I've been tracking my overall mood each month. An emotional map and timeline while in Peace Corps, if you will. I guess trying to create some kind of empirical data of my two years. And I recently looked back at my journal that I've been keeping. Everyday I write anywhere from one word, if that's all I have to give, to several pages if I really need to say something. I want to share a few of my entries, just to demonstrate the highs and lows one experiences in this bizarre environment- living with a family again, not speaking the language, having new expectations projected onto you and so on.
April 27th - Kyrgyzstan is absolutely beautiful. The dark night hid its mountains until sunrise revealed them. Snowcapped and massive.
May 4th - I bathed, I pooped, it's been a great day.
June 23rd - I don't know if I can do this. I feel like I have no clue what I am doing. How am I supposed to run an English Club? And level, baseline and keep attention of these kids!?
August 31st - The last bit of training was draining, but the highs and lows are: I feel more prepared about teaching (high), but my Counterpart got married and resigned from her job (low). So my new Counterpart is an elementary school teacher named Aida (high). Her language is limited and I'm unsure if she actually wants a volunteer (low). She works 8 hours a week (high). This should give me enough time do work with her, Chinada, run an English club and work with the American Corner! It might create a very healthy balance. We'll see! Tomorrow is the big day...
September 16th - Today was a good day. I did a good job teaching and Arlen (my brother) and I hung out. I'm going to allow myself to feel fulfilled today.
October 1st - I think I have cracked the code as to why I dislike guesting so much. It's because I have never felt so lonely.
October 19th - I spent the day harvesting beets. I'm actually pretty proud of myself. I feel like I held my own and because I couldn't speak, I couldn't complain. I was even the last one chopping. It was one of the better times guesting, and my Aunt has become my guard dog when it comes to questions on politics and religion. She jumps on anyone who asks me about Putin/Obama. Thank you!
November 9th - I don't want to go to work tomorrow.
December 15th - Work was difficult today. None of the kids were focused or wanted to be here. Even my best classes were all over the place. I just feel useless and I'm trying to understand why I am here.
January 7th - I went for a run again! Keep it up, Sarah! I think the reason I really enjoy it is because it's an excuse to get out of the house. Be away from my family, not feel guilty about it but still be away. It's an activity that I have complete control over. Not Peace Corps, transportation or money. It's feels so good to have that control, I don't think I can express it.
January 20th - No work today, 2 packages, tons of friends and all night guesting. It was a great birthday.
February 11th - Really sick. My family thinks it's because I drank cold drinks.
March 10th - On my way home from Kant today I was waiting in the taxi with an eje (older woman) and a little boy. The woman asked me the usual questions (Where are you from? What are you doing here? Who is your family? Do you like Kyrgyzstan?) and then left the car for whatever reason, leaving just me and the boy.
I then asked him "How are you?", "Good" he replied.
"Which class are you in?"
"2V"
"What is your name?"
"Bukzultan"
"My name is Sarah"
He extended his hand and said "Hi". This simple and elementary interaction filled me with happiness and made me glow! This little boy changed my whole day. He was so happy to be speaking with me, and I felt the same way. When we reached my house, I got out of the taxi only to hear "Goodbye, eje". I didn't even mind that it was snowing in March.
And now it is May again. Lordy lordy...
And many, many pictures!
Karema and I tried to make cookies again but the eggs were kept out in the cold and froze! It took a lot of work to blend it into the flour, but it turned out alright.
I'm also teaching her about the importance of flossing!
For Nooruz (first day of spring/Muslim New Year) we went to the stadium to watch a national treasure (think polo, but instead of a ball, it's a headless goat!) Stanley liked it, too.
More Nooruz celebrations, minus the goat.
And my family made some shashlik to bring in the new year!
It rained and I put together a puzzle...village life rules!
I was able to go to the Kyrgyz National Museum in Bishkek. It only has a few floors, one for ancient Kyrgyzstan and another for the Soviet Union. One of the most interesting parts of the museum are the ceiling paintings along the entire exhibit! Check it out!
Obviously being from the states, our history books portray these years differently. But I truly believe neither are correct. Each side has twisted the past to fit a narrative and have tried to disregard each others advances and amplify their mistakes.
Whatever you believe, you can't deny the fathers of the revolution rocked some pretty rad beards.
We went hiking in our Oblast
We had to cross this truly terrifying bridge.
But it was worth it!
After a whole year I finally left the country (clearly I'm a true patriot.) Though I didn't go far, just over the border to Kazakhstan.
I was luckily enough to be there during the "elections", too!
Nursultan Nazarbayev won by a landslide!!
And the country celebrated!
I'm still not jaded by the views in Central Asia. Seriously, friends and family, please visit!
Also Central Asia has a lot of puppies that just appear!
I ran around somewhere in Kyrgyzstan.
Came back to where it all began, Issyk Kul!
I'm telling you, puppy season is a thing here!
May 9th is Victory Day here in Kyrgyzstan (celebrating the victory of the Soviet Union in WWII.) And this lovely picture is in my school this week. I love walking past a war scene before class!
Spring is here to stay. It's hot, muggy and sweaty...
...but I'm really loving it!
