The Kygryzstan Endeavor

Holiday time

2006-11-27T15:00:00.000+06:00

It’s nearing the end of November already, which means a few different things in my life. First of all, Thanksgiving is over which marks my second Thanksgiving here and my first Thanksgiving that I’ve taken on the task of cooking. It was a great day spent with new and old friends. Granted I wasn’t with my family in the states for the holiday, but my friends here have become somewhat of a family for me and I couldn’t have asked for anything more out of the day. Second, we’re now entering ‘Christmas time’, which is one of my favorite times of the year. The people in my life, snow, the spirit, the music, and the celebrations all make this time of year important and meaningful to me. Finally, I now only have eleven months left here. It feels like just a few weeks ago I was getting on the plane to come here, and now I’m beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s been one of the most challenging yet rewarding years of my life. I can honestly say I don’t think I have grown, experienced and/or felt so much as I have in the past 14 months in comparison with any other time in my life.
The things that are consuming my life now are issues concerning my work here, my purpose and what I want to do in the future. I’m reaching a fork in the road where one path takes me back home to the states to pursue a career there and the other takes me somewhere I’m unsure of now but revolves around sacrificing a career at home and leading a life abroad indefinitely. Selfish thoughts pull me home while ideas of what ‘could be’ and how I may be able to make an affect in other people’s lives sway my decision towards staying abroad.
Amazing things have been happening back home. My cousin, Charlie, has married a brilliant and wonderful woman. My sister is becoming a beautiful young woman. My elder brother and sister are leading successful careers and paving the way quite well. My parents, all of them, are settling into their lives and becoming great friends to me on top of their roles as parents. I feel so blessed to have them, and the rest of my family and friends back home, all in my life in all of the caring and quirky ways they affect me.
Overall, life is good – no, great – right now. It’s not always easy, but I think easy is boring, so I’m thankful for the challenge. Also, I wouldn’t trade the discussions of James Bond’s sexuality, kitty massage, Superman, and all of the other random ramblings for anything.
Thanks to everyone who has entered my life in the past year and to those who have supported me and joined me throughout it all, I appreciate you all more than words can express. Here’s to eleven more months!

I love you all!

Annie
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. – Proverbs 16:9

So, Molly is Ralph

2006-10-08T13:22:00.000+06:00

Hello there again! I know it's been a while, but I've been in the middle of a lot of work and moving in to a new apartment.
Life is busy here lately and I can't complain. I've got a rather full schedule and I'm getting ready for the winter months to start creeping back in. I'm working at my NGO in the mornings and teaching Monday-Thursday from 4:00-7:00. I will also be teaching on Saturdays as of this week. During the evenings I'm finding time to study for my GRE's, which I'll be taking next month in Kazakhstan, and with Ralph and friends. That's right, it turns out Molly isn't Molly, she's a he and now it's Ralph. I'm guessing he's about two months old now and he's quickly becoming one of my favorite things here.
The pitures I posted are of my good friend Rick and me and of Ralph asleep on a pair of my slippers.
Today, I'm off to the bazaar to get food for the week - vegetables, spices, bread,

pasta, etc. Then I'm headed back home for some rest before the work week begins again. I'm fighting a pretty terrible cold (sore throat and the works) lately, so I'm trying to get better before it gets worse...if that makes sense.

I've got to get going now. I'll write more soon!

I love you and miss you all!

Annie

A New Addition (pictures to come)

2006-09-25T16:34:00.000+06:00

September 25, 2006

Alo again!
It's been a while since I've updated and I apologize. Life has been passing me by rather quickly and I haven't found the time to sit down and check in.
Work is going well here. My NGO is progressing along and my work at American University is becoming a highlight in my weeks. I also have a couple of English clubs each week that prove to be entertaining and effective. The clubs are full of people of all ages, two of my favorite students being a middle-aged classical musician and dentist. The two of them are never absent and full of banter for the class.
I have a new addition in my apartment. Her name is Molly and she's a little kitten that's now reigning over my home. She's about six weeks old and loves attention. She cries when I'm home and not holding her. She also nestles herself right up next to me when I sleep. I now have problems sleeping if she's not near me. She is also very good at keeping the cockroaches and moths away from me. I have a serious fear of moths (I know, that's ridiculous, but we can't control what we're afraid of) and whenever I see one I'll put her on the prowl and within minutes it becomes a non-issue. As far as the cockroaches go: there aren't many around, although I did see one of the biggest ones I've ever seen in my apartment last night. I have no idea where he came from, but little Miss Molly was on top of it!
I've got to get going now.

I love you and miss you all!

Annie

September 18, 2006

It's been one year here. One year ago I was spending my last night in Philadelphia and the states. I was full of emotions Icouldn't really even grasp. I was scared, excited, anxious, worried, happy, sad, etc. And here I am. One year later. A year older. A year wiser. A year away. I've learned so much. None of the things I learned came without challenge, but all of them came at just the right time and in just the right way although I questioned some of it at the time.
I feel like I was just there, living my life in Colorado and thinking of leaving. Now, I'm here with so much behind me and still so much to look forward to. I remember meeting my host family for the first time. Going to sleep in my new bed for the first time. Eating breakfast in the summer kitchen. Walking to class. Meeting friends and people that have become great influences on my life. I remember questioning everything, being homesick, and wondering what was going on in my old life. I remember missing friends, family, coworkers, sorority sisters, and mentors. I remember feeling like I would never really be at home here.
Now, I'm at home. I'm writing this on my couch at my apartment in my city that's now my home. I do want to go home sometimes. I know how easy life can be there. But, I'm not done yet. I still have a little more to learn here, a little more to do, a little more to see.
It's never really easy here, but why live an easy life? If it's not a test, why challenge yourself to do it?
I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss the ease of the states. But seeing the people here, seeing how spending an hour here or there makes a difference in people's lives that they never would have expected, it makes it worth it. We're supposed to live for other people, right? Well, here goes 15 more months, then I'll live for myself again, maybe.

Guesting and Independence Day

2006-09-04T12:20:00.000+06:00

A good guesting and a Saturday fit as well together as peas and carrots. I headed out to my friend Rick's village to join him and his family and Charlie (who came for the day). I haven't had the pleasure of enjoying a good ol' village guesting for a while now, so I was more than happy to be part of the festivities. There were several rounds of food, toasts being given and presents exchanged. It was my first time getting back into the Kyrgyz fare after the bad lagman a few weeks back and it was a pleasant welcome back. We had a few salads, borsok (Kyrgyz bread), mante, cake, jams, lagman (not fried) and chai. It was a great celebration...Happy Birthday, Rick.
Last week, on Thursday, Kyrgyzstan celebrated Independence Day. The streets were packed with people watching a parade move it's way down Chui (one of the main streets here). It was pretty impressive to see all of the people out and in traditional Kyrgyz wear.
The evening of Independence Day there was an
impressive firework display. The display was perhaps the loudest display I've ever witnessed. My entire apartment was rattling throughout the 20-30 minute blow out and it looked like the explosions were going to fall down onto the building and cause some problems. Car alarms were going off throughout the city as well. I guess that's what you get when China is right next door and a celebration calls for fireworks.
Today is Labor Day. I'm headed to American University to get lined up to begin teaching classes on Wednesday. After that I have to head home to get ready for a presentation I'm giving on Thursday. Then I'll start the list of other daily errands I need to run. Basically, it's a typical busy week here. But as I've always believed, being busy is better than being bored.
That's all for now. I love you and miss you!

Annie

A trip to the 'Dirty South'

2006-08-31T12:32:00.000+06:00

I decided I finally had it with a few select Volunteers telling me that the south is better. Being from the north, and admitting that I am biased because of that fact, I found it hard to believe that this place on the other side of a mountain range, only reachable by a 12-14 hour cab drive or an hour flight, was better than the city I presently call home.

I bought a ticket and finally flew down this past weekend to see the south, Osh to be exact, thawed out and in its prime during the summer time. The shashleek was good, the Academia beer was flowing and cheap, and the people were friendly. Osh doesn't have the city feel that Bishkek does, although the citizens of this southern city are proud to boast that Osh is some 3,000 years old. I don't exactly know how that was figured, or where this fact can be verified, but I soon came to realize that a lot of the hype in Osh comes out of legend and stories past down through generations. These legends and stories are trusted, never questioned, and part of common knowledge down in the south.

We climbed the mountain that rises up from the center of the city. The name of the mountain is Suilayman Mountain. The legend says that Solomon once sat upon this mountain and prayed. Another legend states that Mohammed also prayed atop this same mountain. Whether or not either of these legends carries any truth to them, just keeping them in mind when climbing up and taking in the view does add a little dreaminess to the whole experience.

There is also a ‘fertility slide’ at the top of the mountain. It’s become tradition that when you climb this mountain you have to go down the fertility slide three times, or five, or seven…and so on. An old babushka we met at the top reiterated these facts and the next thing you know I was scrambling around getting my three slides in. At my young age I don’t feel it’s necessary to worry to much about the whole fertility slide yet, but it was part of the whole ‘climbing the mountain experience’, so I figured: why not?

During my visit I also got a chance to stroll through the bazaar. The bazaar isn’t as busy or as overwhelming as the bazaars up north, but the locals are also happy to tell you that it is the oldest in Central Asia. The people working at the bazaar were very friendly which made for some easy friend making. The picture with the woman surrounded by cabbages was one of my favorite taken during the weekend. She and her friends sat in what looked like a small parking lot filled with cabbages and women with cabbage leaves on their heads enjoying the daily camaraderie. I got her to sit still for a minute to take a picture, I then showed her the picture on my camera and she had a hard time hiding her excitement. We got quite the kick out of her. As I was turning to leave she called me back to give me a free cabbage to take with me. Another woman we spoke to let us take her picture and gave us a huge smile, which she quickly covered up with her handkerchief, when we showed her what it looked like. She was a sweetheart and pretty entertaining.

There are a lot of great things about Osh and I did have a good time. Although I must admit, when we landed in Bishkek I couldn’t have been happier. I do like the south, it’s a bit cheaper, a little more conservative, and the people are friendly, but when it comes down to it: Bishkek is the best…and I think we all know that! ;~) But cheers anyways and thanks to Osh for the good times!

Love,
Annie

So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." - 1 Kings 3:11-14

I guess I shouldn't have eaten that...

2006-08-21T12:53:00.000+06:00

August 20, 2006

Hello again! It’s Sunday night and the end of another weekend over here. I had high hopes for the weekend: some quality guesting followed by a dip in the hot springs. Although, the fried lagman (a traditional Kyrgyz dish consisting of long noodles, sheep meat, onions, peppers and whatever else may be laying around in the kitchen) I ate at the café next to my apartment on Thursday night had something else to say about it.
I woke up Friday and cancelled all my plans as I ended up having a weekend long jogging date, between the bedroom and the oh-so-welcoming bathroom. There’s nothing that will make one more ill than having to get sick in a toilet here. Then again, it’s a step up from some of the outhouses or pits here that other Volunteers use in their villages, so I can’t complain too much.
Tomorrow, I tutor a student at 9:00 a.m. at my NGO, then will work on translating the document that serves as the report for the first term of a grant that Sezim has received. After work, I’m headed to American University with a friend to perhaps pick up some clubs. Then, I’m back to the normal evening schedule of a workout and reading. I’m also holding two clubs on Wednesday and Thursday nights a few blocks from my house which I’m hoping bring some good students and conversations.
This weekend along with being ill I also got the time to finish two Grisham books (The Summons and The Broker) and The Purpose Driven Life (it took a few more than 40 days…oops). Now, I’m back to my ‘Your Daily Walk’, as I’m hoping to finish the Bible in the next six-seven months; I’m currently in 1 Kings.
Okay, that’s the update on my somewhat low-key life, these days. I’ll let you all know when something comes up!

Love,
Annie

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
- Proverbs 19:21

P.S. C Belle, we miss you. ‘Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?’

Another Week!

2006-08-16T13:45:00.000+06:00

Hello again! I hope all is well with everyone on the flip side. I'm just moving through another week here. My counterpart, Chinara, is on vacation right now. Therefore I've been working a lot with my pseudo counterpart, Vicka (who's son I just began tutoring last week). We've got a few projects in the works. One will occur this winter with a group of seminars occurring in local universities and a nearby village. These seminars will focus on educating men and women on issues centered around domestic violence and will also convey the services we provide at Sezim. The other project will be a bigger ordeal, and that is finding funding for future expenses at Sezim after next year.
Aside from the work at Sezim, I am also picking up classes at the school where the kid I tutor goes to class. Tomorrow afternoon I'll find out for sure what these classes consist of and whether or not I want to pursue them.
This weekend, I'm headed to my friend Charlie's village for a night of guesting followed by a day possibly at the hot springs. The hot springs sounds like a good idea, but only if the weather is much cooler up in the mountains where they are located. Otherwise, no thank you. There's no need to get in hot water when the weather is hot enough on it's own.

