Social
🎶 What shall we drink?
I don't like drinking. I don't like singing. I don't like dancing. Somehow, I got it all in one week — and it ended up fun and memorable.
Travel
🐉 How to buy a dragon?
I found a dragon in a museum of modern art, next to a museum of a 6000 year old civilisation, next to a golf course, next to a vineyard with a chapel — just outside Lviv.
Culture
🎁 Presenting nations
The Netherlands and Ukraine do not share a lot of history, so I feel I have to make a good impression on behalf of the Netherlands. One way to do that is by bringing presents!
Announcement
💝 All good things...
That's it, folks! The Ukrainian language course in Lviv is officially over, and so my time in Lviv has ended. I'm looking back to the time of my life!
Travel
🏭 Excursions through time and industry
We had two days of excursions in the first half of the course, mostly focused on ancient history and the environment. In the second half of the course, we visited various (old) sites with a bit more focus on local industry.
History
📜 History of Ukraine
Ukraine has a very long but complicated history — closely intertwined with Austria-Hungary, Cossacks, Poles, the Golden Horde, and more recently through occupation by nazi-germany, russia and the soviet union.
Culture
🎭 Culturing along
More culturing happened recently! We had a vyshyvanka workshop and subsequently Ivana Kupala celebrations. We also visited the National Opera House to see a ballet and an opera.
Social
🎊 More fun with friends
Once again I've been fortunate to experience Ukrainian culture via my Ukrainian friend: seeing a performance, buying a vyshyvanka, having a typical Ukrainian dinner, and visiting the open-air museum.
Travel
⛰️ Excursions through time
Over two different weekend days, we explored five historic sites around Lviv — ruins, a castle and multiple churches. We're travelling from the 7th to the 20th century. Here are the highlights...
War
🦸 Heroiam Slava: the Price of Dignity
The Ukrainian people did not choose this war, but they did choose to respond with dignity. For those of us at peace, especially in the West, we must ponder: how do we retain our dignity?
Travel
🤳 Fun with friends
The language course itself offers a great many friends and excursions, but I also do fun stuff with friends not from the SOUL language course. One friend living in Lviv I've known for years and she is introducing me to her country, culture and other friends.
Travel
🦁 The ancient city of Lviv
Lviv radiates history and culture. The city center mostly radiates liveliness and culture, whereas the cemeteries nearby invite us to learn the price to get here.