58 5/17

I told you I intend on writing regularly! Today was a pretty regular day. One of my classes was cancelled. The rest were smooth. The year's goal for the teachers that I work with is to "get through the book", overlooking what is actually in the book or whether the students are actually understanding what is going on in class. That said, in most classes we are finished with the book. Finally the stupid book is out of the way! Too bad students are pretty much over school at this point. I find my ways to fill class time, though... Today only 3 students came to the 10th grade class, so we looked at my pictures from home and talked about them (I brought my laptop to have my counterpart check on the certificates I'm making for my summer volleyball camp.) The students loved it - and we only spoke English, so there. Then in 8th grade, I somehow found myself giving Spanish lessons lol! Students - getting me off track! But it was very much grammar related....?

I look forward to next year, having a couple of months to explain some changes I'd like to make will go much better than coming from another country to a village school a month into lessons - with an agenda.... I hope. The other day I had one of the worst teaching situations happen. Gulbak had missed a series of classes - giving me the room to do my own thing (without the book). She suddenly returns one class and decides we are further back in the book than what I am teaching. So, we go back. I usually don't do any exercises from the book because they are ridiculous and confusing. She decides I will facilitate all of the exercises this class and she will do her grade book. Exercise 1 says "Read the job advertisement below and discuss it." - "below" is a exert from the dictionary of the words to qualify, to apply, and to interview. I say, "Gulbak, I don't understand what this exercise wants us to do, there is no job advertisement." We continue to argue about the stupidness of the book. She tells me to write the translation and transcription of these words on the board. I say, well... then we aren't doing the exercise from the book, and the students don't learn from a translation and transcription... (I know its petty, but I decided to use this to make my case about the books.) We argued for a while (students stunned), and by the end of class - she was with me! She is all about new books for next year - yes! (Although now she uses the "awful books" as a scapegoat for her not preparing for class...)

I finished my "locavore" book, and although I don't 100% agree with every detail, I am moved to change. Please read it! It really is important. That is what I spent the rest of my day doing - finishing... I don't know what it is about the book that I just couldn't stop reading. Hopefully by the time I get home and have a place to settle down and invest into, I'll still be passionate about food. For now, I'm moving on to the next book. Tell you what, one thing I've discovered about myself while here is that I really like to read lol! I'm currently on a desperate search to find a lawn chair in this country. The superstition for women here is you may not sit on the ground or touch your bare-feet to the ground - or you will become infertile (assuming that is what they mean when they tell me "Your woman parts will hurt lol). They take this very seriously and have a near heart attack if they see a young woman touching the earth. However, there are no chairs or benches outside. ever. which only leaves the squat-perch position, which they have mastered but most western people teeter over while attempting. This position is not a lounge and read position. I want a lawn chair.

57 5/16

I knew this would happen sooner or later when I started this blog - the unintentional awkward black hole in the blog series. Fail. Two and a half months of mystery..... :) And now how to fill the cavity while staying current. First of all, I am perfectly healthy and still in the same village I was since blog...#? I figure with my intended very regular future blogs, the hole will refill itself. But for my own sake, I will quickly note (with the help of my planner...) the major events since Valentine's Day: Volleyball Competition, Music Department Competition, Ford's Olympiad, Balkhash trip, Women's Day, Shimkent, Nauryz, Turkistan, Janatas, Aksukent, In-Service Training, Project Design Management, Saule's 15th birthday, India Trip confirmed, Commitment to Eurasian Marathon, Victory Day/Zhere's birthday. Well, there are so many stories within each of these listed - and so many in between! Like I said, they will surface naturally, I'm sure.

Back to the present. The last day of school is on May 25th for us at Eginbayev. This leaves about a week and a half of classes, then I start packing my bags for India! Classes have been a little lame, students aren't so willing to cooperate, which leaves me being Angry Miss Noelle threatening children every class... well, mainly the same ones multiple times. My Student English club has morphed seamlessly from actual English themes, to holiday themes, to Drama Club ,to Card Game Club, to, currently, Sports Club. We are now happily practicing English outside within a wonderful sport of the children's choice! Johnny gave me a frisbee for Christmas and it's a huge hit. I've taught my kids Ultimate Frisbee, Kickball, and American football (with a frisbee instead of a football). They love it. - and so do I! I have some very active students both in the classroom and out.

I snuck in my long list of missing things "Eurasian Marathon"... which is quite an ambitious stretch for my running abilities. However I am so excited to give it my best shot. I've been running much more regularly now and feel better in more than one way! Denise suggested this marathon a couple of months ago and as it is still quite intimidating, I had to let the idea sit for a couple of weeks before committing. Now, I'm all in. It will be October 17 in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the ideal time and situation for me to run a marathon. Financially, I will be scraping... but... I'll get to go to Istanbul.. with an amazing group of girls... run a marathon... and use these ol' muscles of mine to the max! Not knowing exactly where to start, I've just been running. Five times a week. (Although I am currently in a mini slump - the arch of my foot is giving me problems) I run for 30 minutes in one direction along the river, then turn around and run 30 minutes back... for now. I've gained quite a reputation in the village - there's no doubt, they notice lol. My students adorably ask me every day, "Miss Noelle, boogin jugerasiz be?" (Are you going to run today, Miss Noelle?) I told them in the beginning to ask their parents first - if it would be ok for them to run with me, then changed my mind and said I would rather they not run with me... I run along a road, along the water, in the mountains. The cars make ME nervous, let alone being responsible for children! Needless to say, they didn't listen to me anyway. I run with 6th graders - and they keep me moving! They don't usually run the entire route, but the beginning and end, which are where it counts anyway! I'm glad they didn't listen. It's nice to have some company! My favorite part of all this running is the 5 bucket bathes I now take a week! Spick and Spam! I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner! LOL!

I have had a recent revelation in regards to food. A good friend of mine, Sam, let me borrow a couple of books - all of which I have really enjoyed. This one in particular has really touched me. It's called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver. I recommend this to all who eat. It's about American food culture. What it is, and could be. It's inspiring, political, scientific, social, do-it-yourself, creative, funny, homey, poetic, down to earth, dare I say, life changing. That said, I'm considering abandoning all of my worldly ambitions, degrees, languages, you name it lol - and becoming a serious gardener. Simple life, no drama. When I came here, initially, I was, of course, impressed by the magical-ness of turning a garden into dinner... (what? fresh tomatoes means they actually have dirt on them? dirt is bad. cucumbers aren't all straight and exactly 6 inches with a 2 inch diameter?). Then I quickly became defensive of our convenient-quick-cheap-easy focused diet, typical American mentality. Time is money, right? Reasoning: I would rather eat something quick and tasty then this stupid bland potato dumpling you put so much work in growing and kneading and NOT spicing up, respectively... I'm alive aren't I? - not starving. That's all food is needed for - and I actually could just skip it all together and take a pill or a disguised chocolate covered concoction of supplements. It seems like a good percentage of us would do just that without a second blink (myself included).

In America (and abroad) we are harassed and scolded for being obese - not eating right - eating Mcjunk - etc, and we are so far from the memory of our own real food culture (yes, we do have one) we panic, binge, deny, ignore, and justify. It doesn't have to be this way. It shouldn't be intimidating or a shameful thing to eat. It's O.K. to talk about food, America. The US is amazing for more than one reason - and one reason is it's food potential. Most of America's land is completely capable of producing more varieties of food than I imagined possible on their own. The seasons alone decide the types of food you should eat year round. This book helped me realize that it is possible to make and enjoy delicious meals from your own backyard. "Homegrown" doesn't always have to mean sheep liver, onions and potatoes, this isn't actually a terrible meal.... lol (from last night's dinner); and also, food is just about as timeless as you get. Since when do people decide eating isn't really for them? I don't remember a time in human history when any one civilization ever decided they would actually prefer to pursue photosynthesis instead, thanks. (Although wouldn't it be nice to be able to get a tan (...or green?) for a healthy reason!) So I think it's about time we get back on track.

I planted about 500,000 potatoes yesterday with my host mom. three of our four garden squares are potatoes. WHY SO MANY POTATOES?! I so wish I could control something in this country. I rearranged my room - and feel a little better.

(P.S. our soil is way better than the soil here - dry, pale, rocky - and they still manage to eat through the winter without trouble - just not very creatively. We have the upper hand.)

Here are some photos of my village.

Random House

My Village

Mosque

Eginbayev

Main Street

55 2/3

Today, I discovered the joy of earplugs. Having little ones in the house, we definitely have our good days and bad days - Like any family, I would say. Today was a bad day, but not horrible. Maybe its a cultural thing, but from what I've noticed, noise is easily ignored. Screaming, crying, yelling, all of it is easily accepted and dealt with. And maybe it's just that I'm just losing patience cooped up in a house all day. Our house is very small and even the TV always seems to be on, whether people are watching it or not, and by on I mean loud. It's like a war of the sounds. If you can't hear, then turn it up. Then the other person can't hear so they turn their whatever up, and it goes on like this. The walls are thin and we are all pretty tightly squeezed in our house here. So, needless to say, kids are kids and they can be brats at times too, yes, even in Kazakhstan. So, Zhere with her cackling doll and Zharas with his musical game thing were getting on my nerves. Even after turning down the toys myself, shutting the doors, and asking nicely, the munchkins wouldn't cooperate. I don't know what clicked in my mind, but after staring at the same sentence in my book for an extended time, I remembered the earplugs they gave out in the airplane - and thought, heyyyy.... :)

Peace and quiet. It's amazing how much clearer you can think without noise. It was strangely blissful. I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner. Best idea in Kazakhstan yet. I'm in my own little world with the earplugs. Apparently a circus is coming to town this weekend. Johnny and I are planning to go on Saturday. This might be a bad idea, I'm not sure. I've never been into the PETA-thing, but I have a feeling in my gut that this will probably be worse than I'm expecting - worse in every way lol. Who knows... I guess I'll find out on Saturday. We had a discussion, about which is worse, a bad zoo or a bad circus? Pretty terrible, but something to think about, right?

54 2/2

I feel like I haven't written in forever, although now looking at the dates, I can see it's only been about a week an a half. Still, I'm lost at where to begin with catching up... I don't think anything unusual or exciting has happened that I can recall. Actually, it was English week that tied me up and threw my normal schedule off. English week was a lot of work, seeing as it was basically a time where my English teachers just sat back and expected me to keep pulling rabbits out of my hats. Literally that went on for a week. All eyes on Miss Noelle. It went well though, no disasters. Although our Romeo and Juliet play totally bombed lol. That could easily be considered a disaster. It was so disastrous, I have no record of the account, except for all of the signs and posters that I made. I could write a whole post on the things that went wrong with that thing, but I chose not to. My Regional Manager even came during English week. That was, surprisingly, a perfect end to the packed week. (Apparently she and my host mom are from the same tribe, which pretty much set the tone for the visit... :)

So now here I am, bored. Back to my normal life here. I am happy to say that I had my first tutoring session with Saltanat today. I am so happy she agreed - and I like being able to help her financially. I feel bad in a way, there aren't really very many career options in this village. It's pretty much: herder, driver, work at the school, akimat (mayor/police building), or a shop. So far I've met three women who have studied and know English fairly well that can't find jobs, specifically as teachers; and here I am, a native English speaker teaching English at no cost to the schools. You can't really beat that. I think that this tutoring arrangement is a huge improvement to my first tutor. I came home after classes, ate lunch, went to English Club, then played volleyball. It was a challenge just to walk from the school to the sport complex - not because it was far, but because roads and sidewalks, if you can really call them that, aren't salted or shoveled here. Which means that it is a mess to get around outside. Everything is ice. Ice mixed with animal... well animal droppings. Everywhere. Not so pretty. The latter is my main motivation to take my time and NOT fall lol! (Oh yeah, and I saw a dead frozen dog in the yard on my way to school this morning!!!!)

I was never much into watching TV back at home... usually just silly reality shows about fashion, or the Disney Channel. My host family actually just installed satellite TV maybe a week ago. Now we have channels like Russian MTV. (I'm telling you Saule is a different person since the new MTV-like channels, and her new boyfriend lol, clearly feeling pretty cool) I think as the newness of this whole being-in-Kazakhstan-situation is wearing off, I find TV shows and movies more appealing. I don't know if anyone has heard of the show Firefly, but I have a love-hate relationship with the series. A friend of mine gave it to me in PST and it just about gives me 3 heart attacks per episode. But I love it lol. Action-packed. I'm not sure what the shows will be like in 2 years when I come back, but I don't know what else they can think of! That, playing the piano, and reading have kept my brain from becoming oatmeal. I'm on my 11th book since I arrived, which was November 4th. I'm starting to think that maybe I can read 100 books in these 2 years. People, let me know what books you suggest, I hear Amazon ships to Kazakhstan :) Seriously.

Well, I have a little bit of a headache, so I'm going to start heading to bed.

53 1/23

Merry Christmas! I had 5 packages come yesterday :) It was so much I had to make two trips! I seriously don't know how anybody does PC without support from home. It helps so much to have that taste of home. I couldn't believe all of the stuff that can fit in a box! A Snuggie :) Just what I asked for lol! Sharpies - perfect! Reeses... I'm hoarding them haha. Even piano music :))))I had to reorganize my supply cabinet just to fit the new goods. Thank you! Then I was able to talk to Joan for a little bit - so nice to hear from my girlfriend from afar, well not really so far now that I'm here! (only 30 min different)

Well Kazakhstan happened again. I wanted this post tonight to be about just having had an amazingly fun trip to the mountains... nope again. It was rainy and melty this morning, which makes for lots of mud and slippery slippery ice. No good for a Winter Sports Competition... So instead I cleaned up the mess of gifts, boxes and paper I made the night before. I played with my new toys all day lol. The piano my host family has is terribly out of tune, but I got over that pretty quick... maybe the music teacher at the school can help me. I finished my latest book (Heartbreaker: A memoir of Judy Garland, really, very good, though we all know how the ending goes...) in my Snuggie, and I even used my new umbrella in the rain this morning... (wasn't cold enough for the mittens) and I ate candy canes all day haha. I feel like I talked about and defended candy canes and nutcrackers all December and finally I feel justified by being able to have my h family try them. All in all, an easy relaxing day.

I'm trying to force myself back into preparing properly for classes. I'm just struggling with not feeling like a slave. It reminds me of when I was little, I can remember getting so mad at my brothers for not helping fold laundry, etc., and not even being asked to do it... they would say, "Ohh, uuh, we don't know how ta do it.... derr duhhh" lol (ok sorry that was just fun). Everyone knew very well that was the lamest cop out. You just learn... Nobody was born knowing how to do anything... Well most things you learn. I feel like my teachers are giving me the lame cop outs, but not quite so literally. They just don't care - which makes me not want to care. They are just content with the free labor I'm supplying. Well this isn't exactly a vacation here... And as much as I think I would prefer to work alone and do my own thing... I'm just not sure if I'm ok with doing everyone's work for them for nothing. I feel like the main thing I'm here for isn't to teach children English, but to teach teachers how to teach better... and how will that happen when we teach separately? I'm in a pickle.

52 1/19

It was -40 today; -40 is the temperature where Celsius and Fahrenheit meet, so no matter what you measure it with, it's just really cold. I was surprised that my host mom admitted that she wished we had an indoor toilet today - people here seem so proud of doing things the hard way. I'm with her on the toilet thing lol. I had Saule time my bathroom run - 17 seconds :) Not bad. I'm confident that I can shave that down yet too.

I had a crick in my neck all day today. I haven't had one of those in a long time and had forgotten how annoying it is... School was pretty typical today, aside from the "seminar". The seminar isn't what I thinking it was. It's more like people from other schools came and watched some teachers' lessons. Mine will be next week with my 5th graders. I sat in on a 3rd grade class and my 9A's Russian class. The 3rd grade lesson was so clearly scripted and practiced. The kids' answers were so obviously memorized, it was weird. The 9A class was also quite dry. The director wants me to use the Active board for my lesson. I've never used an active board, but I'm guessing no one has from the way they talk about the thing. I'm planning on just making a sweet powerpoint :)

Then I had English Club/Play practice. My students have rejected the Traditional American Dance lol. They want something longer, more complicated... I'm basically going to watch Slumdogs and see what I can come up with. I'm not mad that I have ambitious students. I played volleyball after English Club. I'm slowly gaining the respect of my coworkers through my slow but steady improvements on the vb court. If only this language thing would come easier for me... that would help a lot. Speaking of which, my Kazakh tutor officially bailed on me. Zhamilya told me that she doesn't want to tutor me anymore. I could have told you that, on account of we've only met twice in the past 3 months that she's been my "tutor". Finally. Now, I can ask Saltanat to help me with out stepping on anyone's toes. It's just too bad I've not made much progress with the language in the first three months that I've been here. Now I sort of feel like I've created a rut for myself - just keeping to myself... Those first couple of months are supposed to be the least busy too. Ooojus.

