My Ukrainian buddy[1] and WLBOTT are in discussions to bring Tater Tots to Eastern Europe. [1] A friend I made through the ENGin program – like pen pals, but over Zoom. You can join today and make a new friend! Fact sheet here. Picture it now: The Great Eastern European Tater Tot Adventure™ – bringing […]
Category: Europe
High on the list of destinations for The World’s Largest Ball of Twine Tour is Madrid, Spain. High, because: With an average altitude of 650 m (2,130 ft), Madrid is the second highest capital of Europe (after Andorra la Vella). Wikipedia WLBOTT:Hola, G. Today we’re going to explore Madrid, Spain. What to come along, caballero? […]
What if, instead of having to open The Guardian to get our early morning cup of Fresh Hell, we could simply buy it from a street vendor? Sort of like Molly Malone, our street vendor is singing “Fresh Hell! Get your fresh hell here!” Our heroine, Hildegarde Torchwell – Strong, dramatic, a bit fiery, and […]
WLBOTT’s very own Elder G is now taking reservations for a exciting vacation! Don’t miss even a minute of the excitement! Elder G will be doing all the event planning and management. Itinerary / Perks The WLBOTT Conclave Travel Seminar Series kicks off with: ✨ Know Your Smoke: A Pilgrim’s Guide to Vatican Signals ✨ […]
The Red Viburnum is a beautiful plant, with white flowers and bright red fruit. A 150 year old patriotic Ukrainian song, celebrating the beauty of the Red Viburnum, compares the strength of the Ukrainian people with the resilience of this flowering shrub. Oh, the Red Viburnum in the MeadowOh, in the meadow red viburnum bent […]
Let’s talk about the historical phenomenon known as “segmented sleep” or “biphasic sleep.” It was quite common in Europe, especially before the Industrial Revolution. Let’s step back those 350 years and take a look at what was happening in the candlelit hush of a winter night. First Sleep and Second Sleep: A Forgotten Rhythm In […]
Comrade JPZ reporting for duty. I have always had my tutu ready — starched with ideological fervor and stitched with the sinews of socialist realism. I dance not merely for art, but for the people! Swan Lake and Soviet Catastrophe Ah yes — the eerie, tragic pas de deux between Swan Lake and Soviet catastrophe. […]
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Celebrating ENGin!
ENGin, the non-profit that connects English speakers with Ukrainian students, is celebrating their 5th anniversary! OUR VISIONWe will use the power of conversation to connect a million globally-minded citizens of emerging democracies with English speakers worldwide, forging supportive, authentic relationships, building a foundation of English fluency, and opening doors to academic and professional opportunities. You […]
What can Vasyl Velychkovsky’s life teach us in today’s troubled world? That’s a deeply meaningful question, — and one worthy of time, reflection, and many conversations under twine-strewn stars. We do live in troubled times. We hear the old boots of authoritarianism echoing down new hallways, polished with modern excuses and rationalizations. And yet, in […]
After all that he endured in the Soviet Union—the interrogations, the years in prison and the gulag, the constant surveillance—Vasyl Velychkovsky’s final years in Canada offer a deeply moving chapter: a time of fragile recovery, quiet leadership, and enduring spiritual witness. The Turning Point: Release and Exile In 1969, after suffering a heart attack in […]