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rworoI am now about half done with PST (pre-service training). Language, culture, and 'tech' classes continue. Tech classes are classes of 'how to teach', which are very interesting--all the planning that goes into teaching a grammar or vocabulary lesson. Peace Corps training is impressive--so very well planned out! They are giving us the skills we will need when we reach our permanent site at the end of August.
Most of my fellow trainees have lived abroad, or studied abroad. Some have studied Russian or other languages. I know that several have chosen Kyrgyzstan because they want to improve there Russian, as this is the most Russian speaking country that has PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers). I have traveled quite a bit, but for only 2 weeks at a time...
We have been allowed to expand our horizons a bit--we went to a neighboring village (Kant--the Kyrgyz word for sugar, but there was a large German influence here..). We enjoyed an air-conditioned restaurant that had both pizza and sushi--quite enjoyable. There was also an open-air market there (a bazaar). I was disappointed that I could rarely understand any words spoken in the market. I keep reminding myself that I have only been here a month. On Thursday, all 26 of us went to Bishkek, the capital city. It is about a 45 minute marshuka (small, crowded mini-bus) ride from my village. We toured the PC office, then went to a huge bazaar. It was super hot, (41C=105 degrees F), which, of course limited our enthusiasm for exploring the city. I picked up some books at the PC 'resource center'. I brought some books from home, but don't want to be without any during the long winter. I do not like electronic readers--I find it hard to stay focused on what I am reading....
My host-family knows that I am a nurse. One day my host mother was not feeling well--she ending up going to the hospital in Kant. That night, they asked if I was able to give injections This put me in a bind, as they wanted me to give her a shot of ketoprofen, a medication that is only available by prescription at home. I called the medical officer to ask what I should do. We agreed that I would do this one time only, so I did....
Today all the PCVs, host families and PC staff met at a community center to iron out any difficulties we might be having. This was a clever way to express grievances in general, without pointing at anyone specifically. It also gave both groups a chance to ask cultural questions. The host families wanted to know why we (the volunteers in general) do not put sugar in our tea, why we wore (fashion) boots in the summer and why we didn't clean our shoes more often.
While at the PC office there was a large map of the country. We could put a sticky note on the map, indicating where we ideally would like to be placed for our permanent site. I requested Naryn Oblast--it is the coldest and most mountainous, and little Russian is spoken there, from my understanding. But, I think I will be happy anywhere...
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This content is mine alone and does not reflect the opinion of the US government or the Peace Corps.
I love reading all of your comments......
Most of my fellow trainees have lived abroad, or studied abroad. Some have studied Russian or other languages. I know that several have chosen Kyrgyzstan because they want to improve there Russian, as this is the most Russian speaking country that has PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers). I have traveled quite a bit, but for only 2 weeks at a time...
We have been allowed to expand our horizons a bit--we went to a neighboring village (Kant--the Kyrgyz word for sugar, but there was a large German influence here..). We enjoyed an air-conditioned restaurant that had both pizza and sushi--quite enjoyable. There was also an open-air market there (a bazaar). I was disappointed that I could rarely understand any words spoken in the market. I keep reminding myself that I have only been here a month. On Thursday, all 26 of us went to Bishkek, the capital city. It is about a 45 minute marshuka (small, crowded mini-bus) ride from my village. We toured the PC office, then went to a huge bazaar. It was super hot, (41C=105 degrees F), which, of course limited our enthusiasm for exploring the city. I picked up some books at the PC 'resource center'. I brought some books from home, but don't want to be without any during the long winter. I do not like electronic readers--I find it hard to stay focused on what I am reading....
My host-family knows that I am a nurse. One day my host mother was not feeling well--she ending up going to the hospital in Kant. That night, they asked if I was able to give injections This put me in a bind, as they wanted me to give her a shot of ketoprofen, a medication that is only available by prescription at home. I called the medical officer to ask what I should do. We agreed that I would do this one time only, so I did....
Today all the PCVs, host families and PC staff met at a community center to iron out any difficulties we might be having. This was a clever way to express grievances in general, without pointing at anyone specifically. It also gave both groups a chance to ask cultural questions. The host families wanted to know why we (the volunteers in general) do not put sugar in our tea, why we wore (fashion) boots in the summer and why we didn't clean our shoes more often.
While at the PC office there was a large map of the country. We could put a sticky note on the map, indicating where we ideally would like to be placed for our permanent site. I requested Naryn Oblast--it is the coldest and most mountainous, and little Russian is spoken there, from my understanding. But, I think I will be happy anywhere...
To receive a notification about my posts, you can create a Dreamwidth account and 'track' my posts. Thanks to Peg Kerr for this suggestion.
This content is mine alone and does not reflect the opinion of the US government or the Peace Corps.
I love reading all of your comments......
