The AC, DG, APL Bullet Point Dedication

July 23's Post

*The Food
* The Scenery
* The Weather
* Daily Schedule
* In-country Travel
* K-14
* The Stars

Very Andrew Paul-esque....Too many bullet points!

July 23, 2006

Happy Birthday Casey!

Casey, I know this post will come a few days after your actual birth date, but I figured your 21st deserved a shout out. Whoever is reading this now, and has yet to wish Casey a happy birthday, be sure to do so (belated birthday wishes feel good too!). Hopefully Casey has recovered from his birthday by now, so drop him a line. Happy Birthday lil’ brother!

So on that note, I want to say a hello to everyone back home. I have been getting tons of wonderful emails (from family and friends alike) and I thank you all. It may take me a while to respond, but I will get to them all. Every message is like a short conversation that allows me to stay a part of all of your lives, keep them coming!

A quick note to those who have emailed me and not received a response back yet: my internet connection/availability is, and will be for the next few years, sporadic. My system right now is to write my emails at home (on my laptop), save them to a jump-drive, and them bring the jump-drive to the internet café. Once at the café I then send all of my emails off quickly and then save all of my emails on my jump-drive. I then complete the cycle by bringing the emails home and reading all of them on my laptop. It’s a lengthy process, but it’s all I have; it seems to be working pretty well for now, so expect much more of the same!

Ok, now to the meat of life here in Kyrgyzstan, what you all want to here about and what I want to tell you all about:

But before I move on to that, I will introduce you to the “You know you’re in Kyrgyzstan when…” section (we have a huge list going now between the volunteers). One of my favorites so far:

“You know you’re in Kyrgyzstan when…
…you’ve had seven meals since lunch, and none of them was dinner”
*This refers to the intentional and unintentional guesting that is very frequent here. A phenomenon that I will explain in a later blog.

1. The Food
A lot of what I read about before I came to Kyrgyzstan stated that meat and potatoes were a large staple of the diet here. This is entirely true, but this statement does a great amount of injustice if you think that this is all the Kyrgyz cuisine consists of. I’ve been told that food changes a lot once the winter roles around and different vegetables are available, so for now I will be explaining what I have been able to take part in since I’ve been here. One more warning about my explanations of the food, most (if not all) of my meals so far have been cooked or packed by my host Apa (Apa = Mother), so I may lack some knowledge or be bias towards a few of her best dishes.
Noodles, rice, meat, and cabbage are part of, in some combination, every meal I’ve had. The meat is usually fried or grilled on the stove and then combined with a noodle soup, fried rice, or in dumplings. There is always the Central Asian salad (diced up tomatoes and cucumbers) on the table for ever meal along with a version of bread (there has been wheat and white bread, fried dough, and we even had a cinnamon bread for a few days). Fruit spread is in abundance now (a summer perk in Kyrgyzstan); Watermelons are everywhere and I have also had honeydew, grapes, apples, strawberries, raspberries, and cherries. With all of this fruit, there is also always at least two different kinds of jams/jellies (I have had strawberry, raspberry, grape, cherry, apple, and I’ve been told there is a watermelon jam also, but I’ve yet to see any) on the table at all times.
Along with all of this food, there is also the wonderful world of tea. The beverage for every meal, no matter if it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or guesting, is tea (a light green tea, chai, or grey). The tea is usually made with fresh leaves and can be mixed with sugar or dried milk. I usually go with a small amount of sugar and have set my average cups to per dinner to three.
Other than that, ice cream and Fanta are huge hits with all of the PST (Pre-Service Trainees) in * K-14 * because of one very important trait they both share: coldness. I have never been a big pop drinker or ice cream junkie, but that seems to be changing quickly.

2. The Scenery
You can never go wrong with snow-capped mountains, ever (they seem to be the backdrop to all of my fantasies). In the village where I am at just outside of Kant, my entire view south is of mountains so perfect sometimes you wonder if they are real. Surrounding the mountains are seemingly endless fields of farmland strewn with various fruits and vegetables. In my travels last weekend (see point # 5), I saw some of the most breathtaking mountains views ever in the Issyk-Kul Oblast (Kyrgyz version of a state). With the second highest (by elevation) lake in the world—Lake Issyk-Kul—snuggled into a valley, there is not a view lacking in breath-taking ability in the Issyk-Kul Oblast.

3. The Weather
Overall, it has not been bad here. The temperature changes, climate shifts, and time of day fluctuation are eerily similar to Aspen summers. During the day we have reached the high 80s, low 90s; at night it can drop to the 60s. I love it, we are in a valley just outside of Kant and we get the random 10 minutes down pours followed by gorgeous sunshine and a light breeze. My body is still trying to get used to the altitude (I am not sure exact height, but I know we are much higher than Chicago) in regards to blood-flow and also my allergies.

