Goodbye Semester 1!

Hey guys... exams are FINALLY over and I can breathe. The French one went okay. I think I did well, but while I was writing it, I always had that sneaking suspicion that I could be wrong. But for the most part, I find French easy and intuitive because it's so similar to Ukrainian. For example, 'car' is a feminine noun in both French and Ukrainian. Yeah... so French class is just like home for me.

History is the exact opposite. It just doesn't penetrate my brain, and although I know that's not an excuse, I never listened in class because I just found it so dry and difficult to concentrate on. Obviously, that reflected in my exam -- I just barely scraped up enough knowledge to answer (or at least guess at) the questions. Oddly enough, my friends found it really easy... I demand an explanation, guys! What's your secret to success for history? Not that I'll need it... I'm sure I won't take that class again (but we'll see... sometimes I surprise myself!).

Anyways, I have a couple of days off school, and then it's back to class. The only problem is, that I have gym, math, and science -- my three worst subjects -- this coming semester. My average is going to go Down with a capital D. :(

Oh well, I'll just enjoy the break for now. And wait for Hayley Westenra's new CD. It's coming out in March, and I'm insanely excited. There's a lovely promotional video up on her site right now... it sounds like it's gonna be great! I'm also waiting for Celtic Woman's and Kelly Sweet's CD's to come out.

I'm currently typing up a fairy tale I made up, which I rather like, so I'd better get back to that. I'll post the it up when it's done!

Love and blessings,
Oksy

Exams are Nearing

Hi guys! I'm writing this from my Careers class... I have finished all my work for the course, so I've got nothing else to do this period. And, luckily, we only have an open-book exam in this class... which saves me some stress.

I STILL have not begun studying for my History and French exams, but I resolve to do that tonight. I've already got a hang of most of my French, but I just don't know where to begin with History. We've covered so much, and I can't imagine cramming it all in to one week. (Of course, sitting around like this doesn't help it at all).

I'm going to have to stop complaining about exams, though. Just give me 'til February, and all these exam-blogs will stop. Until June rolls around. :)

Okay, the bell's about to ring... I'll continue at home. Lunch is here!

Now I'm writing from home... hi guys! Anyways, I just wanted to say one more word on exams: although I don't really know HOW I'm going to get through it all, but I'm pretty certain I'll get through it somehow. I mean, failing is out of the question. I know I'll study and learn everything... I just don't have a "plan of action" if you will. (Probably not the best attitude to have...)

All right, enough on that. I hope you guys have a safe and blessed remainder of the week. I'll be back to tell you how next week's exams went.

Oksy :)

First Week Back

Well, it's the first week after Christmas break; but it already feels like a month, it's been so exhausting. All my summatives and exams are drawing near, and being the bad student that I am, I have not done a mite of studying yet. I feel sorry for wasting my Christmas vacation now... I could have done a lot of work during the break, but now I've got to have everything finished in a little over a week -- kind of scary, really!

Anyways, two things are new about me this week:

1. My hair! It used to be waist-length, and my mom cut 12 inches off. I kind of miss it, but it's so much easier to take care of.. and feels much lighter! I currently hold a record for wearing my hair in a braid almost EVERY DAY last year, and now, it's too short for one! (That's a good thing; it was time for a change).

2. My mp3 player. I got a Creative Zen Vision M which I'm very happy with. It holds videos and photos, plays my 477 songs (with room for many more), plays and records radio, and has a microphone. Plus, it looks really nice. It's a teensy bit too bulky, and has frozen a few times when I pressed too many buttons at once, but I really can't think of anything very negative about it. Except for the fact that it doesn't have any nice accessories like iPods do... not even a case!

I haven't much else to say about my week, but I'll have LOTS of studying and work to do this weekend, so wish me luck! Oh, and I have a new website layout ready for the spring... just a few months and you'll see it!

Oksy .x.

Merry (Ukrainian) Christmas!

Well... Christmas has finally rolled around for us Ukrainian folks... we celebrate it by the old, Julian calendar, where Dec. 25 corresponds with January 6. So, 'veseloho Risdva,' folks! I rather like it more at this time... all the decorations around town have been taken down, all the sales are over, and we can just concentrate on the real meaning of Christmas without the commercialism.

To get you back into the holiday spirit with me, I'm going to tell you my 2006 Christmas story... doesn't it always seem that something inspiring happens around the holiday season? My little moment of inspiration took place mid-December outside of a grocery store.

I was walking to the store with my dad when a homeless man asked for change. Being in a hurry (and having mostly pennies in his wallet), my dad said, "no sorry," and walked on.

"That's okay," said the man. "Merry Christmas!"

His kind greeting stopped me dead in my tracks. How could this man care so much about my Christmas when he knew his would not be so merry? Mine would certainly be -- I was going to spend it at home, surrounded by my family, with lots of delicious food at the table. And this man... he would be spending it on the streets without so much as a penny to get by on. And he was wishing me -- me, who had more than enough for the holidays, and was walking to the store to buy even more -- a merry Christmas! How could he be so selfless?

With these thoughts, I began to run back. By the time I got to him, he had asked a few more people for change, and got the same answer each time. "Sir, sir," I called as I opened my purse. I emptied it and gave him my meager change -- it didn't even amount to three dollars; and yet he looked overwhelmed. "God bless you!" he said, delighted. "You're an angel."

I would have assured him I wasn't, but my dad was waiting for me, so I answered, "God bless you too, sir," and hurried away. But I spent the rest of the day with a huge smile on my face, and not because of the tiny gift I had given, but because of what I had recieved from him. He gave me the rarest Christmas gift: truly heartfelt holiday wishes, sincere gratitude, and the knowledge that love is appreciated... especially around Christmastime.

I wish all of you reading this a merry Christmas!