Just the Facts

Fact: I have moved so my address has changed. See over there ------>

Fact: The most important thing I brought with me to Kazakhstan was my head flashlight. It is just ridiculiously useful for outhouse runs.

Fact: MAIL IS AMAZING! Thank you!!

Fact: Once again, I have no time to tell you funny stories. Next time.

Ok, one. My new host family is funny. My last family was too, but my new host father has this hilerious laugh and you cant help but laugh when he does, even if you don't know (or understand) why he is laughing. So last night I decided to use a new phrase I've learned basically saying "I'm stuffed as a dog" and he burst out laughing like you wouldn't believe. It must have been the funniest thing he's ever heard in his life. So there you are, I was funny in Russian. That's a victory, I think.

INTERNET!!

I used to think that I wasn't *completely* addicted to the internet. I was wrong. So I am not able to use the internet in my site, so this trip included a two-hour, bumpy, and cold ride into the city, and you guessed it, another ride back. It's so strange, after two weeks of not using it, I start looking longingly at computers, hoping that by some miracle they will have access... And being here today, my heart raced, and I'm all of a sudden EUPHORIC because, because... LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!! I can check facebook! I can read e-mail! WOW!

Now that that's out of my system... Things are going well at site. I wasn't able to play in the volleyball tournament because I was sick. I think I really let some people down, but my host mother wouldn't have it. "It's cold outside!", "Drink more tea!" This is really funny because my Spanish host mother told me that tea is useless when you are sick "It's just water! Here, have some hot chocolate." And then I start to wonder... what would happen if all the host mothers I've had could meet and communicate, who would win the "What medicine is the best" game? I'm not sure. They are all pretty passionate about whatever remedy they suggested... I'll think about it.

There are so many things I want to write, and not enough time to write them. I've started English culbs, those are going well. The really nice thing about clubs is they are OPTIONAL. That means that the kids there want to learn, so it's not such a hostile environment. Teachers should be given more time off, it's a battlefield in a classroom with 15-25 14-year-olds. Somedays I feel like I'm suffering from shell-shock. Ok, if you want to know more SEND ME MAIL!! I'll write back! If you are into sending mail (and you are) good things to send to Jessica include (but are not limited to)

- LETTERS, with gossip and tidbits, even if I don't know the people you're writing about. Or pictures. Drawn or taken. Either way, I'll take it.
- MAGAZINES, anything that contains gossip that I may have missed out on. I'll use the picture in class
- Mix CDs, again with anything I may have missed out on in the past few months.
- Reses peanut butter cups, can't get enough of 'em.

Be creative! Even if you are writing to tell me you hate my guts, I will still know that a) you spent 90 cents on a stamp, and b) you took the time to write to me and I'll still feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Which is a good thing because it's all cold and not fuzzy outside.

Calming down a bit

Ok, so now that all the teachers are back, things are getting better. At least I don't feel like tearing my hair out because of uncooperative children...

I've started playing volleyball with the teachers at my school, and apparently there's a competition coming up. I don't exactly know what that means, but I do know that my site mate's school has been TRAINING for this. Like, they run laps, do lunges, it's really intense. My school isn't quite that competitive, but I'm pretty sure I don't yet understand how serious this event will be.

We had Thanksgiving up in the city and that was a lot of fun. Some volunteers killed the turkies (before I got there, thankfully) and then we ate lots and lots of food. The kids at my school want to have a Christmas party, so hopefully I'll get to arrange something amazing for that. Ideas??

Exhausted?

So they tell us after PST that we will experiance a lot of free time because PST is really intense and full of activity that you don't think about being homesick because you're always doing something. I was looking forward to the doing nothing every once in awhile... Two teachers at my new school are sick, so from my first day here I've been teaching 4-5 classes every day. (that includes Saturdays). So now I'm just tired. I don't really have time to do much but get tired, teach, get more tired and sleep.

Fortunately my new host mother is also a teacher, so she knows that it's exhausting, so we just go home eat dinner and pass out in front of the television. It's amazing bonding time.

So for now I'm tired. Hopefully those teachers will get better and I can have some of that "free time" they talk about. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Random post... because people keep looking at this page 3 year later...

April 2, 2011

After seeing that this post (which had my address in Kazakhstan on it) had been viewed 109 times in the past month, I decided to delete the address. Not only because I no longer live there, but because my host family doesn't live there either... Creepy creepy people.

Resume original post
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My new address! So the thing on the last line is my name in cryllic script... So I think if you send anything to me you should probably also put in English letters at the bottom that it is going to Kazakhstan. Chances are you'll go to the post office and they will write it on there... Anyway. We had our language test today and it was intimidating, but now that it's over we can go be volunteers! Yes!

So if you're into sending mail (and you are) use the new address! I'll be there in one week. So if you send something today, I'll get it in maybe two or three weeks. SEND MAIL!

Ok, that's all for now.