4. Daily Schedule:
With exception of out-of-site trips (like the one I we all took this weekend, see below # 5), we have a pretty secure schedule for the next three months. On Monday, Thursday, and Friday we have our language classes. Class starts at 8:00 am, break from 10:30-11:00, lunch from Noon-1:00 pm and we finish at 2:30. The language classes are very intensive and are set up in a way to give a ton of information in bursts and then allow you to digest it throughout the remainder of the day. I love the language lessons and I love our teacher (called an LCF—Language and Cultural Facilitator—by Peace Corps), Ratbu; she is a very caring woman who takes a lot of pride in being a teacher. Kyrgyz is a fun language to learn and it seems that knowing Kyrgyz will be very pivotal in gaining respect from many of the people of this country.
After class on Mondays and Fridays I have begun to run a half-hour English language club (all TEFL volunteers are required to do this during PST—Pre-Service Training). I have 8th, 9th, and 10th graders, which is really cool because of the amount of English they already know. We basically run educational games for a half hour and then say our goodbyes. It is kind of rough to be a “teacher” with so little Kyrgyz knowledge at this point, but I definitely think that doing this will help my Kyrgyz out along with giving me some teaching experience.
On the in-between days, Tuesday and Wednesday, we head into Kant for training. Tuesdays’ are called “Hub Day” and it is for cultural, medical, and safety training; then on Wednesday we have TEFL teacher training. The training in Kant usually ends up being a very long day with all of the travel involved, but so far they have had some very useful information. Still, one of the biggest perks of heading into Kant for these two days is that it allows our entire group (All 60 K-14s) to gather in one spot and have some fun. Breaks and Lunch are when we really get to hang out and there are always stories to be told, Frisbees to be thrown, and rumors to be spread/confirmed/created/squashed. Kant is always a crazy mix of emotion because we have a ton of information thrown at us all day and then we stir all of it up with tons of laughter and the cementing of lifelong friendships.

5. * K-14 *
K-14 is our respective group number (simply meaning we are the 14th Peace Corps group to be in Kyrgyzstan) and it will be the lovely number that will forever define our Peace Corps legacy. There are some amazing people in our group, people that will forever be a part of my life. For the rest of my life, I will have 59 other people that will have shared every emotion, language fumble, and sickness with me; I have 59 friends in this group that will endlessly understand. And after this past weekend’s travels, I am even more excited about the bonds and friendships that I am solidifying.

6. In-country travel!
This past weekend (July 20 – 23) all PSTs were spread throughout Kyrgyzstan to go out and meet current volunteers. Many PCVs and PSTs alike thought that we were sent out too early in our training, but I loved it. We were finally able to get out see, feel, hear, smell, and touch this beautiful country we will be living in for the next two years. It felt so good to get out and meet people (Americans, Europeans, Russians, and Kyrgyz alike) and take in all they had to offer. Some volunteers went solo, and others went out in groups; I was with one other volunteer.
We took off on Thursday morning in a Marshuka (mini-bus—APL, think South Africa, but with smaller speakers).

**Tangent** So far on in my Marshuka experiences I’ve heard the following: Craig David circa 2000 (“…we were making love by Wednesday, and on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, we chill on Sunday”), Jennifer Lopez (a Kyrgyz favorite), Abba (Super-trooper dance remix), and tons of Russian techno. ** Tangent **

We left from Bishkek with a PCV and headed East towards Issky-Kul. Along the way, we had to drive through a moderately steep mountain pass that opened up to a Lake Shore Drive-esque highway ride alongside Lake Issyk-Kul. Along the way we dropped off PSTs at with their respective PCV visit sites and eventually we made it to Kermentu, the village I would be spending a few days in.
For three days we hung out, cooked (it felt so good to get my hands on some kitchen utensils and make some food!), swam in the Lake, and talked about Peace Corps life. For three days we spent our time in a village snuggled up against the base of a mountain. If you closed your eyes you could hear the chorus of mountain streams from all sides. To the North of the village, mountains, to the South, Lake Issyk-Kul accented with mountains behind it. Do I need to say more? Breath-taking is an understatement; I loved the location and I loved the area. While we were there we met a few other PCVs and were able to finally get some real-life experience opinions and stories of Peace Corps Kyrgyzstan.
Overall, this past weekend really got my blood flowing. By the time I returned to Kant, I was a giddy school boy. From TEFL to learning Kyrgyz, PC friends to the Kyrgyz people, I returned home really excited about what lies in store for the next two years. Every PCV I met told me PST is rough, but fight through it all, the rewards are incredible. This past weekend really lit the fire inside of me; I know I made the right decision to be here and I know that all of the hardships along the way will lead to the phenomenal.