51 1/17

First week back to school is over. I'm working on being as honestly enthusiastic about my lessons and visuals and things as I was when I first arrived. I just watched 5 episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia in a row. lol. Great use of time. There has been a lot of talk the past week about going to the mountains for some kind of Winter Sport Competition between schools. Lately, Kazakhstan has given me a bad case of "boy who cried wolf" syndrome for pretty much anything that makes me excited at the initial announcement. I just don't believe what local people tell me. And even with this terrible disease, I still always somehow cancel other plans to make room for the one that seems to always fall through. Genius Kazakhstan. You win.

I wanted to wait until the sweet Winter Sport Competition in the mountains to write an exciting blog. However, it was cancelled/postponed the past 4 days, and again today. The weather is being quite strange. It warms up at night, melting everything and making a mess, then freezes and snows during the afternoon. Backwards, if you ask me. So we were supposed to leave this morning but the rain and slush made it impossible. :( Now, word is that it will be the 23th, Saturday.

On saturday, I met a new friend on a play date set up by one of the teachers at my school. You never know what to expect with these propositions, "Noelle, I want you to meet my husband's brother's son's cousin's friend's.... he/she (Kazakh doesn't have gender specific pronouns) knows English and wants to practice with you. Come over on Saturday." ...You just never know. The girl's name is Aika, she's 22 and from Taldykorgan and was very sweet, we got along well. She spoke English much better than I was expecting, and I liked that she kept calling the village the, "countryside". Even though it wasn't intentional to give the place a better connotation. It was cute. Made it seem like a prettier place than it might be. Boy could she talk though... and she is a lot more passionate about grammar issues than I am, which made most conversations very long. I'm really glad that I met her though. She wants to take me to her house in Taldy on Saturday, the 23th.

This approaching week is also Language week. I'm not entirely sure what this means, but I understand it's some sort of competition between the language classes, Kazakh, Russian, and English. Zhamilya is excited to show off our posters and visuals, which is good. Confirmation that I've made some positive progress among the teachers - which is rarely expressed openly, and equally nice to hear. I'm having my english club kids do a Kazakh version of Romeo and Juliet, (Rauan and Jildez). It's hilarious. They really get into it. My biggest problem is getting them to slow down their lines and take their time. They are too excited and then the play lasts like 3 minutes. Lol. Not much of a show... but we have all week to work on it and then perform either on Friday or Saturday. I wrote the script intending to print off a copy for each student. No ink anywhere at the school. Awesome, so it's been difficult to organize. Had I known that today the WSC thing was going to be cancelled, I could have gone to the city to buy my own ink today. We need to make a few things too like a balcony, some horses, swords, and signs - it should be a fun, busy week. Then, of course, the Traditional American Dance has once again been reincarnated. The students love love love it lol, though they want me to make it longer. The performance is planned to happen on Friday or Saturday, the 22th or 23th. The way things have been going it will probably be the 23th - so my Saturday will likely be triple booked lol with WSC, R&J, and new friend visit. It will be interesting to see what happens.

I've been able to read a lot since being here and just finished a book called The Red Tent, I really liked it and suggest it for all women interested in the culture or the Old Testament times. Although it's fictional, it's very interesting. I am almost finished with the Where There Is No Doctor handbook that Dr. Victor gave all of us. It's interesting and maybe I'll have the unfortunate chance to use some of the new knowledge I gain while out here in the village :) That would be cool. Help deliver a baby, or suck the venom out of a snake bite (even though the book says that that doesn't work) I don't know, something more exciting than shooing goats and sheep out of my way on the way to the outhouse...

50 1/11

I can finally say that I've survived my first semester in the village. That statement is nearly true - although I wasn't here for entirely the first semester, and I'd like to think I've more than just survived. The holidays are over, and today was my first day back in classes. It was nice to see my students again. My lessons were far from spectacular... and even as of now, I'm not exactly as super pumped about working with these ridiculous text books and working in dissonance with my teachers in a school system that I honestly have little regard for, as you would think I should be... after a really nice break. I'm sure I'll get over myself soon, I'm just tired lol. After New Years, actually exactly the 2nd of Jan, when Anar, Muktar, and Tima came over, my host mom really hyped up some volleyball event at the end of the week. She was surprised I hadn't heard about it and said our team would practice the following four days and then go to Johnny's Gimnasium for a tournament. I was actually really looking forward to this as I didn't really have much planned for the break - as popular as you can imagine I might be here haha... It was funny because Johnny had tried to explain some kind of basketball tournament going at his school on that same week, and I had told him they were trying to trick him. (You see, I'd like to think that I can sense a hoaxy excuse of a hang out plan from a mile away/only because I've been there lol) I felt bad crushing his plans, but I was doubtful... Until the volleyball thing was mentioned - then I ate my words lol. So I did an English conference with some other volunteers in Taldy, feeling guilty about missing the first "practices" of the week. (We ate dog at a Korean restaurant, well I can say I tasted it...!, and went bowling) Strangely, no one gave me the hard time I was sure to receive, however, for skipping out... then I asked my host mom about the vb plans and she said we couldn't do them? - in short, in three days the whole thing dissolved as quickly as it was explained. Gives me a headache lol. Johnny was in the same boat with basketball. I was disappointed but not entirely surprised. Johnny said his team even had jerseys. Cleveland Cavs jerseys! I would have liked to see that haha. O well.

My host family had been hosting lots of relatives over the break. One family was from Almaty, and on the day that the volleyball idea disappeared, I had an idea to maybe hitch a ride to Almaty with them on their way back home :) It worked. The plan was to leave on Thursday afternoon, which, by Thursday evening, was pushed back to Friday morning. We left at 3:00 on Friday, which gave me some anxiety. I met up with some church friends that night and had a really nice time. I skyped for the first time with my mom too! So grateful for the new freeeeee wi-fi at the PC HQ. I stayed up quite late.... In the morning, I took a nice hot shower and headed to Panfilova to visit family #1. I was expecting to feel all sorts of strange feelings in that village, like walking around your old high school, or something. I didn't. It was strange to see the place covered in snow, but seeing my old family was not strange at all. There was nothing uncomfortable about it. I felt at home. My host father was friendlier than I remember, Ablai taller (but still just as energetic), Aziza wasn't as shy, and my host mom still told me I needed to color my hair. We played Uno, which was a hit... looked at pictures, I told them about my horse and turkey experience, and we were all quite taken by the huge improvement of my Kazakh :) I wasn't shy about talking, and I realize now that they speak in Russian far more than Kazakh, which makes sense now - why I always felt like I didn't understand them in training lol.

I wanted to try and make church in the morning, but ended up heading home early instead after I couldn't find my stop on the bus, and clearly missed it long before I realized I'd missed it. (I was coming from the opposite direction than when I was in training) I decided not to mess with back tracking and wandering. I was nervous about arranging my transportation back to the village on my own - haggling prices down - making sure I arrive in Balpuk Bi before 5, since the taxis stop after 5, and I had class in the morning - I also had accumulated two extra bags on the trip... one of books and dvds (Thanks Peter!) and another of food and snacks (Thanks first host fam!) and even a new down feather coat from the PC office, which I stuffed in my backpack along with the drawings, stuffed animals, and action figures Ablai snuck in my bag during the visit lol. I'm blessed beyond what I deserve. My hands were blistering and I felt like Godzilla destroying the city of Almaty with my oversized backpack. The marshutka I took was much better than my first experience in October, the putting and pushing... The trip only took 3 hours, and I had expected 5. I spent the ride reading my children's picture dictionary and sort of took pride in the confused looks of the random other passengers :) All in all I was able to check off most of what I had listed to do on my "Almaty Trip List", I hadn't spent half of the money I thought I would spend, came back with a ton of stuff, my computer is updated and I can now play Avi files :) and had wonderful visits with church friends and the host family. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :)

49 1/1

Happy New Year! :) The first day of 2010, I spent New Years Eve in Taldykorgan with some other volunteers. Some 21's from afar came. It was a pretty standard celebration. I picked up a package from Grandma Z and a letter from Denise!!! My host grandparents have been staying at our house for the past couple of days. They are here for the New Year and my host grandma turns 63 on the 3rd. I had met her before but I don't remember saying much to her. It was around the beginning of when I arrived here. I was very shy. This was the first time I have met the grandpa. He is really sweet and very encouraging with my language progression! I like that lol. He also told me I'll be the next US President in 2 years :) and he'll vote for me. It's nice when people talk to me like a normal human. I'm expecting that he keeps his word on the president thing, although I'm not sure what, of our conversations, he actually remembers... he has several shots at every meal.

Anar, a new teacher at my school - who is also 22, Muktar, a 22 year old distant cousin, and Tima, my host father's youngest brother, came over to be guests today. I thought it was just to hang out lol - then I thought maybe my host mom was playing cupid between Anar and Muktar. Turns out my host mom had in fact arranged... for Anar to meet Tima, the 40-something year old single man. I didn't put that together until after the facts, and now feel a little silly for showing all of the normal pictures of my family, state, blah blah blah. Apparently my routine circus performance was not needed for this occasion. I feel bad for Anar. Who would want to be set up with some old guy by a co-worker, who clearly has a tie to the man. Awkward. Muktar is nice - we went ice skating at the disco skating rink a while ago. I remember how surprised he was when I told him that "ko ko jumbo" wasn't a word.

Weddings happen very fast here. I'm sure most of the friends I have now will soon be married away and I'll be left to be the strange American old maid lol. I cringe when people throw out - well you should marry a Kazakh man and stay here forever! Always a sticky one to fend off haha. Not that I'm absolutely opposed to the idea or don't recognize it as a possibility. I try not to limit myself, knowing that God's will for me is unfathomable. But still. There is a so-called "old tradition" here called brideknapping. During PST, in one of our training villages there was a brideknapping incident. It involved knives. Basically a man steals a woman away and keeps her in his house for a period of time, signifying that she has been tainted (or probably raped) and no other man will take her. Thus, forcing her to marry this guy. Usually, it is a violent episode, but it is sometimes treated like a light-hearted joke-y type of proposal/eloping.

Saltanat, one day, cancelled plans we had made the previous day because her brother had gotten married. I was confused. This was the first I had heard about her brother being engaged even and Johnny told me that she was making it up to get out of hanging out. It turned into an inside joke... but after many questions and through both of our sub par language efforts, I have come to understand that he brideknapped his now wife because he is going into the army. They had been together before, though. It wasn't a big deal. I gained a lot of respect for a PC staff member a while ago, when she told me a brideknapping story of her own. This Kazakh woman told a group of us that she had been brideknapped in her youth and to get out of it, she shaved her head and chain smoked for a week straight! The man kicked her out haha. Go girl!

43 12/10

Best day ever today! I taught this morning, only one class - but it is my favorite, the 5th graders. It's my favorite for a few reasons: it's a small class, their lessons are very easy and fun to plan for, they are smart and excited, and Gulbak (or Flower Garden :) let's me do whatever I want because she just wants to retire, already. The director observed our class today and told me I did a good job - but then I heard from other teachers a more enthusiastic response! That it was excellent and he was impressed!

After class, I talked/planned with Saltanat for a while. Then we went konaka-ing to another teacher's house for lunch. This was the first time I met the host. Since she's pregnant, she probably won't teach until next year lol. Apparently, having kids is one of those things the government hooks you up for here. Interesting. So that was nice, we ate bishbarmak - and people gave me a hard time for not eating the fat or drinking the cup of broth. Then my host mom "stuck up" for me by saying, "In America, they don't eat natural food - it's all poly-fabricated." Whatever poly-fabricated means... I think I'm going to start telling people that we eat plastic in America.

Once home from having tea, Saule handed me a letter! I've been stalking the post office for the past couple of days - by stalking I mean by phone... calling and harassing them in my poor but insistent Kazakh. Saule said the post office dropped the letter off at the house. Cool! Then she said I had more... bigger things but they didn't bring them because they were too heavy? Hooray!! Even though I only had 15 minutes until English Club was supposed to begin, I went straight to the post office. Surprise!... it was closed. I spoke with a nice man about what the procedure was for me to receive my box(es). He said come back at nine tomorrow morning. :( O.K. On my way home, I happened to pass my host mom, who told me that I should go back at 4 - it will be open. Yes!

I went to English club - we played Simon Says, sang We Wish You A Merry Christmas, and did another listening activity. Sounds familiar right? Then I went to the post office again. My same new nice guy friend was still there, and a little disappointed I didn't listen to him. He said something about a house - and I tried to explain that, yes, they dropped off the small mail at my house, but I was supposed to pick up the packages by myself. I left again sad. My host mom, when I returned home, was not happy that I didn't have any packages... She called someone and then told me let's go get your mail :) So we walked to a lady's house and sure enough 3 packages and 2 more letters were inside next to her door! Whoo hoo :) ...Did a little paper work and were happily on our way!

I must say it didn't feel how I expected it to feel, eating peanut butter in Kazakhstan. I'm not sure I like it lol... I mean I definitely liked it, it's just surreal feeling. Like it shouldn't go together. I eat peanut butter in America, and fried bread in Kazakhstan... But I was beyond happy all day today - even just having one letter in the beginning! I felt like I wasn't dead to the world - in no man's land. What a good feeling. I spent the rest of the night re-reading previous letters (Jane, you're on #9 now!), writing letters, and looking at my new supplies. The only thing is, I did not spend the evening preparing for lessons tomorrow... I figure I can plan something in the morning tomorrow... I don't teach until 10:35. O geez, now I feel like I'm in college again ha.

48 12/29

Parties, parties, parties :) and it's not even the New Year yet... I haven't written in so long due to late nights, busy days, and early mornings. I remember before Christmas looking at my planner and thinking, "How am I going to fit everything in?!"; but, I did it! Today was our last day of classes, so now I'm on break until the 11th of January :) Even without teaching, there is still quite a lot that I would like to do in the next week or so. Even though Christmas is over, my itunes is still playing my Christmas playlist. It still feels as Christmas-y as it felt during the actual Christmas time here because of the interesting way New Years is celebrated. It's sort of as if they mix a bunch of holidays into one. They have a Yulka, or Christmas tree, decorated and lit up, with gift giving and the Santa concept, but they dress up in costumes, and also have fireworks and sparklers. Strange. To me that's just no fun to do all of that for only one holiday, anyway - why not spread those out over the whole year...?

I've had two New Years parties so far, one with the teachers last night and one tonight with the students. The teachers' party was nice. We rented out a hall and ate and danced, played silly games, and probably more that I didn't understand lol. I like that people have no hesitation to dance here, no matter the age, or anything. I had fun for the most part, (however, it goes back to the whole sitting for long periods of time in a huge room full of people speaking Kazakh way too fast for my level - and psyching myself out.) Also, we didn't come home until after midnight. I had two classes this morning, the first was at 8:50, and they weren't entirely planned to my satisfaction. A PC higher up had planned to come visit our sites and sit in on our classes at sometime today, so I wanted to make the lessons extra good. :) I spent so much time making this great board game to use for both lessons, both last night and this morning - and guess what... lol, we played it in my first class (without observers) and my second class (and observers) didn't show up. Oh, story of my life... :) The PC did show up in the afternoon, which was what I was expecting - but you never know! In the evening today was what I thought was a Teachers' Ball Masquerade... wrong again. I was excited to wear my cat mask that I didn't have the chance to wear for halloween. (Thanks Jane and Dave!) I went at 5, like I was told, with my mask to wear, which I was pretty pumped about lol. The event turned out to be a prom-ish dance, with no costumes. I felt a little silly. I even didn't leave until 20 after 5, and I was still awkwardly early. Oh, America and our punctuality - I was even punctual about being unpunctual lol. I'm so cool.

Christmas turned out really well! Johnny and Saltanat came over, and we had turkey and danced. I played Santa the night before, which was so cute. My gifts were by no means extravagant, but everyone liked theirs. I sort of kicked myself for the gifts I gave Zharas and Zhere - an abnormally ripped Spiderman doll and a mini kitchen set... encouraging two things I didn't mean to support (especially in this country): machoism and domestication. Oh well. I remember liking my kitchen set when I was little and sometimes I wish I were more domesticated than I am lol. The dinner was nice, although, after the turkey, my host mom brought out a big dish of bishbarmak. Apparently, turkey isn't meat in this country. Out loud, I politely declined. In silence, I absolutely refused. After dinner, we danced, of course.

