A Brief Word about Recent Events in Ukraine

Ukraine has been making headlines in international news since late November. It was then that protesters first took to the streets to voice their discontent with a government decision to scrap signing an “Association Agreement” with the European Union.

The protests and the events they have precipitated are political in nature and reflect competing visions for the future of Ukraine. As such it’s up to Ukrainians themselves to determine the direction they take their country, and not for me, as a visitor in Ukraine, to editorialize about them in a blog post.

Furthermore, Peace Corps is an apolitical organization dedicated to providing technical assistance to countries that request our presence. Political commentary on my part would not only risk provoking a negative response from citizens of my host country (and my new friends) but could also call into question the mission of Peace Corps in Ukraine.

Political commentary abounds elsewhere on the internet. Here instead you’ll find anecdotes about being immersed in another culture, a record of our most awkward language flubs, pictures of a beautiful land filled with warm-hearted people, and maybe, eventually, some insightful commentary about living in a global community and the common threads that bind humanity together. Stay tuned…