Alright, I'm off to run around Bishkek some more, just wanted to touch base!

I love you and miss you all!

Annie

The Jacket

2006-08-13T18:27:00.000+06:00

Oh man, sometimes it's just good to be back home. Finding a new and very stylish Ferrari jacket to wear on the weekends is also a perk to being back in Kyrgyzstan. I found it early in the week in Beta Stores. It was a normal day, like any other, when I found myself in a clothing store on the third floor of Beta with my friend Charlie. He was looking for polo's and I was along for the ride. Then, I saw it. I now know love at first sight is a real thing, because I felt it. I visited it twice in the store throughout the week. I'd try it on, look in the mirror do a few laps around the store in it, and either wouldn't have the cash on me or the confidence to commit to the purchase. Finally, yesterday I was ready. I got cleaned up and marched two blocks to seal the deal. On top of being infatuated with the coat it was also on sale, zing! It was mine! Last night was the inaugural wearing. I had to take it off when I ate, because I'm pretty sure people in Ferrari jackets don't eat. I had to take it off when I was dancing, because people in Ferrari jackets don't dance, they're too cool to dance. I also took it off when I slept, because people in Ferrari jackets don't need to sleep, they have enough nicotine in their system to keep them twitching until the wee hours of the night. I was going to try smoking a cigarette last night, but changed my mind when I remembered my last display when trying to smoke and act cool. So, I decided to forego some kind of burn on the Ferrari jacket as I turned down the offer. The jacket was hot. But people in Ferrari jackets look good when they sweat. It's like a little glisten that changes to a radiant glow...so I kept it on in the heat. It was a good night coupled with a great jacket. And that, my friend, is hard to beat.

I'm Back!

2006-08-08T13:26:00.000+06:00

Well I am definitely back in country! I showed up late in the evening/early morning between Saturday and Sunday. I traveled for roughly 25 hours straight and finally arrived; mentally and physically exhausted. I went through customs then headed to gather my bags where I found one was missing…go figure! The people working were actually as helpful as I could ever hope as we went through the paperwork in reporting my missing bag. I was surrounded by taxi drivers basically chanting, ‘taxi, taxi, vi nada taxi?’ until one of them finally followed me as I was headed to the airline office and we settled a price for my ride home. My driver helped me carry my bags all over the airport until I got to the office, reported my luggage, and then finally headed outside.
We loaded up my bags and got in the car. I went to reach for my seatbelt and he said, ‘you don’t need that.’ I laughed and nodded my head as I realized I was back in no-seat-belt-country. About ten minutes into the ride he asked me if I was married, then how old I was. After responding he told me that he was only seven years older, which wasn’t much, therefore we should get married. I shook my head and thought to myself, ‘oh, Kyrgyzstan…home sweet home…’ We got out of the cab back in Bishkek and he tried to charge me fifty more som, I refused and he told me he would cut me the slack, what a charmer!
Sunday, I spent my day with Charlie and Tana catching up on the past month. It was great to see them as they’re a great reminder of some of the awesome people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting here.
Yesterday, I was up early as jet lag wouldn’t let me sleep in. I did some reading, went to the bank, went to Turkish airlines to talk about my bag again, and then headed to work to catch up with my coworkers and the status of the NGO. After running around a few more places I did my workout and headed home where I proceeded to pass out at 8:00. Now, I’m up at 5:00a.m. still trying to get back on schedule and unable to sleep. I’m sure it’ll take a few more days to get back to normal with the time changes, but that’s only normal.
Tomorrow is another day of getting back into the swing of things: the usual means of transportation, no personal space, the interesting smells, and avoiding eye contact. A few more people have decided to head home early from our group, which is sad, but I support them whole heartedly. I wish you all the best of luck!
Alright, I’m going to try to head back to bed now. I hope all is well with you back home!

Sleepless in Bishkek,
Annie

What you are is God’s gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God.
- Danish proverb

The Land of Starbucks and Wireless Internet

2006-08-05T15:45:00.000+06:00

‘Where have you been?’ This was a question posed to me several times during my trip back home. Along with the statement, 'I enjoyed reading your blog...until March.' So, here goes.
Here I am now: the same place I began my vacation three weeks ago. I'm sitting at the Starbucks in the Istanbul airport enjoying some good coffee and computer time for the last few hours before I head back to Bishkek. Announcements over the intercom are in Turkish first, then sometimes English. The clientelle doesn't look the same as it does in the states, and it's obvious I'm not in 'Kansas' anymore. It's been an awesome trip and I want to thank all of you who were a part of it as well as others I missed. It was a gift to be able to touch base and spend time with family and friends back home.
Getting off the plane, I didn’t know what to expect.
To get home I went from Bishkek to Turkey, from Turkey to Chicago, from Chicago to Denver, from Denver home: to so many people and places I call home, that is. And to be honest with you all, I cried when I got off the plane as a result of being so excited and thrilled to see my family in person again.
I haven’t ‘been’ anywhere out of the norm in the past few months. I have been in Bishkek doing work with Sezim, at Issyk Kul helping with a camp, in Chui helping with Habitat, south of town helping with IREX and a group of orphans looking for some relief, in meetings and conferences, in kitchens making sandwiches and mudslides, in shelters discussing the harsh realities of life, in my office drinking chai while bickering with my counterpart about which translation from Russian to English sounds best, out running on the track, and in my apartment counting days. I’ve been counting days towards a lot of things, but before I came back I quit counting the days until I returned home. I finally got the swing of things there. But the entire time I was still subconsciously dreaming of home. It was like some other world that I wasn’t sure was there anymore, and if it was whether it was still the same.
Life does still exist on the other side of the world. It looks a little different but feels the same…like old tennis shoes and a good pair of jeans; it feels good to be here.
Just a little over two weeks ago I was headed off on a trip into the mountains in Montana with my family and a few people from Hell’s A-Rollin Ranch. We had a great trip into the mountains where we settled into their camp for the next few days. Our guide/cook Sue and our cute guide David were awesome in paying attention to, and handling, every minor detail of the trip. The camp was beautiful, the fishing was entertaining, and the time to relax was priceless. Thank you for the fantastic time!
After the trip I got some time to do some reading and focus on my faith and my outlook on life. It’s been a while since I’ve been alone to do that. I got time to spend with my family, finally. I feel like I was in somewhat of a dream being back home, but I was also able to see the changes in myself that have happened over this past year and realize how important it is for me to keep on doing what I'm doing over there in Ka-jerka-jerka-stan.
I was able to see all of my grandparents within the past week and half, and you are all amazing in your own unique ways. I love you and think of you in all of those ways…may it be: from going to bell class, to selling lemonade at garage sales, to teaching me how to drive (even though I had some 'trouble' parking in the shade), to going to my piano recitals, and keeping with me going through every other mountain conquered. You’re all on fire!
And my close family...I thought I might as well just get a little sentimental and drop some notes about you.
Here's to my dad, Bill: the protector, the watcher, the worrier and the career advisor (as well as lucky cribbage player)
Here's to my mom, Deb: the nurturer, the observer, the dreamer, the carer
Here's to my step mom, Kim: the honest one, the real life advisor, the understander, and accidental great mother
Here's to my step dad, Gale: the endurer, the outdoorsman, the one who finds the 'good in all things'
Here's to my brother, Craig: the engineer, the 'guy's guy', the fashion disastor in recovery, the one that drives the gas guzzler
Here's to my sister, Emily: the open hearted one, the sweet one, the giver, the taller one...now
and to my other sister, Hollie: the 'path-paver', the hardworker, the natural blonde, the strong one
It was great to see you these past few weeks, thanks!
And now...back to work. Back to Kyrgyzstan for one more year of 'the toughest job you'll ever love'. I'm ready. The states are easy, life is definitely different there, but it will be there later. I miss the ladies at work, my friends, and my block I call home in Bishkek. I don't miss the cockroaches or the marshrutkas, but so goes life.
I promise to keep up on this blog a bit more for all of you back home, sorry about the delay! Keep me updated on your lives too as it's always nice to have a reminder of normalcy back home.
I love you and I'm missing you all already.

Spaseebs,
Annie

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. - Romans 12:11

March Pictures

2006-03-25T14:59:00.000+06:00

Here are a few pictures from Nooruz, the Muslim New Year that was celebrated this past Tuesday. There were people all over in Bishkek celebrating the holiday. Ala Too square was packed and it made for some great photos.

The man selling the balloons didn't notice me when I tried to take the first picture, this is the second picture where he's half smiling and half sticking his tongue out...my favorite shot of the day!

The boys with the bananas were working on blowing up a balloon.
I'll give you all more of an update later!

Love,
Annie

Only Eight More Days...

2006-02-20T21:31:00.000+06:00

February 20, 2006

As I write this, I am sitting on my couch in my new apartment. I no longer live with a host family and I am living on my own for the first time in my life. It is great! I didn’t realize how much subconscious stress I was enduring by living with my old host family and now that I don’t live there I have a more positive outlook on my life here and I feel a lot more at ease than I have in the past three months. My things are left alone when I leave, there are no unexpected late night visitors, and no pop music blaring throughout the day and night!
My apartment is near the white house here in Kyrgyzstan. If I lean next to my window I can see the white house from my room. I live in a studio apartment – which means there is a bedroom/living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. It all needed quite a bit of cleaning when I first moved in, as the woman and son that lived here prior to me didn’t really have a working definition of cleanliness. Now, it is beginning to feel more and more like home. I still need some shelves to put clothes on, dishes, sheets and a mirror for the bathroom – but this will all happen with time. I do have one mirror in the apartment…it is about 1 ½ feet by 3 feet and in the wall of my shower. Talk about inspiration to go running! Ha!
There are a lot of great restaurants around my new apartment, but since I’m a little strapped for cash after moving in here I find myself spending a lot of time home reading and eating the squeezable pizza sauce I got in the mail a couple of months ago (and I remember when I received it I couldn’t figure out what in the world I was going to do with it) on top of the traditional Kyrgyz bread here. It’s pretty darn good, in comparison to the alternative samsa or gamburger down the street…so, thanks for the sauce! – sorry I doubted you (Dad and Kim) in sending it!
Work is going well here. I am teaching the women at Sezim English and translating some documents and financial statements…also doing extra research on the issues around human trafficking and domestic violence in Kyrgyzstan and central Asia. I am trying to get a grasp on what I hope to do with Sezim while I am here. Slowly, but surely, everything is coming together.
My English club is going well. I have a few students that are on top of their English skills and a few that just come for the entertainment of the club – I think. There are roughly 20-30 students that come every Friday for the hour and a half club that I hold. This week we will be talking about literature, as one of my favorite students wants to dive into this topic. It may be a problem for me though – being a finance major, literature was on the backburner…but I will try to bring something interesting to the club. Last week we talked about entertainment and I took a bunch of magazines in (US Weekly, People, etc.) to discuss the scene back in the states. The students went into a trance when looking through the magazines…just like I do – it was like looking into a mirror watching them.
Overall, life in Bishkek is going pretty well right now. I do have to be extremely careful about walking at night, and the day sometimes, with the guys around here – begging or being drunk…but being conscious and careful about the issues here are half the battle, I think. Thankfully February is almost over! February and I don’t get along for some reason, so I’m happy to see it leave…just a few days left. The weather is a bit warmer here, there isn’t as much snow and ice covering the streets, and the days are a bit longer…it’s fabulous!
I just got done reading Kite Runner here, and I recommend it to all of you to check out. The reality in the book is pretty intense and I think it’s important to understand that this is a reality…not just some bad story that is going on in a different world. I am now moving on to Life of Pie and Doctor Zhivago here. I try not to read more than one book at one time, but I am inevitably breaking this rule as I can’t pick which one I want to read…so I figure may as well just read both.
Okay, that is a summary of what’s new here…just settling into life more than anything. In one more month it will be half a year that I have lived here…craziness!
One more thing! I do want to tell you all about the crazy cat lady that I saw at the dumpster by my apartment complex a few nights ago when I was taking the trash out. My friends were paying more attention to what was going on than I was, because before I knew it they were pointing in awe at all of the cats around us. There were some 10+ cats by the dumpster and some crazy cat lady feeding them all…it reminded me of the ‘Crazy Cat Lady’ action figure I bought my step-mom before coming here! I do have the ‘Jesus Action Figure’ on my coffee table now – I think some people are caught off guard by it, but it’s interesting to see what positions his arms are in every time people leave after hanging around…
More later! I miss you and love you all!

