Saturday, June 27, 2009

I'm in an internet cafe. USING WIRELESS! (and updating all my virus protection YAY)

26 June 2009

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!
23 years now? Holy cow. You guys rock. Love you.

Remember all of those *knock on woods* I did earlier about not getting sick? They didn’t work. Yesterday, I was quite possibly the most ill that I can ever remember being. The “gastrointestinal rollercoaster?” I rode it. It is not fun.

I guess the roadside pieroski did me in. It was either that, or just a 24 hour bug. I’m not sure, but it was awful. This is gonna qualify under the WAY TMI category, but that’s kinda what we do here. Haha.

Excuse my French, but there’s a saying that goes, “you’re not a real peace corps volunteer until you shit your pants.” Lets just suffice it to say that Jessika is in fact, a real peace corps volunteer. You remember the pepto song? I had every symptom except heartburn, and pepto doesn’t really help if you throw it up. (at least I don’t have white carpet here mom ;-) haha I couldn’t resist)

Being sick here is so much more complicated than back home. Washing puke out of your hair is so much harder when you’re using a bucket. Ha.ha.ha. Granted, the PCMO (peace corps medical office) is great about giving us meds and stuff, but when you need an antibiotic, it is a little more difficult than just going to your friendly neighborhood walgreens. Also, this country doesn’t have saltine crackers. Not that I’ve been able to find anyway. Sad news because saltines are great.

Anyways, I’m doing better today, I’ve eaten 5 peanuts and half a slice of bread, which is 5 peanuts and half a slice of bread more than I ate yesterday. I’ve also been trying to drink the oral rehydration salts because I’m so dehydrated. ORS is the nastiest thing. Ever. It is pretty much just salt, baking soda, and sugar mixed in water. Ew. I mixed mine with some of the juice packets that mom sent. They helped, but it is still gross.

I guess I’m lucky because I made it three months before I got sick, and it was only really really bad for a day. It could’ve been worse.

I felt well enough to do my English clubs again today. I had the first two, and do the third this afternoon. They went well enough. I’m still figuring out what my students already know. I don’t want the clubs to be ridiculously easy, but I want them to understand. I feel like every time I teach here, I get a new respect for teachers back home.

I am going to be gone all next week doing a summer camp, then I’m back in my site for two weeks, then going away for another week to do another summer. I want to do a camp myself next summer and I’d like to get practice and see how they work. We get to leave our site for “program travel” if we are doing something training or work related. It’ll be harder for me to leave once school starts, but I’m kinda free in the summer because my clubs are optional, but teaching is my job.

Oh! Random. I taught “appearance” in one of my clubs today. I used the People Magazine that the family sent to me, I figured the Cosmo was a little too trashy for 9th graders haha. But anyways, the 100 beautiful people pics were great for describing appearance. Listening to the students say: “she has a big nose” and “she has long, curly, brown hair” was awesome, though it was kinda hard to explain dreadlocks.

Well, I’m gonna head all the way over to school (it’s like 15 steps haha) for my last club then I’m gonna attempt doing laundry for the first time at my new site. We have a washing machine, but I don’t know if I can use it or not.
******later
Laundry update: I got to use a washing machine for the first time in three months!!! Woo hoo! A three hour job turned into an hour job. I love washing machines. I have to haul water further here than in my PST village, according to my host dad, the well is about about 20 meters away. I swear it’s further. And hauling 2 buckets for the sixth time for one laundry day is awful. I believe I said before that I’d never go three weeks without washing laundry. I lied. I did. And I will never do it again. For real this time.
******later
I’m gonna go help my host mom make some oromo (read the food blog) for dinner. My host sisters and dad went to the lake to go swimming. I’d have loved to have gone, but I figured staying close to the outhouse would be a good idea, just to play it safe.
******later still
The oromo is steaming, the laundry is drying (hopefully the wind won’t blow it all into the mud, that would be awful)
***** later again. This is an all day blog. haha
Making the oromo was fine. Eating it was a bad idea.
******
Much much later:
It’s the same day, well technically it’s tomorrow, but it is 1:30 in the morning and I am just now getting back from a party that will probably last several more hours. (and they will most likely all be up by 5 or 6 to start working) I ducked out early, and got a don’t be a sissy- it is still early – type comment from a woman old enough to be my grandmother. Way to make me feel lame.
I’m exhausted from being sick and not sleeping yesterday, but wired from the 12 cups of tea I had to avoid the vodka and I know that as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’ll be out like a light. But I wanted to jot down a few things about my first all-out Kyrgyz party.
-I went to the “final bell” party for the graduating 11th graders. It is like graduation mixed with prom, with everyone’s families too.
-Food. Oh my. So much food.
-Dancing: okay- think every move from footloose, plus the dancing scene from titantic, add in a little hula arm movements, and the carlton dance. That’s what I’m pretty sure that I looked like. And I fit in okay. There were a few babushkas that I was pretty sure were gonna throw out a hip they way they were shaking it, but they put all the youngsters to shame. It was awesome!
Also, the students danced a ballroom type dance. It was super neat. Then the guys and their moms and the girls and their dads danced. It made me really miss my daddy.
-singing. Everyone sings. Its like pseudo karoke. I think I got a by this time because I’m still new. But next time, I won’t be exempt, I’m sure.
-There is no way to sneak out quietly of a Kyrgyz party. My director and another teacher walked me home (I learned my lesson, and will never be out alone after dark, even in my Podunk village) and the woman singing stopped and asked are you leaving? Over the microphone. Le sigh.
-
I think that’s all for now. A full day’s blog from Kyrgyzstan, wow this was a long one.

