Balykchy For The Next Two Years!

When other volunteers talked with us about pre-serving training being some of the most intense, tiring, and grueling days, they weren't kidding. It's like Peace Corps is giving you anything and everything they think would be useful for your service. Between language learning, culture exploration, medical debriefs, across the board Peace Corps information, and our specific sector training (teaching English for me), your days are packed.

However, two weeks ago I learned where I will be working for the next two years; I'll be in Balykchy city in Issyk-Kul Oblast. Issyk-Kul is a region in the Eastern part of Kyrgyzstan and is named after the lake in the area which is the world's second largest salt water lake after the Caspian Sea. In Kyrgyz, Issyk means hot and Kul means lake. This name refers to the salty water which never allows the lake to freeze. The lake and my city are both at 1,900 meters or 6,233 feet. From what I've gathered, Balykchy is windy but dry (YEY no humidity) and has beaches. The city is quite large with around 40,000 people. The school I will be working in has about 1,300 students so everything is a decent size. Bishkek, the capital with the main Peace Corps office, is just two hours away by marshrutka and hiking or other outdoor activities are just a short drive.

The day of permanent site placement really gave everyone a second wind I think. Most people were kind of in a lull and this brought us all back around.  The morning of, everyone was excited and nervous. We arrived at site to find this huge chalk drawing of Kyrgyzstan on the cement outside of our main meeting hall.

Usually we all go hang out and use wifi and get tea or chat up everyone before classes, but not this day. Everyone stood around and waited. We were given envelopes by our group project managers but told not to look at the folders. This made the suspense even greater. After some kind words about how exciting this day is and to be happy with wherever we are placed, on a count of three we were allowed to open our folders. When you found out your region or city, you were supposed to move to that Oblast/Region on the giant chalk map. Myself and about 14 other volunteers made our way to Issyk-Kul and were greeted by two currently serving volunteers with cherries and Kyrgyzstan maps. What a cool welcome present! Anyway, Issyk-Kul is a pretty large area and so I will have many friends to connect and work on projects with. Here is my group:

Currently we have about two more weeks left until we move on to phase two of training, integrating into our permanent site. Before that point and today stand some pretty big events. This Saturday is a huge day where each village performs Kyrgyz traditions/dance/food to show off what we've learned. Culture Day is a chance to dress up, have some fun and perform.  My group is doing a dance, a skit where we show the tradition of an event known as 'baby's first steps,' traditional bread presentation, an English song, and a performance of some of the Kyrgyz oral epic, Manas. Next week we also have a second teaching practicum and the Kyrgyz language test to see if we are proficient enough. Most people say not to worry about the language exam, but when one hears test, you can't help but be worried. Peace Corps has told us that if you do not pass the the exam, you will not be sent home, but given a tutor and some language goals to pass before the ending of all the training. So, time to take a deep breath! 

After next week we meet with our permanent site host families, we meet with our Kyrgyz counter parts and have a conference with them, and we get sworn in on June 19th. Like I said, we're kept booked solid.  I can't wait to move for the last time and be able to get out there!  As a side note, when I move to my permanent site I will know my mailing address and will get wifi! I'm going to be connected more soon!