Love,
Annie

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars."
Jack Kerouac

February 12, 2006

Five months ago tonight I was busy packing all of my things to leave the states in order to go to Kyrgyzstan. Looking back, it feels like time flew – but then I realize so much has happened in the past months…each day has brought some new and crazy/interesting experience that has had a little effect on my life and the way I do things here. I remember the way I felt getting on the plane to leave my family and friends. I remember how it felt to arrive at the Issyk Kul hotel for the first time. I remember wondering where I was going to live after PST. I remember my first night with my host family in Krasnaya Rechka…wondering what in the world I got myself into. Now, looking back I know that living with that family was perhaps one of the most needed and greatest blessings in my life. My host-mom, Maria, was one of the sweetest and wisest women I have ever met. She took me under her wing and helped me find my way here. I moved into that family as a ‘baby,’ not knowing how to fend for myself in this country and they helped me establish myself here.
I bounced around between Krasnaya Rechka and Tokmok for the first couple of months in country, just to find myself living 30 minutes away after PST. Even though it’s only 30 minutes away it feels like so much further. Without the people I saw everyday and every week, things have become different. I didn’t realize how lucky we were to see all of our friends constantly and now I can’t wait to see all of them in a few weeks.
My experience here is a little different from the majority of Volunteers here, but still a challenge. I am on the other side of the world trying to do this ‘Peace Corps’ thing as well. We all have our challenges here; mine include those of living in a big city and inevitably standing out most of the time. The things I have seen and learned of at my NGO bring to life harsh realities that I wouldn’t have known ever existed had I not come here. The people I have met and the conversations and relationships we’ve had are incredibly important and meaningful to me. I just talked with Tana, another Chui Volunteer, today about how different things may have been had we not decided to come here. There is a fascinating randomness in how relationships and friendships are formed here and how it brought us together along with so many other people.
I deeply miss the states sometimes, but I can’t imagine leaving here right now. I find myself looking back to friends I miss and the things we used to do and get lost in the different paths I have taken in my life. Sometimes it feels like I’ve lived three or four lives with the different things I’ve gone through in my life, and I have to remind myself it’s just one…all of those things did happen and I feel lucky they did. Some people tell me they can’t believe I’m here and sometimes I agree with them…five years ago I would have never pictured myself here – a year ago I would’ve never pictured myself here – but everything comes back to the fact that I think everything happens for a reason.
So here I am, five months later. It’s always up and down here…life’s full of highs and lows, but how could I enjoy the highest of highs if I never had a low point? I wouldn’t be able to look down and say, “wow, the view is really great from up here, this is what life’s about, look how much I struggled before and where I could be, but right now it’s perfect.” I’m in the middle of the road right now, things could be better but things could also be much worse. I feel okay about where I am, I’m content, and spring is right around the corner. I’m excited about the future and I’m over the past…I think that’s all we can really ask for in life.
I think that’s enough reflecting for now! Every month mark is interesting when it comes to looking back on how much things have and haven’t changed. Twenty-two left to go…I’m ready.

I love you and miss you all!

Love,
Annie

“Everything is possible for him who believes.”
- Mark 9:24

New Address

2006-02-18T11:41:00.000+06:00

I finally have some information for you! Can you believe it?! It may sound sketchy, but this is the tried and true method of sending things here...and it DOES work. I checked and double checked and this is the way to send packages/letters. My new address is:

Central Post Office
Bishkek 720000
Kyrgyzstan
Wieland
Уилэнд

The last line is Wieland in Cyrillic...this will help the mail room ladies when they are looking for my mail and reading off of my peace corps i.d. cards.

That's it! I know that may sound weird, but it works. They weigh the packages when you send them, then weight them here when they arrive. The post office here is responsible for any discrepancies in the weight, therefore it's pretty safe. Be sure to insure the packages and throw a couple candy bars in on top, so when the packages arrive I can take them out and bribe the mail room ladies so they will leave the rest of my things alone.

(Dad, I hope the Cyrillic comes out here...let me know if it worked!)

I love you all and miss you!

More coming soon,
Annie

It's February, again...

2006-02-12T20:11:00.000+06:00

February 9, 2006

Hello sweet blog, it’s been quite a while. I’ve neglected writing…and more than that I think I’ve neglected having some down time. But here I am, finally, and it feels good to sit and write about what’s been going on over here on the other side of the world.
Let me begin by saying that I have thought about you all throughout the past few weeks. I wonder what you all are doing, I wonder what new habits have been formed, what challenges you have conquered, what people you have met, what dreams you have dreamt, etc. I wonder what the beginning of spring is like there. Let me tell you, it’s great here. The feeling of warm weather is amazing. It’s therapeutic. I can finally walk around outside without having an extra kick in my step to keep myself from feeling the bite of the cold. ‘They’ say, get through the winter and everything is better. I’m beginning to realize what that means. Winters are hard here…everything from leaving the house, walking around, crowding onto marshutkas in snow covered streets, while at the same time adjusting to yet another way of life. But the winter is leaving, the new way of life is setting in, and Bishkek is becoming more of my home each day.

It’s been a couple of weeks…in those weeks I worked, played, and went to Osh. Osh? Yes, that city in the south that you hear about in that popular ‘Kyrgyzstan’ book that we all now own. I finally got the time to go there, do some work, see a different way of life (aside from Tokmok, Naryn, the Retch and Bishkek), and visit people I hadn’t seen in a month or two. Osh is different. I can explain it well to people here: the streets are less crowded, there was more snow, the city is a little less organized, the bazaars are kickin’, they speak a little different than they speak here, and life is a little slower. When I try to explain it here (as a blog entry), where I know people may read this that have never been to Kyrgyzstan before, that explanation seems vague…it’s like describing a pear to someone without taste buds…you have to have a little understanding of the basis of Kyrgyzstan and the cities here to be able to compare them and understand the comparisons. The time I spent in Osh was much needed. It was awesome to have some time to study a different way of life, kick back, and shoot the breeze (a little, not a lot). It was great to see everyone I saw there and I don’t view it as being anything but time well spent. There was also some time spent in the kitchen; making some amazing (unexpectedly amazing, that is) breakfasts and dinner. There was a delectable sauce we whipped up that I will be attempting to duplicate in the next couple of weeks. There were a few moments I didn’t feel like I was in Kyrgyzstan. I didn’t exactly feel like I was in the states, but I definitely wasn’t in Kyrgyzstan – an interesting and good break. Thank you to everyone that showed me around the city as well as a good time.

The flights to and from Osh, this becomes an entire different story. The airlines here have it out for me I think. I think they hear I may be coming in to catch a flight and decide to quit working for the rest of the day/morning. The first time I attempted to go to Osh, two weeks ago, the weather was heinous. There was snow everywhere and no chance of getting out of Bishkek. Being the stubborn person I am, I kept waiting every time they said, “it will be one more hour, then flights will leave.” After teaching some English in the airport and being befriended by militia, I decided to head out…hours after I arrived at the airport. Frustrated and tired, I changed my flight for a week later.
This past week I made it down to Osh just fine, but when I tried to leave I found there was a slight delay. I was trying to mind my own business…read a book, listen to my ipod, etc. Before I knew it, two militia guys (around 40+ years old) decided to become my new best friends. They were nice at first, asking questions, intrigued by meeting an American, and all of that good stuff. Then it got to the point where I was tired of forcing myself to speak more Russian than was possible for the sleepy mood I was in and I tried to block them out. A few minutes later they were attempting to take me to a different waiting room to drink cognac. No thank you! Keep it. We finally got on the plane, they insisted on carrying my backpack and I jumped into a single seat on my first flight in a Yak 45. Wow, those planes are pretty…interesting. Although, not as interesting as the prop plane I flew down in just a few days before.

Anyways…I got off the plane and high-tailed it out of the airport. While the militia guys were trying to give me a ride, I took off toward a group of people I saw getting on a marshutka. My phone rang as I was walking up to the group and I jumped on without saying much. The people on the marshutka didn’t mind and they said they were headed to Bishkek, so I figured it was just the usual shru that takes you to the center of town. When I got off of the phone I looked around the marshutka and realized I was surrounded by eight Spanish men on their way to Bishkek. Why wouldn’t this be the one marshutka I would get on…seriously. They turned out to be pretty good guys, speaking in full fledged lisping Spanish. It was great to hear some Spanish and they had a really great vibe. I apologized for hitching a ride, but they didn’t seem to care at all. Then one of them said, “if you feel awkward for riding with us, well, we are cooking dinner later – a bunch of Spanish food – and you are more than welcome to join.” Ha! If I feel awkward you are going to cook Spanish food for me…sounds like a deal. They gave me their number, Fransisco’s number that is, and told me to call around eight. When 8:00 rolled around I was tired and not in the mood to hang out with strangers…in the future I may have to give them a call, see if they’re in the mood for some cooking, until then – it’s one of my favorite stories: the crazy marshutka ride full of Spanish men in Kyrgyzstan, it makes about as much sense as frozen pavement messing with reproductive abilities…but that’s all just part of being here I guess.

I’m finally home. I need some rest, I’m tired, and I think that’s quite alright. There have been a few Volunteers in town this week and it’s been great to see them, but there’s also been a ton of work I’ve had to get done. Thursday’s are usually my busiest day, so now that it is finally Thursday night I can take a breather…ahh…it’s awesome.

I did wake up pretty early today and do another reading in ‘the good book’ (don’t take offense anyone, just a joke). I’m still in 1 Samuel and just read chapters 9-12 this morning. They were awesome, and just what I needed to get me going again. They talked about Saul coming into his role as king over Israel. Chapter 12 was my favorite out of this reading, full of excellent passages.
One of my favorites, of many, was 1 Samuel 12:16: Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!
Verses 14-15, 20-21, and 24 were great too, but the ‘be still, and know’ thought always gets me. I feel several times in my life I run around too much and the times when I actually take a moment to step back, observe, enjoy, breath, and relax a lot more becomes clear to me. Thinking about answered and unanswered prayer, reflecting on my walk, who I may be, who god may be and all of these endlessly unanswered questions always fascinates me.

I’m headed to bed now. I miss you and love you all. I hope you are all doing well!

My host sister, Jibek, just came in my room. She has two birds who love to chirp throughout the night almost in unison with the barking dog. It turns out the birds have ‘given’ her four eggs. It’s little things like that that make me fall back in love with that little girl. “Anne, the birds have given me four eggs,” and she holds up her hand to show me how many as she says this. She is a sweet girl and I will always have a place for her in my heart. I think it comes back to the cheesy line from the house: we’re sisters, we may not always like each other, but we’ll always love each other. Wow, that was really lame; I have to go…fading fast.

Talk to you soon.

Love,
Annie

Quick Update

2006-01-31T11:00:00.000+06:00

It's been a little while since I've written to update you all on the status of everything in Kyrgyzstan. There hasn't been much to write about, so I decided to avoid boring you with a pointless blog entry...which this may end up being.
This week, I have the usual work week - going to Sezim, Enlish club, etc. I was supposed to head out of town last week, but was grounded due to the airline system here. They don't have the proper equipment to land, clear the runways, etc. There are several Volunteers currently stuck here because of the whole shenanigans...so hopefully it clears up soon. There is also more to the airport story, but I don't feel like typing it right now, so I'll save that for another day. I'm hoping to get down to Osh this weekend, but time will tell.
I do want to say quickly a big thanks to Sabrina, who just sent me a great email! Thank you so much, that meant a ton to me. Also, Michelle, if you read this...shoot me an email. I would love to hear from you!

More later.

Love,
Annie

2006-01-23T12:03:00.000+06:00

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

A poem

2006-01-20T17:49:00.000+06:00

Here I am in Kyrgystan,
pasty white with no tan.
It's cold outside and the snow is blowing,
I wonder if my long-underwear is showing.
I miss the days of luxury and class,
now, even showering is a pain in the ass.
I speak in English in my mind,
but in the city, only Russian I find.
In the mornings I drink instant coffee,
then at lunchtime I have to go outside to pee.
I have now forgotten the smell of body odor,
you know, they say a fish doesn't know it's in water. (that was a stretch)
Someday, I will never again eat sheep butt,
but,until then, I'm bellying up for a choice cut!
I miss the states, and my sorority house,
the cooks, the maids, and the occasional mouse.
I miss the parties, the costumes, the dance floor,
now all I have is a schedule of guesting - no more.
Christmas was nice, but I did miss santa,
So, to celebrate I drank a lot of vodka and fanta.
I have to go, it's time to bear the cold,
I miss you much but this poem is getting old.
I'll talk to you soon, and I hope all is well,
Expect another poem...there is much more to tell!

I hit the wall.