7. The Stars
Holy sweet mother of Venus, if you thought the stars were in abundance in the States, come to the good ol’ Kyrgyz Republic. The only night sky I’ve seen compare was in the middle of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is the same night sky we see in Chicago (the big dipper is within grabbing distance) but there are about 90% more stars visible. If I were to ever choose a time to become a star gazer, the next two years seems to be a wonderful starting point.


Peace and One Love.

I love you all,

Jason

The Andrew Paul Lewis and David Gladys Bullet Point Section
(Brought to you by Fanta, the only cold drink I can get in Nurmanbet)

Weekly Schedule
Host Family Fun!
The Community (Nurmanbet)
The other volunteers in training
Peace and One Love

July 13, 2006

I have resisted that daily journal so as to be replaced with my weekly ramblings. So here they began, on the evening of everything and nothing. It has officially been one week. One week with Peace Corps and fours days in Kyrgyzstan. In one week, I have taken an uncharted tour through my emotions. A new language, a new country, new friends, and a new love; I expected them all, just not in such heavy doses.
It may be a lack of perspective, but I love this country. There are so many little things that I have fallen in love with already. From the slight games with my host sister to smile of understanding from all of my host family, the “conversations” in Kyrgyz on the corner to “spreading American culture” with the neighborhood kids with the up and down fist knock greeting. This being my first “journal” entry, I do want to avoid the cliché “I love everything” statements. But I can’t help it, there is so much that I am enjoying about my time here right now. A lot of life is overwhelming right now, and I love that. I love the feeling of trying to tame chaos; there is a very rewarding feeling in not controlling the chaos, but rather studying it in order to tame it.
Adding to the chaos has been the new language, Kyrgyz. Kyrgyz is very different, but no where near as difficult from English because of its groups of similar sounding consonants and vowels. I love the language, and yes, I am bias. It feels so good to be formally learning a language in a setting that offers so many informal learning opportunities. I love learning a phrase and then heading home to my host family to practice it.
Speaking of my host family, they are perfect. Again, I am bias and still in the “everything new is everything I love” phase. But I can’t think of nothing else to say. My family oddly fits with the American norm: A lovely couple with three kids (one boy and two girls), two dogs (one puppy!), and a house with a picket fence (ok, maybe not picket, but a fence). The children a incredible, they have been my saviors. The youngest, a little girl in first grade named Makuu (8), is my play buddy. She has already become the little sister I’ve always wanted. The two older children have taken their roles as perfect younger siblings who help in any way possible and have offered up their hearts and their homes to me. Bak (21), is the crude younger brother who in time will be teaching me all of the Kyrgyz slang; Aika (15 going on 30) is incredible, she has been a teacher for me always willing to help me with my Kyrgyz, all the while taking on more “motherly” duties that some mothers do. The whole family has opened their lives to me, and with no resistance at all, they have let me become a part of their everyday lives. There will really never be a way to repay them for what they are doing for me, but I will try.

Love. Everywhere. Peace, 7/13/06

7/16/06

Hello to all, I am sorry it has been some time since my last correspondence; I am only able to write once we get into Kant (which is still not a guarantee that we can get to a internet café). I will start my saying the obvious, I miss you all, a ton.
Life here has been crazy; there is so much to take in. The bombardment of language, the smells, the food, the people; it all can be very overwhelming at times, but I love it. I am having the time of my life right now and I am reminded day in and day out that I made the right decision in doing this.
My basic schedule for the next three months will goes as follows (with the exception of out of site trips like the trip coming up this weekend (***)

Monday: Language Class, 8-12/12-2:30
Tuesday: Hub Day in Kant (TEFL training)
Wednesday: Tech Day (We honestly have not had one of these yet, so I am not sure what it is yet.)
Thursday: Language Class, 8-12/12-2:30
Friday: Language Class, 8-12/12-2:30
Saturday: Language Class, 8-12
Sunday: Weekend

*** This coming Thursday we (Our whole group of 61 Volunteers in Training) will be heading in groups to spend three days with a current Volunteer/s. We do not know where yet, so I will be sure to let you all know how it goes the next time I write.

