KUR-guh-stan

Saturday, March 02, 2011

Its hard to think I was still in the US a week ago. The past 7 days have been eventful to say the least, the past week has seen a few different countries several different languages many new friends and even a new family.  Countless hours in airports and planes, several freak outs and security checkpoints later, all 43 K-19 (the 19th PC group to visit Kyrgyzstan) members walked into the Manas International Airport/Transit Center to gather luggage and meet the KG staff (who would also introduce us to the wonderful world of acronyms) who was meeting us at the airport.

Upon reaching the parking lot we were met by a motley group of K-18s and staff members dressed up as penguins, rabbits, and other characters who might have stepped out of a Lewis Carroll novel.  It was a welcome greeting after hours of mundane/sleepless travel.  By the time we checked into the Issi-kul Hotel in Bishkek it was 4:45 am local time, which really made no difference as 22 hours of no sleep will wont to do.  The first night was the probably the best sleep I have had since I left Philly.  The next 3 days were filled with orientation, cultural, Kyrgyz (KER-gez) language, and technical training that were to prepare us for our 3 month training- that is training for training. After meeting all 42 other trainees, attachments were formed and camaraderie was quickly established which oddly gave many of us a sense of separation anxiety upon leaving for our host families.  Wednesday morning we gathered into our language groups and went into Bishkek for a quick internet visit and to buy flowers for our host mothers. It was reminiscent of a kindergarten field trip; stay together, use the buddy system, don't talk to strangers, line up alphabetically, hold hands when crossing the street, etc. This was in fact the first time we had seen anything of the country besides the hotel, which could have served as a Soviet barracks for all its concrete and simplicity- nevertheless we were excited to finally leave the compound. We were ordered to pack and prepare to depart for Kant City about 45 mins east of the city where my language group will be training and where we officially become PSTs. During the ceremony we watched a video of the 17s' and 18s' projects and families, listened to several welcome talks. After which we were ushered on stage of the large auditorium met our host families and were promptly whisked away to parts of Kant unknown.

I arrived at my new home to a nicely furnished room and promptly unpacked-- and passed out. Still somewhat aloof of the local time I was awakened for dinner where we struggled through simple -and I mean simple- conversation. After I learned the age, name and where everyone was from. Silence engulfed us, heavy awkward, palpable silence.....    No, it wasn't really that bad, I have learned to come to dinner with a notebook (deptere) pen (rootchka) and dictionary (sozduk), however. The food has been very good, we were warned that men loose 10 lbs and women gain 10 lbs during the 3 months of PST, and I definitely will not be losing any weight for all the bread and homemade jams (YUM! Like whoa!!) The Kyrgyz are a hospitality based culture, that is they feed you too much expecting you to leave food on your plate and tea in your cup. Coming from 18 years of 'clean your plate' I'm finding this very difficult to grapple with without overeating a tremendous amount. 

The next morning I was woken by my host mother (my appa) ate breakfast and was walked to school, that's right WAS WALKED TO SCHOOL by my appa - about 10 minutes away. My class consists of 5 other volunteers, Emma, Tyler, Keely, Caitlin and Preston, with whom I roomed in Philly and Bishkek (and who is from Pinetop AZ what!). I was late :(  ... by a half an hour! I don't have a phone, alarm clock or watch, so I've been depending on my host mother to wake me and tell me what time it is- which has been working out reasonably well ever since. To this point (day 3) we have been doing nothing but language, then we walk to one of our host families (mine was today!!!) for lunch and back to school for another 3 hours of language- intense like hippies! Today (Saturday) we were able to use the internet in town but have been severely limited to our host site, and school.

The first impressions I have gotten from this trip is that the logistics of the trip so far are that of a very well oiled machine. Everything regarding integration has been in baby steps, so much so that many of us feel like we are little more than children- and in many cases we are. For example, the process of cultural integration, the first in Philly, although indeed a culture of its own, no doubt American, then orientation in Bishkek, we were to remain on premises with our fellow trainees and interaction was limited to the native Kyrgyz staff, then Wednesday, we are allowed into the community in a group with a leader for a few hours, that is - L... I.... MITED! Now we are at our host sites living within the community but still limited to school and home. Like I said baby steps- the culture shock was non-existent. 

Whatever Thailand was, this is well... the opposite. Granted travel is travel where ever you go, the way we have been going about things so far is very different. When I could get WiFi in the jungle, I can't get it in cities here. And where there was leisurely snorkeling on beaches, I find myself running in business attire to make engagements on time. I'm booked 24-7, today they even set aside a time for personal business, which is Monday from 3 to 5. Not kidding. Week one is a poor sample for the rest of training so I'm going to hold off on "an average day of a PST" for a bit as things have yet to settle down. And as far as political unrest is concerned, I know a few of you have asked, no news is good news, and there is no anticipation of non-peaceful demonstrations. Jokshey Calungus!