In between then and today, I had spent most of my time with other volunteers. Sam, a friend from Panfilova, came from Balhesh and so on the 26th, we met up with her in Taldy and did a White Elephant exchange and then karaoke! It really was a lot of fun. Karaoke is different here. You pay for a room for a certain amount of time and just sing amongst each other. I'm not sure which I like better, but this was nice. It felt like you were in you're own basement or something. The next day I had dinner at a place called Hessens in Taldy with some other volunteers and our PC visitor. It was delicious! And he gave Johnny and I a ride back to our site. That was extremely helpful, considering I was planning on catching a marshutka at 7 to make it back in time for my first class of the day - oojus, lol.

I have a couple of ideas formulating about the break. I've heard talk about sledding, skiing, road trips (to some kind of outdoor Russian baptisms, or back to Panfilova, maybe visit my first host family - PC headquarters, in Almaty, has wi-fi now!) I'm sure I'll easily fill the time. First up is New Years!

47 12/24

Christmas eve! What a busy day I've had. Running all over Kazakhstan... that's an exaggeration, but it's what it feels like! I had class this morning, then ran all over the school trying to print off next semester's worth of English Clubs - after planning a semester's worth of clubs on the spot. So much for trying to turn something professional in, from now on it's hand written! I'm sick of people just copping out on their jobs... "it's broken.", "it's closed." Fix it. Tell me a real time when I can use something... blows my mind. So I had a late start to the Teacher's English Club, which meant a late start to Christmas shopping, and a late start to Student English Club - and a late end to the day! Speaking of late... Christmas shopping on Christmas eve! Ha ha. I've never done that before... It doesn't really feel much like Christmas anyway... The Teacher English Club made a nice meal for Johnny and I, but the most Christmas-y thing about the event was the music and the Santa bag they used for our felt yurt gifts. Other than that, we ate horse tubes, fried bread and dried salty milk chunks haha. (There was tasty fruit and cookies there too, I just like to be dramatic). It was really nice of them - I didn't expect so much food! Saltanat and I left a little early, to so a little Christmas shopping, like I've said. She's so helpful and sweet. We were late for Student English Club - but the kids still came. They made snowflakes, candy canes and little ornaments for their Christmas trees. They really liked it! (So did I) Now there are 20 beautiful Christmas trees the kids made themselves in Mambet :) Even a group of 5 or 6 boys came in a little bit later and had fun making crafts with us. By the time Saltanat and I had the mess cleaned up... I was a little over an hour behind schedule. I ran out to the "taxi stop" to try and catch a "taxi" to Balpuk Bi for Aliya (Johnny's counterpart)'s konaka. I waited there for about 45 minutes, and decided it wasn't worth it...

I wanted to go visit with them, but taxi's are hard to catch in the evening, they just don't run... And I really wanted to make it home tonight to wrap my gifts, play Santa, and be able to have a nice, uninterrupted conversation with the Zalar fam in the morning, and I just wanted to rest... I'm a little concerned with all of the crazy disorganization of events this week... I think I have one or two parties every day until Tuesday! No joke. I'm trusting God will put me where He wants me throughout all of the madness... people coming and going, planning and changing plans, ooojus (as they say in Kazakh haha)

Now I'm just waiting for everyone to fall asleep to put the presents under the tree... It's after midnight and even Zhere and Zharas are still wide awake! I'm tired lol. Overall it was definitely a good day. Although I did loose an earring... a good one! Today was the first day that I've ever worn my dangly red rose earrings - I halfway made them myself... I had been waiting since summer for Christmas to wear them, just because they are quite wintery and a little much for everyday. At least I got one compliment on them - and took plenty of pictures with them on haha... It must have happened as Saltanat and I were rushing around shopping. O well... gives me another goal for the winter :)

46 12/21

Tomorrow is the big English Club Christmas party! More kids wanted to sign up than I had planned for, so I bought some extra stuff today on a an errand run with Saltanat in Balpuk Bi. She is so funny - I haven't shopped like that in a long time. Usually shopping is more of a chore... I have think about what I want to say, analyze whether I'm getting ripped off, debate on whether I should hackle with people about prices... if you even look around at things, the seller puts so much pressure on you to buy whatever it is - normally I let that pressure get to me, feel bad, and buy things I don't want to buy lol. With Saltanat, though, we bought things we didn't mean to buy, not out of our own will lol, but just one of those things where you want to buy everything. It was hilarious, she bought a poster of Santa Claus for the English teachers haha. She's cute.

The new tech guy, who just returned from the military may turn around the tech situation at that school! That would be lovely. Today was our first day back "in classes" since the break last week. All of my classes were taking tests today - so my teachers told me there was no reason for me to just sit pretty in the classes... I went to the computer room! It took maybe 2 class periods, but he had the internet up and running. It's still only one computer, but there is hope... I think I offended him by asking why they don't put the Internet on all of the computers - he said, "The students know everything about technology, and he doesn't want them to break the computers." Yes, I said that right, and no it makes no sense. He got all huffy and left. I didn't mean to upset him, I was just asking. I want to help!

Yesterday as I was eating lunch with Saule, she told me there was a turkey in the banya. Haha. They had been making jokes about killing a turkey for Christmas, but even after the horse day - it still didn't cross my mind that we may actually kill the turkey ourselves. Silly me. So we went out to the banya to look at it. The big thing was just sitting there, with it's legs tied. It was a warm day, but it was shivering :( Later in the evening yesterday, my h-mom set up a nice little outdoor photo setting haha - stuck a scrawny fake Christmas tree in the snow outside, and we gave Mr. Turkey his 15 min. of fame. By the time I showed Saule the pics, my h mom came in and said, "Mr. Turkey bolda." (Mr. Turkey's done.) That was quick. I actually helped this time... I plucked a turkey! I've eaten turkey how many times and never plucked a feather. It was so weird - then it started getting cool. It's pretty amazing - living things, bodies, life, death, creation. We cut him open, and took out all of his parts. I used to think that Jess was crazy for being able to look at/work with corpses and dead things - but it was really cool. (And there is not even that much to a turkey.)

Mr. Turkey cost 5000 tg! That's like 30$! They don't normally eat turkey here... Saule said she wasn't going to eat any. (They eat mutton, goat heads and horse intestines, but not turkey or chicken...?) So it was a financial sacrifice as well as a personal preference sacrifice! How sweet of them. I need to think of a nice Christmas gift to thank them with. It's almost 2010.... which makes 2011 seem soo much more reachable!

45 12/17

Yesterday was Kazakhstan's Independence Day, so we didn't have school then or today. Twiddling your thumbs in Kazakhstan isn't an exciting thing to do - but I guess it's not exciting no matter where you are. I actually did a good job of keeping busy. I'm not sure how I always create something to do, but it usually happens - and I don't even mean for it to, or think about it. The day before the mini break started was a volleyball tournament. We only had a half day of school, then I had some lunch and met Saltanat at the Sport Complex to warm up for our big competition. I don't mean to over exaggerate, it was just class versus class... but people are serious about it :). That was a long day. Too long - too many people (whose names I still can't remember), too much of the same conversation topics repeated (which I still can't elaborate on)... also, when I sit for long periods of time... and start day dreaming, I can really spook myself into an emotional mess lol. It ended well, though. The technical coordinator at our school just came home from the army, and we had a mini welcome back celebration after all of the students left. On the day off yesterday, I went to another concert/meeting/ceremony, this one for the holiday. Then went and hung out with Johnny for a while - watched the Grinch :). I also picked up some supplies for my Christmas Craft - English Club! We are making sparkly decorated Christmas trees... well if tomorrow nobody objects to the idea... (poster cones wrapped in shiny green garland with paper snowflakes and candy canes as ornaments) I spent most of my day testing and practicing the best and most economical way to lead the craft. I've made the perfect size tree, with tiny snowflake and candy cane paper ornaments - clipped paper clips in half for the ornament hangers, and have a nice big golden star topping the tree. :) I love it! I'm excited for the kids to make theirs... I think they'll have fun with it, and be able to use it as a legitimate decoration. I went to a Konaka last night too. The first house I walked through when choosing my host family... Their son just got married recently so he and his new wife and her sisters were there... we watched the entire, entire wedding on video. I mean the wedding showers, preparations, wedding, reception, and everything in between. Kazakhstan is a funny place in that it's hard for me to take official things seriously due to the chinsy-ness of the execution. Yesterday especially made me see this - with the Independence Day ceremony and the wedding celebration. At the Independence Day thing, people would speak very seriously and passionately about the history of the country, which is seriously a tragic history - then when speakers would change, they play this techno-club music? Does not compute. Does not compute. haha. Then the wedding... pictures in her wedding album have people's heads cut off, half bodies, people aren't looking you name it... there is a clipart cupid on the cover. Does not compute lol.

Tonight I was invited to go ice skating! I really like ice skating... and this time it was night ice skating, so it was like a discotec on ice - techno music, laser lights and all! It was fun, but this group wasn't very adventurous, it was Saule, Aika, Baiyon, and Maurxan (distant host cousins)... What a great idea though, to have a little roller rink/teen club on ice haha. Now Johnny and I have something to practice for - to show off to the pre teens at the ice rink haha.

44 12/13

What a weekend! I must say I'm not sure where to start... so I'll just go from the beginning. Yesterday I lesson planned with Saltanat and did some Kazakh tutoring with Dinara. Neither which happened as I had planned. My host mom left at 5 till 10 to "run to school real quick... back in 10" and I was ok with staying home to watch the munchkins for a quick 10, even though I had planned to meet with Saltanat at the school at 10... 30 minutes later, I started getting anxious. Then an hour later, after I had been standing at the door for 30 minutes all suited up and ready to sprint to the school as soon as my host mom walked in the door... Saltanat shows up. I felt terrible but she said that my host mom explained. Why didn't I think of that? To have my host mom tell her to come here instead... but apparently she eventually did. So we planned the lessons here. Then I went to tutoring... also not so great. Dinara had me wait for her for half an hour into our planned time. Then she ended it 10 minutes early too. It was pretty scary, she was yelling and speaking fast. I don't know if I'll keep her as my tutor... I headed to Taldy with Johnny as soon as tutoring ended. This is when the fun began... We met up with Justin, Kyle, Athena and a volunteer from a Korean Organization at a burger place! Hooray burgers :) That was fun, then, we went ice skating. It was hilarious - we laughed so hard. Johnny fell three times, twice with me. We were doing all kinds of "tricks" haha. I had to work to get him to cooperate with me in the beginning... but I was glad he was up for it. The ice rink was outside, and is a tennis court in the summers... In the end he wanted to do one more spin move with me - I couldn't remember how I did it earlier and so we tried - this was our... or, my worst fall haha. I went one way and he went the other... I got some air to say the least and landed flat on my back!!! haha. We limped away together cracking up and promised each other that this will be our outlet for the winter - it can get us out of the house.... although it was definitely cold!

Today was quite a trip too! (no pun intended). My host mom mentioned the night before that we were going to kill a horse for the winter today...! I woke up and my host mom was frying baursek (triangular bread dough)... which means a celebration/company. After breakfast, they said the horse was here. Saule and I went outside and looked at the poor thing all dirty and tied up with a rope by the outhouse. There were a lot of people over at our house, my host parents' friends and their kids. Before I knew it, I looked out my window and my host dad and his friends had killed the horse and it was on it's back with numbs for legs. It's been such a long day, I can't tell you if I felt sick or not - probably. I didn't go outside... Saule and I just kept filling up buckets of hot water... I thought we were pretty much done after a while. Not true. They just butchered the thing right there on the ground. Rinsing off the meat with water and separating it all out. It was a whole team effort and everybody just knew what to do. The ladies brought in a bucket of meat.. and pulled out the intestines maybe? Then, I thought I was going to be sick, they put another piece of meat through the tubes and pushed some bad stuff out... THEN! They tied off one end of the intestines and blew them up like balloons! I'm not kidding, with their mouthes - they blew air into them like those balloons you make animals out of (ironic). After a while, your numb to all the blood... and the fact that nobody around you is making a big deal out of any of this definitely dulls the shock. I even taped some of the butchering. They stuffed the blown up tubes with some other kind of meat... We stewed, and fried horse and ate it. It was actually really tasty. Talk about fresh! It can't get any fresher! Wow. They kept reminding me how natural they do things here... I get the point - we don't kill our food ourselves in America. I'm impressed. A horse is so much meat! And this horse wasn't huge to begin with. They used basically all o f the meat too. I guess they do this every winter... if people can afford it. I think it's a more luxurious thing to do - like not everyone can do it, but would if they could. In short, I'm going to be eating horse for the next four months... And I don't ever want to hear anyone say they can eat a whole horse until they come to Kazakhstan and actually do eat a whole horse... hahaha - I'll be able to truthfully say that by spring! Weird.

Blog 42 12/8

I thought our dog, Toozik, was going to give himself a hernia this morning, barking like a maniac. He was just wailing right outside my window... and the rest of my family didn't seemed bothered - or at least they can fake it really well. The past two days Zharas and I have been just about late for school in the mornings lol, don't ask me how it happens. I think I'm going to start pouring my tea 5 minutes before I actually sit down to eat... because I can't drink scolding hot tea fast enough. Yesterday I both taught with Saltanat and wore my official-super woman power-Kazakhstan-lady boots for the first time; both went well. I'm still not completely at peace with paying 6500 tenge, 45$ish, for such low quality boots... But my mom was reassuring that these were really really good boots (I'll take her word, I'm just looking for a pair that will last two years) I just know Target probably sells something like these but better quality and for half the price. I just think to myself, they are worth +100$ if they take my overly-concerned teacher friends off my back about the cold! All of the boots looked equally chinsy anyway. Mine are fake black leather with a nice plastic heel. "Natural", as they say, sheep fur lines the inside and of course they have rhinestone imitation around the ankles... Today they had their first run in the snow - and I must say my feet were nice and toasty. I even had a few almost-compliments. My counterpart was talking to another teacher about me (one of those times where you know people are talking about you, even when you don't understand what they are saying...) Then she told me that I'm wearing boots and my outfit fits me very well. compliment? maybe?.... oh, I'll take it! lol. Teaching with Saltanat was great, however I foresee too much Kazakh being used in English class. I'm not too worried about it right now, though. Saltanat knows what's up :) Today, after classes and English club we played volleyball with some students and a couple of other teachers. Everything was going just fine - I've been tricking myself into just thinking people are just doing "trick shots" when they kick the ball... instead of getting mad about it. lol. It still bothers me though, and this is why. The ball is dead and as I reach down to take the ball and roll it to the server, this girl kicks it right in my face! lol! hard...! I thought I my nose was broken - or was definitely going to start bleeding....! hahahahaha - I'm laughing now but I wasn't then. It hurt. This whole little scene almost did a take two, but I caught myself and stuck my hands out in front of my face and the kid didn't kick it. Saltanat yelled at everyone and said something about in America you're not allowed to kick the ball, maybe... I appreciated that. I had been thinking about stopping English Clubs until I have a better understanding of Kazakh, but I'm on the fence now. The hour went really quick today, and we had fun. Plus, Saltanat said she wouldn't mind helping me study Kazakh between classes, which is more of what I was looking for than a one on one class in a classroom. 13 students came today, which is the most I've had so far. We played Simon Says for way longer than I had planned, then we sang Christmas songs and did a listening activity, where I played a song and they checked off the words that they heard. I made 10 worksheets by hand, each having 3 activities for 3 songs. It took forever to do, but was worth it. I can use that for the next few clubs. My host family has a printer but no ink. I'm going to try and buy some ink somewhere tomorrow and see after a few months if it is worth the money to print things. I could make some great worksheets and actual quizzes and tests - something to actually grade. I don't remember if I wrote about the one day they did tests, but it was basically a joke. I started my wall of promises :) I like it. I also have been reading through the Gospels - in honor of Christmas! :) I'd like to make some Christmas crafts in English club too... maybe wrap sparkly garland around a poster-cone for a Christmas tree (mom! :), paper snowflakes, a ginger bread house - but that might be too pricey... If anyone has low budget ideas, let me know!