2006-01-16T12:27:00.000+06:00

Well, here I am, officially four months into the experience that is supposed to be, 'the hardest job I'll ever love.' I think I am beginning to understand what that actually means. Each day brings forth a new set of challenges and rewards that somehow even out and make everything do-able. I won't lie to you, I have questioned my reasons for being here several times, sometimes several times in a day, although there are also days when I don't question my reasoning or my impact here at all.
I still have two months to go before I 'arrive,' as I believe it takes six months to get a good grasp on a new way of life and all of the transitioning becomes part of a routine instead of constant adjustments. I spoke to a USAID worker about a week ago and she said, "you come to a point where you hit this wall, the novelty wears off and you decide if you're going to make it or if you're not. You decide if you're going to adjust and accept what is now home, or you don't adjust and you don't make it." When she said this to me I was in the midst of spending a lot of time reflecting on the state of my life (and I still do this, daily) and trying to pinpoint what my 'status'; after listening to her for a while I realized I was beginning to hit this wall.
The little battles I had to overcome everyday were becoming not as important or rewarding as they used to be - getting on an overstuffed marshutka, haggling prices, fighting with the crowds here, dealing with men and harassment, and a million other things I can't begin to describe as they are just a part of being here...all of these things were becoming extremely annoying - they were no longer interesting as in, 'damn, I heard about all of these things, now I'm actually seeing and experiencing it.' I came to a point where I just had it, it wasn't okay, I didn't like the mentalities of people here, I didn't like the constant uphill fight that each day seemed to be, and for a while there was no other way of describing my adjustment than: it sucked. It plain sucked. It wasn't fun, it was hard, but it was part of hitting that wall.
I don't think I could've had that conversation at a better time. She opened my eyes a bit to what I was actually experiencing (as she and her partner have been here for some two years). Since then, I have been able to acknowledge why I feel certain ways, why I react the way I do, and I've made a conscious effort to take each day one at a time and accept that this is a hard place to live, not every moment will be fun or life-changing.
Trust and faith. Those two words...they get me through. It's all I have sometimes when I hit the lowest of lows, when I think, 'what am I doing here,' ' am I pointless in all of this,' ' does it even matter I'm here.' When I change my perspective and get grounded those thoughts change into, 'I don't know what I'm doing here, but that's okay - it will all become clear in time,' 'nothing is pointless here - from the relationship I have with my youngest sister, to helping a babushka carry bags, to smiling at someone just to see there shock as they observe someone actually smiling - all of these little things make a difference (even if it is just a speck of hope),' and,' it does matter that I'm here, I've only been here four months and I think I'm a becoming more of the person I need to be because of it.'
My life has slowed down a bit, and I didn't realize how much I needed that to happen. In the states I ran around non-stop, my day planner ran my life. Here, I have been given the chance to really work on my faith, I can journal, I can study, I can go for a walk and not feel guilty because I may be 'missing something.' I miss my family and friends immensely, but I think this is all going to make me a better friend, a better sister, a better daughter, a better aunt, etc.
Actually having the ability to take time and work on my personal life - my faith, my relationships, my family, and myself - is one of the greatest things I've been able to enjoy while being here. I don't remember the last time I sat down and read a book in a week (or less), actually wrote in a journal for more than a month before my schedule wouldn't allow it anymore, or was able to make a conscious effort to cherish my family and friends. Sometimes when I find myself wanting to get 'crazy busy' again I have to stop and look at my motives - it's not okay, it's not right, and a busy schedule that avoids me having to make any emotional attachments is not healthy.
One day at a time...this is how I like to live my life. The past is in the past, the future is tomorrow and why worry about it today while today's actually happening?
Being here is really hard, but I am beginning to love it. The motto may be true. I know I'm still pretty fresh here, so I'm sure my outlook may change once or twice (or a hundred times) but right now, that's how I feel. That's where I am emotionally.

Just thought I'd let you all know.

I love you all and miss you!

Annie

I just finished reading Joshua, one of my favorite verses was:
"...You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed." - Joshua 23:14
After leaving Egypt and traveling across the dessert, rivers, seas, overcoming battles and war, idolatry, etc. the people finally began to settle in their new land. They struggled to get there, in faith and physically, but finally they reached this place that was promised - physically and mentally. It wasn't easy, but they did it.

New Title

2006-01-07T14:29:00.000+06:00

I changed the title of my blog because I decided to make it dynamic. I was looking around the other day when I was out and about and noticed something: the styles of a lot of the men in this country remind me of Bill Cosby's wardrobe. A couple of years ago I heard of a party with the theme of 'Bill Cosby's Sweaters,' or 'A Cosby Sweater Party.' I wonder if the men here have seen The Cosby show, and if so - do they think every morning before they leave the house, 'hmm, should I wear this? I don't know, would Bill Cosby wear this?' Because I wouldn't be surprised if that is the thought process here. The acronym that could be on bracelets, like the WWJD braclets some of us have worn, would be: WBCWT (for: Would Bill Cosby Wear This). So, to make a long story short, I changed the title of my blog - I hope you like it.

Where are my green slippers when I need them?

2006-01-05T14:51:00.000+06:00

This picture is dedicated to the women who have encouraged me to take pictures with shoes as the focal point. I love the new burgundy slippers and I see a bright future with them.
Here are a few excerpts from recent emails I've written that I thought would keep you updated on life here:

From an email written yesterday:
I did have another guesting experience with my new family in Bishkek. Robyn and I were sitting in my room when my host sister came and got us for, 'chai.' We headed downstairs and as we were about to round the corner to the kitchen I heard my brother say, "we will be doing some drinking." I wondered, 'oh hell, what does that mean,' then turned the corner to find the table set up in one of the greatest spreads yet. We sat down and started our meal with champagne served in martini glasses. My host father and mother came in to give their toasts...my dad decided to give what may have been the longest toast in my life, regarding the history of the calendar...I never thought it would end...but finally did when we reached the year 2006. The rest of the family proceeded to give toasts as well...including my 11 year old host sister that stood while giving the toast, holding the door shut so her friends wouldn't barge in. She said part of her toast, took a drink of wine, set her glass down, said a bit more, took another sip, then proceeded until she had finished what was on her mind - slammed the rest of her wine and ran off. Robyn and I lost it- keeled over laughing - then listened to her run around a little tipsy for the next hour. After our guesting my oldest host sister, brother, Robyn, and I went to a billiard club to play 'pool.' Mind you this isn't the regular pool we have, it's a huge table with unmarked balls (except for numbers)...none of us knew exactly how to play so we just took turns trying to hit the oversized, white, balls into tiny pockets on the huge tables. Before we left for the billiard hall my host siblings said, "don't tell our parents where we are going." I agreed, thinking that maybe the parents wouldn't want us to go, then they said, "if we tell them, they may want to go too." I thought this was pretty entertaining as well...and played along to prevent extra toasts at the club.

Written today:
My host dad came in my room last night and asked me to come out of my room and talk with the family more...I was reading, and studying, and enjoying my alone time...now I am being forced to be more social. Oh, how the times have changed. I love sitting in my room, reading, writing, studying, etc. Before you know it, I will be sewing my clothes and gluing puzzles together for decor. Lame, lame, lame. Oh well...it's 0 degrees (F) here, gives me a reason to be a homebody, right?

Our cell phone company is bankrupt here. As of the 23rd we have had huge problems with the phone lines. You buy a cell phone here and a sim card, then you buy mobi cards. Mobi Cards have units on them. You enter the number on the back of the mobi card into your cell phone and it adds units to your phone. I ran out of units on the 23rd and have gotten one more card since (with 200 units). One text is just about 1 unit, and phone calls cost anywhere between 5-8 units per call. Since the phone company is supposedly bankrupt, they no longer are producing phone cards, so the entire city is like some out of control, sold-out Brittany Spears concert (when she was good (good's not what she was)...or maybe just grossing more), trying to scalp cards at outrageous prices. I had to keep connected so I bought one for 280 som, instead of the usual 215. They've been anywhere from 280-350. It's a pain in the a**, but part of being in Kyrgyzstan, and the fooked up country it can be. Also, this week the Bitel company (the one issuing the cards) has decided to give everyone free calls. But what happens when you try to call...nothing, it doesn't work, none of the cell phone lines do...ahh, it's great, freaking piece of shat.

Okay, that's pretty much the update.

I'll talk to you soon.

Love,
Annie

Jumpers, a bowl of meat and plastic (but life-like) weapons

2006-01-02T11:24:00.000+06:00

Happy new year everyone!
It is finally 2006 and I can say I'm happy to have the new year here. It's time for a fresh start and a new perspective, or that's what they say when this time of year rolls around. I spent New Year's Eve with a few Volunteers, Robyn, Scott and Leslie, in Bishkek. We had some wine and chapmpagne then headed to the main square here to watch fireworks. The fireworks were awesome - I've never seen that many fireworks go off at the same time before in my life. As you looked down Chui, one of the main streets in Bishkek, all you saw was fireworks above, to the right and left, and lining the street as far as you could see in the distance. We didn't have an official countdown as there wasn't a big clock for us to watch, so we took turns counting down on our watches...which meant ringing in the new year four times - seemed fitting then and looking back there was no other way I would've wanted to celebrate.
Yesterday morning the four of us went to breakfast before heading off on our own. The first conversation I had this year was about jumpers with Leslie. I wanted to know the reasoning, or motivation, behind purchasing and wearing a jumper. Leslie has worn a jumper, and I think that's fine - I'm not criticizing, but I don't see any jumper-wearing in my near future...maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'll splurge and buy one today for the heck of it...but if you ever catching me wearing a jumper with some pencil or crayon design on it, please pull me aside and help me to realize what I'm doing.
After breakfast Robyn and I headed to the Retch for a quick visit. We saw her old family, Riesa, any my old family. It felt really good to be there, just to remember how things used to be and get the sense of family that we had there. We spent a lot of time at Robyn's house yesterday where she has a five year old host brother. She was buying gifts for her family yesterday and decided, "why not buy the five-year-old some fireworks." So she did, and he loved them, and proceeded to light them and aim them at all of us. I had a feeling it may go downhill pretty quickly when I looked over and say him holding one of the sparklers against his sisters back, but luckily nothing was flameable enough to catch on fire that quickly.
We also had a nice conversation with Robyn's host sister and brother over some chai. They just got a new table and bench for their kitchen. It's great stuff, for Kyrgyzstan, and we were commenting on how nice the furniture was and also talked a bit about how much the little brother, Bodosh, liked meat. Bodosh came over to me and asked me to move because he wanted to show us something...so I scooted over and watched him lift up part of the bench to show us a bowl of meat he had hidden directly below me. Hiding meat!? Okay, sure, whatever, if that's what gets him through his days, then so be it. Robyn and I threw some candy in the bowl and moved out to the living room to watch tv. As we were watching Men In Black, Bodosh came in with something hidden in his hand and asked us to guess what it was. We didn't pay much attention to it, but the next thing I knew this little five-year-old was in attack mode with an ice cicle shaped ornament. After this he got out his fake gun and aimed it at us for a while...when this finally wore out he had one more toy up his sleeve. Robyn and I were in her old room and he came in with what looked to be a dagger...not fake. I recoiled against the wall as he was coming at me and Robyn swung and grabbed him. We confiscated the toy and hid it in the Christmas tree...where it got stuck, and Bodosh proceeded to attack us as we tried to get it untangled. His mom finally came in and grabbed him by his rat-tail and he left us alone.
The entire day Robyn and I talked about everything that was happening could be a blog entry...so there you go! I'm off to do some work...although Bishkek is somewhat of a ghosttown right now in the post holiday week. I'll be in touch! Hope you all had a great new years!

Love,
Annie

"Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Christmas #1: Check.