Miss you,
Love from the country that never sleeps,
Jess

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

There was a goose fight in my front yard this morning. Not even kidding. Scariest thing. They're vicious.

Less than a week ago marked three years passing since I graduated high school. Who’d of thought that I’d be halfway around the world serving with the Peace Corps? Oh right, I did. Ha. Ha. Ha. It is one of the advantages of being completely anal and having a ten year plan since you were 12. Le sigh. When things get so incredibly frustrating here, and I am ready to give it all up and catch the first flight back home, I try to remember why I wanted to do this, how I knew that I’d be hard, and what my purpose is in the grand scheme of things.

When I feel like there is no possible way that anything I’m doing here will make a big enough difference to warrant me being so far away from the ones I love and the things that I want, I remember the starfish tattooed on my back, and remember why I got it: to remind me that I don’t need to change the world to help people and to make a difference, doing something small, so small that it seems insignificant at the time can still have profound impacts on so many others, and if my serving here makes life easier or opens doors for one single person, then I think that’s good enough for me. When times get tough, I also think back on the process of getting here. I think of all the prayers that I sent up trying to find guidance to see if this is the right path for me, thinking that if I was meant to do this service, then God would make it possible for me to get here. And now that I am here, going through what sometimes feels like the most difficult experience of my life, I look down at the two little feet tattooed on top of my foot, and think back to the footprints in the sand, and the reasoning behind that tattoo, and know that I am not alone.
I said when I got my tattoos that I never wanted to lose sight of the reasoning behind them. I never want to lose what have been called my naïve and idealistic beliefs, and going through the challenges here tests them, and I have faith that I will return home a stronger person than when I left
I know there are countless prayers being said for me back home, prayers of support and encouragement. It makes me realize that I can and will do this. You all have absolutely no idea how much every email, every note, and every little one line facebook post mean to me so far away. It is hard to fathom at times how truly blessed I am to have friends and family that love me and support me the way that you all do. I love you.

Whew. Yeeeaaahhh. Sorry about that little schpeal. I just had to get that out. Knowing the astute powers of deduction that all of you incredibly brilliant people have, you’ll have probably picked up on the theme that jessika went through a rough spot. And here when I say rough, it is probably the understatement of the century. Ha ha.

I can’t really go into details, but the support from my family (y’all rock) and some of the other wonderful PCVs helped me to realize that I can make it through the difficult situations. After all, they call this “the toughest job you’ll ever love.” I don’t know about the love part just yet, but I have faith that it’ll come soon enough.

I know, I know. I’ve only been an official volunteer for about two weeks, but supposedly the first adjustment period is one of the hardest.

On a more positive note, I have actually started doing what I came here to do. I had my first English Clubs yesterday. I still have a LOT of room for improvement as a teacher, but I just had to kind of feel my way around to find out my students’ levels. I think it went well. I’m not going to go into a ton of detail now, but I’m sure I will later.

Signing off for now.
Miss you.
Love from Kyrgyzstan,
Jess

Friday, June 19, 2009

19 June 2009

I know, I know. I just post three ridiculously long blogs that I wrote at home, and now I'm writing another. What's wrong with me? haha

you know you love hearing from me so just pace yourselves.

I'm gonna try to post a few more pictures today. I'm crossing my fingers.

