Week 1 in this place called Ukraine...I survived!

I can't believe it was a week ago today that I was on my way to Kyiv. Even though so much has happened in the meantime, it seems like just yesterday!
I'm having such a great time here. I totally understand why people can have a hard time adjusting, because in all honesty the majority of this city is dirty, disorganized, and smelly. But in the chaos, if you look closely enough, there is a very organized and beautiful way of life. Sure, it's a lot different from our own in America, but that's what makes it so wonderful! I came here with no expectations; I just wanted to experience a foreign country firsthand. Between the dim lit elevators, the dirty underground metro, the crowded marshrutka, my small cozy apartment, and the flow of Ukrainian lifestyle around me, I feel a sense of adventure in every step, which is exactly what I came here looking for.
I started teaching this week, and boy is it hard work! haha, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Teaching kindergarten is hard enough with all their energy and short attention spans; but when the kids don't even speak a lick of English, it's just madness! I'm in charge of arts and crafts, and so far we've made name tags, bears, birds, picture frames, the sun, the moon, and stars. It's a lot of fun, but of course the kids are crazy and disobedient! But seriously, so cute. Especially when they repeat the English words we say in their cute little Russian accents.
My days so far have been so laid back and perfect. I sleep in however late I want, I get up and ready, I hang around my apartment with my host family, and I make my lesson plans. Around 1, I take the metro and the mashrutka to the school to meet up with the other teachers and prepare my lesson. At 2, we eat lunch in the school cafeteria where the food is surprisingly decent and the Ukrainian cafeteria ladies are extra adorable. I teach for three hours every day from 3-6pm, then me and whoever else feels like it go out to explore the city. On Monday, we went out to McDonalds and the grocery store. On Tuesday, me, Peter, and Megan walked around our neighborhood, found a pretty lake/forest, dropped Megan off at her apartment, and then me and Peter got stuck at the trolly station and eventually found our way home long past dark. On Wednesday, me and Megan took the metro downtown where we saw gorgeous cathedrals, adorable side streets that had some of the cutest little restaurants I've ever seen, and some buildings preserved since their use during the holocaust. So much fascinating history! This morning, me and Megan met up and went running on this "track" we found. It's small, cracked, uneven, and dirty- but hey, it's something to run on, so I'm happy! Tomorrow, after teaching, the weekend begins, and we already have some pretty sweet plans :)
I guess I should be more worried about walking alone at night, being robbed, getting lost, etc. For some reason though, my only fear is honestly that after four months of living here, I will fall in love with this place and then have to leave for what might be forever. But for now, I really am enjoying every moment. It's funny how quickly a completely foreign country can become a new home.