![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
February, 2024 Update
Mar. 1st, 2024 07:26 amHello All!
I am spending this Leap Year Day in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as part of a 3-day conference. The purpose of the conference is to teach us volunteers and our local counterparts about the grant-writing process. We are each working on a major project to improve our villages. The aim of my project is to start a mother's group in my village, with a focus on obtaining books (starting a library) for preschoolers. Moms in my village are very isolated, they have no where to gather to meet each other. I recall when my children were young, I would often take them to parks, the library, museums, coffee shops, etc. Women in my village have none of these options. Additionally, they live in their husband's village, with their in-laws. Kyrgyz culture dictates that the youngest son returns to the village with his wife, to care for his parents. Details of how you can contribute will be posted soon.
I continue to go to Kochkor on Saturdays, 1.5 hours east of my village. One day was extremely windy and snowy, but we still made it to Kochkor. I continue to enjoy the beauty of winter--the snow makes the mountains beautiful. I skated a few times at a small rink of Kochkor, but I think those days are over for the year.
School is busy with classes and clubs. English clubs are fun, but challenging, as I am alone with 30 students and no Kyrgyz-speaking counterpart. Usually, an advance student helps me translate words to Kyrgyz in needed.
I am spending this Leap Year Day in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as part of a 3-day conference. The purpose of the conference is to teach us volunteers and our local counterparts about the grant-writing process. We are each working on a major project to improve our villages. The aim of my project is to start a mother's group in my village, with a focus on obtaining books (starting a library) for preschoolers. Moms in my village are very isolated, they have no where to gather to meet each other. I recall when my children were young, I would often take them to parks, the library, museums, coffee shops, etc. Women in my village have none of these options. Additionally, they live in their husband's village, with their in-laws. Kyrgyz culture dictates that the youngest son returns to the village with his wife, to care for his parents. Details of how you can contribute will be posted soon.
I continue to go to Kochkor on Saturdays, 1.5 hours east of my village. One day was extremely windy and snowy, but we still made it to Kochkor. I continue to enjoy the beauty of winter--the snow makes the mountains beautiful. I skated a few times at a small rink of Kochkor, but I think those days are over for the year.
School is busy with classes and clubs. English clubs are fun, but challenging, as I am alone with 30 students and no Kyrgyz-speaking counterpart. Usually, an advance student helps me translate words to Kyrgyz in needed.
