mariinsky Park, where we run some mornings, to a spot overlooking the Dnipro and Podil neighborhood, a pretty neighborhood that wasn’t bombed during WWII and therefore has older buildings intact. When we arrived to that spot, he bent down on one knee and produced a velvet box w/ a beautiful, emerald-cut, 2 carat garnet set in white gold ring. I said ok to his question.

Thanks for allowing me a mushy moment in this very public place. We’re in the process of getting his security clearance for Peace Corps to allow the marriage and otherwise enjoying our lives here as always.

One more story, a quirkier one. I have been asked to appear on a reality TV show called “Everything for You.” The premise of this show is for guys (occasionally girls) to set up an elaborate ruse by which to propose in a very public way to their beloved. Sometimes girls say no and it’s just awful to watch, but isn’t all reality TV? It’s a train wreck we can’t seem to turn away from.

The show’s representative, Lena, claims to have been recommended me by someone at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is the government agency where all foreigners living here are required to be registered. I’m leaving Saturday to take a train to a Western Ukraine city to film the first installment and I will “play” a foreigner in need of a translator at a castle. The girl will be there because her friends are in on the gig. I hope to get a tape to show people at home.

I’ll write full details about the trip and the scenario after it airs, as I’d hate to somehow ruin the surprise before hand. I hope she wants to be proposed to!

Over and out,
wlu
xoxo
Hello world.

It’s a beautiful spring Thursday in Kyiv, before the first of three holiday weekends this May. Now that I’ve told my family, close friends and Peace Corps, I am happy to announce that Christopher, who moved to Ukraine last July to be with me, and I are engaged. We hope to marry this July in Colorado.

Christopher is teaching English at two private schools to adults and editing a daily e-newspaper. I’m so proud of the way he’s adapted and thrived here and that he would leave behind a good life in Colorado for the vagaries and uncertainty of life and work in Ukraine of all places, speaks to his great intelligence and spirit for adventure. Obviously, I’m a big fan.

If I can be indulged a moment, I’ll tell the story of the proposal. Under subterfuge, Christopher took me to Mariinsky Park, where we run some mornings, to a spot overlooking the Dnipro and Podil neighborhood, a pretty neighborhood that wasn’t bombed during WWII and therefore has older buildings intact. When we arrived to that spot, he bent down on one knee and produced a velvet box w/ a beautiful, emerald-cut, 2 carat garnet set in white gold ring. I said ok to his question.

Thanks for allowing me a mushy moment in this very public place. We’re in the process of getting his security clearance for Peace Corps to allow the marriage and otherwise enjoying our lives here as always.

One more story, a quirkier one. I have been asked to appear on a reality TV show called “Everything for You.” The premise of this show is for guys (occasionally girls) to set up an elaborate ruse by which to propose in a very public way to their beloved. Sometimes girls say no and it’s just awful to watch, but isn’t all reality TV? It’s a train wreck we can’t seem to turn away from.

The show’s representative, Lena, claims to have been recommended me by someone at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is the government agency where all foreigners living here are required to be registered. I’m leaving Saturday to take a train to a Western Ukraine city to film the first installment and I will “play” a foreigner in need of a translator at a castle. The girl will be there because her friends are in on the gig. I hope to get a tape to show people at home.

I’ll write full details about the trip and the scenario after it airs, as I’d hate to somehow ruin the surprise before hand. I hope she wants to be proposed to!

Over and out,
wlu
xoxo