Today, I spent five hours translating an open-air museum tour for my friend, Sandi Dempsey from @balakunua.bsky.social a volunteer from New Zealand. Once again, I referred to beer as ‘bear’ and called a well ‘wellness.’ Actually, Sandi taught me English, so she trained her own translator.

My adventure begins! First stop drop off the dog. She seems fine! Next stop Canada!

But this is my favorite picture!!

2/3 Перед святом діти пишуть листи, сподіваючись, що Святий Миколай залишить солодощі, фрукти або невеликі #подарунки за гарну поведінку під подушками або у взутті. Цей день нагадує про важливість щедрості, підтримки нужденних, продовження дух святого, відомого своєю допомогою бідним.

1)3 ✨ Сьогодні в #Україні День #Святого #Миколая! Це свято, яке відзначається 6 грудня, вшановує Святого Миколая — символ доброти, захисту та щедрості в українській традиції.

Congratulations on the day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine! If St Nicolas could not reach you because of unfriendly flying objects I hope you receive all the gifts you deserve next year and more!

Thank you to all the amazing people who make @balakunua.bsky.social work!

Today is #International_Volunteers_Day and we want to say thank you to all our amazing volunteers across this globe without you #Balakun would it be as successful as we are I wish I could name each and every one of you but you know who you are. #Thank_you so much! 💙💛💙💛 #Ukraine

Starting my vacation today! First step drop off the dog! Then many many many many many hours in a plane ✈️ And then another plane. I’m excited, a little nervous. Gonna miss this face! But she will have a great time chasing rabbits

Я розмовляла з колегою і, як це часто буває, ми почали говорити на тему #борщ. 😋 Почалася справжня дискусія щодо того, чи є борщ #супом! Дехто вважає, що так, дехто вважає, що ні. Що ви думаєте з цього приводу? #Україна #Ukrainianviews #UA

Every day we match #mentors with #Ukrainian students who want to either learn #English for the first time or to improve their English and #November was a great month Thank you to our matching team and our verification team without you this number wouldn't be possible. Thank you for #volunteering

Here's an article from one of our #students; he's in the #AFU and has been a student with us since January 2024 His view from the #frontline #Ukraine medium.com/balakun/half...

We at #Balakun are having a space event on #Twitter (X) The purpose is to create an #English language space for #Ukrainians in #Ukraine to talk about #recent_events. Please share, I hope you can join! It starts at 9 pm Kyiv time x.com/BalakunUA/st...

Happy #Thanksgiving to all our friends who celebrate We are thankful for your support, your #volunteering, the time you put into our #mission, for spreading the word of our #organization, for being a part of #Balakun Thank you friends 💙💛💙💛

💙💛💙💛 Happy Dignity and Freedom Day #Ukraine Слава нації

It's the first week of #November and #Balakun kept matching in October, 39 new connections between #Ukrainians & supporters around the world. As the year winds down, we're so proud that our global community keeps showing up even when life gets hectic. Thank you for keeping the connections alive.

Here's some interesting (цікаві) Halloween fun follow the 🧵 source: www.instagram.com/ukraine?igsh...

Check out #Balakun Medium page here... medium.com/@Balakun

😋

Hello friends Who wants to do a AMA tomorrow 11/1? Here on @balakunua.bsky.social ? I'll give you a few days to give me a yes or no! #Ukraine #UA Привіт друзі Хто хотів би зробити пост "Запитай мене про що завгодно" 1 листопада? Пишіть "так" чи "ні" 🤗💙💛💙💛

Добрий день і привіт Good morning friends Here at Balakun we've been busy this third quarter As you see, we have more mentees than mentors so please consider #volunteering about an hour a week to help a #Ukrainian improve their #English skills. balakun.org

Through Russia's illegal invasion and genocide against #Ukraine we must stand and fight and today is an important day in Ukraine for language and writing #Слава_Україні #слава_нації

Добрий день друзі Hello friends Did you know we have an Instagram account? Check is out there too www.instagram.com/reel/DQRZiEK...

We can have democracy or we can have billionaires. We cannot have both. NYT: Marc Benioff Says Trump Should Send Guard Troops to San Francisco (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...

