17 April 2009
I’ll be posting two blogs tomorrow (hopefully). The main computer in Ivanovka was stolen, so I didn’t get to post the last blog when I wanted to, which means y’all get multiple entries all at one time! YAY! Haha I’m sitting in my room right now, (9:26pm on the 17th) and will try to make it to Kant to use the internet tomorrow.
So…. What new happened since the last time I (tried to) wrote.(write)?
It freakin snowed! In the middle of April!! Thankfully it didn’t stick around for long. I have enough trouble navigating flat, paved roads on the clearest days; snowy days on the roads in Ivanovka station would not be good for me.
Hopefully the next time it gets that cold, I’ll be in my permanent site and my “winter clothes” boxes will have arrived. Not that it is warm by any means right now. Actually, I’m kind of freezing. Actually, I’ve kind of been freezing since I got here. Haha. I finally busted out the one pair of thermals that I brought because I just couldn’t stand it anymore- toughing it out got too tough. Haha It should be getting warmer very soon, and I cannot wait! (pretty soon you’ll be reading my complaints about how it is too hot… remind me of this at that point:-D)
Speaking of permanent sites, I interview next week and find out my permanent site the next. (I think) I don’t really have a preference. Extreme heat in the summer or extreme cold in the winter.. neither sound that great, but I’m pretty adaptable, and every volunteer I’ve talked to or read says that their location is beautiful. You can’t go wrong, right?
Also, I taught a class!! To be accurate- 2 classes. 6th and 7th form. (form is grade, but I’ve already adapted to the way things are said here, so I’ll try to clarify.) Considering it was my first time teaching ever, I think it went okay. I’ll definitely be better prepared next time, I team-taught with another volunteer and we work pretty well together. Team teaching takes some getting used to all on its own, in addition to just teaching. I think sharing a class and teaching a lesson together makes it easier for the teacher and for the students because they all get more attention. I guess we’ll see if my opinion on this changes once I’m an actual volunteer and not a trainee.
And other big news! My apa (host mom) let me help cook dinner! Okay, she let me cut up a head of cabbage, and put away the barenya (delicious jam they have here) but it is a start! I’ve never been able to help do anything before. We talked today in what I like to call “Kyrglish” and I got the point across that I don’t want to be a guest anymore and that I like to and want to help cook and that other volunteers get to help in their families, and I think that really helped. Sunday I’m supposed to do laundry and now I’m thinking/hoping that my apa realizes that I’m not a complete waste of space and can do some things for myself. We’ve also discusses me maybe cooking American food on Sunday. How awesome would that be? I’ll letcha know how it goes, though it might take a few weeks.
For those of you wonderful, lovely people who sent me emails that I haven’t responded to (a.k.a anyone who sent me an email because I haven’t responded to any)—the internet was uber slow last time I posted and I didn’t have time to open a single email, much less read it. I could pretty much only post an “I’m alive and have a phone- so call me” blog. But hopefully tomorrow (/today) I’ll get a chance to read and respond to the emails that I know are there.
I’m gonna sign off now (getting up at 6 on a Saturday still sucks, even halfway around the world- just as an fyi)
I’ll hopefully talk to some of you soon. (skype works really well here- mom and dad use it and it sounds great on my cell phone- and its cheap –hint-hint haha)
Miss you!
Love from the cold Ivanovka Station,
Jess
Saturday, April 18, 2009
life in kstan.
After losing two very long blog posts that were on my jump drive that I lost, I’m going to try to remember what I wrote and re-do them on my back up jump drive. (I’m also saving to my hard drive as a back up now- lesson learned)
I am now settled into my PST Village. My host family is pretty awesome. I have an Ata (father) an Apa (mother) and an “eehnee” (little brother) whose name is Samat. He is 7. I feel very welcome here, but even after two weeks, I’m still in guest mode, which means my host family won’t let me do anything to help. I’m not allowed to cook or clean or help with the outside work. (we have cow, sheep, chickens, and a dog) I’m working on my Apa so hopefully she’ll let me at least help her cook soon. I’m going to attempt to wash laundry tomorrow for the first time and I refuse to let her do it for me so it is going to be a battle of wills haha. (we’ll see who’ll win- I’ll letcha know)
Oh! Tomorrow, I get to banya again. I’m super excited. One of the blogs I lost had my first banya experience in great detail. I’m gonna attempt to share it again. Our banya is a concrete building a few yards away from the house. There is an outer room, and an inner room. The outer room has a grate where you can start a fire on the inside wall, and a chair for clothes/towels, etc. The inner room has a bench like thing on the floor that we stand on, one about knee high, and one about chest high. The grate from the outer room comes into the inner room kinda like an oven. There is a big, metal tank like thing on the wall. The water in the tank is heated by the fire underneath it, and there is a spigot that you take the water from. You mix the hot water with cold in a bucket until it is the right temperature, and then take a bucket bath. The amazingness comes from putting water on the stones that surround the tank- instant sauna. I’ve never been much of a sauna fan unless you count being outside in VA from May to September haha, but the banya is fantastic. There are those of you who think a bucket bath and a sauna don’t really sound that great.. go a week with nothing more than baby wipe baths, then have a banya and come talk to me. They’re glorious.