2005-12-26T15:02:00.000+06:00

Well, here I am again...sitting in my usual internet cafe on my usual corner with my usual list of things to accomplish while I'm here. The weekend here went pretty quickly with everyone in town...places to be and people to see.
On Christmas day a group of us went to 'The Nutcracker' in the morning, followed by lunch, then we checked into our hotel. After unwinding for a bit we went to the Pub for dinner. Jordan, a fellow K13-er, has been sick for a few weeks now and was just told he had to return to the states this past weekend. He joined us for dinner at the Pub and afterwards we said our goodbye's and he left for the night. It was hard to see him go. His friendship has meant a lot to me in the past few months and his presence in my life has made a great impact. I will miss him and I wish him the best! (Jordan...if you ever read this and you want to split a twix...I'm down...just try to take your time with it.)
After our dinner at the Pub we all headed to Fire and Ice, a local club where there's a bowling alley. With a few games, and drinks, down we all went back to the hotel for the night. Yesterday morning, Christmas, we went to the Hyatt for brunch. When you're in Bishkek where there are people all over the place, messed up sidewalks, and traffic's blaring, stepping into the Hyatt feels like you just stepped out of Kyrgyzstan. We all walked into a huge buffet, Christmas decorations, and a live jazz band pumping us all full of Christmas cheer, and food. The picture I've attached is a few of us at the buffet, post-eating (me, Katie, Rick, and Andy).
Now, the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over. I'm back to work, my friends are back to their villages and cities and I'm here in Bishkek trying to figure out what I'm doing again. It was so great to have everyone here and spend some time with them, it brought a little saneness to the insanity that can be the Peace Corps. I'm tired today, I have to get back into the swing of things: I haven't run for four or five days, I haven't read my bible for the same...I've taken a vacation. Vacation's over now, time to get some stuff done.
This week I'll be at Sezim and home. I won't have my English club this week as it's finals time here and then the students have a vacation. The next time I will see them is the first week of February.
New Years is this weekend. Here, the celebration for New Years includes decorating Christmas trees and partying with friends and family. I think I'll probably spend the holiday with my family, as it's a big deal to them to have everyone there, and I'm sure there will be other celebrations on the side here in Bishkek.
I've got more to say...I'd like to update you all on the emmotional status here in Kyrgyzstan, but it's been such a rollercoaster that I think I'll wait until I hit the middle of the ups and downs and fill you in then. Let's just say being here I've experienced some of the greatest moments of my life followed by some of the hardest to struggle through. This stretching of myself, learning my limits, figuring out what to do to cope and focus has helped me to grow so much already...hitting the lows, then remembering the best or trusting in the future, that's what gets me through.

I've got to get going.

I love you and miss you all. I hope you all had, or are having, a great holiday season!

Talk to you soon,
Annie

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

A few more for ya!

2005-12-20T12:10:00.000+06:00

They say it's almost Christmas here...so I thought my gift to you would be some pictures...There is one picture of a sidewalk here in Bishkek. You can see tables lining the sides as this is where some people make their income off of these small sales. Another picture is of the taxis here in Bishkek. You will see they are older cars with a Taxi sign stuck to the top to differentiate them from the rest. The third picture is of 'the underground.' When I have to cross the street at busy intersections I go down these stairs and through one of the tunnels to get to the other side. There are little booths lining the sides of the walkways with office supplies, Russian dictionaries, ice cream, and other random needs/wants.

Bishkek Pics

2005-12-20T12:01:00.000+06:00

Here are two pictures of Bishkek. The top picture is of a street corner near the center of the town. You can see a marshutka near the center of the picture...this is where sometimes 20+ people crowd in to get from one place to another. The other picture is of Zum...one of the most popular places for shopping here as it has just about everything you would need under one roof.

A Letter From My Father Regarding Pigeons

2005-12-17T13:59:00.000+06:00

Anya:

We will eagerly be awaiting the tourist photos. We're finally getting with it. I can't believe you didn't try the pigeon. Pigeons are a fowl, just like, doves, quail, rock cornish game hen, chicken, duck, goose, turkey, pheasant, grouse, prarie chicken, pea fowl, and ostrich. I have eaten all of those delicacies, except possibly pea fowl, and like rattle snake and turtle, it all tastes like chicken. The pigeons are killed, plucked or skinned, washed, and cooked in some manner. They do not roll the meat around in the pigeon shit on a window ledge, awning, or sidewalk. You just have your mental images confused. Just because pigeons might be kept in a cage does not mean they would taste like hamster, rat, or guinea pig. Remember also, that even if you were to eat a retired homing pigeon, you would not find a tissue paper message or leg band in your pigeon a-la-king. So "bon a petite, I'll have the pigeon."

Love

Dad

It's Friday Already!

2005-12-16T14:19:00.000+06:00

This week has flown by! I won't lie, there were moments that seemed to last a lifetime, but overall it was here and now is gone. I've been at Sezim, helping my friend with some work, and spending time at an English club. These activities seem to take up a majority of my time...which is good, because I like to be busy...and if you're here and you want to be busy, you can be.
Now looking back on finishing my second week in Bishkek I can agree with all statements referring to these first few weeks at our new sites as some of the hardest here. We all just left our friends and our first host families in our villages and headed off to different places around the country. My new home was only a stone's throw away, but still a hard adjustment to make. Part of me wanted to refuse to change, because change is hard - and why would you want to do something hard?, but the more I open up to my new family and this city the more I enjoy it. Sure, the crime rate is a bit higher here, and it's not safe at night, but luckily I've been blessed with friends and family here to watch out for me and help me adjust as best possible.
There haven't been any recent 'guesting's' at my house, but I'm sure one of these occasions will be happening any day now as my family seems pretty social compared to others. Tonight, I am going to be going out with my host sister as it is the anniversary of one of the English clubs she's in. I don't know what the plans are, I just know I'm supposed to go...they say to 'be flexible,' so I will be and I'll let her guide me around the city tonight...I'll let you know what happens.
Today, I held my first English club. At International Volunteer Day last Monday I met a woman that teaches at a local university. She asked me if any Volunteers were interested in helping out with her university, so I figured since I have some free time on Friday's I might as well help. After talking with her all week we finally got everything set for today. I arrived at 10:30 to meet with her and talk about when and where I will be working, then I sat in with one of her classes, and at 12:30 she put me in a room with the students interested in being part of an English club. There were roughly 25-30 students there and me...standing in front...with a few ideas of what I wanted to accomplish. I started out by introducing myself, talking about where I'm from, and my education. I then opened up the floor and with a little direction we had a great conversation discussing what they would like to focus on in this group, the topics they hope to discuss, the format of the class. I feel like it went pretty well..and kind of reminded me of meetings back in the sorority (oh, the house...I miss those girls...and the hot chocolate...and our cooks...and...). The hour and a half flew by pretty quickly, I've got a list of topics to focus on for next week and I'm excited to get to know them!
Now, I'm done with work for the day and I've got some free time to run around Bishkek and find something to eat before I head off with Elnara, my host sister. I must apologize, but I don't have pictures to post today, I have gotten a few less-than-nice emails (thanks to my friends and close family members (ahem...dad)) asking for pictures...and I have some! But I have not uploaded them onto my flash drive, purely because I'm lazy. So, I will ASAP and hopefully the next time you check up on this blog they'll be there for you! Sorry!
I'm headed out for now!

I love you and miss you!

...by the way...only 8 days until Christmas! Let me know how your holidays are!

Love,
Annie

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:30-32

A couple pictures!

2005-12-13T12:27:00.001+06:00

I thought I'd share a few more pictures! The first picture is of Tana, a fellow Chui valley girl, and me right before our swearing-in ceremony in Tokmok. The other is of the chandelier at the ballet taken the first time I went there a few weeks ago.

So, maybe I don't really 'love' snow

2005-12-11T11:16:00.000+06:00

It's Sunday morning here in Bishkek and it's freaking cold. I just took the usual route to the center of the city to use internet and found my usual place is blocked off by some men doing some construction work...the fact that they are actually working makes me feel okay about them blocking off the cafe. Now, after a battle with the ice, I am spending some much needed time online.
Last week, when I was talking about how much I loved snow, I did mean that, now after the snow has had time to freeze to the sidewalks (and of course there isn't any salt put on the sidewalks to melt it away) I find myself sliding every which direction when I need to get anywhere. Yesterday, as I was texting and walking along with a few friends I completely lost my footing and found myself laid out flat on my back, and in a bit of pain, I kept texting through the entire thing though...something to be proud of.
The family life is going well here. I now am getting a glimpse of Kyrgyz culture at home. A couple nights ago I was headed out to meet friends at Dolce Vita, a restaurant just around the corner from my house, and ran down to the living room to say goodbye to my family. To my surprise I walked in on a full-fleged guesting. After my host dad gave a toast I was asked to give a toast as well. I am happy to say I think the first Russian toast I ever delivered went pretty well as they did a few more before I was allowed to leave. My host dad likes to refer to me as his 'daughter' and he says my mom came over to Asia some time ago and no one else but the two of them know about it...it's a little weird, but entertaining, so I play along.
I'm off to meet some friends now for lunch and then I have a night of studying after that. This whole Russian thing is a little difficult...one day at a time, right!?

I love you and miss you all!

Love,
Annie

Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
1 Corinthians 4:16

God, I love Snow

2005-12-08T12:12:00.000+06:00

So there is finally some snow on the ground here in Kyrgyzstan! It's pretty beautiful, although I think I'm partial because I think everything is pretty beautiful with snow on it...although Craig (my brother, just to clarify) may be an exception. I've got the day off from my NGO to do some research on some different organizations they had some questions about, so here I am. Sezim has been great to work with thus far, but there is still a language barier we are fighting to get through...therefore I have a lot of studying to do in the next few weeks.
Bishkek is a pretty easy city to live in so far. I have all of the things I need and there are a lot of fellow Volunteers in the city to spend time with, but I do miss the feeling of being with my family in Krasnaya Rechka and my way of life during PST. It was pretty easy to wake up and walk to class everyday, and now I have to fight the hustle and bustle of people on the marshrutkas and watch out for crazy people once the sun goes down... so goes life, I guess. I'm sure in a few weeks this will all be clockwork and just a way of life.
Tonight is a going away dinner for Hans, although I don't know if I will make the dinner, or if I should make the trip back to the retch. Hans is pretty sick now and I don't think it's in my best interest to go back. Besides, if I don't see him now, it gives me more reason to visit him in Germany during the summer for his wedding...tempting, as I've heard Germany's beautiful in the summer.
My new family is pretty great. They are all very friendly and they want me to feel at home. One thing they do have up on the previous family is the absense of the egg, rice, sprat, mayo, and potato salad that was once served to me, it's easier to walk down to the kitchen in the morning knowing that won't be present. I do miss having six kids running around too and luckily I only have a 45 minute martshrutka ride to take in order to see them.
I hope everything is going well back in the states. Christmas is right around the corner! I hope all the prep work is going well.

I love you and miss you all!

Annie

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:1-3

Finally a Volunteer

2005-12-03T14:32:00.000+06:00

Hello again!

The swearing in ceremony went well. We were at a building in Tokmok, 'The Culture Center' for the ceremony and afterwards went to the ambassador's house for a reception. It's good to be done with PST and I'm looking forward to getting into work here in Bishkek.

Jordan (a fellow Krasnaya Rechka (KR) friend), Scott and Leslie (the married retired attorneys from Boulder and also fellow KR) and I all had lunch at a cafe near the center of town. We are now getting ready to do a little work online and then head to an opera tonight. If I don't go to the opera I will be going to a ballet tomorrow. Both of those events cost around 70-80 com each time, this equals a little less than $2.00 and I figure it's worth the money for the experience and Scott and Leslie have been kind enough to envite me to tag along...so I plan to do so!

I spent last night doing some reading and getting some rest, I was pretty tired after the whole ceremony and the festivities. I now live with a Kyrgyz family. They are what I was warned about previously...they are food hazers. I came down for breakfast this morning and was force fed chai and food until I finally put my foot down. This means I will need to do some work out routines to avoid becomming a babushka before my own eyes.

I have to go to some set up work tomorrow for International Volunteer day on Monday. I will go to Krasnya Rechka to pick up a few last things tomorrow and then to my NGO and other events on Monday. December 8th Hans has asked that I go back to KR for a dinner to celebrate his leaving the country and returning to Germany. I'm going to go back then as well to visit the family again. I know I will be in touch with them over the next two years so I didn't have a dramatic goodbye like some people did with their families this past week. What will suck is me leaving in two years and having to say goodbye then...I can't imagine what it will be like to leave them and not know when I will see them again.

Talk to you soon.

