January 10, 2006
Hello everyone! I thought it was probably time to write you all a letter and let you know how it’s going here. I have just finished cleaning my room and I’m getting ready to prepare some things for work tomorrow. I told the women I work with that I will teach English to them for two hours a week. I will have one hour of beginning English and one of Intermediate. I figure after two years a difference will be made…hopefully.
Today was a holiday here, which meant guesting at a local relative’s house. I wasn’t really in the mood, as it was snowing and cold out and I didn’t feel like dealing with the weather (would’ve rather stayed in and read a bit). But I went. My host brother and sisters and I all went to a family member’s house for food and a bit of champagne. We ate a few salads and then had some soup. The salads were, ummm…decent? I avoided eating a salad that came up last week in Krasnaya Rechka. It was a magenta colored salad that consisted of fish, beets, and God knows what else. When I was in the Retch, Robyn and I turned down several plates of this stuff. Tonight, the dish came up again…and I was forced to eat it. People don’t take ‘no’ for an answer here. So, I had to eat it.
As I am writing this my youngest host sister is fixing my hair. By fixing I mean she is combing it, then spraying massive amounts of hairspray in my hair and letting it dry, then combing it. I don’t know what it looks like, but every once in a while I feel the back and it’s drenched with hairspray. Now, she’s fixing some bangs around my face, mind you she can’t get a comb through it because it’s cemented.
Okay, I have to go; this is just getting out of hand. More later!

January 15, 2006
Well, I’m not doing an excellent job of writing a lot, but I guess a little is better than nothing? I hope! I have just woken up from a short nap after a day of work at Sezim. After Sezim I did some work online then got on a cable car to see if, by chance, it went by my house, and if not, then where it actually went. I spent about 30-45 minutes riding into a south-west suburb of Bishkek. It was actually a nice break; I had my ipod on and listened to music as I rode around. The car I was on goes no where near my house and is probably the most worthless route for me, but at least I know that now.
Tonight I will do some reading, I’m reading ‘Digital Fortress’ by Dan Brown, and some studying. My host brother, Ulan, just came and got me to show me the new things he bought for his computer: a video card and a DVD/CD-R drive. Those things don’t really ring my bell, but they made his day, so I guess it’s cool. He also finally bought paddles for our ping-pong table…so in an hour I guess there’s a game. Maybe in my free time I’ll practice and get as good as Forrest…maybe not, but the possibility is there.
I just ran down stairs a few minutes ago to drink some chai and as I was walking upstairs my host brother was walking outside with an axe. I gave him a look like, ‘what exactly do you plan to do with that?’ He just looked at me and said, “I could kill anyone with this.” I just nodded my head and said, “I’m sure you could Ulan, I’m sure you could,” and walked upstairs. His little games don’t scare me anymore…he will perpetually be up to trouble.
Tomorrow is more work, followed by Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The weeks seem to fly here: once Monday is over it’s all a blur. Friday we have plans to do some dancing. I plan on NOT wearing my running clothes out this time – but it may be a cool tradition to just rock them every time we decide to head out…or not – even though I’m with my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers I have a feeling the novelty may wear off quickly, as I think you can only wear a blue running outfit so many times before it’s just weird, and no one wants to be the weird kid when everyone else is on the dance floor!
Okay, that’s good for now. I’ll update you more later!

Love,
Annie


January 22, 2006
Okay, it is Sunday night and I am happy to have a little more down time to myself. It’s been a busy weekend again, but I’m fond of that, so I can’t complain. I am sitting in my room right now trying to avoid my little sister, Jibek, as she would like to get her hands on my computer and put some of her crazy little games on it…but I’m not down. Every day is common practice here: I get home, I say ‘hi’ to the family and then try to get a few things done in my room…studying, reading, etc. Just about every 10-15 minutes I am jerked out of relaxation by Jibek yelling, “ANNE!” And I’ll have to sit up and pay attention as she comes in my room to show me something, ask me to show her something, or just sit on my bed or at my desk awaiting conversation. She also has a keen sense of everything that’s in my room. She’ll say, “Anne, see me please ____,” then she’ll wait until I look in my dresser or drawers and find whatever she wants – interesting, don’t you think? How does she know what’s in my room? Oh yeah, she goes through everything when I’m not here…right!
Okay, so the work week. This past week was pretty busy, as there were things to get done at Sezim. The ambassador to Kyrgyzstan from the U.S. came to visit Sezim to see our NGO at work. Because we are one of the larger NGO’s dealing with human trafficking in Kyrgyzstan the embassy knows about and has worked with Sezim in the past. It was great to have her visit and good to hear her insight on our problems.
There were quite a few Volunteers in Bishkek this weekend, which was awesome. It was great to see them and we had a good time out and about in the city! Thanks for the good time everyone!
Yesterday I had a down day: lunch with a few Volunteers then I went for a run…nothing special, but nice to take a break.
Today, I went to the International Church in Bishkek for the first time. There was time spent worshiping through songs at the beginning, followed by a ‘children’s lesson’ then the sermon. The pastor is currently out of the country right now as his daughter just got married. This weekend a man originally from Romania spoke. He had a pretty thick accent (which was kind of cool), and gave a great talk. I really enjoyed listening to him and the rest of the crowd there seems great. There are a lot of expats and families that attend the services. I guess the 5:00pm service is completely different from the 10:00am service. Next time, I may go to both just to check them out and get a grasp of the different crowds there. Tomorrow, there is a small group at 5:30 which I plan on attending. They’re reviewing a few things in Acts, and aside from that I don’t know what to expect.
As far as my reading goes, this week I’m working on ‘The Kite Runner,’ by Khaled Hosseini. In the bible, I just finished Judges and will start and finish Ruth this week.
Tomorrow, I have work, I have to go to the Peace Corps office and I have some time set aside to spend with one of the victims that’s currently staying at our shelter in Sezim. She’s a sweet woman and speaks English very well, I look forward to spending time with her and I hope it’s a good break from the norm for her.
Alright, that about sums up the week…except I haven’t told you Ulan’s new weapon. Tonight as I was drinking some coffee and watching a little Russian television in the living room, Ulan came in to tell me he was leaving. Right before he walked out the door he pulled back the side of his coat to show me the dagger and case he had cinched up on his belt. He said, “Anne, do you like this?” as he was grinning at me just waiting for the reaction. So, I did exactly what he figured I would do and yelled a bit and went upstairs. Everyday is somewhat out of the ordinary when you live with a 23 year-old Kyrgyz boy.
Now, I will go: time to read some more, because I’m a loser like that and I can’t wait to read…constantly.

I love you and miss you!

Annie

If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever.
- Jeremiah 7:5-7