These 6 months...

In 4 days I leave back home to Ukraine. When I realised I was staying in Folkestone for 6 months back around Christmas time people told me that God was really going to use this time to do some amazing things in my life. 

And He has, but not the way I expected.

I haven't become a super financially competent teenager with a steady job or independent wonder kid that 'don't need nobody's help' to get on in life. I haven't become the ultra disciplined distance-learning student with straight As and a raving social life to top it off. 

No, I'm not any of those things, although I have been able to gain snipplets of experience through different opportunities given to me. 

• I have a been able to provide for myself and am [in the process of] learning how to manage money the hard way: not having any
• I have learned to looked after myself. I can now do my own washing, make pelmini (Russian dumplings), food and essentials shopping (not just clothes/items for my room shopping) and get myself to places on time(ish). Having said that though, I hate the fact the I have to make myself a lunchbox for work. (I also often wish for one of my family to randomly wander into my room and interrupt me in the middle of my life. Through this experience I have learned that I should never rent a flat for just myself because I will go insane without another person breathing in the house.)
• My study skills have improved but they have a L-O-O-O-N-G way to go. Oftentimes when I tell people I am a distance learner they're like, ''Ooh, you must be so disciplined!'' And I'm sitting there like 

       I hope I pass my A-level English language AS and A2. That is all. 

• I have developed an interesting social life. It's been a very slow process, but then when you move country it's bound to take a while. God has put some very special people in my life and for that I am grateful. 
• I have learned to work better with kids. I am part of youth team at my church, work in a preschool and have done a lot of babysitting in the last few months. I was even a nanny for 2 weeks. Through youth work I have learned to communicate with people from different backgrounds to me and I have learned to be the 'responsible one' (in Ukraine I am still just ''one of the youth''). With working in preschool and babysitting I have learned to well, look after small kids! I have learned how facinating they are and how they each have their own personality.

I have found myself not have to have necessarily changed since leaving Ukraine, but become myself again - pick up where I left off and take it further. 

I look forward to reflecting on my time in England whilst chilling with my family in Ukraine. I look forward to resting my brain and speaking in Russian again. I look forward to not being busy. I look forward to writing again. 

Verse of the year (from Russian translation): 
''Even if I go through unhappiness, You revive me.'' - Psalm 138:7 
''Даже если пойду я среди несчастья, Ты оживишь меня.'' - Пс. 137:7