Blog 41 12/6

Today, "holiday", as they say here, is the normal cleaning day. They say holiday, but mean weekend, which means housework. Pretty misleading, I know. Cleaning under my bed, I found what I thought were nerds on a piece of paper... then through some context clues - learned that it is actually mouse poison. I have obvious mixed feelings about this. We took the extra bed out of my room today too! I'm so glad about that. I don't remember if I mentioned earlier, but I basically kicked my host siblings out of their beds and room. Not only kicking them out, but having two beds in the only bedroom in the house. This really bothered me. I was wanting to move out at the end of my 6 months and find housing elsewhere to give them their space back - they had been sleeping on the floor! But now I feel better. Much better. I will teach with Saltanat tomorrow in two of my lessons. I really like her. We planned together today, and by planned I mean actually planned and made materials together. Tomorrow one of our lessons is on Christmas and Nauryz. I only have 15 minutes to talk about Christmas! lol. I could do a month's worth of Christmas lessons, easily... but 15 minutes will be challenging. Nauryz is the Kazakh new year. They celebrate it in March and have the Santa Claus theme/idea from what I understand. I'll learn more about it tomorrow... Johnny came over for lunch, and of course showed me up with his spectacular Russian speaking skills lol. :( My host mom made delicious chicken and french fries for him! It was really tasty. She said she was tempted to make bishbarmak... but (I don't exactly remember this) I told her that we don't like bishbarmak haha. (bishbarmak is the national kazakh dish... it's soggy noodles with horse meat and mutton. Nothing flavorful.) I really appreciated that she listened and practiced actual hospitality, which is catering to the guests wishes.... not culture's traditions. She's a really cool person. Although, after she explained this to us... she then told us that it was just about time to kill a horse for the winter, which means 4 months of bishbarmak. Awesome. Johnny and I called Laura and talked to Echo about them coming here for the US new year... they said yes! I'm soo excited for them to come! Then I talked to Denise, who is also doing well :) So good to talk to them.

Blog 40 12/2

Classes have been going better. Not saying that they had been going poorly, but they have been improving. I have a system down, which makes things much easier. The teachers are also trusting me more with the classes. Gulbak, one of the English teachers I work with, has been sick this week. So with her two classes, I've been on my own. I like it better on my own :) I do my own thing in the other classes, but it's different because there isn't the sense of dissonance I get with teaching with the local teachers, which maybe is only in my head. I like teaching, I like creating lessons out of these ridiculous books, I like making my materials. I made my first local friend yesterday! Her name is Saltanat and she's from my village but is off in school in Semey. She is back in the village for this month though. I'm not really sure if I have her story correct, but she grew up in the village and went to school where I'm teaching, then she taught English there also for a while and now she's going to University but is off for a month? Anyway she has been observing my lessons and seems to enjoy them. She also asks fun questions and is super sweet. Maybe it's too soon to say we're friends... but we are on that track. :) Yesterday I taught, had English club, and played volleyball. English club is still quite challenging as there is no focus, the students that come are shy, and the level of students is varied. It is essentially an additional English class with no book... I'm not exactly sure where to go with the club. I am also trying to organize some kind of "Office Hours" schedule of when I can be available for the students who want help. My English club is of the top 2 students in each grade... which is O.K., but I can tell that some of them don't want to be there - it was just strongly suggested that they come-type-of-thing. Volleyball was a lot of fun. We played in the Sport Complex, our village's pride and joy. It's a nice building that can host soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and ping pong games. (Though the court size isn't quite accurate for soccer.) My host mom and I played too, which was cool. She and I left at 7:30 (played for 2.5 hrs), but today I learned that most people didn't leave until 11! That's 6 hrs of volleyball! I don't know if I can keep up with Kazakhstan... Today was another typical day. I taught 3 classes, came home, ate, then Johnny and Saltanat came over. We were preparing for tomorrow's English Teacher Club. They asked at the last meeting to learn English songs. This was Johnny's first time to my village. I felt a little bad for Saltanat seeing as I'm not sure if she could keep up with our conversation... and was maybe the third wheel. I think Thursdays are going to be my errand running days... since the English Teacher Club is in Balpuk Bi. I hope to use the Internet and make a trip to the post office. (Both of which are absolutely not reliable in my village, the Internet still doesn't work and I have yet to find a time when the post office is actually open...) I'll have to start making a list of what I need to do on the Internet. Every time I use the thing I can never remember what I need to do! Figures... Another little organization-listing project I can keep myself busy with. :) I've been doing better with my reading and praying this week and I can tell in my attitude that it's been over due! Kazakh is still my biggest hurdle. I think speaking without worrying about all of my mistakes is key. It's so hard to do though!

Blog 39 11/29

Today began with the best wake up call ever :) My family, at Thanksgiving back home, gave me a call before they left for the night... I was slightly sleep talking in the beginning - but quickly got my act together :) Thank you guys! Not much else too exciting happened during the day... I was home with the munchkins and Saule. My host parents went konaka-ing for the last day of Ait, which is some kind of holiday here... but no one seems to be able to explain what they are celebrating. They just explain how they celebrate - which is to fry dough in different shapes... surprise! :) So at the house, I mainly read and organized class materials... and of course listened to Christmas music! My host parents came back with some of their friends later in the evening - though I would have guessed it was Saule's friends at the door! They were quite... how do I say... energetic? lol... The car they pulled in with the music up, and not just any music but club music, dance music. Once in there was talk about dancing, but I wasn't sure if I understood correctly. It was so strange, they turned the music on through the T.V and we all danced. Even my host father was dancing and he generally never talks or socializes. I had fun - though one of their friends, I don't remember his name, had had a little too much and was a sweaty mess that didn't mind getting right up in your face to speak... He got old pretty quick. He kept passionately telling me that I needed to marry a big strong Kazakh man. People here are just so creative I can't stand it... (sarcasm). His poor wife was so embarrassed, pulling him away from me. They were actually one of the potential host families I chose from. I made the right choice. Thanks for the prayer! It's been confirmed. The old folks danced me out! I think we listened to the same 4 songs 20 times. It was after midnight that I threw in the towel - they were still going! They had asked me if we do this in America. I said no, I don't think I've ever seen my dad dance (Rap Daddy moves aside hahaha) I don't know why we don't do it though... the spontaneous dance party concept seems to be a normal thing here!

Blog 38

42 12/8

I thought our dog, Toozik, was going to give himself a hernia this morning, barking like a maniac. He was just wailing right outside my window... and the rest of my family didn't seemed bothered - or at least they can fake it really well. The past two days Zharas and I have been just about late for school in the mornings lol, don't ask me how it happens. I think I'm going to start pouring my tea 5 minutes before I actually sit down to eat... because I can't drink scolding hot tea fast enough. Yesterday I both taught with Saltanat and wore my official-super woman power-Kazakhstan-lady boots for the first time; both went well. I'm still not completely at peace with paying 6500 tenge, 45$ish, for such low quality boots... But my mom was reassuring that these were really really good boots (I'll take her word, I'm just looking for a pair that will last two years) I just know Target probably sells something like these but better quality and for half the price. I just think to myself, they are worth +100$ if they take my overly-concerned teacher friends off my back about the cold! All of the boots looked equally chinsy anyway. Mine are fake black leather with a nice plastic heel. "Natural", as they say, sheep fur lines the inside and of course they have rhinestone imitation around the ankles... Today they had their first run in the snow - and I must say my feet were nice and toasty. I even had a few almost-compliments. My counterpart was talking to another teacher about me (one of those times where you know people are talking about you, even when you don't understand what they are saying...) Then she told me that I'm wearing boots and my outfit fits me very well. compliment? maybe?.... oh, I'll take it! lol. Teaching with Saltanat was great, however I foresee too much Kazakh being used in English class. I'm not too worried about it right now, though. Saltanat knows what's up :) Today, after classes and English club we played volleyball with some students and a couple of other teachers. Everything was going just fine - I've been tricking myself into just thinking people are just doing "trick shots" when they kick the ball... instead of getting mad about it. lol. It still bothers me though, and this is why. The ball is dead and as I reach down to take the ball and roll it to the server, this girl kicks it right in my face! lol! hard...! I thought I my nose was broken - or was definitely going to start bleeding....! hahahahaha - I'm laughing now but I wasn't then. It hurt. This whole little scene almost did a take two, but I caught myself and stuck my hands out in front of my face and the kid didn't kick it. Saltanat yelled at everyone and said something about in America you're not allowed to kick the ball, maybe... I appreciated that. I had been thinking about stopping English Clubs until I have a better understanding of Kazakh, but I'm on the fence now. The hour went really quick today, and we had fun. Plus, Saltanat said she wouldn't mind helping me study Kazakh between classes, which is more of what I was looking for than a one on one class in a classroom. 13 students came today, which is the most I've had so far. We played Simon Says for way longer than I had planned, then we sang Christmas songs and did a listening activity, where I played a song and they checked off the words that they heard. I made 10 worksheets by hand, each having 3 activities for 3 songs. It took forever to do, but was worth it. I can use that for the next few clubs. My host family has a printer but no ink. I'm going to try and buy some ink somewhere tomorrow and see after a few months if it is worth the money to print things. I could make some great worksheets and actual quizzes and tests - something to actually grade. I don't remember if I wrote about the one day they did tests, but it was basically a joke. I started my wall of promises :) I like it. I also have been reading through the Gospels - in honor of Christmas! :) I'd like to make some Christmas crafts in English club too... maybe wrap sparkly garland around a poster-cone for a Christmas tree (mom! :), paper snowflakes, a ginger bread house - but that might be too pricey... If anyone has low budget ideas, let me know!

Blog 37

November 22

The past couple of days have been rough. I'm frustrated with the language, being treated like I'm two, not having any friends lol, people breaking their commitments, no one smiling - ever., eating greasy potatoes like it's a special entree, and I caught some kind of cold. I got a little grumpy yesterday after waiting 2 hours after the agreed upon time for my tutor to show up. Then she did, and we studied a little - the session was less than productive. She spent at least 2 minutes looking up the word vowel, which was printed in big black letters in English beside the corresponding letters. Then she had two lessons to teach and told me to just wait there until she comes back... didn't happen. At first I thought... ok, I haven't been spending much time on Kazakh lately, so maybe I can use these 2 hours to keep studying... that lasted 20 minutes. Then I thought, maybe I can use the Internet for a little while - on the one computer with Internet in the school. It was closed. It's been closed the last 5 times I've tried it. What's the point of having the thing?

I ended up writing a broken note to Dinara, "I go home. We study Kazakh a different day. Thank you helping me. Noelle" Lol. My host mom happened to walk in the teacher's lounge and I showed her. She laughed. The previous day we had a impromtu meeting about the flu. My host mom looked like a member of the KKK with a tall pointy white hat, white robe, and a white mask... 7 of 10 people in the school had those masks on. Yesterday, my host mom made me wear one to school too. lol. I felt like either a storm trooper or a leper, I'm not entirely sure. All I had was a cold. I would see students wear them, then when they have to sneeze - lift the thing up and sneeze all over whatever's in front of them. Worthless masks.

Johnny was going to come visit my site, but my mom said to wait because she wasn't going to be home. So, I went to his town with the intentions of using the Internet and coming home - quick trip. His host mom, of course, had me eat something first... She's a real trip. She yelled at me for my coat, my pants, my boots, and probably more that I just couldn't understand. Mind you it has been warming up the past couple of days - snow's melting. I thought she was mad that I didn't wear jeans (I had long johns and sweatpantsish pants, quick trip) After leaving, Johnny told me she was saying that I am destroying my woman parts, and she'll see me in the hospital. I'm sick of people acting like I don't know what it's like to feel cold. They tell you when you're cold. Constantly. The PC literature calls it hospitality... what about that seems hospitable? I'm usually good about just saying "Thank you." or nodding/shrugging it off. But this time it really bothered me. I'm sure I was extra emotional because I didn't feel well.

Johnny and I went to both Internet cafes in Balpuk Bi, one wasn't working, the other didn't have a place for a USB. We made our way to Taldy. Sometimes it's hard going on the Internet... facebook makes me sad - homesick. The people in the Internet place weren't friendly either... I told Johnny, "When stuff like this happens, I read this quote I found (and it's true). It's along the bottom edge of one of the pages in my planner. It says, "Please visit www.blueskyimg.com for additional product information and to share your ideas for new products that fit YOUR needs." Thank you, America (specifically Bluesky of TX) for being polite ("Please"), considerate ("additional information"), kind, and caring about the customer ("YOUR needs"). We laughed at my so called inspirational quote.

I told myself today would be a better day. I read 1 John - Jude the past two days and did again this morning. I'm working on being more regular with my devotions... my relationship has been quite one sided lately... consisting of a lot of asking/talking and little listening/reading. Not a good combo. No more church, no more Anna and Denise... It's an interesting challenge - not craving America more than God. My plan is to make a wall of God's promises in my room, for encouragement. I went for a good run, which I haven't done since the States. People looked at me like I was an alien - ...used to it lol. It felt really good. The rest of the day pretty much, I read. I read an entire book. I've never done that before... 296 pages. A gothic novel, it was a pretty sad story actually.

Thanksgiving and Christmas plans are in the making so I'm looking forward to an actual social interaction :) I don't know the people in my oblast very well yet, besides Johnny, so it will probably be a lot of the same questions over and over. I don't mind it though, I'll be asking them too!

Blog 36

November 18

Classes have been going well. I have finally seen all of my students and been awkwardly introduced as Noil. So much for a cute little nickname lol. The hardest part has been working with the English teachers. I think that my situation is unique in that since day one, I have been working equally with each of the three teachers. Usually that is a challenge for volunteers to do... to eventually work with the other teachers as well, and not just the counterpart. Johnny, for instance, is only working with his counterpart and the other teachers are fighting to work with him. (Just another example of not quite feeling as welcome and wanted as I had anticipated. Though absolutely not a bad thing...) I like working with all of the teachers... it's just that my counterpart is the only one who went to counterpart conference, and understands what I have been trained to do. It's hard to explain, but just know that it makes planning lessons difficult.

These teachers, like I've said, love doing what is in writing. If the book says, "Homework is to learn the new vocabulary words and do Ex. 4.", then that is the only thing that can be assigned for homework. My poor students are almost taking two different classes in one class period lol. The local teachers generally have the exact same style, which is to be mean to the "children" (yes, they call the students children... even when they are 16 and 17!) and only read from the book. I think they would fall asleep in their own classes if they were sitting down. They write every single ridiculous vocabulary word (like...) on the chalk board with the pronunciation symbols and translation. I technically don't have a problem with that... but I think it's something the students can do on their own... I mean it's in their books in front of them. It just takes entirely too much time - and it's unnecessary to do in class.

My plan this week, since I didn't have the chance to observe but one lesson, was to lay low and just watch what the teachers do. Planning has been difficult, it usually ends up with me going home and writing my own lesson plan, making my own materials, and we do my lesson - along with the book exercises (that make no sense, but are comfortable and safe; and nobody understands them... not even me sometimes :). I'm OK with it so far, but I hope these teachers don't think I'm just going to do their work for them for two years...

Pretty much everyday I've spent getting lost in making my lesson materials and listening to Christmas music. :) These lesson posters are like my little projects, its fun - like art class. I'm a professional tape lamenter. I made this great clock last night. I have to admit I'm pretty proud of it. It says "What time is it?" then on the bottom, "It's fun o'clock!" haha pretty dorky, I know. It even has hands that spin :) I tried to make it really nice so they could keep it, use it next year and the year after. I took it to my lesson today, and my English teacher friends didn't seem as impressed with it as I am lol. :( But the other teachers liked at it... I just get the feeling that the English department is not all on the same team. One day at a time.

In our 6th grade book, the next lesson looks like a page from a dictionary. With words like preserve, effect, to depend upon, to deal with... 20 dictionary-esk excerpts... with ridiculous words. My counterpart thought we should write them all up on the board... That's not what I thought we should do, but... I'm not sure what to do with this lesson lol. So, again, I'm basically coming up with the thing on my own. I was sitting in the teacher's lounge brainstorming about how I can simplify this. These kids can't even say it's snowing outside, let alone speak about an organism in English... Another teacher walked in and saw me puzzled, so she asked what I was doing. I, caught off guard, told her that these books were bad lol, and showed her two pages full of only text. Another teacher told me that this school doesn't have money like America haha. "Uhh... Well, sir this book is actually a 2009 book, brand new. What I mean is the content in the book is not good." "Oh,", the first teacher said... "Actually my book is terrible too...". The guy teacher was like, 'yeah mine too... all of the books we use in this school are really bad." lol. Huh. It just doesn't make much sense to continue using something that isn't worth using - or even right (like spelling and grammar in my case).