I'm in Karakol, the big city close to my site, and i'm gonna get to hang out with some other americans which is gonna be awesome. I miss speaking English. I think we might go to the lake or something. It should be fun.

I'm settling into my new village still. I finally have a schedule for the summer. I'll be doing english clubs five days a week. M-W i have three separate one hour sessions divided up by grade level. On Thursdays i'm gonna do a club with the teachers at my school, a nerve racking thought. and on fridays i'll be meeting with just the upper level students. It seems like a lot, and that is great! I now have something to do to take up my time. YAY!

I miss you all, tons!

And i've been thinking of a few of the things that i miss and didn't think that I would miss, or just took for granted. such as:
-being able to communicate.
-sticky, hot, humid Virgina summers. I've worn long sleeves and sweaters since I got to my site. and it is June. not used to that at all.
-i'm gonna quit this list now because it makes me miss things even more.

well, here goes a try for the pics. this blog is short, but there are three enormous ones preceding it....


This is the teaching staff at my school after our day in the mountains.


besh barmak. read the food blog.


sorry it's sideways, didn't have time to flip it, but this is me and my host mom and youngest sister in the mountains. my host mom is a teacher too, so we went together with the teacher.


enjoy!
miss you
love from Kyrgyzstan
Jess

15 June 2009

It has been one of those days… all week long. Haha

Those of you who know me pretty well know that I’ve been pretty much going non-stop for as long as I can remember. Hopefully, by the end of this two year experience, I’ll be able to deal with down time a little bit better, because right now, I’m not doing so hot in that department.

I’m not meeting with my counterpart to discuss doing our English clubs until Thursday, which means I have several days with nothing really to do… le sigh.

Yesterday was great for taking up time, though. I went on what translates as an “excursion” with the teaching staff from my school. We left home at like 8:30-9ish and didn’t get home until almost after 10. For being a day of “rest,” I was exhausted!

We drove about an hour or so into the mountains and picnicked. I ended up inadvertently hiking… I wore a skirt and flats. 8-\ Lesson learned: assume nothing and be sure to find out the day’s plans before making wardrobe decisions.

Kyrgyz people know how to picnic. I can say that without any inkling of doubt. They spread tushuks out, which are like really long seat cushions, and then put a tablecloth in the middle. Bread and borsok covers the entire thing. A first round of salad is served. And “salad” here is pretty much just any uncooked combo of vegetables. The first salad we had was a vinegary noodly type thing. Water, chai, and vodka are poured for those who want it, and everyone toasts.

I’ve heard horror stories about some volunteers, who have a hard time dealing with the pressure to drink here, but since my host mom doesn’t drink either, she helps me out. Having a local person tell others that you don’t drink translates that you really don’t, whereas if I say it, they think I’m just being polite. And if you never drink, you never have to, but if you do it once, they assume that you will always do it. Also, drinking a little bit is not really an option. If you drink, you drink. And since they Kyrgyz tradition dictates that if you open a bottle of vodka, you finish said bottle, whether it be two people, or ten, and since it is okay to drink here, but never okay to be drunk, and you’re looked at better if you don’t drink, I’m gonna put vodka in its own separate file on the “List of Things Jessika Doesn’t Understand.”

Then, the younger teachers, (except for me because I’m kinda like still in honorable guest mode) prepared another salad. The next salad however, as per usual tradition, was covered in mayonnaise. I know I eat it sometimes at home, but I haven’t eaten here because it gets put on everything and I’m not a huge fan and it’s easier to never eat it than to sometimes eat it. (kinda like the vodka situation) It goes in soup, on salads, on bread. You name it- it is eaten with mayonnaise. And considering how bad it is for you, and how poor my diet has been since I got here, and the lack of refrigeration… It is getting added to the “List of Things Jessika Doesn’t Eat.” Haha

I had a pretty good time attempting to talk to the members of the staff. They’re all really nice. I got the standard, “do you have a boyfriend?” question. And then in response to my “no” I got the “I have a son- he’s in university and speaks English” hookup proposal. Then I got told that I could just be bride kidnapped… jokingly (I hope. Haha) ;-)

After the second round of food, we went for a walk, which turned into a nature photo shoot / mountain hike / nap time / singing time.

