My Women's Club Team!
Getting dirty picking up trash in the park
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Knock, Knock! Girl, open your door!
It’s 8pm on a Tuesday night. I hear an elderly lady knocking at my door and my neighbor’s door. She’s yelling something in Kyrgyz – all I can understand is "money." I don’t answer. After a solid five minutes the knocking stops and I peek out of my balcony door to see if I can see who is coming out of my apartment building stairwell. It’s an old lady and she spies me! “Devushka! (Girl)” she shouts, “Pachemu ne otkriviete deveier? (Why didn’t you open your door?) Chas (Wait)…” and she runs back up the steps to my door. “Give me 100 rubles,” she says in Russian, “our building needs to put in a new water pipe tomorrow. We have no water now. We need clean water. Give me 100 rubles. Everyone has paid except you and your neighbor.” “Can my landlord pay?” I ask her as I reach for my cell phone. “I’ve lived here 56 years and I don’t know who your landlord is,” she says. “I knew the last one, but not this one. Is he Kyrgyz? Is he young?” I ask her to wait one minute while I grab my wallet and instead of waiting outside she comes into my apartment. She’s a tiny woman, perhaps 75 years old, wearing a patterned dress, rubber boots, and a hand-made wool shall covering her head. Her eyebrows have been filled in with dark black charcoal. She only comes up to my shoulder, but her voice is loud, hurried, and confident. When she speaks I watch her gold teeth and wonder if she thinks my apartment smells – I just fried some tempora and the oil smoked. She eyes my cat but doesn’t comment. I give her the 100 com and ask her if she wants my landlord’s cell phone number anyways. She takes my phone and calls him – explains what she’s doing in my apartment and that she’s taken my money. When she hands me the phone my landlord asks me if there’s a problem. “No problem,” I say – though he should have paid the money and not me. I figure I’d rather be on good terms with my neighbors than refuse to pay and be blamed for the building’s lack of clean water. Plus, I’d like to have my water turned back on sometime soon.
Just now, another knock on my door. It’s an old Kyrgyz couple. They look confused when I answer. They ask for someone, say something in Kyrgyz, I tell them (in Russian) I don’t understand Kyrgyz. They say something else; I stare back at them. Then they ask me in Russian, “Where do you live?” “I live here,” I say, “this is my apartment.” They stand there staring at me for a few more seconds, then look at each other and shake their heads. Then they turn around and leave.
I used to have a policy of not answering my door for anyone who doesn’t do the “Peace Corps knock” – especially at night because there are no lights in my hallway and no door to my building so it could be anyone. Most of the time people knock it’s just to collect money anyway. But I think I might have to change my policy. I’ve met some interesting people the past couple times I’ve opened my door and it’s been really good Russian practice!
Just now, another knock on my door. It’s an old Kyrgyz couple. They look confused when I answer. They ask for someone, say something in Kyrgyz, I tell them (in Russian) I don’t understand Kyrgyz. They say something else; I stare back at them. Then they ask me in Russian, “Where do you live?” “I live here,” I say, “this is my apartment.” They stand there staring at me for a few more seconds, then look at each other and shake their heads. Then they turn around and leave.
I used to have a policy of not answering my door for anyone who doesn’t do the “Peace Corps knock” – especially at night because there are no lights in my hallway and no door to my building so it could be anyone. Most of the time people knock it’s just to collect money anyway. But I think I might have to change my policy. I’ve met some interesting people the past couple times I’ve opened my door and it’s been really good Russian practice!
Monday, April 20, 2009
K15 and K16 PCVs
Dear K15 and K16 PCVs:
Please take a few minutes to evaluate the PC Kyrgyz Republic Bride Kidnapping Toolkit - if you ever had or used one. If you have ETed but used the toolkit while you were here I need your responses too! Just click on the link: Click Here to take survey Thanks!
Please take a few minutes to evaluate the PC Kyrgyz Republic Bride Kidnapping Toolkit - if you ever had or used one. If you have ETed but used the toolkit while you were here I need your responses too! Just click on the link: Click Here to take survey Thanks!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Thailand was Amazing
Stepping off the plane in Bangkok was like entering a whole new world. A bright and coded and brilliantly loud one. The contrast from where I had come was jarring and exciting. From my first taxi ride to my last in Thailand, I felt at ease, intoxicated with the sensory overload – but content.
My first two nights I stayed at New Joe’s Guesthouse, just a block over from the infamous Kho San Road. The guesthouse was located on a little ally-like walking street; lined with street food vendors, coffee shops, massage boutiques, and jewelers. I paid just $10 a night and got to experience the “backpackers’ haven.” Kho San Road was a bargain shopper’s paradise. Cheap bags, clothes, shoes, souvenirs, and everything else you can imagine spilled over the sidewalks – catching thousands of tourists in its organized chaos and enticing deals. My first meal was yellow curry with vegetables and tofu over rice. It was so deliciously spicy I almost cried.
I also managed to get in touch with a girl I studied abroad with in the Balkans. She had been living and working in Bangkok for almost a year. We met up for dinner and drinks at a rooftop restaurant that hosted a breeze and an awesome live band (playing American hits). The next day I got to see where she works and we ate lunch (Thai food) and dinner (Mexican food) together.
One day I found a Dunkin Donuts. No, really, I did. Since I had been having reoccurring DD dreams I just had to go in and order an iced coffee. Dunkin Donuts in Thailand is much classier than back home. I didn’t get to custom design my iced coffee – it only comes one way – with condensed milk and lots of sugar – but I did get to sit and watch people delicately choose their spectacular donut creations. The donuts looked fake – they were so ornate and colorful!