Blog 35

November 16

Today was my first day teaching classes. They weren't my best work... but my counterpart didn't give me much direction... so I did my own thing. I'm honestly not sure how well it meshed... what she said and what I said. I may have repeated some things. She spoke Kazakh the whole time... which is very annoying. The students don't have to think about anything that way. The director sat in on my lesson and said I did well afterwards.

It could be that I'm new still, but the classes were super easy. The students barely make a peep during class. I have been prepared for rowdiness with my Panfilova classes. My counterpart doesn't like to steer much from the book...well all of the teachers here. Their English isn't good enough to recognize how terrible to book is. But they love the idea of doing exactly what is written in a book. Hopefully my creative juices will start flowing... I'm not sure how to physically do what I want with the resources I have. PC provided this flip chart paper, or butcher paper, in PST... Apparently it's an American product and unheard of in this country. I saved some up from training and brought it with me, but I'm hesitant to use it because I want to make sure that I use it for a worthy class. Lol. I'm such a pack rat sometimes.

I played volleyball yesterday with some people at school. It honestly wasn't much fun. I'm no professional by any means, but they would kick the ball regularly. It got on my nerves. I really don't like it when people kick volleyballs lol. Some people were also way too competitive... not playing nice - just pure machoism. Not fun. But sort of funny...

Blog 34

November 15

All of the sudden it's halfway through November, and I'm listening to Christmas music!... how did that happen lol. I guess it's a good sign that I haven't really noticed time go by. I've been trying to stay busy. My first day of classes is tomorrow, and, to say the least, I'm pretty rusty - at least planning-wise. Hopefully it's like riding a bike lol. I couldn't think of anything for these classes! My counterpart is expecting the circus conductor PC has promised her lol. I couldn't remember all of the games and activities PST taught us... and I don't want to run a circus 12 times a week anyway (it was exhausting). Maybe for English Club... Quite a bit has happened in the last 5 days that I just didn't have the chance to write down... I have "gosti-ed", which is a verb for being a guest at someone's house, done our first Teacher's English Club, almost made 2 friends (haha), and explored with Johnny.

It's interesting how different Johnny and I's situations are. He is working in a Kazakh "Gimnasium", which is sort of like a private school. It's huge, warm, new and has a lingaphone (lol) room - which has laptops and supposedly wi-fi, a swimming pool, a plant and animal room, smart boards in every classroom, an auditorium, and a counterpart that is actually enthusiastic lol. This is just from the first visit I had at the Teacher's Club... we have it together on Thursday's at Johnny's school for all of the English teachers in the district. I'm not sure whose arrangement is better yet though... :)

After the club, I was invited spontaneously for tea by a teacher passing by as I was getting out of the taxi. So, I went for tea. Little did I know, tea actually meant a big meal... As they were cooking, my counterpart and I were watching cartoons with the teacher's son. It was strange lol, we were watching Anamaniacs in Kazakh. The theme song was hilarious... it was exactly as I remember it being 10 years ago, except no music - just the spastic cartoons- and a monotone man's voice speaking Kazakh slowly. I'm assuming it was the translation. I was trying to read their lips and sort of remembered some of the words... It's funny how people here are surprised that we have things like, "Colgate, Tide, Snickers, SpongeBob, M&Ms, Garnier Fructis, and so much more" in America. Sometimes it's such genuine disbelief, I actually think twice about where the companies are from lol. The American-ness of Anamaniacs was confirmed by some great American cultural references, Southern culture stereotypes, Fort Knox's gold, California wildfires, I feel like there were a couple of more but I can't remember them. They made for some conversation. It's funny to watch stupid old cartoons like that when your older. Even though I don't know how to say it in Kazakh, I know that Pinky said, "So, what are we gonna do today, Brain?" - Response, "Try to take over the world!"

We also did all of our scheduling the other day. I'll be teaching grades 5-9, which is the same as in Panfilova, so that's nice. They initially (and still do) wanted to me to basically take over all classes. I was able to use Johnny's schedule to say, "Johnny is only teaching 10 hours, so 12 would be better than 20..." and my counterpart actually fought with the other teachers to give me Saturdays off... apparently my Regional Manager told her that we weren't allowed to teach on Saturdays! I figured I would have to swindle free Sats. later on in the year. Nope. She had the master schedule re-done to accommodate free Sats. from day one! (Johnny was able to use me to get his Sats off too lol.) We planned our first two lessons, and it was quite odd. She just told me to play games and practice the new material for 20-25 minutes each lesson. Not much for teamwork, but I can handle doing my own thing for 20 minutes with the kids. I have volleyball on Wednesdays and Fridays, which is amazing. Who would have thought that I'd have a volleyball team in Kazakhstan! (and my host sister said that the teacher's team competes too!) Then my English Club is on Tue/Thur. My counterpart is on top of the scheduling. She is very good at doing exactly what the rules say. She wants me to do a wall newspaper on Christmas and AIDs? whatever that means. I'm not even supposed to start clubs until 3 months... O well. Now I just need a Kazakh tutor. I was hesitant to seriously pursue anyone simply because I didn't know my schedule, but now I can actually coordinate a time and place with someone.

I asked this sweet older English teacher, Gulbak (or Flower Garden :). She told me she couldn't do it because she was an English teacher... she doesn't know how to teach Kazakh, and that I should ask the Kazakh teacher. They don't understand the concept of tutoring... over and over I tried to explain that this was informal, minimal grammar... I just need to be able to live in this village normally, speaking Kazakh. She obviously speaks Kazakh... and English. She also mentioned, I think, that money is sort of an issue. Teachers aren't paid much and I think she's the only income she's living on. She doesn't have kids - and seems like a side job would be doable. It's only 2 days a week, one hour each. My counterpart overheard me and offered. I dismissed the idea pretty quickly - Johnny said too quickly - so I spoke with her about it more, afraid I offended her. I don't want her to tutor me, although it may help build our relationship. Maybe. I don't know, but I need help. In the meantime, Saule has been wonderful about drilling me!

I'm looking forward to not being new news. It's awkward having the same conversations over and over. I'm also looking forward to being able to actually have more in depth conversations lol. And I'm not talking politics or neuroscience... just more interesting small talk - to start.

Blog 33

November 10

I wonder if I'l have so much to write about in 4 months (or 14 months!), or if it's only because there are so many changes happening in this stage of PC that I have to pick and choose what stories to post lol... Let's see, yesterday was such a fun night, but it was too late and I was too tired to write on here. I guess it wasn't super special, but the munchkins finally warmed up to me! After another game of volleyball (I don't remember if I've mentioned volleyball before, but there is a teacher at the school who loves volleyball and loves that I also enjoy volleyball. We often play on the spot. In full on dress clothes. And she holds nothing back haha.), my host grandmother came over. It was just a nice night with the family. The little ones said cucumber a thousand times. We played cards, and laughed. By the end of the night I could hardly pry the little ones off of me. Zhere, the little girl, is so ornery. She loves making faces and it's hilarious. Zharas, the little boy, lost a tooth. They didn't take to the tooth fairy story as well as Ablai did - maybe when I can explain it to Zharas directly...

I saw Johnny today! It's funny how annoyed I was with him at counterpart conference - and that whole week at that... seeing him 24/7 lol. But I haven't seen him in two weeks, so it was just a long enough break to be excited about seeing him again. It's funny we both had so many stories, I don't think I completely finished one to the extent that I had intended, if that makes sense. He's doing well. His counterpart and host family, which is only one old lady, definitely have that shot gun hospitality that I don't miss about my old host family. They both wanted me to stay the night and move to Balpuk Bi lol right then! Hey, I must say that I would prefer a clearly overly excited counterpart to the confused/I can't really read her silence type of counterpart I've seen so far. I had a nice visit with Johnny though; and managed to politely talk my way out of staying the night. My ride home was a hilarious adventure.

So it's pitch black here by about 7, and now cold and snowy. Johnny kindly walks me to the bus station to catch a cab. (Mind you cabs here aren't really cabs but random people who are willing to drive you places for money, gypsy cabs, if you will lol) When we're at the bus station, Johnny, being a gentleman, wanted to do most of the talking. I would actually have preferred to take care of it myself since generally people here take to Kazakh better than Russian. (Especially from a white girl :) It cost me 70tg to go from my village to Johnny's town. These drivers wanted 700tg. I thought that was ridiculous. There was no way I would pay 700 tg for a ride 10 min away, especially when I came here for 70 - without negotiating, even. These drivers aren't the most polished Kazakhs usually. Johnny was nervous that I was so insistent on not paying 700. He's like "Noelle, your making them mad and I'm the one who will have to walk home by myself - with them watching" lol. I refused to pay. I wanted to just walk away and find someone else... Johnny wanted to negotiate... The lowest they went was 400. We walked away. I found another guy who would take US for 100... I didn't realize he meant both of us would pay 100, and so when that was clear, I decided 200 was fine.. "I'm cold, I don't want to argue, take me home" lol. So I told him I was going to Mambet, also called Lenin. "Ok, sit down." Johnny was still nervous for me haha.

So I'm riding along with these big Russian guys in black leather jackets with big voices. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. I definitely had my guard up. We were told oodles of stories about gypsy cabs and what-not in PST. Then the flutes of the Celine Dion - Titanic song come on the radio... I start humming. They look at me and smile. Then before I know it, we're singing... "Near... Far... Where ever you are..." haha. They clearly are talking about me and English. So, I say clearly, "What is your name?" The big one grins and says with thick Russian accent, "My name is Maxim." They were very nice guys. Making small talk. And when I say small, I mean small. It was funny. Before I know it, I see a big sign all lit up that says, "Taldykorgan". Shoot. I went the wrong way. I tell the driver, "No, not Taldykorgan, Mambet... Lenin." "Yeah, yeah, we'll go there next." is what I understood... So after multiple invites to see a movie, go dancing, everything under the sun, we drop off my new friends. The driver stops in front of some building (that must have been called Lenin), and is prompting me to get out. "Uhh... no.. Mambetttt, Lennnin." He clearly has no clue what I'm talking about. Thinking maybe I was pronouncing something wrong, I called my counterpart and had her talk to the driver, she was clearly concerned for me haha.

Once the communication was clear, he annoyingly tells me that I should have said Lenin, the village. Well, I didn't even think about it. I thought it was clear enough to specify, Lenin... the village's name is Mambet - formerly known as Lenin. I wasn't sure if he was going to kick me out... so I didn't say much, I just sat there and waited to see what he would do. If he would have kicked me out I wouldn't have blamed him really lol. How do you not know where this village is? It's not far... it's just small. As we're leaving Taldy for Balpuk, he asks me how much am I paying. Man, I'm already paying way more than I wanted... so I say "300?". He sort of sighs of disappointment, but doesn't argue. I think he felt bad for me. He told me to come sit in the front where it's warmer, I did... but I wasn't sure if that was the right thing to do... We pick someone else up, who he clearly knows and is now in the back - where I can't see him. When we stopped for gas, I gave him 500 instead... thinking it would probably be best to show my appreciation before this friend of his might think of doing something stupid. He happily took the raise, and trust me I was happy that he was happy - and I really was grateful for how well he took my rookie mistake (even though I don't think I did anything wrong necessarily). The ride was for the most part smooth sailing. He gave me his phone number and told me to call him whenever I need a taxi :). I may or may not take him up on that...

In the end, I'm proud to say that there was a miscommunication that had nothing to do with a language barrier. My language was clear, and he understood me. I even had a genuine conversation, in both Russian and Kazakh, beyond our robotic structures like "In your spare time... what do you like to do...?" I just forgot to mention that Mambet is a village not far from Balpuk Bi... who would think to do that anyway. My host family and I had a good laugh, annnd now I know.

Saule and Zhere :)

Blog 32

November 8

Well, I'm feeling much better about my situation today than I did yesterday. I think this place is actually much more down to earth than Panfilova and my family there. My host mom's hearty smile is so comforting. We went to the bazaar this morning. Even though I couldn't understand most of what was being said, I could tell by the body language of the interactions that she has her head on straight. (isn't it funny how that happens - even without language, you can still tell how a person is by spending a normal day with them...) She's a smart woman. I think my previous host mom was negative and yelled so much because she was insecure about something. I'm not trying to compare them, but I'm human and I'm just saying... My new family is nice in a way that reminds me of home, which was what I was going for. The little ones, Zharas (5 yr old boy) and Zhere (4 yr old girl) are so adorable. Curly hair and tiny teeth and voices. They remind me of Alex and I... I can remember being chased and getting in fighting position on the couch haha, Alex. Being stuffed into poofy coats and mittens, so cute; and, every two seconds "Mom... Mo-om... Mom!" The way to respond to a beckon (lol) is the "ow?" part of "How" - meaning "Yeah?" or "What?". So the kids call out "Moo-om..." and Aigul responds "o-ow..." lol. I love it.

So like I said, my host mom and I went to the bazaar, which is in Balpuk Bi, where Johnny is. For the most part, I liked what I saw. We took a taxi, and the ride wasn't long at all, but very close. (Very do-able on a bike! Especially when compared to my Ciao route :) There were also a number of bikers at the bazaar... good sign. There were even bike supplies sellers! However, I didn't muster up the courage to ask a biker where they bought their bike... in due time. We also went into this meat building. What an experience. I didn't know what kind of meat I was looking at, but it just felt wrong. My knees went weak and my stomach turned. My host mom didn't notice... but the guy hacking away at a carcass on a stump with a huge axe sure did. I didn't realize what face I was making until the hacker guy smiled and winked at me mid-whack lol. There were segmented furry hoofed legs under the tables, and a lady pulled two nice white chickens by their feet from out of nowhere and then they disappeared... sad day. All kinds of organs and body parts were hanging from the walls... yuck. In the end - we didn't find the hangers I had intended on purchasing.

Another positive point in regards to my host family... they actually cut the fat off of the meat before cooking it! :) Pretty amazing, I know. I expressed my appreciation openly lol. I spent mainly the rest of the day with my host sister, Soule (14 yr old girl) and the two munchkins. Soule is a very cool girl and a good big sister. I like that she likes sports and scary movies. Most little girls that I've met here really enjoy and even desire fitting into the "girly, house-wife" mentality, which is fine if it's genuine... but I tend to question if they really want what they say what they want here. Every Kazakh person here will tell you they love bishbarmak and Nasurbayev. It's like asking someone if they like puppies... "Is that even a real question? Of course I like puppies..., weirdo." lol. Even though bishbarmak is essentially plain wet (in my opinion, mushy) noodles and boiled horse and/or beef. Not exactly what I would call tasty - the main indicator to me is having to pile on the hot sauce.... "But it's the Kazakh national dish....!" Yeah, not buying it... Nonetheless, I look forward to having Soule in class, and watching the little ones grow up.

There are definitely adjustments that I will have to make, but I'm feeling better about them. This is farm life, with a smaller house, less to do in the village, and definitely less friends (as of now). And, it's looking like my new nickname is Nelly haha. People are just puzzled by my name. The way they say Noelle sounds like Noil, think foil. Not so cute. (And usually they can't even come up with Noil... I know how they feel! :)

Blog 31

November 7

Day 1 with my new host family :) My counter part seemed to want me out of her house pronto... I noticed quite a few signs indicating she anticipated my departure lol, or maybe that was me anticipating it ha. She had me up and out the door before 9 this morning. I'm not sure why I'm not feeling as welcomed and fussed over as PC makes us think we will be. This town seems either scared of me or completely dumbfounded by me. They just stare. They are plain people. Simple folk wondering why there is a white person in their village lol - I thought PC would at least warn them about a strange American foreigner being the volunteer :)

I moved in this morning to my new place. I'm not sure how I fit all of my stuff in the room I was given, and didn't realize that it was assumed I share a room with my 14 yr old host sister and the family computer. Neither of which are desirable to me. After awkward tension and misunderstandings - I successfully managed my own room and my laptop replacing the desktop comp. Though the walls are completely bare... I finally have a room with (something like) a chandelier! And my favorite part of the room is the cinnamon yankee candle scent.. (Thanks Jane!) I look forward to making my room more homey - maybe encourage some decoration here in Mambet.

