The Immensity of It All
As summer progresses, Ukrainians flock to nature, and these are the thoughts I’ve found on my travels. I have been keeping this post for awhile, and now I dedicate it to Landon, and his very nice comment.Mountains are never satisfying because I always want to climb them and then there is always another one and I am struck by my insignificance. With the ocean, I sit on the beach and look out over its vastness and I feel small but significant, I am a definite, different point in that scene. Also water moves, mountains don’t (even with wind) and I find peace in motion, much more than stillness.
Driving by the sunflowers is stunning. They are so big that you can see each one, independently as you drive by. Most are the same height but once in awhile one sticks up above the others or is turned away from the sun, and it catches your intense attention for a moment. Then you look out beyond it and they blend into a carpet, a carpet that sometimes stretches as far as the eye can see, the whole expanse of a field, a hill, a countryside alive with the Ukrainian flag (yellow fields below a blue sky)
posted by jjs @ 7:33 AM
7 Comments:
john - that was really really beautiful
John, you have some interesting thoughts.
I'm glad you've noticed the flad thing. They say that Ukrainian flag is like a field of wheat and blue sky, but as for me, i think, sunflowers just fit so much better.
It was really nice to have you home for a few days.
john, what a beautiful post, i can just imagine a beautiful field of sunflowers. how are you? thank you for the sewing circle post. it's time to go & in the end being stripped of my pride, i suppose is a part of the process. do you know who sent a camp supply box from ukraine? i couldn't figure out the name & address. i got it in time for the camp. THANK YOU. can't wait to see you! xo-b
A dedication to me! Can't say with my come and go messages that I'm deserving of this, but it's a compliement for sure. I've never pictured the Ukraine with flowering fields and a beautiful blue sky. Of course they have them, but my mind only conjures up cold gray sky, bleak forests and warm black trench coats. I guess I have Hollywood to thank for that image - the stereotype.
-Landon
Hello John! I found your site through google, I think? It was a while ago, but I searched for Ukrainian PCV blogs and often found other blogs through links.
I am from Ohio, and my dad's side is from Ohio and possibly out west? It's a pretty small family (that I'm aware of) I remember being told at one point that my brother would be the last person to pass on the name... Is the rest of your family from Florida as well? It would certainly be weird if we were related and only met in Ukraine!
I've enjoyed reading your blog; it's making me excited to see the country, and I look forward to meeting you in three weeks.
(Also: apologies for posting the link without permission, if it's a problem please let me know.)
Hi John, stumbled upon your blog while I was doing some research. I'll be joining you in Ukraine in 3 weeks as TEFL. Very excited to see there's another FSU alum over there...GO NOLES !
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