Love,
Annie

2005-11-27T12:03:00.000+06:00

Hello everyone! I am just finishing up PST and have made one last trip into Bishkek for some internet. This picture on the left is of my family here. We are all crowded around the staircase just outside my room (you can see my door to Andre's right). Their names (from left to right): Andre (or Andrew), Maria, Erica, Vassa (my host dad), Harry (behind my host dad, pronounced Garry here), Vassa, Artur (Russian version of Arthur), and on the stairs I'm sitting next to Lyda. It's amazing that we got the whole family together since they're always running around the village and to and from work and school in Bishkek.
We have swearing in on Thursday in Tokmok and on Friday I move into my new house in Bishkek. I will be living with a Kyrgyz family. It will be quite a change from my current situation, but I guess that's what the Peace Corps is about.
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, by the way! My friends from Krasnaya Rechka and I all came into Bishkek to eat at 'The Metro,' an American style pub here. I risked the avian bird flu and had some chicken and mashed potatoes...it was great...although I'm sure it wouldn't compare with all of your meals in the states!
Tonight my family is having a few guests from Korea, by a few I mean six. That means there will be 16 of us crowded around the table for dinner...what's new?!
I must be on my way! I hope you are all doing well!
Talk to you soon,
Annie

It’s all setting in now…

2005-11-18T15:24:00.000+06:00

I have now been gone for two months now. It feels like so much longer, and at the same time like not a moment has passed. Tonight I found myself looking at pictures taken just before I left and I am beginning to realize how important it is for me to be here and how much I have grown already. I remember the way I felt when each one of those pictures was taken. I was wondering what in the world I was getting myself into, I wondered what my future held, I wondered where in the world I was going, and, more than anything, I wondered what God had ‘up his sleeve.’
Now, I have two weeks until I pack up here and move into Bishkek. It’s starting to set in now, that I will be leaving here soon…that I have to make a new place home again. The people in my village: Andy, Bryan, Robyn, Tana, Jordan, Scott and Leslie, Dane, and Kathleen; have all become a very important part of my life. I am dreading leaving them and our life together here in Krasnya Rechka. Almost more so, I am dreading leaving my family. They have been one of the greatest blessings I could have ever asked for. I came here so scared and uncertain of my future, and they took me in and helped me call this place home. Each member of this family, all nine of them including Hans, has made an everlasting impression on my life and in my heart. I can honestly say I love them and I will treasure them forever. At times I think I can easily sum up the things they have taught me and then I come to find that I will never realize the impact they have had, and will have, on my life. Each day this family breaks down my walls as they help me to open up to some of the most genuine kindness I have ever experienced.
Tonight I watched part of a movie with Andy, Bryan, and Robyn. After they left I went into our living room where my host parents were working on the puzzle we started yesterday. I sat down and began to help as my two youngest host siblings read and did their studies. After my eyes started to blur from starting so hard at the pieces I resided to my room for the evening. Ahh…my room. I love my room here. It’s becoming cluttered with my things: signs to help me learn Russian (subconsciously, I hope), clothes, books, pictures, quotes, verses, etc. I love it here. I know in a few weeks I will look back with envy on my life as I write this letter. The family I am going to be living with is very well off, Kyrgyz, and atheist…opposite from my family now…and not a bad thing…just different. They are very kind and open as well…but they aren’t my ‘family’ yet. They aren’t the ones that helped me open up to this country.
And here I am. I live here now, and when I say that I mean it’s not a vacation anymore…this is it, and I’m ready to see what else is in store. I have been given two months to work on my faith, my relationships and friendships, and my ability to adapt to this culture. I could not ask for more in life as I write this. It’s so awesome to be able to look back and understand why some things have happened the way they did, and at the same time have the ability to look forward and know that somehow everything is going to be okay.
One thing I wanted to work on as I left the states and came here was my trust in God. I didn’t fully trust Him with my life as I had before. I held back a lot, I didn’t put myself out there, I didn’t live every moment the way I should’ve had…and sadly I knew a lot of this at the time. I know I will be faced with some tough things in the future…but it’s going to be okay. I am in the middle of this transition from training to being a Volunteer and it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. So much is going on…I wish I could give you all a day or a moment that could begin to describe it…but I can’t. I am falling in love with these people, this family, my friends, my life…all over again. I love you all and I can’t wait to see you! But before that happens I think I’ll spend a couple years here…I’m ready to get started…I’m ready to go. Thank you all for your prayers and support…I can’t wait to tell you all about the last two weeks here and write you my first letter from my new home in Bishkek.

Sincerely,
Anya

Site Visits!

2005-11-10T13:45:00.000+06:00

Preebyet!
First of all, the picture you see is of my room in Krasnaya Rechka. I have signs on the wall to the left (that you can't see) that I've made in order to study Russian constantly. I also have the Cryllic alphabet above the rug you see by my bed. Needless to say you get an 'idea' of what my room is like.
I am currently in Bishkek, again, and in the middle of my site visit. All of the trainees came to Bishkek on Tuesday for a conference before we all departed for our permanent sites. Some people had visits that required a 10-12 hour drive. I was lucky and able to hope on a Martshrutka for 10 mintues in order to get to my NGO. I spent all day yesterday looking around the NGO and talking with my new coworkers, as well as studying some documents that the previous Volunteer created on one of the computers.
After visiting my NGO I went to meet my new family. I will be living with them from December 2, after the Volunteer swearing-in ceremony, until sometime in March, unless I decide to live with them longer. Their house is beautiful...to say the least. It is unlike anything I have seen here yet. The family is Kyrgyz, which means I will have to study some Kyrgyz in the next few months. They have some Kyrgyz decorations throughout the two-story house. They have running hot water, a flushing toilet, a gym, a huge kitchen, two living rooms, a large dining room, etc. It kind of knocks my socks off. I plan on taking some pictures to let you all know what it's like. There are four kids in the family: three girls (ages 11, 16, and 20) and one boy,23. They are just as welcoming as my current family and awesome in their own ways. No one will be able to replace my current family, as I'm sure no one will be able to do the same with this family in time.
I must get going now though...I have to get home before my new family wonders where I am!

Talk to you all soon!

Love,
Annie

Pictures!

2005-11-06T11:51:00.000+06:00

This is a picture I took walking home from class a few days ago. You'll notice the white paint on the bottom of the trees, this supposedly keeps the bugs out of them. The paint they use is similar to that used on football and baseball fields.

I know where I'm going!

2005-11-06T11:42:00.000+06:00

Hello everyone!

It's been a crazy week and I'm happy to finally have the chance to sit down and write all of you. I have finally been told where I will be living for the next 24 months after PST: Bishkek! I will be moving in less than a month now, which means I have a lot of studying and 'family time' to spend before I head off. The NGO I am assigned to work with is awesome and I really look forward to focusing on their goals and aspirations for during the next two years. The NGO is called Sezim. It focuses on human rights, including women's rights and human trafficking. It is a pretty large NGO and they have a lot of recognized and unrecognized potential. I hope to help them with both.
The village is still going well. My family is awesome and I enjoy hanging out with the trainees. There are only two other K-13 Volunteers that are going to be living in Bishkek: Scott and Laurie. They are both retired lawyers from Boulder...who would've thought! I think we'll have a good time over the next two years.
Sorry this is such a short update, but I've got to get going!

I love you all and I'll talk to you soon!

Annie

Twenty-Fifth Anniversary in Krasnaya Rechka

2005-10-29T14:43:00.001+06:00

It is a hot Saturday here in Kyrgyzstan. Everyday I wake up and leave for classes I have to pile on layers only to peel them off slowly throughout the day until I'm down to a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and my crocs. This morning I woke up to get ready for class and realized that things were going to be a little different this weekend. The 25th Anniversary of the Baptist church in Krasnaya Rechka is this weekend. My family has been talking about this celebration for the entire month of October, and probably before - I just couldn't understand, and now it is down to the wire for all of the preparation. At about 4:30 this morning two of my family's relatives arrived from Germany. Hans and Andre drove to the Manas International Airport in Bishkek to pick them up and arrived back to our village at about 6:30 (right before I usually wake up and start to prepare for the day). I woke up at 6:30 to hear the family greet each other in the hallway outside of my room and decided to try to get a bit more sleep. After snoozing for 15 minutes (my family gets a kick out of hearing my alarm clock blare from my room several times as I snooze through the mornings here) I crawled out of my sleeping bag, tried to get mentally prepared to speak Russian, and walked into the winter kitchen where the entire family had gathered. There are now 12 people staying in our house and a majority of them were up running around this morning. I don't like to speak English that much first thing in the morning, let alone Russian, but I did my best as I had tea and my usual two slices of bread with calbasa for breakfast.
After breakfast, I had Russian classes today and returned home at noon for lunch then watched Hans work on a powerpoint presentation for the church service tomorrow. A bunch of my friends and classmates from my village are going to be going to the 2 1/2 hour service tomorrow. A few of them went last week and thouroughly enjoyed the service and the music and are really looking forward to the service tomorrow. After church there is a Halloween party in Ivavovka, which is the next village over, and I plan on heading to that with a few friends then returning home to study for my first Russian test that's on Monday afternoon in Tokmok.
Last night six of us from the village met up at Robyn's house to watch a movie. When we got there we decided on 'A Fish Called Wanda,' and packed in around a laptop for the next two hours to sponge up some English acting. It was the first time a lot of us had seen that movie and we all really liked it, therefore I would like to reccomend it to you...please listen closely for a few Russian jokes.
Only four more days until site placements! I can't wait to find out where I'll be living for the next two years...it's all up in the air and these last days are driving me crazy. Soon enough I will know though...let's hope it all works out for the best.
I'm going to get going now, but I want you all to know I miss you and cherish you all! The more time I spend here the more I realize how lucky I am to have you all in my life! I hope you are all doing well!

Talk to you soon!

Love, Annie

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1-3

Hello

2005-10-26T13:40:00.000+06:00

Hi everyone!
I am in Bishkek once again and thought I would drop a line to say 'hello.' I have just finished visiting a business incubator here followed by a great lunch at a little cafe next to 'Zoom,' (a huge store with just about anything in it you could think of needing...although there isn't a lot of organization or communication between the vendors so it's kind of a mess). I am going to be in Bishkek for the next couple of hours and plan on doing some shopping at a bookstore then grabbing a martshrutka home around 3:00.
I don't have a lot to report this time around. It has been getting colder here and I've been spending more time inside reading and studying. I still go for a run now and then, and although it starts out as freezing cold when I hit the outside, I am always nice and warm when I return home.
Halloween is coming up and there is a party in Tokmok with the trainees to celebrate. I don't know if I'll be attending as it is the 25-year anniversery of the church my family attends in Krasnaya Rechka. I guess I'll wait until Friday or Saturday to make my final decision.
I hope you are all doing well and I will be talking to you soon to let you know what my future holds as far as placement...keep your fingers crossed things work out well!

I love you all!

Love,
Anya

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
-Proverbs 3:5

Hello again from Kyrgyzstan!

2005-10-23T14:33:00.000+06:00

Hello everyone!
Once again I am in Bishkek with a few of my friends running some errands and checking up on life on the other side of the world. It is my third time in Bishkek this week and it is becoming a pretty good escape from the village life.
Language classes are still going well and slowly I am picking up on the language bit by bit. I have my first language test in the next week or so and I'll know for sure what my level is then. Having language classes for five hours a day can sometimes be a buz-kill, but when it means having the ability to communicate with those around you it makes it worth all of the work.
Today I went to church in Krasnaya Rechka (my village - it means Red River in Russian) with four of my friends: Robyn, Andy, Bryan, and Kathleen. We sat in the balcony and my family hired a translator so we were able to understand most of the two hour service. There are three sermons within the service and Hans gave one of them today. All three of the pastors were great and the messages were very useful in any walk of life. After church we all walked back to our house and had Plov which is a traditional Kyrgyz dish made of rice, carrots, and chicken. There were roughly 15 people (or more) crammed around the table for lunch and it felt somewhat like Thanksgiving. When lunch was over Robyn, Andy, Bryan, and I got bundled up and headed out to grab a marshrutka to head into Bishkek. My entire family and all of their friends huddled around the door to say goodbye, which was a little weird becuase I felt like I was leaving for a vacation or a long trip when in all reality I was only leaving for a few hours to check my email. It was a nice farewell and I'm sure they'll all be waiting for us to return in a few hours.
I have techinical training this week in Tokmok. I am going, with two other SOCD trainees, to be visiting and observing an NGO on Monday and Tuesday of this week during the mornings. In the afternoons I will have Russian classes for three hours. On Wednesday I will go to Tokmok to meet with the rest of the SOCD trainees, then on Thursday and Friday I will be in Bishkek with all of the SOCD trainees to visit current NGO's there.
Wednesday of next week is when the announcements will take place regarding our future sites in country. It is overwhelming to think that I will know where I am going to be living in a few days and I can't wait to get rid of the anticipation! I will let you all know ASAP when I find out the exact site.
My family here continues to be a huge blessing in my life. All of the members of the family have become like true family members in a lot of ways and I will miss them when I move out in a little over a month. I plan on keeping in touch with them and visiting for months and perhaps years to come.
I wish you could see my village and the way of life here as it is completely different from home. I will be sending some pictures back home in order to let some of you see what life is all about here. Just picture more farm animals (walking free in the streets), dusty roads, crowded martshrutkas and questionable facilities...plus a few more things I can't even begin to explain. Needless to say it has all been quite the experience and I'm sure will continue to be so in the future.
I must get going. I hope you are all doing well!

