Let's back up a few weeks. The award was given by the US Embassy and the Kyrgyz government reacted. Our visas, unfortunately were due around this time.
On July 29th, our country director made contingency plans for us to possible go to the US on "Administrative hold", meaning we would go back to the states and wait to see if/when we would get our visas. Being the planner that I am, I packed.
On August 4th, we received verbal confirmation that our accreditation (the first step to visas) was approved for 4.5 months. I unpacked and celebrated with my family. Began planning the year with my counterpart. And then...
On August 7th we were told that Mid-Service Training was urgently cancelled due to visas complications. If we would not receive our accreditation by the end of the week we would have to travel to Almaty and then the US and put on "Administrative hold"...again. This looked like it was it. It was getting down to the wire and the PC staff seemed to be panicking. So I packed again, told my family again that I could be leaving, and this time it look more serious. I said good bye to my counterparts, started making plans in the states and really starting to lean into it.
On August 10th, we got a text message at 8pm saying we were given accreditation by the Kyrgyz government. Because we still didn't have our visas, we would continue with the plan to possible leave the country, pack up all our junk, continue to say goodbye to everyone here and just be emotional messes.
August 12th, everyone arrived in Bishkek with huge bags and tired faces.
August 13th, we got our visas. Peace Corps said we should stay in the hotel for the weekend and just rest. I was mostly pissed that I packed twice.
So that was my month so far. I wanted to break it down for everyone who got some serious mixed signals from me about whether or not I would be coming home. That is why.
And now I'm tried after reliving it.
Coming up: School starting. Trip to Osh and Jalalabad. Fall slowing approaching.