I spent most of the earlier half of the day moving in. In the early afternoon my counterpart wanted me to go to a meeting. I wasn't sure what the meeting was going to be and am still not sure exactly what I took part in. The meeting was held in the Culture House. The akim (mayor) and some other big city officials - reminder this is barely a village - sat at a table on a stage and each one took a turn speaking about some very serious matter (a grim 45 minutes per person). The meeting lasted about two hours... but seemed much longer due to the less than perfect microphone system squeaking and blaring at random. I think the meeting was comparable to some kind of county meeting, if there is such a thing. After the meeting was a concert, again not your typical concert. It was sort of like a play/concert/performance. Different people from the village would sing or dance or play an instrument... all in traditional Kazakh dress, of course. I wish I had taken my camera - I wasn't expecting a show to follow the town meeting. I think I would have enjoyed the show much more if my ears weren't blown out by every performer lol. No, we do not need 5 microphones on each mouth... and if there are 5 microphones surrounding you, it is not necessary that you yell into them. I'm glad that I went though. This village, as small as it is, still puts together a performance, which is impressive. I'm not sure how often they do this, though.

Nothing else too special happened today. I had a banya - different style of banya. I'm looking forward to starting classes next week. I need to be busy, my mind wanders and sometimes I discourage my own self by useless thoughts that somehow turn into... well... something discouraging. I've had a whole extra week of idleness, plus tomorrow is demalus (the weekend). One day at a time. My next move is to buy a bicycle somewhere.

Blog 30

November 6

I finally made it to site! Yesterday, when I went to the PC office to check on my visa status, I was super excited and impressed to find that they got me a visa in 3 days! Yerkin is very good at his job - which I had heard, but now have experienced. The only thing is that that PC passport was actually the best official doc. picture I have ever taken! If only I could have at least kept the picture and dropped the rest down the hole.... Oh well. So they asked if I wanted to go then or wait until tomorrow... (It was around 1) I said, "Put me on a bus and let's go!"

The marshutka ride was something else. I've ridden on many marshutkas so far in Kaz, but this one was different. A marshutka is a van that is sort of like a mix between taxi and bus. For about the first hour it was like a party van, music just blaring! There were only 4 then more started getting on. I worked on my Kazakh workbook, not noticing how slowly we were puttering on. Our driver would occasionally stop the vehicle, get out, and check something. I didn't pay much attention. Then, a while later, he stopped the marshutka - it was shaking violently lol. He got out and paced around for a while - I was the only person that seemed concerned... Then he got back in and turned on the lights (it was dark by then) he said something and started getting up and getting out. I looked confused-ly at these two younger boys and they motioned to me that it was ok, and follow them. No one was taking their bags. So we get out and the van takes off lol. Uhh.. my stuff is in there! I'm just following at this point and everyone walks up this big hill. The van is way off in the distance. It goes out of sight. I assume that the thing couldn't make it up the hills and trust its there in the distance waiting for us! Thankfully it was. This happened again. Then we had to push it once. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it. I mean this thing was going so slow! My counterpart is calling me, "Where are you? I'm waiting you..." Well... I'm in the middle of nowhere, but I'm on the way. Johnny's calling me, my regional manager is calling me... lol. Nonetheless, I made it!

So my site. To be honest, I'm pretty underwhelmed. It's verrrry small. Verrry country. There is no bazaar even. I'm trying to stay positive, though after one day I'm bored already. My school is nice. I haven't met any students - it's holiday right now until next week, which sort of works out well... allowing me to have a peaceful tour. The people seem nice but quiet... simple people. I hope that simple doesn't equal boring. It was quite uncomfortable today - all of my luggage was sent earlier and stayed in the director's office; so, I had no professional clothes... or host family gifts! How embarrassing. I should know better.

I met the school faculty and really connected with one lady in particular. She loves volleyball and we played a quick game. She is excited for me to help coach their team! On paper everything sounds better, I've found lol. We played in the "gym"... there was a "net". I must say that if I learned anything from the 19s (Victor:) these past couple of days, it's the word "relative". I now understand. Anyway, playing volleyball was fun. I also met and chose my host family. Of the three choices, I chose the family with 3 kids, a dog, piano, banya,mother is a nurse and policeman as the father! I'm quite happy with my choice! They were the last family to see and the previous two were sort of bland. Nothing stuck out to me... I prayed that this be a clear, easy, and right choice. I want to stay with my family for 2 years :) It was once I saw the piano and kids :) Plus I figure I'll be safe and healthy...! I was a little concerned that we were burning through the houses too quickly. My counterpart, director and I literally would walk in, take a look around and walk out. I was at least expecting tea! LOL - I didn't even have the chance to really speak with the families. ...Although, it did make it easier due to less pressure and being less personal (so no hard feelings).

Right now, I'm with my counterpart for one more night. She has three kids. Two sons, 20 and 15?, and a daughter, 5. The boys will barely even look at me let alone talk to me. The little girl is sweet but also quiet. My counterpart's English is much better than I remember - and she would probably say the same about my Kazakh lol. I've just been studying my Kaz books.... out of boredom really, but I think it impresses her.

Well, even though my literal first impression of this place was a little grey mouse friend scurrying out of my backpack this morning!!, I have hope after picking my host family. I have a good feeling about them and they were the only family I smiled naturally with - which I would say is a good indicator.

Blog 29

November 3

Trying to use this time wisely! Successful day :) Asked for my free meals, and received all three. Yes! Started the day, after breakfast, working on my Kazakh language book. My goal is to fill in the entire thing before I get to site. I want to wow them with my sweet Kazakh skills lol. That was a good refresher - you have to think I haven't really done much with the language for the past two weeks! I know there wasn't much there to lose in the first place... but I'm rusty lol. Then a PC driver came and picked up my luggage. Praise the Lord, there just happens to be some trip going somewhere but - most importantly- going through Bilpuk Bi, where Johnny is, - and they are willing and able to swing by my school and drop off all of my luggage! What a blessing to not have to worry about lugging all of that around by myself on the bus/taxi/marshutka/fill-in-the-blank. Hopefully it will be safe and won't be rummaged through or anything at the school. Another positive. (I sort of feel like half of me is on my way now!)

The Kok Tobe people brought dinner to my room, which was very convenient.... I wasn't looking forward to eating alone in that big dining hall! Earlier Jeffery showed me the way to this humungous tower thing up in the mountains. It was beautiful and had a great view of the city. I took some really nice pictures. Now I'm just overlooking all of the papers that we were given about my site/community/school/host family options/what I'm actually supposed to be doing at site. Also, realizing the importance of staying focused on what we had just been taught and told, you know.

I think I forgot to mention that I applied for and was selected to be part of the Peer Support Network, 5 were chosen. :) I am so glad to be a part of this group because it means that I will be reimbursed for the money I spend calling friends and encouraging them! What an easy job. I've used my idle time here to start supporting my peers... :) It's also really cool because one of the things that I was looking forward to about doing PC was really watching God, and staying out of His way. What I mean is having a really strong prayer life and seeing how He moves while I'm here. Being on the PSN, I will have plenty of prayer material! I just know God is going to use this opportunity to show me what's up lol. So, I had already planned on being more organized with prayers, requests, and how they are answered... but this group gives me the opportunity to be paid for doing this! Cool :) I'm working on a good system, I'm sure I'll figure one out the more calls/texts I make.

It also works that I'm here, now in a way that it gives me the chance to make some calls and start out my little project :)

Blog 28 November 2

I think this is the 4th time I've restarted this 28th blog. I'm struggling. Things are not going so hot here. Actually that's not true at all. Many things are going right, but there was one huge thing that went so wrong, it's just hard to overlook. I haven't written in a while, like I said. Much has happened since the last post, which I'm glad are documented with pictures at least, so I can remember most of it. A strange opera, a great farewell dinner with my host family, a super Russian-haircut (complete with the bangs lol) and more in between. Right now, I'm in a coffee place with wi-fi! I'm with a Kaz - 19, in Almaty. I know... I should be writing some exciting blog about my new site and my new counterpart and school. The people, the scenery... nope. Not yet at least. We were sworn in on Saturday. The previous day was when we were having all of our bags picked up and shipped to the place where we were being sworn in. So at the luggage stop, I'm thinking of ways to downsize... Staring intimidated-ly at my 3 huge suitcases I think to myself "I could at least eliminate this purse I'm carrying..." Thankfully I was offered a ride to the luggage drop off spot by another trainee's family, otherwise I was planning on three 15-min trips! So, I open one of my suitcases and, after taking the important items out of my purse, put it in the suitcase. I had my hard drive (because I planned to swing by Gambrill's place and take her David Lanz... which remind me of my mom :), my PC Passport & Card, and some other random important items (phone... etc) I put the hard drive in my track jacket pocket and my passport/card in the back pocket of my jeans. (The weather has been beautiful, and not requiring of a coat.) So I know, I know, my passport/card were hanging out my back pocket and I realized that it wasn't the smartest idea. Also, my hard drive didn't really fit properly in my front pocket either... But, I figured I only had to walk down our little dirt road and it would be fine. I was paranoid nonetheless, and checked repeatedly, "Passport, card, hard drive, phone... Passport, card, hard drive, phone...) Once home, after Gambrill's, as I was unlocking the front door, I suddenly had a dire urge to go to the bathroom. I don't know what it is about unlocking that door, but every time I come home from school, or anything really, and have to unlock that door with all of my bags, I just instantly get that tingling feeling! (Hide and seek will do it too lol) So, I open the door and, instead of dropping of my things in my room, I just drop everything at the door. I think I had a paper and maybe something else... And head to the outhouse. This may be graphic but as I'm going I remember "Oh, yeah! I have my passport and card in my back pocket... be careful." I finish and as I'm pulling up my pants and taking a step away from the hole... I hear a clink.... then plop. Are you kidding me! I felt sick and just stopped with my mouth open. My initial reaction was to just jump in lol. I feel like that was the feeling that the little boy on Slumdog Millionaire had in the outhouse scene... Geez! Very few moments in my life do I actually talk out loud in disbelief when no one is around. I did! I still can't believe that even happened! LOL. I can remember the disclaimer when we first arrived about those stupid outhouses; and, I may be the most paranoid person in Kaz about the toilets. Not to let my pants touch the ground, not to touch anything if I can help it, I didn't even use them but once a day in the beginning... sometimes I take a flashlight in there and it freaks me out lol - I even dropped a bobby pin once and didn't even think about picking it up again. Anyways - there I was cracking up, yelling at myself and pacing outside the "toilet". I called Leah, our LCF, and we discussed the options. She told me, "Nina, you have to get that out of there. Find a big apple picking stick and a flash light. This happens more than you think..." "Ok, I'll see what I can do... Of course, the battery on my phone was dead and we were cut off several times within this conversation. She was so nice and calm about it, which I really appreciated as I was freaking out! Thankfully Andrew had been locked out of his house and randomly came over... I found the longest stick I could find and took a flashlight out to the toilet. I couldn't see a thing, it was so deep; and, the stick didn't even touch the surface of the... stuff... I could only stomach 2 tries. I told Leah it was impossible. Andrew was the voice of reason, which I clearly needed. He suggested we fill the thing with water and then it should float to the top. LOL. Man. That was unrealistic, and we decided that even if we should get the thing out - is that really a valid document? I can just picture it, "Uhh, I'm sorry ma'am, but isn't your passport supposed to be blue..?" lol. Yeah right! There is no way I could carry that around - It's like inhumane or something. So yes, 6 o'clock on a Friday, the day before I'm supposed to leave for site, everything is closed and will be for the weekend - I DROP both of the most important documents I possess at the time in the outhouse toilet. What are the odds. At least I don't have to worry about identity theft or anything like that with losing those documents! Nobody is going to mess with them in the toilet... The next morning was the oddest feeling in the world as I woke up and headed to the outhouse.... peeing on my own passport and id card. WOW. lol. And the thought that my host family will be doing so for at least the next 2 years... I wonder how that actually works - with digging - Oh, never mind... I'm not going to go there. So, here I am 2 days later... in Almaty still. At least there isn't like a "National Peace Corps Volunteer Arrival Day" that I'm missing or late for you know... But I do definitely feel delayed. Like my dad said, in the perspective of being here for 2 years, this first week won't seem like a big deal - but that is at the end of the 2 years, and, well, I'm here now... The swearing in ceremony went well. Met the ambassador, sort of. And Johnny's out at site by himself. I felt bad for giving him such a hard time about his finger, and here I am lol, bailing on him! They, of course, wouldn't let me travel without a Visa... and today is the first day they started the Visa process. They aren't sure how long the process will take - but I'm here alone and all of my friends are starting their adventure out at site. Actually I'm not alone, I stayed the night with some 21s at the notorious Kok Tobe, the ones who are headed the farthest away and had super train rides - like 50 hours, for example! Then, the Kaz 19s are C.O.S.ing right now too... so now that my 21s are gone, I've been tagging along basically. COS (is the Close of Service process). I'm not sure if it's the healthiest thing to be around people who are in the exact opposite phase of PC as I am lol. But it's nice to talk one on one with them! Hear their advice, experience, feelings, plans, stories. I like them. Hopefully this Visa process won't take long... If I could ask for one thing, it would be prayer! :) I want to go to site... :( soon! It feels good to write again, now that I squeezed out this tough one, I'll do my best to get back on track with my blog! This tops the surprise dance performance with Echo's sister by far! I miss them...

Pictures: The Ambassador and I at the Swearing In Ceremony, Pizza Hut before the Opera, and Farewell dinner with my host family!

Blog 27

October 28

I began the day waking up late :(... But, rushing through tea and all of the formalities of the morning - I made it on time to my Teacher Training Session. A quick granola bar and banana on the go breakfast is not an option here, which would have been nice this morning lol. I'm glad Sarah and I's presentation was first. Now I really have no responsibilities until I get to site. Though I know I could use this time wisely... sorting out key phrases I will need to know how to say dealing with host families :)

After our presentation, I did a take two on sending Sarah a letter. This is such a process. Yesterday, the lady yelled at me like I was mentally challenged lol. I thought maybe today I could try again... seeing if someone else was working. I told the other lady today that my letter was going to the USA - I'm not sure if she was just pawning the task off because she didn't want to deal with it, but she told me to come back after 2. I don't understand why things just don't work smoothly here. It's not that difficult to do your job is it? lol. This iiis a post office ...right? I didn't have time before the talent show to stop by again (it's sort of out of the way). Maybe tomorrow it will happen... In the meantime I'll just carry it around with me in case I get the chance to try again :)

Our talent show was today! The kids were so cute! It's entertaining enough for a kid talent show - but to add in the cultural differences was like adding a cherry on top. Our play was a hit. A couple of fumbles and rushed lines but overall a crowd pleaser. I'll do my best to post the video in a timely manner. Nothing else interesting happened today. It was a pretty chilly day. Yesterday I didn't need a coat. Today was rainy, and I guess (according to the neighbor boy) tomorrow it should snow! Here it comes....!

We are going to see a hungarian ballet, if I understand correctly, tomorrow! I can't wait :) And before the show we are going to Pizza Hut! I'm excited. People probably aren't dressing up... but I'm so tempted just because I'm so pumped lol. There is talk about maybe doing karaoke after - we'll see what I end up deciding on. I honestly feel like I should devote more of my time to my host family than "livin it up" with my friends. But... I'm not going to be able to call my host family and vent about being so bored and lonely 5 months from now. It goes with out saying that I have much more in common with my friends than my host family. I'm trying to swindle Azizza into joining us tomorrow - but she's a hard sell.

Blog 26

October 27

Today I slept in :) first time in a while... I had a very lazy start to the day since language classes are over, we are just kinda hanging out now. I, figuring I was home alone at around 9, decided to figure out what I should wear for our swearing in ceremony on Saturday. A group of girls went on a shopping trip to buy dresses... I thought that was impractical. I already have way too much stuff - why would I want to add a ball gown to my collection, especially when I'll only wear the thing once! I only have the one dress that I brought from home. It's a shorter length, black dress (definitely a summer dress). I was counting on wintering it up with some tights and maybe a cardigan or something...

I tried it on with the tights and shoes (well just the one shoe actually lol), Sam has a cute black cardigan she offered me to borrow. Since there isn't a mirror in my room, I went out to the front door where there's a mirror. It's a smaller mirror so I stood on a footrest and lifted the one leg with the shoe on it up - to get a good look at the complete ensemble. So there I am checking myself out in the strangest position... and I'm sure you can guess what happens next lol. "Oh, Aziza! You're home!" awkward-lol (lol). She gave me a deservingly strange look haha. I explained myself to the best of my ability. She advised me against the tights - and was not impressed with my summer dress... even after explaining that I would have a cover for it at the ceremony. She was so kind enough to bring one of her dresses for me to try on. Then she called her older sister and asked if I could borrow something :) There was some kind of a positive message after that, I sort of assumed that something would be pursued with that idea. Apparently, Anar has lots and lots of dresses.