What else is new? I’ve been trying to learn the Kyrgyz language, It is coming along slowly. I figured after learning Chinese, anything with an alphabet would be easier, but I have recently remembered why I hated learning Spanish so much- verb conjugation. Spanish has nothing on Kyrgyz. Chinese was tough, but the grammar was easier, Kyrgyz is gonna be a challenge, but I think I’m up to it.
Tech training (i.e. learning how to be a teacher) is interesting. The education system here is much different from the states, so it is a cultural/technical thing too. I start practicing team teaching very soon so I’ll letcha know how it goes.
Health wise- the “gastro intestinal roller coaster” that was predicted has thus far been more of a gastro intestinal swing set at the park haha. Not too many stomach problems to speak of (knock on wood) But- I still managed to get sick. I’ve only had strep throat ONCE since the FOURTH grade, and I wait until I get to the middle of Kyrgyzstan to get it again. Go figure. The PC medical doctors gave me amoxicillin so hopefully I’ll be in tip top shape again soon.
PC has been keeping us all really busy. It is good, I think. We have a ton to learn, plus being busy keeps me from thinking too much. I don’t know how often I’ll be able to update you all, but I posted my cell number in my last blog so feel free to use it as often as you all like (I know it can be a little expensive, but it is more expensive to call from here to there especially on my dollar a day salary haha) just try to remember the time difference. I don’t do numbers to tell you what the times are, but you all are pretty smart and I’m sure you can figure it out. I’m usually awake by 6am my time, and busy from 8-5, so if any of you do decide to call, try to keep that in mind.
I really appreciate all the emails from you- I have a ton in my inbox waiting for me that I didn’t have time to read when I posted the last short post, but you can bet I’ll be devouring them the first chance I get. News from home is great.
Also, if anyone happened to want to send a package this way, or a letter even, and could toss a few cds into it, that’d be great. The local girls here like a lot of American music that I don’t have (shakira, Enrique iglesia, puff daddy, keisha coles, pussy cat dolls, girls aloud, emimen, akon,5o cent, etc) so if you have any of those that you’ll like to burn and send my way, they make really great bonding tools. Also, Russian dubbed or subtitled movies (especially Disney ones- I’ve gotten a request for the sleeping “princess” beauty movie) would be nice. There isn’t anything yet that I’ve found that I really need and can’t get here except maybe some dry shampoo haha but seriously- my hair has reached greasiness of epic proportions. I try to through a bucket hair washing in midweek to go between the weekly banyas, but its gross. Haha
I miss you all
Love from Ivanovka Station,
Jess
I am now settled into my PST Village. My host family is pretty awesome. I have an Ata (father) an Apa (mother) and an “eehnee” (little brother) whose name is Samat. He is 7. I feel very welcome here, but even after two weeks, I’m still in guest mode, which means my host family won’t let me do anything to help. I’m not allowed to cook or clean or help with the outside work. (we have cow, sheep, chickens, and a dog) I’m working on my Apa so hopefully she’ll let me at least help her cook soon. I’m going to attempt to wash laundry tomorrow for the first time and I refuse to let her do it for me so it is going to be a battle of wills haha. (we’ll see who’ll win- I’ll letcha know)
Oh! Tomorrow, I get to banya again. I’m super excited. One of the blogs I lost had my first banya experience in great detail. I’m gonna attempt to share it again. Our banya is a concrete building a few yards away from the house. There is an outer room, and an inner room. The outer room has a grate where you can start a fire on the inside wall, and a chair for clothes/towels, etc. The inner room has a bench like thing on the floor that we stand on, one about knee high, and one about chest high. The grate from the outer room comes into the inner room kinda like an oven. There is a big, metal tank like thing on the wall. The water in the tank is heated by the fire underneath it, and there is a spigot that you take the water from. You mix the hot water with cold in a bucket until it is the right temperature, and then take a bucket bath. The amazingness comes from putting water on the stones that surround the tank- instant sauna. I’ve never been much of a sauna fan unless you count being outside in VA from May to September haha, but the banya is fantastic. There are those of you who think a bucket bath and a sauna don’t really sound that great.. go a week with nothing more than baby wipe baths, then have a banya and come talk to me. They’re glorious.
What else is new? I’ve been trying to learn the Kyrgyz language, It is coming along slowly. I figured after learning Chinese, anything with an alphabet would be easier, but I have recently remembered why I hated learning Spanish so much- verb conjugation. Spanish has nothing on Kyrgyz. Chinese was tough, but the grammar was easier, Kyrgyz is gonna be a challenge, but I think I’m up to it.
Tech training (i.e. learning how to be a teacher) is interesting. The education system here is much different from the states, so it is a cultural/technical thing too. I start practicing team teaching very soon so I’ll letcha know how it goes.
