Numbers

The Kaz-19 group is about to celebrate its first year anniversary as being official (sworn-in) volunteers and I can’t think of a better way to commemorate it than by giving some cold hard facts. We all had to fill out these forms at the end of last year giving numbers of students we taught, the number of kids in our clubs and so forth. Instead of those numbers, here are some that seem more significant to me.

Sheep Heads I’ve helped eat – 4
Pigs I’ve seen slaughtered – 1 (I was visiting a Russian village, this would not be a sight to see in my town)
Children I’ve made stand in a corner – 1
Showers taken (since November 9th, 2007) – less than 20 (most of those were during my trip to America)
Banyas taken – less than 50 (If I smell, I don’t notice it)
Books read cover to cover – 36 (That is probably more than I actually read cover to cover in college, sad, but true)
Times I’ve moved – 3
Marriage proposals – 1 (serious one)
Times I’ve watched Arrested Development, the entire series – 4
Fan-mail letters I’ve written only to find that celebrities don’t put their addresses on the internet for the world to see* - 2
Russian grammar books I’ve used – 3
Time it takes to get to the outhouse from the front door – 20 seconds
That wouldn’t be that big a deal if it weren’t for…
The coldest it’s been so far - -48 Degrees Celsius
Haircuts received – 2
Haircuts given – 4

In addition to these numbers, I present to you a mood graph I made during my first six months at site. Peace Corps told us that we would go through a “rollercoaster of emotions” so I made my rollercoaster as scientific as possible. Every night before I went to sleep I rated my day on a scale of 0-10. There are a couple days where I cheated and put in a “range” for that day, but for the most part, it is accurate and may give you some insight into how I felt from November 2007 – May 2008.

My mood was rated on the following scale:

10 – So good!
9 – Wow!
8 – Good day and food!
7 – Good day, bad food…
6 – Bad day, but good food.
5 – I don’t even know how I feel about today (avoided this one)
4 – Tomorrow will be better?
3 – At least my mother still loves me/ I cry over stupid things
2 – I really messed that one up/ This sucks
1 – Wow, that was bad.
0 – So bad. The worst day of my life.


On the side of this was written “Remember! Complete honesty = a must!” So this is a very honest graph.











I think it’s good to note that I stayed mostly in the positive area and never did I have a “zero” day. I realize that this sort of project makes me seem a little crazy, but I’m a happy crazy, see?


*anyone with any idea as to how to get my fan mail to any celebrity and not just to some service that would send me back a picture with their signature on it, let me know. I have written some really heartfelt (creepy?) things to my favorite actresses and actors and they will never know how I feel about them.

Still learning

For about three weeks one of my counterparts had been gone sick, so I took over her classes myself which was difficult, but I started thinking about a year ago when I first came here and had to teach a ton of classes on my own and how stressed out I was then compared to now… It just seemed more normal this time. Sure, I got mad at kids and gave out some bad grades, but the stress wasn’t nearly as crushing as it was when I first got to site. The work didn’t change, just the environment. It also helps that I can give threats in Russian now.

My counterpart finally returned this week and I am really glad she’s back, but it was good to find that I’m capable of handling them on my own.

I’ve also started teaching about 10 hours of primary classes, and those teachers aren’t the best at arriving at class on time… So I’d start the class. The thing about primary language teaching is I need a translator. Especially since all but one of those classes are Kazakh classes. But one of the teachers came in as I was saying “Have you got a mother? Have you got a father?” and then translating into Kazakh. She was really impressed. “Oh! Jess! You don’t even need me! You know the Kazakh!” Uhhhh, yeah, I need you, but I’m flattered anyway.

I can teach in elementary Kazakh!

Community Member

Peace Corps is always telling us during training that a Volunteer is always working to become a member of the community that many people know and respect. I don't know what I thought I was before, but it just recently occurred to me that maybe I am known and respected. When people meet me, it's like they're meeting this wonderful person they've heard so much about, and are just so grateful to finally see my face. Part of this could be attributed to their gravcious and accomodating nature, but I also think I might actually have become a MEMBER. Membership in a community is difficult to come by and unlike most other memberships, you can't necessairly buy your way in. (Especially if you're a volunteer and aren't really paid that much).

My site-mate and I have been planning on opening an English Resource Center in our center Library. By "planning" I mean "talking about it a lot with our schools and each other." But we finally tooka very important step: We went to the library to talk to them about holding community clubs and opening a resource center. They were so excited to work with us, and are more than willing to help us. "We will always help you" were their exact words. I think we might be well-respected members of the community... I don't know when or how it happened, but it did.

First Bell Blues

I typed out a blog entry and put it on my flash card, but now the computer with the internet won't read it... So I'm sorry if this is a little scattered

School began Nationwide in Kazakhstan on September 1st, and every school had a bell ringing ceremony where all the first-year students lined up and said poetry about how excited they were about school (lies!) and to "open the door quick! We want to learn!" Then and 11th former and 1st grader ran through the crowd ringing the bell, it was sort of cute. But we all know after a week or two, they won't be so jazzed about school.

It's exciting to start new classes with new students. I found out last year that when a class asked why Miss Jessica wasn't teaching them the local teachers would say something like "Your study habits are horrible!" or "You are the worst class! Why would she teach you?" (The real answer? Because Miss Jessica isn't three people and can't be everywhere at once...) So I've been trying to take on different classes to debunk the myth. Unfortunately, the reputation precedes me and every class has begun about the same. i enter the room, and a hush goes around "it's Miss Jessica!" Then a student works up the courage to ask "Will you teach us this year?" and I would answer "for today at least" because we don't know the schedule, not because I "don't teach stupid classes." But every class has been on it's best and most terrified behavior, thinking the slightest screw-up will make me leave. I feel so bad, I just stand there and smile, and hope that they know somehow that I would love to teach everybody, that I don't know what classes are worse than others.

So this next week I'll probably make a few classes cry when we find out that the schedule will force me to not teach 40% of the students at my school. I hope someday they will understand. It's difficult being the loved English teacher. But somebody has to do it.

The Return

Back in Kazakhstan

Day 1: I love this place! I Missed it so much! Look at how vast it is! There is so much opportunity! The people are so friendly! This place is GREAT!

Day 2: I forgot about outhouses, but it's still GREAT! Like camping.

Day 3: I also forgot how difficult it can be to pump water.

Day 4: After waiting in line for 30 minutes at the local ATM (as each person took at least 3 minutes) I finally got to the front, and withdrew my cash in 30 seconds. The woman behind me said "that's amazing! could you show me how to use mine?" THAT's why it was taking so long? I miss organization! I miss English!

Day 5: Bad news from home. Sometimes this sucks.

Day 10: I found this dog by my house.








Unfortunately he will not grow large enough to be a sufficient guard dog, so he was sent to a field far away.

Day 11: Solar Eclipse! SWEET.

Day 12: After my camp all the students said "Miss Jessica! I don't want to go home! Please! Don't make us go home!" Sometimes this job is pretty cool.

Today: In transit. Going to the other side of Kazakhstan, with the good, the bad and everything in between.

Jeff says hello.