My day continued with the first round of packing. I have no clue how I've accumulated so much stuff within the past couple of months! I mean books and books, papers, materials. Geez. Plus the two extra huge bags PC gave us once we arrived to Kazakhstan for our medical stuff, water distillers, smoke alarms the whole nine yards. Good thing Johnny is going with me :) It's only because it's culturally sensitive that men carry things for women in this country that I would let Johnny help me out in that way :) I mean as a woman, I'm only really capable of cooking and cleaning - I wasn't born with muscles. Actually bad news to go with that situation. I guess there is a possibility that Johnny may be medi-vacced (sent home for medical reasons) due to a frisbee related finger injury! (Eye roll) Really, Johnny?. He had x-rays today and apparently Dr. Victor is all over the situation, there may be need of an American surgery. I think Dr. Victor is just bored lol. Johnny is his new project. We'll see what happens with that. I hope he's ok for both of our sakes.

So, then, Sarah and I prepared for a presentation we have tomorrow. We are doing a session at a Teacher Training seminar on Lesson Planning. Honestly, I'm still pretty uncomfortable about going in there and telling all of these teachers from the surrounding area how to do their job. It has only just been pounded in our heads, now I'm supposed to do the same to my elders - who have been teaching for how many years now? Regardless, that's tomorrow morning. We had our talent show rehearsal then. Our Cinderella was a now show... along with half every other "girl part". We re-casted the entire performance lol. I'm happy with our show. (Our king and prince are still super enthusiastic. And their lines are noticeably improved from the last time!)

Once home, I left upon arriving. Lol Yesterday, Echo, Laura, and I went to the PC office in Almaty and stopped at the RamStore (Which I've been reading as PamStop for forever.... РамСтор in cyrillic) It has everything you would ever crave - we bought ingredients for delicious black bean burritos! Proving that it is possible to eat here with no fatty meat or grease or oil! I felt like I was at Chipotle :) I came back home - and I rushed off to Anar's house with the family. I'm not sure what the hurry was... They played dress up Nina - talk about every wrinkle, freckle, blemish, split end, you name it lol. They are very blunt and honest here. I am trying to learn to appreciate that. I have to remember that in the end I know they are on my side, but it's borderline offensive. From what I understand, tomorrow my host dad is going to cut my hair? What did I get myself into... and they still want to dye my hair, which I put up a good fight about, but my host mom isn't satisfied. Not happening. Too many bad hair cases in Kazakhstan as is. I will not become another mullet statistic haha. I want to be one less :)

I'm ok if no one gets that last little joke... it was kind of lame but I chuckled to myself, so I'll keep it :)

Blog 25

October 25

Counterpart conference is over, and I'm back in Panfilova. A small group of us stayed an extra night in Almaty after the conference - seeing as we had a barbeque at the Country Director's house the following day. That was more of an adventure than anticipated... but super fun. The barbeque was also amazing. Our CD has an amazingly gigantic house. We ate chili, hamburgers, grilled chicken, salad, brownies and more. I overate. There was badminton, trivial pursuit, a free American phone to use, the internet... even a dog that sits and fetches :)

Today I went to church like normal, had lunch and went to the bazaar after. It's weird to think that next week I'll be in Mambet... with Johnny. Lol. (Our counterparts knew each other very well even before the conference, and apparently we are in the same district even!) We leave immediately after the swearing in ceremony. My host family is sad :( After church, I did some dishes and helped clean a little. For the first time, my host mom recognized my help and actually thanked me! It felt so good lol. It's hard to do things with a joyful heart when no one even appreciates the work. But it was a very pleasant surprise :) Other than that, nothing special happened - just banya and hung out with Laura and Echo for a little bit. Tomorrow we will cook.

So our Swearing in Ceremony is on the 31 of October... and there isn't much to this week but that. We have our talent show, and a teacher training seminar. So that takes care of 2 days? Other than that... we will hang out and say goodbye - and freak ourselves out thinking too much about what might happen in the next two years.

Bog24

October 23

The past 3 days we've been in Almaty for our counterpart conference! It's been so weird and awkward. It was held at that same hotel that we stayed in when we arrived initially for orientation... LOL I was reunited with that stupid plastic palm tree! And the most hilarious part was that I actually liked it. I can remember just plain rolling my eyes at most everything in the entire hotel complex, but this time around I was impressed! It really is a beautiful place. I ate every single piece of food served to me... while last time I may have consumed an accumulative spoonful portion the entire stay. I actually looked forward to eating porridge everyday. A toilet and a shower is a luxury in my book. So it's full of tacky nail salon wall paper, oddly unleveled floors, and strange hodgepodges of room decorations... it's warm and pipes are not exposed. So they didn't serve grilled salmon and a Ciao! salad... I'm getting surprisingly good at sorting fat from food simultaneously in my mouth - organizing textures gracefully mid chew, and politely storing the unwanted in a cheek. I honestly thought I could beat the whole perspective change concept. I thought I could keep my standards, and just live with different conditions without making a big deal of anything... I don't want to be that guy... comparing everything to Kazland when I come back home. But even after a couple of months I'm noticing a huge shift in perspective! Darn it. The hotel really is a nice place, when compared with surrounding hotels, maybe. I think this whole Kazakhstan thing is almost more traumatic because it is seemingly almost familiar, but just done completely backwards. lol. It's sort of like Kaz had a choice of maybe 5 things to keep "normal" in my perspective - and the Kaz and I picked completely different things. If that makes sense.

I'm glad Kok Tobe had a chance to redeem itself. I have been having a great time. All of the education trainees are here together... which is always fun to see the people in the other villages. Even though there are still people that seem interesting should we cross paths... I've definitely stayed consistent with my familiar group that I know and love :) I figure now is not the time to play small talk with strangers... we only have like one week before everything familiar is swiped from under our feet and I want to spend what little time I have left with my pre-established good friends, no offense. So we spent the days in repeat sessions that we've heard 29,405,682 times before with our counterparts, and evenings either going out (Dancing :) or hanging out inside (Salad bowl :). I really love my friends.

My counterpart's name is Zhamiyla. She's 43, the head of the English Department at the school, has 3 kids, and was pretty quiet. I'm somewhat concerned with her level of English. The first thing after an awkward hug was "You're young." Uh... You're old? lol. She really didn't talk much at all - I could clearly see how nervous she was. Every activity they gave us was so hard for her. Could you imagine, not only being an English teacher, but being the head of the English Department, expected to know English so well... then showing up and being completely showed up by someone who had never taught a real class. Being completely lost due to language! I don't blame her for closing up... talk about a shot to your ego. eek. So I just acted like I didn't notice that things took her forever, or embarrass her for not understanding directions. I feel like under her nerves she's a really nice person. Although her one word answers to all of my small talk questions didn't help much the time pass. Most of our time was spent in difficult silence. She didn't smile much, but when I attempted Kazakh. I told her we (Andrew and I) play Kazakh lol, (I meant study)... She also lit up when I asked about maybe entering the talent show! So we sang the infamous Kozemning Karasuh (though I still haven't memorized it entirely!) I figured even though I'm no professional and definitely wouldn't have entered on my own... I can sure sacrifice some pride for our relationship lol.

We also were given our host family options! I have three options. One with three siblings(ages 4/5/14), a mother, father, and dog... 5 rooms; One is a grandma and granddaughter (4), banya, no door?, dog... 4 rooms; One with no siblings living in the house, mother, father, grandma, cat, no banya (go to daughter's house), 6 rooms. I'm not sure which way I'm leaning so far. So once I go to Mambet, I'll live for a couple of days with Zhamiyla and meet these families before I choose which one to live with. She actually already knows all of the families. My current host mom insists that I choose the one with no kids. I'll wait until I can check them out in person. Really, location is a big deal I think, and I want to have good people around during the extremely cold hibernation months :).

So these are the only pictures I could get to work... It's of the river we found, Laura wandering and collecting floatable objects, Johnny, and Pat (who I love and reminds me of Michael George :)

Blog 23

October 19

I haven't written in a couple of days (and almost didn't even write tonight!), and I'm actually glad to feel remorse about it. I really want to record everything that happens here. Even though it's annoying and I don't feel like it sometimes... I just don't want to forget anything. Yesterday was church and banya day, with company over late and an early morning to follow... the day before was a night out on the town... or village lol. dancing.

This morning Andrew, Laura, and I woke up early to make pineapple pancakes for Echo! (She turned 24 today) We sort of made up a recipe as we went... and the texture of the pancakes was definitely off, but the fruit, powdered sugar, and jam made up for it :) We walked next door with hot chocolate and the breakfast to Echo's house and knocked on her window... I'm really going to miss window knocking at my site. I love it when I get a knock on my window - and I love knocking on other people's window haha it's a cute surprise. Any way she loved it! Even the strange rubbery pancakes lol. It was nice to have breakfast together, and the hot chocolate was more like thick rich melty fudge - through which we had our next best idea... A fondu party! (details to come later... but think French theme, with mustaches and a murder mystery haha)

After breakfast, we went home... got ourselves together and the plan was to go try out this national park and eagle farm! Although knowing I really need to do some laundry... I figured we'd be back by 5 anyways, and if I didn't go, I'd be home alone all day. So Echo, Laura, Pat, Johnny, and I made our way to the bus stop. I'm still confused as why Andrew not wanting to go stopped us from going - seeing as he didn't go anyway... but we decided against the original plan. It's funny how many times Laura has tried to go to this eagle farm and every time something doesn't work out lol. She's persistent.

This is where our adventure starts. We decide - hey we've got nothing to do all day... and we don't know when we'll be able to say that again... So we just got on a random bus and went where ever it was going :) Maybe not the wisest thing to do with the little bit of language skills we have combined but whatever. So we end up in Talgar. We wander around for a while, laughing and making up stories about people, found a pet shop, ate a block of cheese like a popsicle, then found this gorgeous river. We hung out there for a while... wishing we would have brought our cheese and apple danish there for a picnic (instead of eating on the side of a road hahah) Laura was hilarious... she just kept picking up trash that could potentially float, and doctoring the cans and things to see how long they could last in the current. We played frisbee on rocks, ate shashleek (sort of like a barbeque). It was a lot of fun to wander aimlessly on an open ended adventure.

Once back in Panfilova, Laura and Echo came over and the best thing ever happened! Laura needed a haircut :) She has definelty a short haircut, and as most in my family know... I've always wanted to cut someone's hair - Yes, Elana, I know I'm not a professional. So we took my hair cutting scissors and a comb and a stool and sat out by the street with a beautiful view of the mountains and made our own hair salon haha. People would drive by and stare.... but not laugh? lol. I was in heaven. And I think I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. She said she loved it but that may be because she's just super sweet :) Then we went over to her house and colored her roots with henna. I felt like an artist lol. Laura is my masterpiece!

...And for our 3rd delicious meal for the day... we made a makeshift tuna noodle casserole. Aka, macaroni and cheese with tuna and spices :) It was nice to make noodles the "normal" way.... as opposed to the raw noodles in grease way here in Kaz... Then we did NOT chat about Kazakhstan or the related over tea, which was very satisfying.

BLOG 22

October 16

Oh I couldn't wait to write this post! The most embarrassing thing happened to Echo and I today... So, we all taught our last lesson this morning. Which was a little sad... but defenitely ok. Anna, Denise, Sarah, and I decided to go to Baraholka Bazaar after the our lessons to buy warm winter stuff. So we did that for a while - I bought some stuff, it was a much better experience than the last couple of trips to the bazaar. We split up and I was free to wander on my own. Staring as long as I wanted at whatever I wanted. Not speaking English - so people didn't stalk me or harass me lol. Plus there wasn't a terribly humungous crowd because it was a weekday. Anyways I could have spent a lot more time there but I really made sure to leave with plenty of time to get back to Echo's for her sister's school dance. On my way to catch the bus to the bazaar Anar yelled at me to come over wearing a black shirt at 4:00... I tried, but I was late.

So once back in Panfilova... Anar yelled at me from a distance for being late I'm assuming. I passed Pat on the way to Echo's, and he said he was going to the ball, he was going to watch one of his student's sing apparently? At a dance? So, I went to Echo's and she said that after talking to her host mom... there was some kind of contest at the school... uhhh? We started over. A bunch of the other volunteers were going to this "Fall Ball" too. Most of them had host siblings or students that were going. Once in the school, it all slowly started coming together. There were seats set up facing the stage. Sam and Pat were in the last row, so we sat down beside them. It was all quite confusing... I had envisioned like a prom or school dance like that. Where it was dark and the student's didn't know Echo and I were there... We would just make it not awkward to dance - like be the goofy people who danced first so no one else had to be those guys. It was weird and nothing like that. People were in jeans... and there was a judges table. Anar, who apparently stayed home from school to prepare for this event lol, was no where to be found. Echo for the past couple days had been criticizing her sister for being so ridiculous about this stupid dance. (She was quite adamant at our little dance party the other night...) Echo and I put two and two together and realized that WE were supposed to perform with Anar on stage lol! She coordinated our outfits, discussed the song, asked the teacher if it was cool that we came, kept talking about the wall being koop adam...(a whole bunch of people) as we were dancing, hahaha the whole time Echo and I were like - this girl is just weird haha. Let's humor her and go along with it. So we're in the auditorium, with the debate - ruin sweet Anar's high school image or embarrass ourselves in front the whole town of Panfilova. I felt so tricked! haha But she didn't mean to trick us. One of her friends ran out to Echo and told her that we should go back stage now. So,after much intense discussion as to how to deal with this horrible situation... We thought it would be best to just go along with it and not destroy poor Anar's shot at whatever this event was that was so important to her. No one was paying attention to what was going on on stage... and we had two guaranteed supportive audience members lol.

The preceding acts were a couple that, once the music started, argued and shoved their way off stage? a poem reading maybe, with a whistling tree boy complete with a leaves and branches costume, and a girl in head to toe leopard catsuit who sang off key. Echo and I were cracking up behind the curtains. Anar was giving directions and directions. I felt like some 30 year old creep trying to go back to high school and be cool haha. It was weird. So we did our 5th grade Cinderella line dance awkwardly and improv-ed the rest haha. People were taking pictures and recording it. People that I play frisbee with! Oh man. They know my name! (One of our convincing arguments was that this wasn't the school we taught in and we taught our last lesson this morning anyway) I decided to go back to being "Noelle" and lose the whole "Nina" persona haha. Who would have thought that some stupid electric slide-ish dance would be such a hit in Kazland. They loved it they were clapping to the beat and everything. I died. Woldim (Kazakh) The main thing was that Anar was happy. And she was. She said we did super :) She owes us. HA

As we made our way off stage... after what seemed like a song of eternity, our crowd of trainees had grown and they came and congratulated us. Very nice of them haha. My neighbor was there. Andrew's host mom. What a disaster lol. The rest of the acts were either very scandalous or break dancing. Apparently Kazakhs are into the hip hop video-girl scene, which is a stupid fantasy that I can't wait to break. Make them realize how uncool and demeaning that is to women. These are kids. Makes me sick. Anyway, so the conclusion is that I'm still unsure what the real point of this whole thing was. Some sort of fashion show, vegetable decoration, talent show, homecoming, cooking contest. And that's no joke. I left before the prizes were announced. Later on, Johnny, Echo, Laura, and I went and watched Halloween at Andrew's. Echo said we won 2 place!! LOL I've never won a talent show... never even been in one actually. Echo said the closest she has ever been is 3rd in a spelling be hahah. What a strange strange day. I can't wait to see the pictures.

BLOG 21

October 14

I loved today. My regional manager didn't come like she was supposed to... I'm ok with that, but apparently she's the one giving the Kazakh language test tomorrow, which makes me more concerned than I originally was. I'm not concerned necessarily about my particular level... but with giving a decent impression to my manager :) From what I understand, this test is just a formality... the test I will want to do well on is the one at the end of our service. So my class went well. I had to give some unruly boys threes in front of the whole class to publicly embarrass them, which I don't like doing - but that's the extent of my power and frankly, it worked. I'm still working on my lesson for tomorrow, surprise! I can't wait until I get better at this... or just have accumulated so much stuff that I don't have to make every piece of material.

