Time Sure Passes When You're Having Fun

Alas, here we are again. I've let another month and 1/2 slip by without updating. When I last left off, I was updating cultural tidbits. My list has been shuffled and displaced in one of my drawers for the time being [i'm gearing up for some spring cleaning, so i'll be sure to come across it at some point soon]. For the time being, I might as well give a good solid update.

February, for some various reasons, dragged on and on like it was never going to end. I think the dead of winter will do that to a perfectly good month. Valentine's day or "the Day of love" as it's called here, came and went without much commotion. There is a new mission for some of the male teachers at my college. To get me hitched to one of the only single male teachers left that works there.

It's a well known fact that once you reach a certain age [especially for a woman], the many factors that induces one to get married simply go out the window. Forget about character, child raising abilities, temper problems or simply hygiene incompetency. The fact is, here, it's more important to just get married than to find someone you're compatible with, god forbid, who might actually respect you.

Anyway, I digress. What else has been going on since I last filled in a post? I celebrated Nauryz once again [March 25th] in Shymkent. I have an album where pictures are available for perusing. :)

I got to see the wonderful game of Kok-Par [basically polo with no rules and a decapitated sheep carcass], a chasing game where 1. boy chases girl, boy catches girl and gives her a kiss on the cheek. boy wins. 2. girl chases boy. girl hits boy really hard with a whip. girl wins regardless of catching boy or not.

I've been teaching, clubs, same old. I'm working on a women's seminar to take place next week. We've masked it as a "teacher training" but in actuality we'll be talking and discussing more serious topics [like communication, alcohol abuse and domestic violence]. We've had a bit of trouble with the akimat, getting good rooms and a few other little things but for the most part it's all coming together.

I've found out the day I will actually leave KZ. August 10th. Only a mere 4 months away. I'll be in thailand in June, come back for GLOW, stay another month and be gone again. Can it get any better? I can't wait to spend as much time with the girls, Ghulzh and my local family as much as possible. CALIFORNIA HERE I COME! :)

We've also been gearing up for camp GLOW, which i am super super excited about. I'll be hosting it this year in Zhez with the help of 7 other volunteers and 2 locals. We're going to have such a great time. I feel great about it already.

Here are a few links.

Watch this video and hear about camp GLOW from past participants. '

Check out our tumblr here.

We have opened a PCPP grant through Peace Corps. ANY DONATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED! 1 dollar to 100 dollars, we are very grateful to all our wonderful sponsors and donors!

The grant is up here