Things i'll miss about PST life:
-my host family!!!!
-seeing all of the k19s, PC staff, ect on a regular basis
-hearing the call of prayer multiple times a day
-the view of my different running routes
-kant park and a samsa
-JAM!!!! esp on fresh bread!
-having my days scheduled for me
-all the carbs and grease and sweets at ever meal (JK!)
-being close to so many volunteers
-being able to speak English with people every day/ language


Things I'm looking forward to at site:
-my site mates and life on the north shore!
-not having a 9pm curfew
-cooking for myself (aka not only being fed carbs soaked in grease)
--writing my first successful grant
-improving my language
-getting my secondary project(s) up and running
-being successful with my counterpart and my primary project
-getting an apartment
-visiting other oblasts/ volunteers
-canning party with lindsey and emma
-having volunteers visit me (esp the east shore 4!)
-seeing everyone at mid-service training
-seeing everyone at COS conference in 2 years

“a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor”

Sunday 5/29
Today was not a small victory day… it was a big victory day! 10 of us climbed a mountain. My first real hike!! The hills in Athens did not prepare me for the steep incline of this up hill and downhill battle. Who ever said downhill is easy did not do this hike. It was definitely part of the battle haha. Made it. Survived. And glad I did it! Hands down it was worth all of the battle wounds and sun burn. If I can practically scale a mountain I can make it through the next two years, one step at a time. After over 6 hour of hiking I’m looking forward to a good night of sleep!

5/31
I GOT THE BEST CARE PACK EVER! Thank you to my wonderful rents! Hit the jackpot and got the hook up! Nothing beats clothes, dried fruits and nuts from Costco, gummies, and such! A day later I’m still super excited about it and I feel like that it’s not going to wear off any time soon. The fun of yesterday didn’t end there… a drink with some health kids, dinner with the LCF group, and goodbye Kyrgyz bbq with my host family! I cannot believe how fast these past 2 months have gone!
Today, the K-19s had a loverly counterpart conference at the Issyk- Kul hotel (aka best chi breaks ever). Due to my site change this was the first time I met my new counterpart, and she’s great! Surprisingly, I understood more of her Russian than I thought I would be able to. So far, it looks like we’ll be able to work well together.
Tomorrow morning… the US ambassador will swear us in as Peace Corps Volunteers!!! (then off to meeting my new family)

“Everything you want in this world is right outside your comfort zone”

6/2
I’m officially a volunteer!!!! Congrats to all of the K-19s! Thank you so so much to all of the LCFs and PC staff that have worked us to death to make this all possible… Kyrgyzstan here we come!!! Swearing in was such an awesome experience. Even the Japanese ambassador made it out here for it. Big event (PC 50th anniversary) and big names haha. Icing on top of the cake of an exciting day… legit HAMBURGERS at the PC office with staff and volunteers! So much fun and so delish! They even had a frigde filled with American sodas (first time I’ve seen diet coke in country) and American ice cream sandwiches (the amazing kind… chocolate chip cooks and chocolate chips on the side). We’ve only been out of country and really appreciated the taste of America… can’t image next year when the K-20s get sworn in.
I arrive in Cholpon-Ata after sunset and was greeted by a LOUD 2 year old host brother, 8 year old host sister, and 11 year old host brother (who played kamous (a Kyrgyz instrument kind of like a guitar) for me), and my new host mom and grandmother. Big family in an apartment… silver lining… they have a legit flushing toilet!!! Living the dream!
When I woke up this morning, I looked out my window and saw that I have a lake view. The first words out of my mouth, “hello gorgeous.” Great way to start my day, funny girl quote and beautiful lake view! My host mom and sister took me on a tour of the city and to the hospital where I work. They dropped me off for my first day of work (glad she didn’t hold my hand haha). Spent about 2 hours getting acquainted then my counterpart took me to her village for chai and to show me a bazillion pictures. Then she took me back to my house where we consumed more chai and my host mother showed me a bazillion pictures of her family. Let the good times roll.
I’ve only been a volunteer for one day and I’m already exhausted. Thank goodness my counterpart said that in the summer we rest! Good thing I’ll be resting in this beautiful city, but by resting I mean studying Russian, summer camps w/ k-18s, figuring out where everything is, and mapping out projects. Here we goooooo….

check out k-19 swearing in at: www.ustream.tv/channel/k-19