What is there to do but enjoy the hustle of Peace Corps service. The entire month of April was spent away from Lesnoye. For the first three weeks, I assisted 11 energetic new volunteers at their Pre-Service Training. Every single day demanded professional attention. Four of the new volunteers within my group will serve in my state.

After my trainer contract ended, I headed over to Kokshetau to co-lead a presentation about the Peace Corps for the new counterparts. This was a challenge for my regional manager requested me to lead the presentation in Russian and I simply had no time to prepare while down South. Either way, the presentation went better than expected but some drama added some spice to the meeting. The deputy state education superintendent came to the meeting and verbally attacked Peace Corps administration and the new counterparts. She basically labeled the Peace Corps the ‘Kiddie Corps’ by stating that being positive role models is not sufficient enough, most volunteers do not have enough prior professional experience to be placed within Kazakh schools, and that the Youth Development Program has been ineffective in reaching out to the educational needs of Kazakhstan’s youth.

And more bad news, Peace Corps decided not to replace me with a new Kaz-23 volunteer this year. Their reason stemmed from all the sheer drama that has persisted since the Kaz-22 volunteer was re-located in January. I support the executive decision but nonetheless, the thought that I will be the first and last volunteer at my site stings a bit. We’ll see what the next month brings!!!

My last Siberian winter has been experienced. As the streets turn into a muddy mess, I realize how fast the two years of service passes by. There is no time to lose. I grasp at every professional opportunity that allows for travel. In the last week of March, I assisted three other volunteers at a 3 day teaching seminar at Semey (the city which the Russian government exiled Dostoevsky to). The military lyceum provided us four with a decked-out apartment. We felt more like expats than volunteers with two flat screen LCD TVs, washing machine, and shower. After these good times, I headed down to Almaty to assume my responsibilities as an education training assistant for the new Kaz-23 volunteers. Given my own place in a predominantly Turkish village, I am enjoying the busy schedule and assisting the fresh volunteers with their lessons and personal questions about volunteer service in Kazakhstan . Things come full circle sometimes.

SE Asia Trip

Some time has passed since I last blogged. This is not due to the lack of exciting events but rather to the abundance of new experiences, memorable for the better and the worse. Since late December, many new encounters have shaped this Peace Corps experience. First with the bad. After much drama which I cannot get into on this blog, I am once again a ‘lone’ volunteer. For all the right reasons and with my support, my new Kaz-23 site mate was relocated to a different site. The most important thing is that she excels in her service. All the best Rachel!

Now the good. My planned Southeast Asia trip came just at the right time to escape the initial blowback of the drama. For two weeks, fellow PCV friend Erica and I toured Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Singapore entertained us with its contemporary non-stop action. Seeing my grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins added to the joy. Malaysia proved relaxing after numerous active days and late nights in Singapore. Thailand simply amazed us with its natural beauty and intriguing culture. Future Kaz-24s, if you are planning a trip next winter, choose Thailand. After spending five days in sun-kissed Phuket where everything is for sale, we hit Bangkok up. The energy never let up.