Then, we played games. Several different games. Volleyball, a sort of similar to duck duck goose game, and an interesting version of dodge ball. Considering the state of sobriety or lack thereof of some of the teachers, these were a lot of fun to watch and participate in. haha

The next round of food came around dusk. The Kyrgyz standard of a party: besh barmak. If you’ve read the entry about food that I posted before, you’ll know what it is. If not, I recommend that you read it. First, the shorpa was served. My host mom tries to look out for me (like with the vodka) and tells them that I don’t like really greasy food, so they gave me a cup of “less greasy” shorpa. Yeah, wasn’t drinking that one either. Haha I did “osti” to be polite (which means taste), but really just put it to my lips. (sshhh.. don’t tell haha) The concept of vegetarianism goes over like a lead balloon here, and trying to explain that I don’t drink shorpa because I don’t eat meat, and it is just the meat broth didn’t really translate. In response to “I’m a vegetarian.” I got – from different teachers, all in a row- “what do you mean you don’t eat meat?” “you don’t eat meat- how are you alive?” “if you don’t eat meat, you’ll die.” and, my personal favorite… “if you eat a little meat everyday, you’ll learn to like it.” Haha It was kinda weird tho, we definitely didn’t have a sheep with us when we left, but they definitely cooked the WHOLE sheep. I’m guessing (and hoping) that they just bought it from the people’s whose house we were near. Another thing to add to the “List of Things Jessika Doesn’t Know.”

My host mom gets them to serve me a plate of just noodles, which I really do appreciate, but since it’s cooked in the shorpa… don’t really eat that either. I know the people here have to think that I’m super weird and picky, but so does my family back home, and I’m okay with that.

So to sum it up, I ate a lot of bread, drank a bunch of chai, played some cool games, and had some fun conversation with my new staff, and added a whole bushel of topic to my series of “List of Things Jessika Doesn’t …” lists. Haha. Yes, i’m fully aware: I’m a dork.

Well, I’m going to attempt to go kill the fly that is buzzing around my room (I hate them), try to figure out what I’m going to do tomorrow to fill up the down time, and try to get some sleep (haven’t been having a lot of luck in that department, either).

Wish me better luck for the days ahead! It’s gonna be a long summer here in lovely Kyrgyzstan.

Miss you more than ever!
Love from over here,
Jess

12 June 2009 Part II

I just wrote a long note about the food here, and said nothing about getting sworn in as a real Peace Corps Volunteer! It seemed so long ago! Hopefully the time continues to go so fast. So. I got sworn in on the tenth as an official volunteer. How awesome is that? The K-17s left Philadelphia with 60 people and 56 were sworn in. That’s a pretty awesome rate. I’m proud of my group. We’ve had a lot of people who went through some pretty tough situation (in addition to just being here and all that jazz) Anyways, after the ambassador spoke and administered the oath to us, two volunteers sang. One woman sang beautifully a Russian song, and one man sung a Kyrygz-pop song. We had a little reception (no-stinky-fish-sandwich in my bag this time. Haha) saying goodbye to my first host family was kinda hard. I made my Apa promise not to cry that morning because I knew if she cried, so would I.

After the swearing in ceremony, as per tradition, the ambassador hosted a party at her house for us. There were DORITOS! Mmm In addition to PCVs, the “future leaders of Kyrgyzstan” were there. Basically, up and coming cool Kyrgyz people came, too and we mixed and mingled. There was a pop star, several journalists, people from NGOs, a few models, etc. It was pretty fun. I think we managed not to embarrass ourselves by stuffing our faces excessively. I was kinda upset with myself because I pretty much have become a complete vegetarian again, but I couldn’t resist the draw of the hamburger. About halfway through my stomach reminded me that it doesn’t really know how to process meat that well… not fun.

After literally racing another PC marshruka to the hotel and chewing a pepto, I hung out with some of friends from PST and opened the two HUGOFREAKINNORMOUS boxes from the fam. I got so many “someone’s family loves them” comments. I was like “yeah, pretty much.” Haha seriously, my family rocks. The people who were with me when I opened it laughed hysterically when I took out the early grey and spiced chai. They were like, “you’re family sent you TEA? To Kyrgyzstan?” haha we drink like 14 cups of tea a day here. Oh well, I like tea. They also got a kick out of the dried butter flake thingies. I dunno if I’ll use them or not, but they might make a great gift to an HCN. I don’t do much butter, and there is an excess of it here. I also got all my winter clothes, THREE jars of peanut butter (you see- I get my ridiculousness from my family, I can’t help it), my ESL teaching stuff (thanks to all the KY people who helped me with that stuff- you’re awesome), assorted spices, MY SNUGGIE!!! (I think I might have the only one in the entire country haha), toiletries, and PICTURES! I have the most adorable nephew ever, btw. I also got videos (glorious, send more), a laptop battery!, and shoes. That now brings my shoe total in country up to eleven... I probably have more clothing now than my entire host family combined. Yes, I’m ridiculous, I know.

