Before joining the Peace Corps, I had not lived in the same place for more than 9 months straight since graduating high school. I learned how to condense my belongings into two suitcases and a carry-on. I don't collect keepsakes, I rarely buy new clothes and refuse to buy books when a library is available. I changed my "wants" so they would fit my nomadic and unstable lifestyle. It was great. I think it was exactly what I needed at the time. Demanding me independence and forcing myself into being responsible as well as compulsive. Now I am hitting that 9 month mark in Kyrgyzstan (though I've only been living with this family for 6 of them) and it's not as strange as I anticipated. I enjoy it. This is my first day back home for a week and it feels so nice to be with my loving family and in my extremely warm room. As uncomfortable I may feel in Kyrgyzstan, I have a little sanctuary with my home.
When my intake group came in, we were warned that Kyrgyzstan will teach you what real winter is like. The ice covers the streets, cars get into accidents more often than in the summer and the food is rough - just a steady diet of sheep, potatoes, onions and as much bread as you need to fill up. The group before ours lost a string of volunteers over the winter. One right after the other, they just left. So we were prepared for our experience to be similar. But it hasn't been. I'm happy to say that our group has only lost one volunteer. I don't want to put a stigma on Early Termination, I understand Peace Corps is not for everyone, and may not even be for me in a few months. But It's pretty exciting that we are (almost) all still here. Each of us have hard months and challenges with family or counter parts, but we all seem to be supporting each other enough that we have really stuck it out. At least through the winter.
Updates/Pictures:
Beautiful hike just around the corner!
For my birthday I got two packages in one day! It was amazing!!
And my family made me signs in English!
During a Training of Trainers, we discussed the stereotypes we put on girls. Here are the words the Counterparts used to describe our fictional girl, Jibek. Pretty eye opening.
Also, the flies are coming back. Maybe the winter wasn't so bad?
