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.

Dec 17th 2010

What a difference a year makes. Last winter, I struggled with filling up the breaks of time once lessons ended. Numerous instances arose where I questioned myself whether I was useful or needed in Lesnoye. This winter, there simply isn’t enough time. On top of my 22 lessons, I am occupied tutoring, writing up a grant, planning seminars, keeping in physical shape, and of course integrating. Tutoring a few extra dedicated students when that early winter sun sets is motivating, writing up an English Resources grant has taught me much professionally, and planning teaching seminars keeps me in tune with the bigger educational picture in Sandiktau County. So, yes I am finally seeing some concrete results at my pioneer site. After coming back from a Peace Corps mid service training conference, the village mayor expressed her appreciation for my service by posting a banner of Peace Corps with me in it at Lesnaya School.

This is the latest Blog from Roshan, sent Nov 6th '10
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Many interesting days have entertained me this past week. This past Wednesday, I led a round table at the Teacher’s Institute in the city of Kokshetau . Getting to Kokshetau from my village tests your patience. Waiting for 30 minutes in the snow with a strong wind for sure gave me energy for the presentation. There I am, waiting with the snow whipping into my face in my suit and polished shoes. The round table went well and it was worth the trip. When I arrived home in the early evening, Anatoli (my host father) yelled, “Roshan you want kill pig?” Anatoli is a meat businessman and I’ve always wanted to see him at work. He tells me to hurry up and get out of my professional clothes and into my dirtiest clothes. Of course, I simply watched the process. Those were 30 minutes in which I was glad I was in my scruffiest of clothes.

Blog#4 ( view earlier Blogs first)

This past week, the county I volunteer in hosted a big English teaching seminar. English teachers from 3 counties came for the 7 hour seminar. The head of English education in the state also attended so there was a bit of tension in the air but thankfully all went well. In addition to assisting in organizing the seminar, I played an active role during the seminar: co-taught in one lesson, co-hosted a English Jeopardy game and led a round table discussion on lesson planning with measurable objectives and team practice activities. Two other PCVs, Scott and Myles, helped out at the round table and that made the practicum flow more fluidly. It was a great professional day and one to remember when I experience those future inevitable not so positive teaching days.

Blog# 3 (read earlier Blogs first)

Returning after international travel is tough. For ten days, I visited New Dehli, Jaipur ('the Pink City'), Agra, and Hyderabad. This was my first international travel after joining the Peace Corps and it was an important trip for I got to reconnect with my parents and Indian heritage, Pictures better capture India's beauty and uniqueness than words. Hope it does not take too long to readjust to the gray cement buildings and empty streets of Kazakhstan.

Blog#2- Read earlier email first

Arriving in Kazakhstan as a tourist is a rare thing to the locals. The tourists Kazakhstanis usually encounter in the North come from Russia so language isn't an issue. However, when Americans come over with no Russian, communicating the simplest of requests becomes an art. Hence, when my parents visited for a week, my Russian fluency increased dramatically.

The three of us visited Astana first and it was a first for all of us. Astana is an exception to Kazakhstan. After the cleanliness and modern facades of Astana, we headed to 'raw Kazakhstan.' My parents enjoyed Lesnoye and expected less accomodating conditions from a village of 900 people. Their hearts are more at ease now after being warmly and generously welcomed by the locals.