Anyways, after opening the glorious glorious packages from home (complete with a baggie of sassy hair – they thought I’d miss it- haha- I love my family) we hung out in the hotel and just chatted and had general shenanigans until about 2am. I woke up at 6 to a phone call from home. Love ‘em

Four hours of sleep does not make for a patient Jess. I left the hotel with my counterpart (she’s kinda awesome) at 9. The mashruka was a third of the price of a cab, since I had so much stuff (I would’ve of paid it, but I don’t think my CP wanted to haha) so we waited for the marshruka and finally left close to 1pm. I listened to my Harry Potter audio books almost the entire way to pass the time (thanks Callee!). When we were close, it started to pour down rain. I can now say that I have hydroplaned in a marshruka and that it is quite possibly the scariest thing. Ever.

Anyways I arrived safely about 10 hours after leaving the hotel to my new house. While I was gone, my family finished my room! I have red carpet, light blue walls, and a white ceiling. Very patriotic, dontcha think? Haha I’ll try to post pictures soon!

Random side note: I saw a Chevy commercial for the new Transformers movie. (in Russian) and I would adore forever anyone who wanted to send me that and the new Harry Potter movie when they come out!

Okay, I’m going to try to learn some Russian. (and by learn Russian I probably mean curl up under my Snuggie and watch a movie)

Miss you all!
Love from Kyrgyzstan,
Jess

12 June 2009

I’m back in my Permanent Site. My little brother is playing with the cars I bought for him, and my four little sisters are using the jump ropes I got for them. I am SO not above bribing my way in. haha

I meet with the Director of my school tomorrow, and on Sunday I’m supposed to go on some sort of “excursion” with the other teachers. Monday I meet with my counterpart to discuss doing English Clubs this summer. I’ve got to find some other things to do to stay busy or I’m going to go karazy. My host sister mentioned walking to the lake, and I am super excited about that. Ideally I’ll spend more time in the community integrating and will find lots of stuff to keep me occupied. Being alone with my thoughts is dangerous.

Anyways…. Since I happen to have an abnormal amount of free time (and its only my second day as an official volunteer- eeps!) I figured I’d jot down some things to describe the country.

There might be several different posts like this in a series. I have a lot to tell about and no internet so sorry in advance if I post these all at once.

Okay, first thing: food.
Food here is such a big deal! It seems that social gatherings center around the food. There are few local dishes, and I’m going to describe them:

- besh barmak: it literally translates to “five fingers” because you eat it with your hands. The way that I’ve seen it made is as follows: A sheep is killed (I don’t watch this part) The parts that are eaten are boiled for a really long time. Depending on which region you are in, different parts of the animal are distributed to guests depending on their rank. In some places the guests of honor get the brain, in some places the huge chunk of fat. (the sheep here have ghetto booties. Haha) A basin and kettle of warm water are brought around to all the guests to wash their hands. Some of the meat is eaten. Then, the meat is cut into tiny, tiny pieces. In is placed in a big dish and then cooked noodles are added to it. Shorpa is added to it. And then eaten with your fingers. Well, the Kyrgyz eat it. I don’t. haha Being a vegetarian gets me out of a lot of stuff, but also gets me in some difficult situations because people here just don’t do vegetarianism.
- shorpa is the hot water that the meat was cooked in. It is served before the meat as a drink, and also added to the besh barmak. It is most similar to a broth, but greasier.
- lugman: a type of noodle soup. The noodles are handmade and added to a soup that usually consists of some kind of meat, potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables.
- manti: it kinda resembles Chinese jiaozi (dumplings) but is different. Dough is made and rolled really thin, then stuffed with a stuffing and folded up and steamed. The stuffing can consist of a mixture of meat and potatoes, or potatoes and vegetables, or chives. The possibilities are endless. My favorite is the onion and potato stuffing
- oromo: similar to manti, but instead of being folded into individuals, the dough is rolled out into a big circle then the stuffing is placed on top and the circle is folded then steamed as a circle and cut into servings.
- plov: in the south it is called ash instead, but is basically the same thing. It is rice, with carrots and meat. Some places add garlic, others raisins. It is one of my favorites as long as I can pick the meat out
- samsa: samsas are kinda like the Kyrgyz version of a hot-pocket. A stuffing in made- sometimes similar to the stuffing for manit or oromo, but instead of being steamed, the stuffing in placed inside of dough triangles and baked. My PST host mom did a great onion, potato and pepper one.
- pieroski: like a pierogi, but bigger and flatter
- kesme: literally translates to “noodle,” but the food is kinda like a casserole.. its just noodles and whatever vegetables and meat you happen to have, all cooked in a big pot.
- borsok: fried bread. The closest thing to a Kyrgyz donut. A dough is made of flour, salt, sugar, and a little bit of yeast then rolled out really thin and cut into diamond shapes. Then it is fried. If you dip it into varenya or sugar- voila! – donut. Haha
Varenya- Kyrgyz jam. It is pretty much just fruit, sugar, and a wee bit of water. Delicious. It is eaten with bread, or in tea.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Your Exit is Between Nausea and Barf

