Today I turned 24. It feels pretty great! Nic took me out to a restaurant in Spencer, MA and it was pretty good. I also sort of got a birthday present from the Peace Corps- Nic and I have been assigned to the Kyrgyz Republic and will be leaving in March. Initially, Nic and I were to be going to Benin, but now we've been reassigned to a completely different region of the earth. We will both be English teachers, but opportunities will be given for us both to branch out. Here are the pro's of this new assignment:
1) An incredible level of comfort. We will more than likely have electricity and water, and there are less problems with theft in the Kyrgyz Republic than in Benin. It's more like we have "real" jobs in another country and less like we are doing the stereotypical hippies in t-shirts Peace Corps act. In addition, HIV will not be a major focal point of my time spent there. This is a great source of comfort to some of those very near to me. We're going to have furniture and an electric heater, supplied to us by the Peace Corps.
2) We're going to be learning Russian. RUSSIAN.
3) We'll both be teaching English. Teaching English in the Peace Corps in a country like the Kyrgyz republic was actually what I expected from the Peace Corps when I first decided that the Peace Corps was my post-college plan. I wanted to go to an Eastern European country where I could utilize/experience my history degree and my German studies degree. Though this is not an Eastern European country, the country was formerly occupied by the Soviet Union and is largely Russian with a German minority. The country is gaining independence and the Peace Corps volunteers in this region have the chance to engage in the historical (and largely peaceful) transition from an occupied country to a strong independent nation. It's a fantastic capstone to my college education.
4) It's the Kyrgyz Republic! Every time I talk to someone about it, I'll be able to contribute to their knowledge of geography.
5) The country is gorgeous. It's largely mountainous, and waking up to mountain peaks and blue valleys is amazing. I've only experienced it fully in Taiwan, but it's completely refreshing. Even if classes don't go well, the mountain is unmoved and the waterfalls continue to flow- it's soothing and provides a sense of unity with the earth.
6) We have the possibility of being placed in either a rural area where we would be building yurts and riding horses or an urban area where we will be riding bikes and living in a family compound. Both rock.
7) Religion has no major play in the function of the society or the government. During the occupation of the Soviet Union, state Atheism was pushed. Currently, varieties of Islam are growing in the state, but in general, one is not likely to be judged by their faith and one can politely reject attendance of a religious ceremony if one is truly uncomfortable without loosing their social status (but, to be honest, I will likely attend a variety of religious ceremonies. I love religious exploration, though I am myself without a particular religion).
8) I love to try new foods and liquors, and man oh man, the food is mainly cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables combined with a variety of tomatoes and meats. It sounds rich and delicious. Plus, the country, like Poland or Russia, is "toasting" centered. I am going to get to try all sorts of traditional drinks. Oi, vey, but my liver!
But, in spite of my excitement, there are just a few downsides.
1) I would like to go to medical school. My initial placement provided a very direct foot in the door for medical school. I will have to work much harder to involve myself in the medical community in this region. We'll have to see how this works out.
2) Nic and I have the same job, which could be a potential source of conflict. I doubt it will be, but it's still a concern.
3) The packing list for this country is the exact opposite of Benin. Nic and I bought all sorts of clothing articles expecting to be in a warm tropical climate. Now, we're going to be in an icy snowy mountain range. They recommend bringing several pairs of heavy boots for hiking in the snow, warm turtle neck sweaters, a cold-weather sleeping bag, a laptop, dvd players...things that are a) snowproof and b) technologically advanced! For Benin, we bought solar chargers, crank radios, and linen clothing to keep cool, as well as sandals to wear year around. Oh man. It's so incredible how different the lists are.
4) We have to quit Heifer early. This sucks, long story short.
In general, I'm excited and energized, though on some level I feel like Benin was a better suit for us. It's going to be a great thing in the long run. But in the meantime, Nic and I have alot of empty time to fill. Anybody have a job they could offer Nic or I that begins in late December and ends in March? How about a paid internship? I've got loans, ya'll...
Also: We haven't accepted the position yet, but expect to either tomorrow or the day after. And once this happens, I will breathe out and jump up and down and scream and be so totally happy. In the meantime, I'm remaining rational and weighing things.
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