Love,
Annie

Humility is the God-given self-assurance that eliminates the need to prove to others the worth of who you are and the rightness of what you do.
- James Ryle
‘Going Through the Dry Times’

Bishkek again

2005-10-16T13:12:00.000+06:00

I am in Bishkek again as I am typing this. Yesterday all of the trainees packed up and headed to Bishkek for the day. We toured a museum as well as the Peace Corps office while in town. The museum had three levels: the third had ancient artifacts and the beginnings of civilization in Kyrgyzstan, the second level was full of political and communist era paintings and remnants. The artwork was out of control. There were communist symbols and statues illustrating the happenings during the previous rule. Needless to say it was a little different from what you'd see in an American museum, go figure, and pretty interesting to check out.
Last night after our day spent in Bishkek, most of which consisted of lunch and a few beers at Fat Boys, a restaurant that made us feel almost like we were in the states, we went to a ballet. It was a beautiful performance and the ballet theater itself was gogeous inside. I have several pictures from the event and plan on sending them home in some way shape or form so you may all see what it was like.
Today I am back in Bishkek with Andy, Bryan, and Robyn to run some errands and get in touch with you all through some internet. I bought a blow dryer today in Bishkek and I am extremely excited to go home, wash my hair, and try it out. It's the little things in life, you know, this is a huge deal now...Such a big deal that I decided to write home about it.
There isn't a ton going on right now. I'm still spending hours each day in language class and with my family to adjust to the culture. I have an interview on Tuesday pertaining to what kind of NGO I would like to work with and any placement preferences in the country. On November 2nd I find out where I will be living for the next 26 months. It's such a short time away and I'm anxiously awaiting the announcement.
I've got to get going now, it's time to catch a martshrutka home.

I love you and miss you all!

Anya

2005-10-16T13:09:00.000+06:00

10/13/2005
Thursday Night…

It is now about 9:15 in the evening (9:15 in the morning on Thursday back in Colorado and 10:15 in Nebraska) here in Kyrgyzstan. I have just finished studying a bit with my family. I help my host brother, Andrew, with his English homework every other day and I work on my studies everyday. My host mom usually helps me with my homework as she likes to be active in my studies. I get a lot of help with my Russian and she gets to learn a few English words, so it works out. Last night as I was studying my Russian and working on my homework my host mom, Maria, and I started talking about different foods as that was the topic I am working on. People buy their food in the bazaars here. There are some small stores, called ‘magazines,’ but most produce, fish, vegetables, fruits, etc. are bought in bazaars, large and small, throughout the cities and villages. The bazaars are where people have been making their purchases for hundreds of years and most of them have dirt paths with overhangs to protect the people from the sun while shopping. Back to my studies last night: we got to talking about pizza and decided to make pizza tonight for dinner. So, today when I got home from class I had my usual cup of tea, took a short nap, then came out to the kitchen to help cut peppers, tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms for our dinner. Maria worked on the dough and before I knew it we were busy cleaning up the pizza on our plates. It wasn’t American style pizza, as there wasn’t any sauce, just vegetables topped off with cheese, but it was great. I am now full of vegetables and pomegranates (as we have been eating pomegranates for dessert for a few days now) and in the midst of settling in for another night of Ruskie studying.
Tomorrow is another day of language training then Saturday all 62 Volunteers left will be heading to Bishkek for the day. We are going to tour the city a bit more and check out the official Peace Corps headquarters in Bishkek. I plan on heading to Bishkek again on Sunday to do some shopping at the bazaars as well. I am hoping to buy a thick winter coat here with fur lining and a huge hood. These coats are out of control! They are just what you would imagine when thinking of a big, heavy, coat that is worn to survive in the freezing cold winters here. They run anywhere from 1000-2000 som which equals about $25.00-$50.00 (1 US dollar = 40 som), which is a steal for what you get. I’m pretty excited about my future shopping excursion and will be sure to keep you all updated on the outcome.
I am feeling pretty ‘at home’ here these days. I don’t think twice when dodging cow and sheep poop on the way to class and the smell of burning trash is becoming familiar to me. Winter is definitely coming and the temperatures are dropping. I wear an undershirt, a fleece, a jacket, jeans, gloves, and socks to my knees when walking to class. I still have the shell to zip onto my coat, stocking caps, and some long underwear waiting to be worn; therefore I haven’t exploited all of my warmth possibilities yet. I also have refrained from turning on my heater in my room as well since the temperature in my room is still lingering a bit above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. My host mom always tells me the temperature outside when I wake up and for the past few days it has been around zero degrees Celsius (it’s all metric here all of the time). I’m giving it about two more weeks before I roll out all of the winter necessities to get me through the next few months.
My Russian is expanding to the point where I can have conversations with the kids as I walk through the village. It’s awesome to have the kids come up to talk all of the time and keeps me company on the way home. I also run in the evenings and my host brother, Henry, has a routine of rounding up his friends in the street to wait for me to get home in order to have a ‘match,’ or soccer game. Yesterday I came in from running and playing with dirt all over my forehead from doing ‘headers’ with the kids and rolling around in the dirt. My host parents got a kick out of it as it was appeared to be several circles covering my face leaving evident marks of a soccer ball. I figure, if it gives me a reason for a banya, it’s worth the hassle!
Today marks the one month mark from my departure from Colorado. It has been a blur, yet there were moments that seemed to last forever. Overall, I’m amazed and happy to be here and looking forward to the future. In just two months I will be on site and moved into my new residence. I will miss this family immensely and already plan to keep in touch with them indefinitely. One month down…26 to go!
I must be going…time to study!

I miss and love you all!

Anya

“Take courage, it is I. Don’t be afraid.”
- Matthew 14:31

P.S. I loaned a movie to Hans and Andrew to watch tonight, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and he came back down halfway through the movie to ask exactly what the plot was, as well as if I had any Martin Lawrence movies like Bad Boyz or Bad Boyz II. Gotta love Amercian culture!

Nothing Like a Yak Herd to Tie Up Traffic!

2005-10-05T14:25:00.000+06:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are all doing well! I am now in Naryn visiting a current Volunteer, as well as the other Volunteers, in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan. This town is in the Naryn oblas which is the closest to the Chinese border. Yesterday morning we left for this city with seven others. We traveled to Bishkek via Martshrutka and went to the center of the town to catch what I thought was going to be another Martshrutka to Naryn. Three of our LCD's (Language and Culture Directors) were haggeling prices with the drivers and found us two cabs that cost 300 som per head for the ride to Naryn. I crammed into a circa 90's Mitsubishi with three other Volunteer-Trainees and headed off for Naryn.
The drive took us east from Bishkek towards Issyk Kul Lake. We almost reached the lake and there the highway turned south. This highway isn't the best kept road I've ever been on (go figure) and we spent a lot of time being shoved from side to side to avoid potholes. About an hour and a half into the drive we strated getting into the heart of the mountains. The mountains, the Himalays, are beautiful here. It was perhaps one of my favorite drives I have ever had. The mountains are very steep here and remind me of the Rockies a little bit, except there aren't trees on these mountains, sure there are the occasional groups from here to here, but there isn't a forest covering anything in site. We were careening around through a few different villages and weaving by the occasional car or Marthrutka, but the most interesting part of the driving skills arose when we came into herds of animals. The fist herd we came up on was a herd of horses, roughly fifty of them, with the occasional sheep and cow mixed in. The driver pulled right up to the animals and practically pushed them apart with his car. The next herd was mostly sheep with the occasional cow or horse. A few more of these herds covered the road and then we came to a pack of yaks (Craig could tell you what a yak sounds like...ask him sometime if you get the chance). The yaks were everywhere and once again we used the car to push them apart. If you ever get a little capitalist urge, think of desigining an animal plow to deal with the high-Himalayn roads. The men herding all of the animals were riding horses and wearing the traditional Kalpec (the black and white Kyrgyz hat). It was great seeing them in action.
Once we arrived in Naryn we (the four of us and our overstuffed packs) headed off to meet up with the Volunteers. We came to the apartment where we set up camp for the next few days. There is a water heater...woo-hoo! Which means I might get a hot shower while I'm here. We all sat around and caught up on their experience here and what their individual NGO's do and how they have overcome some of the challenges they have been faced with. After a while we decided to meet up with the rest of the clan and headed toward the center of the town. We met up at a cafe (what they call pubs and restaurants here) and had a beer with a few other trainees and Volunteers as well as two kayakers from the states. These guys have become friends with several of the Volunteers in country and have spent the past month traveling and kayaking around the country. It was a great group and after our time at the first cafe we headed out for dinner at another. I ordered pizza for dinner, along with a few others, and proceeded to inhale what was in front of me. It was awesome having some meat and vegetables with dinner and I thouroughly enjoyed the entire meal. We returned to a chilly apartment and setteled in for the night.
Today we woke up and had coffee and cold pizza for breakfast and headed off to the university in Naryn. Izzy (the Volunteer I'm staying with), Bryan, and I joined Hetzel (the Volunteer Bryan is staying with) for his fourth level conversational English class. We spoke about the culture in America vs. the culture in Kyrgyzstan, dating practices (for some reason this class was really interested in that aspect), and our perceptions of the country so far. We basically acted as a panel for the class to voice questions to for an hour. We also talked a lot about human rights and the occurrance of Bride-Napping that goes on in this country. More and more I hear about the different things that occur in order to force women to marry acquaintences and sometimes strangers. It is such a sad practice and several educated women are forced and 'guilted' into marrying these men and abandoning previously promising lives. The entire topic is pretty heartbreaking and I will go more in depth with the more observations and information I receive.
I am enjoying this site visit a lot so far. Tonight a few of the Volunteers are fixing barbeque chicken pizza for dinner. Friday they have a huge picnic planned with several of the current Volunteers and trainees from Naryn and neighboring villages. Saturday I head back to my home up north where hopefully they have a hot bana waiting.
Shoot me an email or a post sometime if you get a chance. I love hearing about what's going on back in the states! Until then, have fun doing what you're doing! Put some extra ice-cubes in your drinks for me (God, I miss those!).

Love,
Anya

2005-10-02T13:08:00.000+06:00

On the left is a picture of what I usually see on my way to Olga's, my Russia teacher. If I'm ever late I say that I was stuck behind a goat or cow herd. On the right is my host mother, Maria, outside of our summer kitchen. You an see an edge of our house in the background.

Preebyet (Russian Phonics for 'Hi')

2005-10-02T12:58:00.000+06:00

Sorry it's been so long! I miss you and have loved hearing from you all! The internet has not been easy to come by as one of my neighboring villages, Ivanovka, hasn't been working to well. Here's a rundown of life:
I live in a beautiful house (or what is beautiful here) with six other kids and one live in friend. It is a large family (they are Russian German Chrisian Baptists) and all of them are very nice. The live in friend speaks pretty good English, so we forego a lot of problems by means of that.
To bathe here we have to use a baña. A baña is the form of bathing they do here. My house has running cold water and electricity, but no running hot water. To take a bana the water has to be heated by means of wood or coal, then inside of the bana room there is a tub, a water basin, and a small pot that is used to bathe. It gets you clean and ready to go, or at least it feels that way after running around on dirt streets for a day or two.
A few days ago I had my first technical training. We outlined what we would be doing with NGO’s and realized the broadness of our jobs. There are no limits to what I may be doing. I could be working establish accounting practices, helping communities elect new leader, finding new means of marketing processes in order to alleviate the need for a middleman…etc. I have no idea where I will be or what NGO I will be working with but they are working with my resume and aspiration statement to place me with an NGO that fits my skills.
I can’t fly around caught up in what I used to be doing…it has forced me to become a part of the place I now live and call home. It’s such a cool (and different) thing to have the ability to come home to no missed messages, no meetings, no dinner plans, and no parties. I come home and reflect on all of the great things that have happened during the day and as well as what my job is here.
I am looking forward to next week a lot as we (all 62 Volunteers left) will be traveling all over the country to visit current Volunteers. I am going to be visiting a girl named Elizabeth Kane who lives in Naryn. There are about 7-8 Volunteers traveling to this city as well and we will all be leaving together from Tokmok on Tuesday morning and taking a Martshutka to Naryn. Our ride will take us past Issyk-Kul on the way south to Naryn. Issyk-Kul is an extremely large lake in the country and I have heard it is breathtaking. The Volunteers in Naryn are anxiously awaiting our visit and have planned a few guesting sessions as well as a barbeque for our visit. It shall be interesting.

I hope this catches you all up a bit. I will be on the internet in a few days when I get to Naryn (hopefully).