@balakunua.bsky.social isn’t a typical language school. It’s a volunteer-run network where people learn with each other. Everyone has an impact on the world around them, it’s up to us how we use it. At Balakun, we choose to make an impact through understanding, learning, and supporting Ukraine

Want to be immersed in Ukraine culture? Do you live close to or in New York? Do you have free time in October? Then here's a great festival for you If you go please!! Share your experience, pictures, videos, advice and tag us!! www.razomforukraine.org/ucf2025/

I'd like to share a story of a soldier and his journey Please read and share 🤗 #Ukraine #UA #UAViews medium.com/balakun/meet...

🌿 We’re Moving to Our Own Page! To make sure more of your support goes directly to our programs (and less to platform fees), we’re moving donations to our own website. 👉 You can now support us here: balakun.org/donate Thank you for your support! We are really excited about the next chapter…

quick while the government is shut down let’s all switch to metric

I have signed up during the summer and I highly recommend it!

I volunteer!! I love being a part of something big! Something worldwide

We are lucky to hear inspiring stories from our mentors and mentees Here is one to share 1/2 My mentee managed to get a few days away, which is great given they live in the Dnipro region. On their way back, they had the good fortune to share a sleeper berth with

Fantastic! I was a little nervous as I am not an English teacher, but we talk about all sorts of things and it is really fun

Привіт - Hello Do you like to volunteer? Do you have the gift of gab? Then you are who we would love to come volunteer with us! For about an hour or more a week you can volunteer to help a Ukrainian citizen improve their English No experience needed! You do not need to be a teacher link in bio

1/3 🧵 @balakunua.bsky.social So I started volunteering for.Balakun it's this organization where one hour a week you meet with a Ukrainian citizen & talk to with them to help improve their English I'm not a professional teacher or a tutor, I'm just a person who wanted to give back & what

Thank you for getting involved and sharing your personal story!

1/2 У Балакуні ми пропонуємо допомогу українцям у вивченні англійської мови, незалежно від того, чи маєте ви певні знання розмовної англійської, або ніколи не розмовляли англійською. Ми пропонуємо це незалежно від того, чи шукаєте ви притулку, знаходитеся в Україні або на фронті.

In Kyiv the search-and-rescue operation has ended: 23 people killed across the city, including 4 children. Residents bring toys and flowers to the destroyed home. Today, Kyiv and the region observe a Day of Mourning.

Happy Independence Day from all of us at Balakun! Today we honour Ukraine’s resilience, culture, and unbreakable spirit. 🧵⬇️

Все буде, Україно!

Happy Flag Day, Ukraine! 💙💛 Here’s to the colors that stand for courage, hope, and never giving up. Keep flying high! #FlagDay #Ukraine #StayStrong

Today Ukraine marks Flag Day 🇺🇦 , honouring the blue and yellow that carries the spirit of a nation determined to prevail. For all our incredible students, mentors and friends Слава Україні

#urology #surgery Can anyone help me source 2-3 unit of this item for military hospital in Kyiv? Cystoscope 4.0mmx302mm 30° viewing angle, autoclavable (Storz compatible)

Hello #Bluesky My name is балакун (Balakun) Let me tell you a little about my name #Balakun is #Ukrainian for "Chatterbox", the essence of our initiative to foster meaningful #conversations and build #connections #jointheconversation You can learn more about us on our website 🤗 balakun.org

😱 @balakunua.bsky.social has a #Spotify podcast where they share stores from #Ukrainians #languages open.spotify.com/show/6jeEEY2...

Happy Friday!

New one 🎉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Hello friends! Guess who is turning older soon… Instead of gifts I want to support impulsetolife with their summer holiday program for 25 kids from Kyiv! They deserve a little holiday, many of them moved from temporarily occupied areas of the country www.impulsetolife.com

@balakunua.bsky.social Happy Friday! Balakun is a volunteer non-profit org that matches fluent English speakers with Ukrainians for speaking practice! If you have a little time we have lots of students waiting. You can help in Ukrainians in a very practical way!