Well, training is officially over. I am 100% a Peace Corps Volunteer now. I can finally start the projects I have mind. I’m stoked. This also means that from now on all the structure and scheduling in my life will pretty much be self-made. So, that’s something. Training ended with three weeks of language and technical training back in our PST villages and hub site. IT was really great to see my first family again. It felt like coming home. Training was, well, a thing that happened. It was a lot of sitting and listening. The best part was definitely going to Bishkek every single weekend. We got to let loose and have some fun all together. All the Talas volunteers rode back together on Sunday. It was a fairly uneventful ride for the most part. Except for the stop we made to pick up some roadkill. Okay, so imagine that you have been in a moderately cramped minibus for about 4 hours. You’re tired, hungry, and your legs really need a good stretch. All you want in the world is to finally make it back to your house, and start settling back in, but then your driver pulls over to the side of the road. You notice that there is a dead, disemboweled horse just laying on the ground, and you assume the driver stopped to get a good look. Ya know, just curiosity. This was my rationale. NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. We stopped looked at the horse, and then I took the opportunity to use the outhouse nearby. When I walked back over all of our bags were on the ground, and the horse was being loaded into the marshrutka. Our bags just went back on top. See horse is expensive, and it is pretty tasty. So, my guess is the driver got a pretty sweet deal on this horse since it dies after being hit by a car. I can’t blame him. I want to. Because horse juice probably got on my bag, but I can’t.
Being back in Talas has been pretty cool. Monday was Independence Day. Aizada and I went watch the parade and then went to a carnival in the park. I had a blast. I got see awesome dances, and watch/listen to a recitation of Manas. It was a solid day. My counterpart is currently on vacation, so I am being left to my own devices while she is gone, but I have plenty that I can work on.
Also, if any kind soul that reads this blog wants to send me a package or letter, I would love it!
My address is:
Кристина Эденс
Кыргыз Республикасы
Тород Талас
Улииа Алля Нуржанова
Дом #11
724200
Tel # 0552231525
If you need package ideas….
Hot sauce
Candy
Instant Oatmeal
Seasonings
Chips (especailly salt&vinegar and doritos)
BBQ Sauce
Pens&Pencils
Any boxed food item (rice, mac&cheese, etc)
Protein bars
Or anything you are kind enough to send :)