Love,
Anya

I'm in Bishkek

2005-09-20T09:13:00.000+06:00

I am in Bishkek right now and it is my firt time using the internet here. It has been a great stay so far, although it has hardly felt like I have entered the country because we've spent all of our time in the hotel doing training and other info sessions.
The town of Bishkek is awesome and I just found out yesterday that I will be in the closest village to Bishkek, but the furthest from Tokmok: the site where our training is.
I am going to be learning Russian!!! I am so pleased and excited about that! It will be a challenge but so much more applicable than Kyrgyz in the long run. I had a 6 hour language class yesterday and although I don't remember a lot today, I have a feeling I will be picking things up rather quickly.
Today we are in town to buy flowers/gifts for our host family. I meet them today fter lunch at a ceremony. Tonight, we all return home with our host families and settle in. I will be with a Russian or Turkish family. They will more than likely not know any English...therefore between now and then I need to learn how to decline vodka politeley.
I like everything so much so far except for the food. A former volunteer was at the hotel last night and we spent hours talking to each other...he let us know that the food at the hotel is sub-par, therefore I feel a little better about what lies ahead. The first breakfast was a slab of egg with two pink hot dogs. Today we had eggs, sunny-side up, and sausage...needless to say I'm trying to adapt...I may lose a few lbs...although I'm sure I'll gain them in the winter months.
I now also know that I will be stationed in the northern part of the country since I am learning Russian. Only 4 groups out of 13 are learning Russian, so I feel pretty lucky and I'm really pleased with my assignment. My language teacher is who brought my group into town today. Her name is Olga and she is one of the sweetest women I have ever met.
By the way...I haven't tried fermented mare's milk yet...I heard a liter of it will get you wasted...then again I've been living in the shelter of a hotel, so tonight should be an interesting experience: my first night away from the hotel, admin, and other volunteers. What a rush!

Anya

Last night in the States

2005-09-16T03:56:00.000+06:00

We are now finally at the end of our time in Philadelphia and getting ready to leave for Kyrgyzstan tomorrow. I have learned a lot about what to expect in the past few days. Tomorrow is going to be a hectic day but exciting in the way it will be full of firsts: my first time to New York, my first time to Istanbul, and my first day in Kyrgyzstan. We leave for JFK at 10:00 tomorrow. We're all bussing up to Washington D.C. where we'll be boarding Delta for our 10 hour flight. I've never been on a plane for more than five hours, so we'll see how I do. After our time spent in the Istanbul airport (it won't be a possibility to leave) we'll board another flight to Kyrgyzstan. We'll arrive in my new home country at 1:10 a.m. at the Manas airport: Manas is the mythical hero who is the subject of the world's longest poem and equal to the legendary status of Achillies in Kyrgyzstan.
After we arrive we'll be going to the Issyk-Kul Hotel just outside of Bishkek. This hotel is very "russian" in style, which means a plain brick structure. Previous Peace Corps groups have been greeted off the plane by a military band. By the time we get our bags it wil be 4:00 a.m., so it will be interesting to see if there will be the pomp and circumstance there usually is.
I will not be able to contact anyone until Tuesday out of Bishkek. No news is good news...therefore, if you wonder if I made it and you haven't heard word just assume all is well and know I'm thinking of you!
On September 19th we'll begin going through our comprehensive immunization program with several vaccinations...I really can't wait, I mean shots are cool, right?!
On Tuesday afternoon our host families will meet us and take us back to our new homes for the next 11 weeks. My group, the SEOD group, has been changed to the SOCD group which means: Sustainable Organizational and Community Development. There is no change in what this does to the program so far, but I'll find out all specifics on my mission very soon. The SOCD volunteers will be in different villages for training b ut come together every Tuesday for training together and on Wednesday all of the volunteers (SOCD and TEFL) will meet together for cross-cultural sessions. Finally, December 1 will be our Swearing-In ceremony. This is a pretty big deal in Kyrgyzstan and will be perhaps one of the coolest days in the whole adventure so far. Government officials, host country counterparts, diplomats from the U.S. Embassy and other embassies accredited to Kyrgyzstan, host families, and representatives of various international organizations will be present.
On to the pictures, you will see four pictures: top left is two other SOCD volunteers and I at a local college bar last night, the middle right picture is a group of us at dinner last night at a mexican restaurant, top right is the plane I boarded to go to Philadelphia, and the bottom right is the group of girls that went to dinner at the mexican restaurant last night.
I'm excited, nervous, and ready to go...two whole years...wow...and my calculation was wrong, I have 819 days left. Hope to talk to you all soon!
Love,
Annie

My bag is here, so is orientation!

2005-09-15T10:33:00.000+06:00

Well day one of orientation is over! Woo-hoo! It was just like my first day of elementry school, but there were more adults here.
Last night at about 3:00a.m. the front desk called with my bag...now I'm all good to go. It was a little crazy yesterday having a few things go astray, but now that all of my posessions are under one roof I'm ready to go.
Tonight, a bunch of us went to a Mexican restaurant to grab some food then headed off to a local college bar for a couple drinks. The scene was a little much for the mood and we decided to head back to the hotel for some more quality computer time.
From what I've heard so far it sounds like we're going to be spending a couple of nights in Bishkek before heading to Kant City for training. On the 18th of September we will be receiving all of our shots/vacinations...gee...I can't wait. In orientation we aren't getting a lot of specific job training, just intro to Peace Corps information. I have to wait until I arrive in Kyrgyzstan to hear more specific details of my job, language assignment, and world wise school information. Overall there are 11 SEOD trainees and 55 TEFL. I'm in the minority but we're ready to represent!

Two more days until Kyrgyzstan!

Love, Annie

I'm in Philadelphia!

2005-09-14T11:19:00.000+06:00

I finally made it to Philadelphia today at about 6:00 Colorado time. It's been a whirlwind of a day...from waking up at 6:00a.m. until now. Last night I packed both of my bags (holding 50 lbs. each) and waited until this morning to pack my two carry-on bags. This wasn't the greatest idea ever. I now have a few piles of things left at my dad and Kim's house that will have to be shipped later. After running around frantically from 6:00a.m. until 8:00 (while my father ran around in the background monitoring my packing) I finally got in the car to head to the airport.
My dad and Kim were my escorts today and witnessed my tears from the backseat a few times on the way out of the mountains. Leaving the house, my things, my friends and my family was pretty rough, although not once today did I question my reasoning and meaning in getting on the plane to fly to Philly. I've called a few different places home now and I have learned that everytime I challenge myself in a move the best usually comes of it. After lunch in the airport I left my dad and Kim at security. A few more tears were shed and I continued on into the terminal . It was crazy waiting to board the plane realizing it was the last few moments in Colorado for a while, I took time to take a picture of the plane and a journal entry then got on board.
After arriving in Philly I came to find that one of my bags didn't make it to baggage claim. Of all times to lose a bag of course it would happen then! At that moment in time I think God was probably watching me laughing just waiting to see how I would react, and after realizing that this isn't the worst thing that could happen I decided to suck it up and move on to the hotel.
As I was checking in at the Sheraton I met two fellow volunteers. They were headed out to walk around town and grab a bite to eat. We rounded up a few more troops (roughly ten in all) and went out to Chili's for dinner. There are some awesome people in this group and conversation was flowing...fears, concerns, excitement, etc. was expressed in so many different ways. After dinner we went to a pub for a beer and then back to the hotel to check email. Right now I'm sitting in the lobby with about eight other volunteers and we're all frantically typing away on our computers like a squad of geeks (Craig, you know what that looks like).
Tonight I don't have a roommate, but tomorrow I will be sharing my room with another volunteer. Tomorrow we start our 12 hour orientation known as 'Staging.' At dinner tonight I was surrounded by TEFL volunteers and only one other SEOD. I've heard there are only a handful of SEOD (Sustainable Economic and Organizational Development) volunteers going to Kyrgyzstan, but there are several TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). If this is true then tomorrow I will be meeting the small group of people I will be spending a majority of my time with in training in the next 11 weeks. I am still hoping to be focusing on Russian as a language over Kyrgyz and I'm sure tomorrow a lot of this will become a bit more clear.
Overall, I couldn't be more happy with the way this first night has gone (except for the bag part). All of the people I have met so far are really friendly and open. There are about 50 people in the entire Kyrgyz group so as everyone arrives tomorrow it may be a little overwhelming (not to mention I am freaking terrible with names). Day one done...1,459 to go!

T-minus...

2005-09-12T00:11:00.000+06:00

After a victorious day of competitive salmon fishing and cribbage playing yesterday,I found myself awake today at 5:30 a.m. in a rush of panic realizing I am yet another day closer to leaving. Thoughts of the career I 'should'be starting and other seemingly important commitments flooded my mind when finally I came back to the reality of my dream to leave and how important it is to me, and for me,to go. At about 10:00 my dad, Kim, and I went for a bumpy ride up the mountain for bloody mary's and breakfast. There was a beautiful view and it was very relaxing to take the morning to observe nature and enjoy time away from reality.
I now find myself 48 hours away from the plane ride that will carry me to Philadelphia. I have been going through every emotion imaginablein the past week, especially the past few days.
Today I will lay out my first round of packing...I work better under pressure and I agree in your thoughts questioning how long I have put this off...but for me now is the time to begin setting out my 100 lbs. that will be my life for the next 27 months. One hundred pounds seems like alot, but when you start to put all of your necessities,favorite possessions,clothes,bedding, etc. into two bags the room fills up quick.
Overall,I am excited,I am so blessed, and I am ready for this. I am beginning to realize everyday how lucky I am to have supportive family and friends and the opportunity to help others in this way.
Now I must go...back to the packing frenzy!
Until next time/Philadelphia!
Annie

Mailing Address

2005-09-08T22:08:00.000+06:00

Hey everyone!

Thanks for the great past week. It has been such ablessing to spend time with all of you before my departure. For those ofyou I haven't seen, I hope to hear from you soon! I wanted to give you allmy address for training (September 16 - end of November), this is where Iwill be learning Russian/Kyrgyz and meeting my first host family:

Name & Surname
97 Lenina Street, RUPS
Mailbox # 23
722140, Kant City
Kyrgyz Republic

Iam headed out of North Platte today and up to Colorado for my last few days. To all the North Platte friends and relatives, I want to personally thankyou for showing me a great time, reminding me of who I am, and being so supportivein my decision to leave. I couldn't have had a better time with all of youand the memories we have will keep me going through the rough times. Youall are amazing.

Only 5 days to go...I'll talk to you all soon.

Love, Annie

Last Boulder Weekend

2005-09-01T23:39:00.000+06:00

It is now my last weekend in Boulder and I feel like there is still so much to do! I work for the next two nights, tomorrow being my last at the Med. Two of us are sharing the same last night, this may create an interesting situation.
After my last night of work I am headed to the CU vs. CSU game with a group of friends as a last 'ha-rah.' Saturday is officially my last night in Boulder, it's going to be hard to say goodbye. Living in Boulder has been a great experience for me. The past four years have taught me so much about who I am: my values and what I want to do with my future. I expect nothing less from the next two.
Until next time...Cheers!

Going to the Dark Side

2005-08-27T03:26:00.000+06:00

In preparation to leave for Kyrgyzstan I have made a few changes. First of all; I have reduced my wardrobe by 2/3, I won't lie, this still leaves me with plenty of options for my last couple weeks in the states; I have given away/sold all furniture I own; I have made plans to sell my car; and finally today I became a brunette. That's right, no longer am I the blonde I used to be, perhaps this will cut down on my tendency to say or do things that sound...what shall I say...not smart...we'll see. One day closer to Kyrgyzstan now: 18 left to go.

On the verge of something great...

2005-08-25T22:03:00.000+06:00

I now have 19 days left until I step onto the plane in Denver to depart for Philadelphia. I will be in Philadelphia until the 16th of September when I leave for New York, then Istanbul, and finally Kyrgyzstan.
It's been a crazy adventure so far. The emotions that I have experienced throughout the process of receiving and accepting my invitation have been overwhelming. I went from knowing hardly anything about a country and culture to becoming familiar and comfortable to moving to a place I will call my new home.
In the past few weeks I have started preparing for my departure by trying to concentrate on what is most important to me, my friends and my family. There is no greater way to find what you care about most then putting yourself in a position where you face leaving the ones you love on a leap of faith. I am blessed with so many amazing friends and family members that have been nothing but supportive in the past weeks...Thank you! This gesture will never be forgotten!
As far as the trip itself, I find myself learning the Cyrllic alphabet to prepare for classes in Russian and Kyrgyz. I will be working on Sustainable Economic and Organizational Development for NGO's and small businesses in what is now the post-communist era in Kyrgyzstan. When I arrive in Kyrgyzstan in a few weeks I will be placed in a training site for 11 weeks. During this 11 week period I will have daily language classes for four hours as well as cultural and work training. After this time I will be assessed on my language skills then placed on my permanent site where I will spend the next 24 months of my life. It should be quite the challenge/adventure!
I hope to keep you all updated with this blog during the next 2+ years. I'm excited for you to be a part of this huge endeavor!