After giving a lesson, we did a little bit of Kazakh, and had lunch. Then, Laura, Anna, and I chatted in Kazakh... with the help of Aigul. It was really nice practice, just to say what we would normally say in English in Kazakh. Then we had English Club! Our play is really coming together. It's an extremely basic version of Cinderella... but it's super cute. Unfortunately our Cinderella was absent today... so in order to not get any girl's hopes up, I filled in. I made up a goofy version of the electric slide (added in some turns and arm motions) for the ball scene last Wednesday (on the spot). The kids remembered it for the most part, and the new kids caught on quickly. The music is the most hysterical part... they do the ballroom line dance to Jai Ho (Slumdog), it's utterly baliwoodtastic. Elias, super English Club kid, absolutely loved being the Prince - he really hammed it up (and said his one line, "SHwho are you?" every 2 seconds, obviously not understanding what he was saying). And we had a little king, who was so into character and took his one line seriously (ssss...on, I vant to you get married). He practiced and practiced. Then decided at the Prince's wedding, he should say it again haha. I love these kids.

After the Club, we were able to use the internet... then I needed to show my lesson plan for tomorrow to Simbat. So Denise and I walked half an hour to her house, to only find that she wasn't home. So... back we walked. It was a nice day though once the sun came out. Then the plan was for me to go to Laura's and help with baking a carrot cake for Aigul's surprise Goodbye Party. Once home, I helped my host mom dig up and clean potatoes... then decided to head over to Laura's, forgetting about committing to a dance party with Echo's sister yesterday. Apparently, at School 33 there is a fall dance on Friday... and Echo's host sister, Anar, wants to learn how to dance! (How cute) Anar reminds me of Elana... on every school committee possible... super involved with everything she can get her hands on. She is very excited about the dance and somehow plans on doing, not one... but two costume changes throughout the dance (beat that Elana haha)! Her dresses are poofy and iridescent - one orange, and one purple.

So, on my way to Laura's I got the message that I needed to go dance at Echo's. It was hilarious. She was very serious about learning how to dance haha. Echo and I were like... uhh? So we danced. Then I jokingly started the baliwood line dance and Anar (Echo's sister) loved it! We did it over and over again... then she wanted to add on (not suprised seeing as it is only about 4 dance moves). "Nina, teach me more of that Traditional American Dance..." haha - uhh yeah about that dance lol. She kept talking about the wall beeing a huge crowd of people - which was cute that she really wanted the spot light haha. She arranged our formations and kept wanting to dance to the same song? I don't know maybe she really liked that one. It's like she was expecting the "Americans" to just be born as awesome dancers. After about 40 minutes we weaseled our way out - even with Anar insisting we stay longer. She ended up just scheduling an additional dance practice day for tomorrow.

We continued to Laura's to back some carrot cake for Aigul's party! The batter was promising, but ended in a disaster. In short, we were baking half in a microwave with a cake setting, and the other in a fire oven in a pot hahaha. Not surprised it wasn't working out. It was getting late and I hadn't eaten all day so, I felt bad but had to dip out in the middle of a catastrophe. Anna, Echo, and Laura stayed and hopefully we will have some sort of dish for the party tomorrow!

BLOG #20

October 13

The weather is definitely starting to cool down. It's been quite chilly lately, today was the first day that I've warn my precious "cuddle duds" my mom insisted on having. I can remember leaving multiple stores in a huff - completely shocked that the place didn't carry Cuddle Duds in the middle of July... Lol. I'm glad we searched so hard mom. Today was a beautiful fall day, nice and crisp but sunny.

This is our unit plan week, so we are teaching the same class everyday all week. I like it. I chose my 5th graders (I know them best). It's nice to know what they know and what they should know. It's easy to plan for. Yesterday, Simbat had us make public grading charts for our classes. I felt so uncomfortable posting that thing today. It's so weird that everyone can see everyone's grades! These are daily grades that are posted. They are soo subjective too. Generally, they are based on whatever you feel like making them based on. I have yet to see actual graded homework, quizzes, tests... nothing. From what I've heard the tests are given and done in informal groups. There is no such thing as cheating. You are actually almost expected to "help" your fellow struggling classmates. So, as nice as it is to not have to explain your grading system, and having no one argue or question you... I still just don't agree with it entirely.

My class went well, and after we had Kazakh lessons. Aigul leaves on Friday! I'm not sure what I'll do without her lol. I'm definitely going to find myself a tutor once I get to Mambet. -By the way I asked Aigul yesterday what on earth Mambet meant that was so hilarious to every Kazakh person I talk to... She said Mambet is slang for a strange women that dresses funny. ...I think? - We are having a surprise party for her. Echo and I have been working on a song to sing for her! She loves when we sing in class (which we do often and randomly) She asked Echo if she could have a recording of us singing to show her class in Aktobe :) As ridiculous as we are in class... She's been showing a different, more relaxed and laid back side - maybe she's understanding our sense of humor. Either way she's been awesome and will love the song we're making for her - it's to the tune of the Kazakh national anthem, which we are obsessed with as a class lol. Check it out if you can, it's inspiring! It's so hearty and powerful, though it talks about flowers and streams and the country being happy lol... not a rockets glare or bombs bursting in the air :) Here's our Aigul version... she's going to love it :)

From your dance at Kok Tobe, We were sure that we would stay

From the start you stole our hearts, with your lovely Kazakh arts

As you leave for Aktobe, don't foget us on your way

We love you, Moonflower

Every minute, every hour

(Chorus)

Our Aigul, Our Aigul

We can only hope for a counterpart so cool

Our hearts sing a tune when you say "ƃүгін қандай күн?" (boogin kandai koon/What's today's date?)

Please don't leave so soon

Our Aigul

My new regional manager is coming tomorrow to observe my class... eek! I hope it goes well. Everything has been much more laxed lately, I'm going to need to pick my game up... - the 31st is coming quick! We have our language test on Thursday... Frankly, MeI'm not sure how I'll do.

Me and Johnny, my new best friend lol. BLOG #19

October 11

Today was a pretty typical Sunday, went to Almaty with Anna and Denise and met Roshan there. Roshan is an interesting character, I like him. He's from California so he's super laid back haha - when I first met him I told him, "I think that you are the look Michael Jackson was going for but he didn't quite get it right.." lol. He has the longer black hair and smile and always wears a blazer. It was so funny introducing him to locals. First of all his name is a Russian name given to girls (Rashawn). He looks somewhat asian and they are just boggled that he is an American. He explains (in Russian, which people expect him to speak Kazakh by the way he looks), my mom was from China and my dad was from India... but I'm an American. People here can't fathom that someone would be an American if they looked different from white or black. (He said leaves out that he was born in Singapore, because that would just throw them over the top). Sidd, who is Indian, is known as chorny - or black lol. He is also not an American here :) People are funny.

The one thing I'm not sure I'll get used to in the two years I'll be here is the lack of consideration for others around you in general public areas. By that I mean, not the space issue, but the general unspoken walking rules. Like, you walk on the right side of the sidewalk - unless you are passing. Even more than that just letting someone pass by you, or not standing in the middle of a walkway, hanging out with your friends. It's so weird. I know it's not meant to be offensive, but if someone knocked you out of the way or stepped in front of you inconsiderately, that could be interpreted as a threat in New York or something... that's dangerous lol. I can't help but think it's rude to not walk in public correctly. And it's frustrating. People just push and shove to get where they want. This attitude is actually reflected in so many parts of the culture, walking, driving, speaking in classes, reaching at the dinner table, lesson scheduling. Ok. Now I feel better :)

So in Almaty today, we decided to take a different bus we had been told goes to the same place... We were on the bus just fine, but realized it was taking longer than normal... Anna, who studied in Russia for a semester, asked him about the intersection we needed. He mumbled some uninterpretable explanation. Then he told us to get off... not even at an intersection. We did. We asked some random couple for directions, who told us we should go near the circus. That also is incorrect lol. So we got a taxi and he did a complete U Turn as soon as we got in the car lol. We did make it there, eventually. (20 min late... not too bad) After church we went to the kok bazaar. Another unsuccessful trip to the bazaar for Nina. I just can't get used to that scene. It's so overwhelming - everyone yells at you, people beg, plus being there with 3 other people. You can barely walk, let alone keep track of your group. I don't trust any of those sellers either lol. My own host mom tried to pawn me into buying some turtle neck this morning! lol. Forget it. I'd rather be ripped off thinking I'm getting a sale, then be ripped off for being someone I can't help but be.

We then made our long trek to a coffee shop we had heard had wi-fi. Another below average decision. The bus system here is so confusing. (Maybe in part because we don't know the language) It's like buses stop whenever they want, they don't stop at the same stops every time. It's almost like it's everyman for himself with the buses. So, lost twice, in short, and at the insanely overpriced coffee shop, there were so many people there that the connection was super slow. ...Now I know. But to say the least, it was a perfect day to get lost in the city... beautiful weather and no time constraints. (But I am super relieved to not have been placed in a city for my permanent site!)

It's such an awkward feeling now, knowing my site. It's like I suddenly have a disconnect with Panfilova now... Like this isn't my real host family, these aren't my real students, or my village. Aigul leaves this Friday. Everything is changing again - of course. It's hard to remember today, and not be focused on the near, near future :) (I hope Johnny likes to hike!)

BLOG #18

Oct 9

I have been recharged!! :) I just got home from the site announcement hub day!!! I love where I'm going :)What a long and torturous day of speeches that I couldn't tell you one thing about haha. Our bus/van left at 7:`10 this morning, the mountains were gorgeous! We went to Ecick (another training village) and we were in lectures until lunch... then lunch lasted 2 hours! (really...!) then Dr. Victor jeopardy and some more ridiculous stories about what happened so long ago to a random volunteer that didn't mean to happen upon a terrible situation - finally the announcement part! The slideshow really was overkill (it was like slow motion fake outs, a talking camel and a globe than spun... and spun... and spun - and honestly was just executed poorly in my opinion - making it more painful)

So just to recap... I got here to Kazland super excited about Russian culture and language, wanted to go north and wear fur :) - they needed to fill two more spots in the Kazakh-learning groups... my name was one drawn out of a hat. lol. go figure :) - so I worked on my flexibility and went with it. Turns out I had a wonderful group in Panfilova, great language teacher and lots of supportive faculty. I decided I wanted to go south consequentially. Wasn't too crazy about the bathroom arrangements and liked idea of being in a city where showers and toilets were more common (it still drives me nuts that yes, they really say "where's the toilet", or "I need to use the toilet"... and as ugly as that just sounds, you get to the "toilet" and there's not even a toilet there! haha they shouldn't be allowed to say "the toilet's over there" unless there really is a toilet...) and in a city I would have the option of moving to my own apt after 6 months (mainly for cooking freedom) then thought about it a little and got over the restroom thing and decided I wanted more of a rural area (the city got old quick haha) and would prefer to stay with the same family for 2 years if possible. In short... I didn't have a strong preference - or know what I wanted. So randomly in the middle of all that - the staff observes you and analyzes what they interpret by how you act and ask you questions incognito to determine what conditions THEY think suit you best. It's a lot.

Anyway, all that aside... So they sit us down in an auditorium and put on a powerpoint. We of course heard all sorts of rumors of the way they would do this... Individually, in front of everyone, pictures on a map... ect. They go through this stupid talking camel and show and random pictures of Kazakhstan. Finally they got around to reading off the names. They showed a map of Kazakhstan and all of the Oblasts (oblasts are like regions/counties/statesish) and speak a little bit about the school/village/PC history then say the volunteer's name. They started in the north. From the pictures and the cool people they were listing off - I sort of wouldn't have minded if they'd of called my name :) They didn't. Once you're name was called off everyone clapped and a girl came around and gave you an apple and a bar of chocolate. It was all a blur haha. Panfilova people were called and it was weird. They got to the Almaty Oblast -which I definitely went through a phase of obsession with (actually my most recent phase of obsession) They called off a couple of people, who aren't my favorite. Called off some more people. My knees were weak. Blah Blah Blah pioneer site, Noelle Zalar. I'm not sure if I smiled or not. They went through the whole country - some people happy, some not.

Still unsure of what it is that it actually meant to be in Almaty Oblast... all of the other volunteers in the region and I went into a classroom. I was sort of jealous of all of the people going so far away - they seemed much more confidently happy than I was haha. My regional manager's name is Ufilamalik (nickname Ufi - oofee) She handed everyone big white envelopes. The only thing I could remember them saying about my site was that it was a Pioneer Site and I was 10 min from Johnny. Both were true, in the envelope I read more.

My site is a village called Mambet. (maybe try and google it, but I'm not promising it will pop up...) It has a population of 3-3500, comparable to Deshler... I was soo excited to read that its landscape is that of the Zhungar Alatau mountain chains - the site is flat itself, but is surrounded by foothills. It's green! and there is a small river -Koksu- nearby! The weather will be similar to Almaty, which is no problem. 90% of the village is Kazakh and the only language listed is Kazakh! (Talk about new motivation in class lol) It's a small village so you walk around the majority of the time. (same as Panfilova) No abnormal security issues; "Pollution: It's a clean area." we'll see what that really means... It's a pioneer site, which means that I'm the first PCV to go to the village; maybe even the first American they've seen! So, there are no contacts provided. It says it's a new site and a new work place... meaning maybe that the school is new? I'm not sure. The school seems super promising! It's the only school in the village, It's a Kazakh school and holds learning English as a high priority! Even without ever having a PCV in the past, they already have an English Club! English is offered to grades 5-11, and there is a kindergarten English option as well. The Akim (mayor) even supports Enlgish education financially! Also... under possible secondary projects it lists Sports Clubs, English Club, Dancing, Eco club, Handcrafts, Orchestra, Civic/Law as already being projects/clubs at the school! Of course I don't expect the Traditional Kazakh Orchestra concert that I saw in Almaty to be at my school... but to know that there is so much interest is sooo encouraging! I already have something to work with :) My village is 30 minutes away from Taldykorgan and 10 minutes from Johnny... Johnny is in the Russian language group in Panfilova - he's really funny and known for playing ultimate frisbee in our village. Ablai calls him Fantastic Four haha. Overall I am amazed at what an awesome site I have!

It's a small town feel with easy access to civilization... I forgot to mention that the school has 9 computers reserved for English teachers only!!!... it's "clean" and green with mountains and a river, a pioneer site (so I have no shoes to fill haha), they are super excited for me to come! The school was described as almost like an American high school... the director (superintendent) said they will take care of me! The school already has organized after-school activities! I couldn't have asked for more - and I have a funny guy right by me.

Man, I am so happy. It seems like everyone got what they wanted for the most part. Echo will be teaching in a university in the South! Laura also has a pioneer site in the south, which she is pumped about! Anna and Denise are pretty far north... Denise's main concern was for a solid host family (she was the one who had her computer and money stolen) they gave her 5 host family options to choose from!)... I am just in awe of how much they listened to me! I got just what I wanted. Every single thing. My regional manager even said that they picked this site just for me. There is a waiting list of places that they went through and specifically pulled this one out for me. There is even some kind of Italian missionary church in Taldykorgan they found for me! (again who knows what that means lol) But how awesome that they put way more thought and intent in the process than I would have expected! I'm so excited to see this village and meet my students and faculty! It's almost like I just had a kid or something lol I already love my community :) I'm like in la la land! I'll be able to visit my current host family easily and maybe go to the American church on holidays! I can't wait to come back to Panfilova and have an intelligent conversation with my host family in Kazakh haha, which will be easy to do (only 4 hours away). The only thing is that I'm not going to have the sweet train ride of adventure (and sing that confidence song from the sound of music - in my heart..) as most of the other volunteers... which I was subconsciously looking forward to. But if anyone ever comes here, I'll have easy access to Almaty and a willing host family to host us (ahem dad? :) I would be able to bring someone to my village easily if willing lol. The papers didn't mention anything about host families, but I understand there are 2 or 3 that I will be able to meet and choose from. (Prayer request)

The funny thing is that when I came home, I told my host mom and Ablai, "Mhen Mambet baramhin!" I'm going to Mambet - and they busted out laughing lol. Uhh... what in the world does that mean? Do they know something I don't know...? I figured my host mom would be impressed that I was staying in the Almaty Oblast, seeing as the only thing that she could come up with when I asked her where good places to go were: Almaty, and Panfilova haha. She quickly dismissed all other oblasts and cities. Later I found out that she had no clue that Mambet was even in the Almaty Oblast - I think maybe the name of the village means something funny... they kept doing the crazy hand signal (I'm not too worried about it). So, now it's about time for me to come back to reality... Russian class tomorrow and 5 lesson plans to make for next week. One day at a time lol. All this 2 year stuff is still hard from me to wrap my head around. But it's looking much better now that I have a destination. It really changes everything, having something to shoot for. Sidd did the math and once we are sworn in, on the 31st, we'll already have completed 10% of our 27 months here! (or something like that) It makes this whole thing seem much more attainable. I think I could stay this long 9 more times lol....