I have the Anxious returning home Blues :-/

So I leave for the States in a week and I can't begin to tell you how anxious I am. Two months ago I could not contain my excitment to come home and now its the opposite. I think I'm just worried about how I'll fit in in the world that I left behind. Simple things that I have learned to live without or adapt to will suddenly be available again, things like drinkable tap water, constant power, washing machines, flowing hot water, central heating, menu's in english and supermarkets just to name a few. Not to mention now that EVERYONE will be speaking english, I just don't think that many people can comprehend what it is like to walk down the streets hearing two languages day in and day out. Another thing is that here everyone stares at me, its not a bad thing and I understand why they stare but I've learned how to walk down the street and not smile or look at anyone else, I NEVER did this in the states. My personal bubble/space has been reduced to KG size (super tiny, you get used to people always touching you) and I worry about being socially awkward when I get home, anyways I don't want this to sound like a super complaint blog but just a few things that are running through my head right now. Anyways if you see me while I'm back in the states and I'm kinda awkward at least you know why now lol

P.S. just to make this post a lil less depressing here are some pics of KG volunteers having some fun :-)
-Peace

Spring! Spring! Spring!

Spring has come to Osh and its awesome! Recently I've been able to go hiking twice a week and there are some truly beautiful places around Osh city. It so nice to see people out and about again, after a rough winter I almost forgot what spring was like. In other news my primary site was changed to the UNDP in Osh, which means that my reports and such will be from this organization instead of the orphanage. I will still work at the orphanage but my time will now be split. At UNDP I've already become hyper productive. We've started two clubs, a culture club and a debate/discussion club, have 3 grants in the works and are working on developing career and college guidence curriculum for the schools of KG. I've been really busy recently to say the least. The best news of course is that I'm coming home to visit in 18 days :-) Man I can't wait to see my family and friends, it will have be a full year since I stepped foot on US soil, crazy right?! Anyways just wanted to give everyone a lil update, I'm going to try and take some pics of the hikes I go on and post them next time, anyways I'm out
Oh P.S. for those of you who I will see when I come home I'm making a movie of a day in my shoes in Osh, be ready :-)
-Peace

From January 9th - Present

Hey guys I know its been forever since I've posted but hopefully you arent too mad lol Anyways I'll bring you up to speed on whats happened since Jan. First, I forget how the mundane things in my life are actually pretty interesting to you guys back home, hence I tried to wait until something exciting happened. Since my last post, I attended the PC Project Design and Management (PDM) conference, where I learned to design and implement grants and projects. As with most PC events we learned a lot but most of the fun came from seeing all of my friends from around KG. Unfortunately my only jacket was misplaced (stolen) at the hotel and the package that was sent from the states containing my winter coat never arrived, life sucked for about 3 days. Luckily my parents helped me out and I was able to buy a winter coat and light jacket so I wouldn't freeze to death. This winter has just been one crazy occurance after another. As most of you know my electricity situation is anything but perfect and it finally came for me to do something about it. After the umteenth time replacing my fuzes (which were from the soviet era, no lie) I man'd up bought the new replacement fuzes and did the work myself. Now I'm sure that most of you can't recognize the awesomeness of that statment. I almost died (not really but it sounds cool lol), I did get shocked three times though. I was proud of myself because I asked the guy at the hardware store how to change the fuzes and he explained them to me in russian and I was able to complete the task:-) Anyways on to other things, winter has finally broken!!!!! In the fastest change of seasons I've ever seen in my life, it went from 6-7 inches of snow on the ground to nothing in 4 days! I'm soooo happy that the weather is getting warmer. On the workout front I'm exercising like a crazy person. I'm lifing 4 times a week and I climb Sulimon Mountian everyday, trying to be like HULK for when I come home ;-) Speaking of which only 33 days til I come home to visit and man I can't wait to see my fam and friends. It will have been a full year since I've been home and boy do I have some crazy stories hehehe Mens/ Defenders of the Homeland day was on February 23rd and it awesome! Think of Fathers day but for every guy. It was really cool, my staff at High Times (where I have two English conversation clubs) bought me a Kalpak (the hat), horse whip, and the robe so that I could finally be a man in KG lol It was super fun and I can't wait til next year. :-) Lastly and I think the best news, I have started working with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) here in Osh. We specialize in Youth Development and I help write grants and design programs, its awesome and rewarding work and I love my staff there, whats better I can still work with my orphans :-) Ok, thats all I have for now, who knows when I'll post next ;-)
oh and heres a shout out for the K-18s (the newbies lol) that will be here in a month :-)
Here is the explaination of the pictures from top to bottom

1) That is Maxim and Rushana at lunchtime, my two tablemates when I eat lol

2) This is me and Suheyla on Suliemon Mountain (that was the second time for me that day lol)

3) Me and Ak-Jyldyz (which in Kyrgyz means white star, kinda pretty right?) with my robe, Kalpak and horse whip, I am now officially a man lol

4) Nazgul (which means tender flower in Kyrgyz) and Ilona, who loves to hold my hand.....always lol

5) Rushana and Valadik being goofy as always

6) Me and my Hightimes staff after Defenders of the Homeland day (such a good name for a holiday)
Anyways thats it :-)
-Peace

Just because I haven't updated in a long time

These are some pics of me in and around Osh, explaination to come tomorrow morning
-Peace

Happy New Year :-)

So New Years here is an interesting mix between our American Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July and of course New Years. I say this because there are copious amounts of food eaten, gift exchanges, fireworks, and celebration in the streets. Personally I think it gives our New Years celebration a run for its money lol Anyways from December 27th to January 3rd I hosted Peace Corps volunteers from various oblasts. We had an AWESOME week to say the least. It was nice to hang out, gripe, eat good food, gripe some more and generally just relax. Also since there were people staying at my place it was a little warmer ;-) Oh and by the way, I HATE living by myself, its so boring, but I always have people over or go and hang out somewhere else, so all in all its not that bad. Other than that there is nothing new to say, wait actually there is. I'm coming back to America!!! (to visit) In April I'm flying home to visit some grad schools, family and friends. I would call it R&R but the travel schedule that I have planned is crazy and by the end of it I'll probably be begging to come back home to KG. Anyways I hope everyone had a Happy Holidays and be on the look out for the next post :-)
-Peace

Baby Holiday Post

Hey guys! Hopefully everyone is having a great holiday season, I finally found an internet spot where I can upload pics!!! This is a picture of me before I waltzed for a high school celebration (more on that later ;-) Anyways this is just the first of many to come and Im gonna write more, I'm just waiting until after New Years lol
-Peace

What we leave behind

So I think maybe because its holiday time or maybe just because its been nine months since I've been home but I wanted to mention a little of what we as volunteers or anyone serving abroad sacrifices. Besides even the simple material things that I miss (good food, warm housing, utilities, etc lol) its the experiences, family and friends that I really miss. We as volunteers leave behind our family and friends in hopes of making people's lives that we've never met a little better. So if your reading this keep all your loved ones who are abroad in your thoughts and prayers and send them some love when you get the chance, it will mean the world to them, trust me :-)
-Peace