Welcome and Introductions!

Hello and welcome! Please allow me to introduce myself...

My name is Hannah Janese Bittner. I am twenty one years of age and a student at Oregon State University. I am currently sitting in a corner of the Amsterdam airport, and I realized now was as good as time as any to begin documenting my journey.

I am embarking on a three month adventure to the country of Ukraine. During my time in Ukraine, I will be teaching English in a rural orphanage for disabled children, teaching in a school for Roma children, and doing several other things as well. I have traveled to Ukraine three times before, though this will be my longest stay.

Ukraine was not chosen at random. My love affair with Eastern Europe began at the ripe, young age of ten. I was ten when I picked out a book in the library about World War II; I sat in the corner and read the whole thing cover to cover. I have been drawn to Eastern Europe ever since. In addition to this, my father has traveled to Ukraine countless times, and I suppose I just strangely followed in his footsteps. I love Ukraine, and I am so excited to get to live there for three months. I really, really am.

I would like to take this moment to express my gratitude to those who helped make this opportunity possible. I consider it an absolute honor to have the support of my family and friends; without them, this would not have been possible. I believe that my parents are not only the best parents in the world, but they are also the best people in the whole world. If you do not yet know them, you should get to know them. You will not regret it. My mother and father are selfless, beautiful people. My father is a dreamer; he is the one I go to when I have a crazy idea or adventure in mind. He always looks me straight in the eye and tells me to go. A father that supports his daughter that selflessly is a rare gem. My mother is my rock; she is my best friend and closest companion. If my father is the dreamer, my mother is the glue. She is the one who holds everything together; she is the one who will wait up for me at 2AM when I need to talk and eat popcorn. My parents have taught me that true love does not bind; true love liberates. They always let me go, and that is how I know they truly love me.

In addition to my parents, I have a pretty amazing support system of friends that have been constant sources of encouragement. I am so unbelievably thankful for every one of them and each of the unique relationships they have allowed me to be a part of. I hope that each of them knows that I am honored to have a front row seat in their lives. And shout out to Scotty and Annie, my brother and sister: this summer has been the best. Thanks for sleeping in my van with me.

So, here we go! Thank you for reading this and taking an interest in my adventures in Ukraine. Here's to a great three months in the country I love!

"True love doesn't bind. It liberates. True love says: I love you if you are home. I love you if you are in New York. I love you if you are in Iceland. I would like to be near you, but that's not possible right now. So, I love you. GO."