End of Oct, Beginning of Nov

Lack of Resources…
Wednesday October 24, 2007
Through the sms (text messaging) phone tree I learned that the water for the whole city was being shut off for an unknown number of days. I’m not sure who found out first, but somehow everyone in the city knew before it even happened. This morning when I went to brush my teeth nothing came out of the faucet when I turned it on, but the bathtub was full of water. Strange to think about how quickly we learn to live with and without water, among other things.

At work today the bathroom doors were tapped shut. If there’s no water the toilets don’t flush.

At the café the menu was reduced to bottled beverages and pizza – no coffee, tea, pasta dishes, salads, or french fries.

Walking home I noticed women walking up from the river carrying buckets and teapots full of water.

Lacking resources in another way, my director at work wants me to find grants without using the internet. Talk about thinking outside of the box!

Thursday October 25, 2007
I had my first mini-breakdown yesterday. Had I not gone to a 7-hour wedding celebration Tuesday night I think I would have been fine, but I was just so tired. It was a combination of physical fatigue, not fully understanding what everyone was saying to me in Russian, and not knowing enough Russian to express myself and feel understood. I wasn’t sobbing, just feeling pretty low.

But lows and highs, good days and bad days, are all part of this experience. I have to develop a tougher skin; have to be able to function in this transitory state of being half in, half out linguistically and culturally. I have to learn not to compare myself and the work I’m doing with other volunteers – because each of our work situations are completely different, and we all have such different skills and strengths. I have to continue to learn and develop in order to be useful, and I have to figure out how to help build sustainability (while lacking resources) while grappling with the concept of development and what it means to be a development worker.

My good friends Adam and Tracy – who were in my training village, went home last night. They were having a hard time adjusting to their new living and working situations and finally decided it was time for them to leave. They are good people, and will be missed.

On a lighter note, Halloween is coming up, and this weekend there will be a big Halloween party at a local café. Lots of volunteers from surrounding villages will be coming down, donning costumes of all sorts. I’m looking forward to seeing people I haven’t seen since we came to our sites.

In Women’s Club this Friday we will be conducting mock interviews and will help edit the girls’ resumes. We’re looking for funding so we can get t-shirts made for the girls, and have begun thinking about putting together a Women’s Leadership Conference for next summer.

With the arrival of some packages from family, I have had new clothes to wear! Exciting. Great timing since the lack of water has put a damper on my laundry routine. Plus, I’ve received so many boxes of crackers that I haven’t had to spend money on food lately. It’s fabulous, really.

If anyone has any crafty, cheap, and easy home-decorating ideas let me know! I’ve been trying to think of ways I can make my new apartment more homey once I move in, and will surely be spending lots of time indoors as the weather turns colder.

Thursday, November 1, 2007
I can’t believe it’s November already! The weather has been getting cooler as the leaves continue to change and drop. Mornings and nights are cold, but mid-day the temperature has been around 50 degrees. Beautiful.

The Halloween party last weekend was a lot of fun. This local café hosted a Halloween costume party complete with games and prizes. So many volunteers came, which made it packed. Some people were really creative with their costumes. This group of 4 volunteers from nearby villages all game as Peter Pan characters. Along with my friends Kelly and Erica I was part of the three blind mice trio. We were more like 3 blind mice from the ghetto though, cause I made our ears out of black plastic bags, tissue paper, and elastics. We wore black clothes and sunglasses and drew on some whiskers with eyeliner. Good times.

We also carved pumpkins at Theo’s NGO and baked pumpkin seeds. Soo good!

Yesterday, when it was actually Halloween a few other volunteers and I went with Kelly to the shelter her NGO sustains for street kids, to teach the kids about trick-or-treating. They made masks and we hid behind different office doors, and when they knocked we handed out candy. They seemed to really enjoy it.

My friend’s cat is having kittens and he said I could have one. I’m so excited! Hope they pop out soon! Then I have to wait 8-10 weeks before they can be separated from their momma. I wasn’t going to say yes, when he asked if I wanted one, but I figured the kitten would provide some company and entertainment – since I’ll be living by myself soon, and won’t have a TV. Plus, there are no vets here, so I won’t have any other expenses besides the cat food (the pet store is right on the corner, so close). Cats here are about half the size as cats at home. They never get very big. And my friend’s cat is black, white, and grey striped so I know the kitten will be adorable. Maybe I’ll take two…

Let’s see what else…my first English Conversation Club – for my NGO’s staff will be held in an hour. Originally it was scheduled for Monday, and then postponed till Tuesday then canceled and rescheduled and canceled yesterday. So, if it doesn’t happen today, I’m going to be really frustrated, but I have to learn that that’s how things work here. My friend Meg, who has already been here for a year and who is an English teacher, has agreed to help me, since her Russian is 100 times better than mine. I’m so lucky!

Another interesting tidbit: I’ve had a little cold for about a week, and my host mother is convinced it’s because I shower (and get cold after the warm shower), so she’s banned me from showering. She says I need to go find a public banya (which is like a steam room) to use. I think I’ll just be sneaky and shower when she’s not home. Also, she doesn’t understand why I wash so many pairs of socks and underwear every week – I should only have 1 pair a week to wash – that would be more normal.

I’ve mentally rearranged my apartment (that I have not moved into yet) about 6 times now. I’ve never lived in a 1 bedroom or in an apartment by myself; I’m so excited!! A few things I could use for the new place would be – a can opener, small white Christmas lights, Tostitos brand cheese con queso sauce (in the aisle with the salsa), and a dust buster (in that order).

At the bottom of my page I’ve added some links to a few of my friends’ blogs. Check them out if you want to see some more pics, and read some other perspectives.