My Independence Day Speech

I wrote about this, so I wanted you to be able to read what I said, in English, because I doubt many of you can read the Ukrainian, but, why not, I'll put that there too.
Thank you for allowing me to speak today on your Independence Day. I have only been in Dobrotvir for two months, but plan to be here for two years. I will not speak for long since I do not want to take all of your time.

Today we celebrate 15 years as a free country. It is something to be proud of. First let me apologize for my Ukrainian, I need to speak better but have only been studying for five months. But during these five months I have made progress from knowing nothing at all to where I am now, and hope to speak better in the future. In the same way Ukraine has made remarkable progress over the 15 years of freedom. Everything is not perfect, but I hope most of you can say things are better today and will get better in the future. But, in order for things to get better, it is up to us. We cannot expect Kyiv, or even local politicians to do it all for us. In America, we have this term, self-determination, which means we decide what happens to us, not just waiting for it to happen. Ukraine knows this too, looking at the Orange Revolution, but it cannot be a one-time event, you need to approach every day thinking you can change your life for the better.

Look around you to see how much you have already done yourselves, new sidewalks, a freshly painted school, and this palace of culture, to name a few. This is your country and together we can make it great.

Thank you. Long live Ukraine!

Дякую вам за можливість звернутися до вас сьогодні на ваш День Незалежності. Я прожив у Добротвірі два місяці, але я планую бути тут два роки. Я буду говорити недовго тому що ваш час дорогий.

Cьогодні ми святкуємо 15 років незалежсності країни. Вам треба гордитися. Перш за все, Я хочу вибачатися за Мою Українську, Мені потрібно розмовляти краще але я тільки вчусь 5 місяців. Але коли я Приїхав я не знав української мови а зараз я можу трохи говорити. Україна щойно прогресує 15 років. Я знаю все не досконале але я сподіваюся що все зміниться на краще в майбутньому. Змінити ситуацію на краще залежить від вас. Ми не можемо покладатися тільки на Київ або міцевих політиків.

В Америці Ми говоримо: Self Determination, що означає не чекай допомоги – зроби це сам. Україна знає це також, наприклад події Оранжевоі Революції, але не можна зробити щось за один раз. Ви повинні намагатися змінити життя на краще кожен день.

Подивіться навкруги! Скільки ви вже зробили, нові тротуари, ремонт школи і будинків. Це Ваша країна і разом ми повинні зробити її процвітаючою.

Дякую! Хай живе Україна!

Read PCV blogs from all over!

This is just to tell you that the webpage I was building of online PCVs Journals is now up and running. You are welcome to view them at:
http://www.PeaceCorpsJournals.com/

Features:
1. The most comprehensive list on the internet of active websites for PCV Journals and blogs.
2. Each country has its own detailed site that can be directly linked to.
3. Detailed map for every country that becomes interactive, via Google, once clicked on.
4. Detailed information for each country is available through following one of four links at the bottom of each map.
5. The sponsor is someone who cares about volunteer's health.
6. The main page is simple to use. There are regional-specific pull-down menus to select your country of choice.
7. Clicking on the actual word of the region brings to an encyclopedia article on that region.
8. The logo for "Peace Corps Journals" leads to Peace Corps Headquarters Homepage.
9. A list of the entire staff of Peace Corps worldwide, with contact info.
10. There is an e-mail link on every page. If you want to add a Journal, spotted a dead link, or have a comment.

Enjoy!


-Mike Sheppard
RPCV / The Gambia

http://www.journeyacrossafrica.blogspot.com/

Links of other PCVs in Ukraine

I recieved this random comment by a returned PCV Mike Sheppard who has compiled a lot of blogs from Ukraine PCVs. Just simply amazing. I can't thank him enough. Here for your reading pleasure:

Here are some Peace Corps / Ukraine blogs that I have found. If you know of any others that I have missed please let me know. Thanks!

-Mike Sheppard
RPCV / The Gambia
www.journeyacrossafrica.blogspot.com

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http://absa.livejournal.com/
http://adri-nwnderland.livejournal.com/
http://andreapeacecorps.blogspot.com/
http://andypeacecorps.blogdrive.com/
http://annapcukraine.blogspot.com/
http://backafterlunch.blogspot.com/
http://beninukraine.blogspot.com/
http://books.dreambook.com/sarahperez/dae.html
http://cammarj.tripod.com/
http://www.deever.com/index2.html
http://durukraine.blogspot.com/
http://fashodacrisis.blogspot.com/
http://www.freewebs.com/absnyder/index.htm
http://www.freewebs.com/amandalazur/
http://www.freewebs.com/andreapc/
http://www.freewebs.com/mlmckenna/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pcua/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peacecorpsukraine/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ukraine29/
http://gwilkins.blogspot.com/
http://hyltonpcv.blogspot.com/
http://jacobspeacecorps.blogspot.com/
http://jjspc.blogspot.com/
http://kalisjourney.blogspot.com/
http://kelseybird.blogspot.com/
http://klukraine.blogspot.com/
http://lerri.livejournal.com/
http://www.myspace.com/cameronhighsmithcool
http://naterutledge.blogspot.com/
http://pages.prodigy.net/l.hodges/peacorps.htm
http://www.pcukraine.org/
http://peacecorps.mtu.edu/filius.htm
http://pedroinukraine.blogsource.com/
http://www.pulverpages.com/
http://raejean.blogspot.com/
http://raypcv.blogspot.com/
http://robin.soundchasers.com/articles.php?um=index
http://rossocity.livejournal.com/
http://salinukraine.blogspot.com/
http://seanmonkey.blogspot.com/
http://www.shelleyswendiman.blogspot.com/
http://www.smallfishbigsea.blogspot.com/
http://www.soundchasers.com/robin/
http://teachertraveler.blogspot.com/
http://www.teachertraveler.com/
http://thepeascorps.blogspot.com/
http://www.thewildwildjes.blogspot.com/
http://www.travelpod.com/cgi-bin/guest_login.pl?tweb_UID=goska1&tweb_tripID=ukraine
http://www.travelpod.com/cgi-bin/guest_login.pl?tweb_UID=regkennedy&tweb_tripID=pc_ukraine
http://www.travelpod.com/members/jessteichuz
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/peacecorpsliz/ukraine-2004/tpod.html
http://ukrainechicks.blogspot.com/
http://www.ukrainejoc.blogspot.com/
http://ukrainepeacecorps.blogspot.com/
http://www.wendylu.com/
http://www.xanga.com/londongal03/
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