Health wise- the “gastro intestinal roller coaster” that was predicted has thus far been more of a gastro intestinal swing set at the park haha. Not too many stomach problems to speak of (knock on wood) But- I still managed to get sick. I’ve only had strep throat ONCE since the FOURTH grade, and I wait until I get to the middle of Kyrgyzstan to get it again. Go figure. The PC medical doctors gave me amoxicillin so hopefully I’ll be in tip top shape again soon.
PC has been keeping us all really busy. It is good, I think. We have a ton to learn, plus being busy keeps me from thinking too much. I don’t know how often I’ll be able to update you all, but I posted my cell number in my last blog so feel free to use it as often as you all like (I know it can be a little expensive, but it is more expensive to call from here to there especially on my dollar a day salary haha) just try to remember the time difference. I don’t do numbers to tell you what the times are, but you all are pretty smart and I’m sure you can figure it out. I’m usually awake by 6am my time, and busy from 8-5, so if any of you do decide to call, try to keep that in mind.
I really appreciate all the emails from you- I have a ton in my inbox waiting for me that I didn’t have time to read when I posted the last short post, but you can bet I’ll be devouring them the first chance I get. News from home is great.
Also, if anyone happened to want to send a package this way, or a letter even, and could toss a few cds into it, that’d be great. The local girls here like a lot of American music that I don’t have (shakira, Enrique iglesia, puff daddy, keisha coles, pussy cat dolls, girls aloud, emimen, akon,5o cent, etc) so if you have any of those that you’ll like to burn and send my way, they make really great bonding tools. Also, Russian dubbed or subtitled movies (especially Disney ones- I’ve gotten a request for the sleeping “princess” beauty movie) would be nice. There isn’t anything yet that I’ve found that I really need and can’t get here except maybe some dry shampoo haha but seriously- my hair has reached greasiness of epic proportions. I try to through a bucket hair washing in midweek to go between the weekly banyas, but its gross. Haha
I miss you all
Love from Ivanovka Station,
Jess
Saturday, April 11, 2009
i'm still alive
long story short- i haven't had time to access the internet recently, but i'm okay.
i had two long blog posts typed up on my jump drive, but i just got to the internet cafe and realized that somewhere along the way today i lost it. i'm so angry at myself.
everything here is okay. i dont have a lot of time, but i'll write again the very next chance i get.
PS my cell phone number is
country code 996
area code + number 0550 804879
hope to hear from you soon
i had two long blog posts typed up on my jump drive, but i just got to the internet cafe and realized that somewhere along the way today i lost it. i'm so angry at myself.
everything here is okay. i dont have a lot of time, but i'll write again the very next chance i get.
PS my cell phone number is
country code 996
area code + number 0550 804879
hope to hear from you soon
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
"It's like a meat gummy bear"
I’M IN KYRGYZSTAN!!!!
The flights over were all okay. I’m safely tucked away in a hotel in Bishkek right now, and plan to post this tomorrow when we venture out into the city for the first time.
I also meet my host family tomorrow, which is uber exciting!!!
I’ve been staying really busy, learning a ton, and having a lot of fun.
Training will get more intense the next few weeks, and I’m not sure how frequently I’ll be able to access internet, but that does not excuse you from emailing me. I need a full inbox when I am able to check my email. :-D
I’ve been assigned to the Kyrgyz language learning group (along with about 90% of us). It is kind of tough, but not as tough as Russian apparently. (At least that’s what I’ve been told) We’ve been given a crash course- pretty much just enough to introduce ourselves to our host families, then we start over with the basics (i.e. the alphabet)
It is almost midnight here, and getting up at 6am for a showerbath before breakfast is not going to be fun, so I’m gonna end here for now.
I’ll try to post a more descriptive blog soon.
Miss you all!
Love from KYRGYZSTAN!!!
Jess
p.s. The title of this blog is attributed to Max, one of my fellow (and awesome) K-17s. A lot of us are adjusting to the food, and the meat here is fattier than what were are used to. Haha
p.p.s will post pictures soon.
The flights over were all okay. I’m safely tucked away in a hotel in Bishkek right now, and plan to post this tomorrow when we venture out into the city for the first time.
I also meet my host family tomorrow, which is uber exciting!!!
I’ve been staying really busy, learning a ton, and having a lot of fun.
Training will get more intense the next few weeks, and I’m not sure how frequently I’ll be able to access internet, but that does not excuse you from emailing me. I need a full inbox when I am able to check my email. :-D
I’ve been assigned to the Kyrgyz language learning group (along with about 90% of us). It is kind of tough, but not as tough as Russian apparently. (At least that’s what I’ve been told) We’ve been given a crash course- pretty much just enough to introduce ourselves to our host families, then we start over with the basics (i.e. the alphabet)
It is almost midnight here, and getting up at 6am for a showerbath before breakfast is not going to be fun, so I’m gonna end here for now.
I’ll try to post a more descriptive blog soon.
Miss you all!
Love from KYRGYZSTAN!!!
Jess
p.s. The title of this blog is attributed to Max, one of my fellow (and awesome) K-17s. A lot of us are adjusting to the food, and the meat here is fattier than what were are used to. Haha
p.p.s will post pictures soon.
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