(Let's try this one again...)
For those Peace Corps staffers reading, the trip was very productive. We discussed secondary project ideas with other TEFL volunteers and obtained some helpful TOEFL lesson plans. For everyone else, this trip was a really fun experience. We spent the first night in Bishkek for medical, and what a lovely coincidence that several other volunteers were staying in the same hotel for a health training that week!
Bright and early on day 2, we set out for the vokcal to find a ride to the lake. This was quick and painless, and, though the car was mostly youngsters, only one took a liking to standing by my ear and speaking in shouts. I consider this a win. The lake part was nice. We visited friends, ate watermelon, swam – classic lake things. We also visited some friends in Karakol, which is a little ways from the lake and more popular for its hiking. We did not have time to hike this time, but we visited an old church and enjoyed luxuries such as parmesan cheese – oh, what a life... But being spoiled can only last so long, and after a few days we returned to Talas with cheese in our bellies (and resources on our jump drives!) Thankfully, the journey home was just as painless as the journey there.
The next big event was Kyrgyz independence day, 31 August. I had hoped to see the horse games, but we heard many different times from many different “reliable sources” about when the games started, so it didn't quite work out. Maybe next year. I did, however, meet up with my counterpart and see some of the other festivities. Every rayon/county sets up a yurt at the stadium; we visited our rayon's yurt where they served us plov, borsok, and (of course) tea. Then we visited friends in some of the other yurts.
Next was a theatrical ceremony, most of which I did not understand, but there was a woman dressed as a mountain who narrated most of it – I believe she was Mother Earth. The whole thing seemed to culminate when these soldiers arrived bearing photographs of Talas citizens who died in the revolution. Though I had no idea what was going on, it felt very independence-y.
The next day was First Bell. Despite popular beliefe, this is not the first day of school. All the students and teachers gathered outside, the director said some things about some teachers (I got a flower), and the names of all the first form kids (school starts at age seven). Then, true to the day's name, some first formers walk around the circle of people ringing a bell. After the ceremony, all the teachers got together to drink tea, some also celebrated the day with some vodka, and eat plov and borsok. An accordian player was with us in the cafeteria, and he twisted many an arm into singing his accompaniment. We have quite a talented staff, and it was a whole lot of fun.
So we are now just about two weeks deep into the school year, and I tell you what, it is quite a different experience to be in school in a place where the top priority is farming (and the main harvest season is now). At first, it was very frustrating to me – why have class when over half the students are absent for the whole first two weeks? (Now, we are over a month into the school year. Last week we had no school so that everyone could work on the fields. This week, we are still missing about half the students. My counterpart says maybe next month..) But I am appreciating it more and more. Gulshair and I are learning to plan and teach together, and since we will probably need to reteach most everything when harvest season ends, having these practice lessons will be useful. This week we find out whether or not the government will grant the school some vacation time (they did) for the main harvest. So maybe by my next update I will be able to tell you guys a little more about school (I cannot.)
So, just before that week off from school, Talas oblast had In-Service Training, which was three days of training in Talas city. The first day was with our counterparts and family (my dad came to it). There were some good discussions. The next day was just us with our counterparts. We did practice lessons for one of the city schools. I think ours went well – either that or the folks who gave us feedback were just super positive. The third day was just us with a good bit of language practice.
After the training, a few volunteers and I bummed a ride to Bishkek with the staff, and I went straight on to Naryn to view classes and clubs, collect lesson plans, and see some friends I've been missing. I spent three days with my friend Casey. She had a few lessons the first day; afterwards, the two eleventh form classes had a Kyrgyz concert/competition. They sang, danced, recited Manas, acted, and sang a lot more. Both teams did a great job and it ended in a tie. Her family had a koy soy (pig slaughter) for me – not as gross to watch as I had thought it would have been. It is kind of amazing how many parts of the pig you can eat. (I have pictures of them all, but don't worry, I am too cheap to upload photos this time.) Casey and her host brothers took me around the village to show me their hospitol and parks – she lives in a beautiful town! We played frisbee and soccer and rode a horse (with a helmet, of course..) Then Casey gave me a whole bunch of great resources that I just finished organizing, and I was on the road again.
Next I went to Tav's village. He lives a ways further out, and it was neat to figure out the transportation to get there. People were really helpful and friendly so it was easier than I expected. I went straight to Tav's school where a teacher saw me in the lobby and brought me to his (the teacher's, not Tav's) class to talk to the kids. The kids did not want me to leave to find Tav's classroom, so I just chilled with them until Tav found me. His classes and clubs were a lot of fun – since he's in his second year it was nice to see a more structured routine. He really lucked out that at his school the teachers stay in one classroom and the students move between classes; I am jealous about this. The next day a couple other volunteers from Talas joined us and brought ideas to the clubs. This trip motivated me to get a lot more involved in my community. Since I live on a main road, it's easy for me to run to Talas city whenever, but this trip helped to remind me that I am a village volunteers, and village volunteers are wonderful folks.
I hope all is well on the home front. Stay happy and HEALTHY, please and thank you.
I love you guys.
