Elena Vodolazskaya. Age: 31. I was a student of the Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine, worked as a madrichah in the youth club at the Israeli Cultural Center, and taught Jewish traditions at Sunday School. In 2001 I came to JDC, where I worked for four years, before taking a break to give birth to two wonderful children (Edik, 3.5 years old, and Anya, 1.5 years old). In 2008 I again returned to JDC. Now I coordinate the Jewish renewal directive. I am especially interested in this volunteer project because I love to do good deeds to help people, to arrange large organizational events, and to spend time around Jewish youth.
Alex, Lauran, Joelle, Tal, Sam, and Jeff.
you, and I hope I will learn even more in the future! Gelia (Angie), Inna, Alina, Sasha and Julian-thanks to you we invented a new language - English Russian Jewish dialect! Lori, Dana, Beka - your optimism, beauty, and energy is infectious! Olivia, Emily and Rachel – you are some of the most persistent girls ever! Heroines! Sam – you are for me a model of beauty! Alex - you are very remarkable girl! Lauren and Joelle-the most incendiary and adventurous (Джоэл- самые зажигательные искательницы приключений! Can't seem to translate it well)! Tal and Jeff struck us with their modesty and efficiency! You are all so colourful and unlike each other. But if we all join together – you will turn out a huge bright whole mosaic! Sashenka Baych, I congratulate you, with your new job (interning at the JDC)! I think the Joint is very lucky that you are there!
distance travelers. At this same time a pretty girl named Gelya (Angie) came to me and introduced herself. While we talked we found that we had many common interests. In the future, because she knew how to speak Russian well, she helped me in communicating with the other American students from the Cornell Hillel. And in general, she turned out to be a very good and responsive person. These joint holidays have been very fruitful and fun. Students from both countries were very helpful to the community of our city. During the trip together, we were able to revamp the playground for children participating in the programmes at the Jewish Community Center. We also helped the Jewish Community of Melitopol by striping and repainting their "Hesed" building, as well as participating in the "warm homes" program (a program sponsored by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee which brings warm meals as well as social company to Elderly that are unable to leave their homes because of various disabilities). Futhermore, we helped people renovate their homes with fresh coats of paint, and gave them company and let them share their stories with us. Such actions and programs are important to us (the Dnepropetrovsk peers), because it is important to help our distant relatives (the elderly and in need Jews within our immediate community). A community which is very close and dear to us. Of course, there was also relaxation! Bowling, sauna… The friendship with Samatha (Sam) proved truly unforgettable, who was a very good and sweet girl with amazingly beautiful eyes. I am pleased to recall our conversation the last night when two people (such as ourselves) tried to communicate within two different languages, talking thoroughly about various interesting topics. Unfortunately, didn’t speak enough. But, I hope that this is not our last meeting with her. The excursion with the group in Dnepropetrovsk allowed me to meet and get close with two nice girls Inna and Sasha. Girls – you’re awesome!!!!! A trip to Melitopol gave me the ability to make the acquaintance with a remarkable and wonderful man. Julian – he is a shining and smart person. He always came to the aid and help in any of the difficult moments. I believe that with all the others on the trip, who are all dear to my heart, that we will definitely meet again. In general, I already miss you all! Guys, you have to come more often! Naomi and Ed, you are the best leaders!
quite some time and the very new friends me had newly met from America. During this event, I immediately felt myself part of a larger Jewish family. In the Dnepropetrovsk Hillel, the students like to call Olga (the director of Dnepropetrovsk Hillel), our "mother," because she brings so many different people with so many different lives together, and makes us one big family. My memories of that Shabbat are filled with many different sounds and images: the candles being lit, the sounds of the blessing over the wine and Challah. All of a sudden, everyone is embracing with hands joined, singing "Hine matovu manaim", and everyone is smiling shining so brightly. For me personally, being within the company of students from two countries was very significant. Furthermore, I received invaluable practice in speaking the English language, as well as learning "how the American students live," and finding that they share so many common interests and opinions with us. 
I hope that this project (Short term service trips sponsored by Cornell Hillel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee [JDC]) continues to develop and grow, with ever more returning students and new students coming to Dnepropetrovsk and Ukraine in the coming years. Because I believe that such programs are extremely important. I have a great deal of confidence that within the next few years that groups with our own Ukrainian guys will be traveling to America and that American peers will be coming to Ukraine, and that this could even possibly happen more than once a year.
know that they are made possible by the JDC (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee through their short term service projects department). It was very cool to exchange different stories of our experiences living in Dnepropetrovsk with students from the Cornell Hillel and their experiences of living in America. We had a wonderful nine days together, and I believe that our conversations and friendship will continue for many years to come. 
vivid and interesting. I really liked talking with the Cornell Hillel students who came all the way from America just to see us and see where we live. Somehow, during this trip I remembered the English language (that I had briefly learned before) and a spent a very good time with all of the new students I met. I would like very much to see all of the participants (of this trip) in our joint alternative vacations again in the very near future. 
come and visit us again and again! 
anguage barrier was not an unconquerable problem for all of us and that we overcame it, together. Our English-speaking students by the end of the trip got to learn a lot of new Russian words and we (the Dnepro group) even started to speak a little in English. The time that I spent with you guys was, for me, a great gift. I received a lot of positive emotions from it. Together we have brought many positive benefits to the populations of our city (Dnepropetrovsk), Melitopol, and Dneprodzerzhinska. We helped renew “Hesed" facilities and brought joy to kids taking part in programs at the Community Centre in Dnepropetrovsk by repainting a playground and planting flowers. I was extremely moved by the meetings I had with the grandparents, as well as with the families we met through the “Warm House" initiative. Vlad (Vlad Lutkov): 
translated by Sasha [with help from google translated]
I’d like to say ‘Thanks’ to all of our American friends who dared to visit our country, our city Dnepropetrovsk, and to participate in a charitable mission focused on revival and restoration (volunteer work) in our community. I’d like to wish tons of happiness & many happy thoughts to our new friends (Cornell Hillel), who participated with us in extensive physical workouts: these were really cool too! Thank you for the many pleasant conversations and the time we shared together. Personally, and from all the other Dnepro peers, together we would like very much (and hope) that in the very near future we will all meet up once again. We are waiting, trusting, remembering, loving, and hoping for this… We invite you to come back for even more productive work, cooperation, and implementation (of new and important) demanding tasks dedicated to the improving the world Jewry. Until further meetings! Greetings to all!
Orignaial Text:Лутков Влад:
- Спасибо всем нашим американским друзьям, которые отважились посетить нашу страну и Днепропетровск, и принять участие в благотворительной миссии возрождения и реставрации (волонтерство для общины). Масса удовольствий + эмоции, новые друзья, полезная физическая работа – это клево! Спасибо за приятные минуты общения, совместного проведения времени. Я лично, и мы все, очень надеемся, в ближайшее время, снова встретится. Ждем, верим, помним, любим и надеемся…
Приезжайте для более плодотворной работы и сотрудничества, и выполнения новых важных, ответственных задач мирового еврейства.
До новых встреч! Всем привет!
Особый привет: Саше, Рейчел, Геле, Сэм, Инне, Джулиану, Бэкке, Джефу, ребе Еду, Наоми.