*the title of this blog is not a reference to an illness, actually i'm in great health right now. *knock on wood*

I had to fix my address, because I typed it a little wrong, but it is right now.

and finally....drumroll please....PICTURES!!!



Me on Culture Day, with my Kyrgyz vest. I didn't get the full get-up and got told that I looked more hippie than Kyrgyz. oh well. And, I'm inside of a yurt. niiice, right?


This is the 4,125,786,255th failed attempt at a self taken group picture, but I like it.


The georgous lake in my training village. Many afternoons have been passed here.



My host family


Some of the amazingly wonderful trainees in my village and our delicious burrito spread.


My House. Well, my gate.


The view of the mountains from the resevoir in my village. jealous much? haha


My little brother and our baby goat.


Some of the trainees and host family members from my village on culture day.

Ok, so while I don't have a lot of time to write, there are a few things I would like to share:

The next time I write, I'll be an actual volunteer, not a trainee!!!

And random funny thing to explain the title: In Bishkek when we catch a marshruka back to our village, we always know where to get off because of two signs. One is for a detergent and the other a beer. The detergent is "ВАРФ" and the beer is "НАШЕ." In our limited language, the detergent looks like "barf" and the beer is "nashe", which equals "nausea." Thus, we get off between barf and nausea. Kind of crude, I know, but also funny. Maybe this is one of those times where PCVs get the rep for talking about anything while we're in country and don't know how to moderate when we're not with other volunteers. I dunno, but I'm gonna share anyway. haha

Miss you all!
Love from the-almost-official-volunteer,
Jess

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

New Address and other random unimportant stuff

Important Info:

I have my new address!!!:

Kyrgyzstan
Issyk-kul Oblast
Karakol
Posta
722-200
A/Я 40
ATTN: Jessika Coe

КЫРГЫЗСТАН
ЫСЫК-КОЛ ОБЛАСТ
КАРА-КОЛ ШААР
ПОСТА
722-200
А/Я 40
ATTN: ДЖЕССИКА КОО

I'm sharing with another volunteer who lives in the city, so i'll know when i get mail and won't have to go check a box if there is no mail. haha


le sigh. it is wednesday afternoon in sunny kyrgyzstan. The weather here is similar to the way I remember it in Virginia. "if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change."

I got caught in a hailstorm yesterday in the capital. twice. we ate lunch at a restaurant and sat outside. I commented when we sat down that it'd be cool to sit outside in the rain one day since it was a covered area. marble sized hail was not what i had in mind. haha

we got some sad news yesterday, too. another trainee decided to ET (early termninate) we found out that of all of the 2009 PST groups worldwide we have the lowest ET rate, which is AWESOME!, but it makes it even harder when someone decides to go home since we've all gotten so close over the past two months.

we get sworn in as volunteers in about a week or so! i'm super excited! apparently we get a pretty sweet party afterwards. someone mentioned doritos at said party. i didn't even miss doritos until someone mentioned having them. ok, I don't really miss doritos, i miss the option of having doritos if I want them. doritos and guacamole. sigh. drool.

ok, now that i've wiped my mouth... haha
I'm gonna sign off and go study for my lanugage test that i have tomorrow. i've reached the profiency that i need a few weeks ago, so i'm not really worried about it, but i think a few of my friends here are gonna come study for a few hours, so we might actually speak kyrgyz for 15 minutes or so. haha

miss you
love from kyrgyzstan,
Jess