On the third day of my trip I met up with my Auntie Carol at the posh Conrad Hotel. I felt way out of my element at first (remember I’m a Peace Corps Volunteer), but quickly adjusted to the luxury of it all (AC, plush beds, and a pool on the 7th floor). It was a teary/joyful reunion. I had never felt so anxious/excited to see family.
Carol and I spent the next few days exploring Bangkok’s tourist spots: the Grand Palace and Wat-Pho, the floating market, the Bride over the river Kwai, the Ancient City, the weekend market, and Siam Square. We took some amazing pictures and found some great gifts. It was remarkable to see the diversity of landscapes – city/countryside, ancient/modern. And it was remarkably hot!
On my seventh day (Carol’s 5th) we flew down to Phuket and checked into the Indigo Pearl Resort. The resort was beautiful and tropical – definitely my favorite part of the trip. For the next 3 days we did nothing but sit on the beach, sit by one of the three pools, eat delicious food and drink yummy cocktails. One of the (Adults Only) pools even had a bar in it – I’m talking swim up to the bar and sit on a stool underwater. It was at this lovely spot that I had a cocktail served to me in a coconut. Heaven!
When we sadly left Phuket we flew back to Bangkok and had one last meal together before Carol had to leave to fly home. My friend Lindsay met us and after teary goodbyes I left with Lindsay to stay at her apartment for my last 2 nights.
With Lindsay I experienced some of the less touristy stuff – mostly we shopped and ate and socialized. We also hung out in her rooftop pool. It was exhausting but very fun.
There was so much to do and see and experience in Thailand. Two weeks was great – but I could have easily spent a month there. The people were friendly and helpful (tons of people speak English). The public transportation was clean and fast and easy to use.
I got a haircut and a foot massage and a Thai massage and a pedicure. I definitely pampered myself but everything was so cheap! I also bought some new summer blouses and a sundress and a pair of sandals. It was so nice to see new fashion and new styles. I wanted to buy everything.
I owe my Aunt more thanks than I could ever say. She made this trip happen and we had a wonderful time exploring Thailand and trying new things together. I loved it all.
My first two nights I stayed at New Joe’s Guesthouse, just a block over from the infamous Kho San Road. The guesthouse was located on a little ally-like walking street; lined with street food vendors, coffee shops, massage boutiques, and jewelers. I paid just $10 a night and got to experience the “backpackers’ haven.” Kho San Road was a bargain shopper’s paradise. Cheap bags, clothes, shoes, souvenirs, and everything else you can imagine spilled over the sidewalks – catching thousands of tourists in its organized chaos and enticing deals. My first meal was yellow curry with vegetables and tofu over rice. It was so deliciously spicy I almost cried.
I also managed to get in touch with a girl I studied abroad with in the Balkans. She had been living and working in Bangkok for almost a year. We met up for dinner and drinks at a rooftop restaurant that hosted a breeze and an awesome live band (playing American hits). The next day I got to see where she works and we ate lunch (Thai food) and dinner (Mexican food) together.
One day I found a Dunkin Donuts. No, really, I did. Since I had been having reoccurring DD dreams I just had to go in and order an iced coffee. Dunkin Donuts in Thailand is much classier than back home. I didn’t get to custom design my iced coffee – it only comes one way – with condensed milk and lots of sugar – but I did get to sit and watch people delicately choose their spectacular donut creations. The donuts looked fake – they were so ornate and colorful!
On the third day of my trip I met up with my Auntie Carol at the posh Conrad Hotel. I felt way out of my element at first (remember I’m a Peace Corps Volunteer), but quickly adjusted to the luxury of it all (AC, plush beds, and a pool on the 7th floor). It was a teary/joyful reunion. I had never felt so anxious/excited to see family.
Carol and I spent the next few days exploring Bangkok’s tourist spots: the Grand Palace and Wat-Pho, the floating market, the Bride over the river Kwai, the Ancient City, the weekend market, and Siam Square. We took some amazing pictures and found some great gifts. It was remarkable to see the diversity of landscapes – city/countryside, ancient/modern. And it was remarkably hot!
On my seventh day (Carol’s 5th) we flew down to Phuket and checked into the Indigo Pearl Resort. The resort was beautiful and tropical – definitely my favorite part of the trip. For the next 3 days we did nothing but sit on the beach, sit by one of the three pools, eat delicious food and drink yummy cocktails. One of the (Adults Only) pools even had a bar in it – I’m talking swim up to the bar and sit on a stool underwater. It was at this lovely spot that I had a cocktail served to me in a coconut. Heaven!
When we sadly left Phuket we flew back to Bangkok and had one last meal together before Carol had to leave to fly home. My friend Lindsay met us and after teary goodbyes I left with Lindsay to stay at her apartment for my last 2 nights.
With Lindsay I experienced some of the less touristy stuff – mostly we shopped and ate and socialized. We also hung out in her rooftop pool. It was exhausting but very fun.
There was so much to do and see and experience in Thailand. Two weeks was great – but I could have easily spent a month there. The people were friendly and helpful (tons of people speak English). The public transportation was clean and fast and easy to use.
I got a haircut and a foot massage and a Thai massage and a pedicure. I definitely pampered myself but everything was so cheap! I also bought some new summer blouses and a sundress and a pair of sandals. It was so nice to see new fashion and new styles. I wanted to buy everything.
I owe my Aunt more thanks than I could ever say. She made this trip happen and we had a wonderful time exploring Thailand and trying new things together. I loved it all.
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