Heading to the Mountains, Kyrgyz #4
Aug. 24th, 2023 08:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rworoTomorrow is a big day. Along with the 25 others in my cohort, I will be sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I will no longer be a 'trainee"! Many dignitaries will be at the ceremony, including the Ambassador. Each of the five of us in my language group will be individually reciting a short poem. I have finished 11 weeks of training, focusing on language and culture of Kyrgyzstan. I have completed a language proficiency exam and did a 2 week student teaching practicum. The last couple of weeks we have been to several historic sites, including Burana Tower, a mosque minaret dating from the 11th century and Issyk-Ata, a former soviet sanatorium.
This past week I have met my language teaching counterpart and my school's director. Both seem to be very energetic women who are excited to have me as a co-teacher of English. I will be the first volunteer in the village. Based on a picture, my school is new and modern-looking. Peace Corps has hosted all of our Directors and counterparts at a counterpart conference. We have worked on teambuilding, communication and how to give useful feedback. I hope I will be able to meet the expectations of my school and village.
Tomorrow I will travel with my counterpart and director to my host family's home. I will be in Naryn Oblast (oblasts are similar to US states. There are 7 Oblasts in Kyrgyzstan). Naryn is the oblast I requested! It is the most pure Kyrgyzstan oblast, as the others have Russian or Uzbek influence. My village is in the mountains, over 7000 feet. It has several guest houses, as it is a jumping off point for horseback trekking expeditions. I think it is about 4 hours from the capital, Bishkek. I feel that I will finally be arriving at my destination, after being on the road for nearly 3 months. But, I am worried about somewhat living in a fishbowl. Peace Corps emphasizes that we are representatives of our country 24/7. Something to get used to.
I do not know the internet availability at my village, so I do not know when I will be able to post again.
This content is mine alone and does not reflect the opinion of the US government or the Peace Corps.
This past week I have met my language teaching counterpart and my school's director. Both seem to be very energetic women who are excited to have me as a co-teacher of English. I will be the first volunteer in the village. Based on a picture, my school is new and modern-looking. Peace Corps has hosted all of our Directors and counterparts at a counterpart conference. We have worked on teambuilding, communication and how to give useful feedback. I hope I will be able to meet the expectations of my school and village.
Tomorrow I will travel with my counterpart and director to my host family's home. I will be in Naryn Oblast (oblasts are similar to US states. There are 7 Oblasts in Kyrgyzstan). Naryn is the oblast I requested! It is the most pure Kyrgyzstan oblast, as the others have Russian or Uzbek influence. My village is in the mountains, over 7000 feet. It has several guest houses, as it is a jumping off point for horseback trekking expeditions. I think it is about 4 hours from the capital, Bishkek. I feel that I will finally be arriving at my destination, after being on the road for nearly 3 months. But, I am worried about somewhat living in a fishbowl. Peace Corps emphasizes that we are representatives of our country 24/7. Something to get used to.
I do not know the internet availability at my village, so I do not know when I will be able to post again.
This content is mine alone and does not reflect the opinion of the US government or the Peace Corps.