As for my host family, they are incredible. My family consists of my Apa and Ata (Mother and Father), 2 sisters (Makuu – 8 and Aika – 14), 1 brother (Bakyll – 21), two dogs (Boran – 7 and Rex – 3 months old), and a few random chickens and turkeys. I am slowly but surely becoming part of their family; the more I begin to fit it, the easier it is to stop thinking about how much I miss all of you (I have gone through all of my pictures a few times since I’ve been here, and they really do help me stay connected to everyone. I miss you all, but I know you understand why I am here). I’m taking baby steps and moving away from being the guest to a member of the family. They are gradually letting me help around the house. My Apa (mother) is an incredible cook and my oldest sister (Aika, who is 14 going on 40) is one hell of a cook also. If Aika is cooking and/or cleaning up, I can usually get to her to let me help. I’m still working on my Apa.
As for the village, Nurmanbet (outside of Kant) is a wonderful little village that very noticeably took a hit from the fall of the USSR. There are unfinished buildings everywhere, remnants of a small factory near the main school, and a large empty rock quary near the edge of town. At first glance, this place could seem pretty run down and empty, but as you already know from my tone, this place is far, far from that. On my walk to and from class everyday, I have met some of the greatest people. Being summer, there tends to be an abundance of children around during my walk home for lunch, which is always fun. They all know “Hello” and love to yell it to us; so we love to surprise them and respond in Kyrgyz. Besides the children, the local people love that we are learning Kyrgyz and, with a small exception here and there, are more than happy to let us practice with them on the streets.
There is definitely more animals in Nurmanbet than on any average American farm. The difference with these animals though, (Chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, Donkeys, Dogs, Bull, Cow) many of them are out wandering the streets without cages or leashes. It’s wild to walk into my drive way and see Rex and two turkeys wandering around in the driveway. We definitely stand out in the village (there are two separate groups of six Volunteers in Nurmanbet; each group has a different language teacher—our teacher, Ratbu, is the shit, I love her—so we meet for separate classes but we still are able to meet to hang out after class), but that was a given. The people in Nurmanbet are great people and have been very gracious hosts to us so far.
Our acceptance in the community is growing more and more as we prove to everyone here in the village that we really want to learn their language and respect their culture and village. It has also helped, personally, having an addiction to soccer (an addiction that was truly tested when British Airways apologized for not being to show the World Cup final, and that they could only give periodic updates). John, another Volunteer in Nurmanbet, and I have shown the local soccer players that we can hang, and on Sunday they invited us to the Chong Futbol Game (basically translating as the Big Soccer Game). It was a lot of fun, besides the fact that we were destroyed by the elevation, and I am clearly out of shape.
My language group (six of us total) is a really cool group with some very different and very interesting people. There is an equal guy to girl ratio, and everyone is 22/23 with the exception of two people (Brandon - 25 and Bridget - 28). By a very random act of fate, the girl that I became close with during the staging event, the long flight, and the two days in Bishkek ended up being in my language group and living in my village. Her name is Catherine Elizabeth Marshall and she is incredible. I can honestly say now (with some reserve by not wanting to sound cliché) that I have a girlfriend. She is 23 and from Miami, hates cold weather, and graduated with a double major in English and Psychology from the University of Miami-Florida. She has me smitten, that’s it, plain and simple. We have had some big laughs about the cliché Peace Corps romance, but there is nothing either of us could have done to stop this. It is definitely another set of emotions thrown on the pile, but I welcome it; it’s been a while since I’ve been able to go through the fun of exploring the mind of someone as you get closer and closer to them. We are being very careful with displaying any outward affection to both the village and other Volunteers; we’ve figured we will let time reveal what is wants to the other volunteers and, in order to respect the village, we show nothing more than mutual friendship in public.

Ah man, life here has been nuts, and I love it. I was meant to do this, I know that now. I was given a book the read the other day (as if I don’t have enough already; Peace Corps gives out 6.3 millions books/pamphlets to read and study) called The Alchemist. Here is a quote the introduction that hit home:

“If we have courage to disinter dream, we are the faced with [an obstacle]: love. We know what we want to do, but are afraid of hurting those around us by abandoning everything in order to pursue our dream. We do not realize that love is just a further impetus, not something that will prevent us from going forward. We do not realize that those who genuinely wish us well want us to be happy and are prepared to accompany us on that journey.” – Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist


Thank you all for accompanying me on this journey.

Love. Everywhere. Peace,

Jason

The Eve or Soon a Voyeur To My Own World

(For those who cannot read-Tim B., Chris M., Dave G.,--the bullet point version is below)

There is really no simple way to explain the emotions I am going through right now. I am sitting in a Starbucks (of all places!) writing my final words from American soil. It sounds weird, and really has not set in yet, that I will not be back to the States for two years. Two years; it sounds so long and scary, and in a twisted way, that excites me.

During one of my “final conversations” with a good friend of mine (Mana the Mysterious), she tagged this excitement for leaving as allowing me to finally be a voyeur on to my own life. We talked about how I’m really not leaving any of my friends and family, I’m merely allowing myself to take a step behind the story of Jason Lemberg and watch it unfold. It sounds a bit weird, but I am really excited to remove myself from American life for a while and then at random spurts, check up on my life. I am really looking forward to hoping online to see how AU soccer is doing, find an international paper to find out all of the sudden the Cubs turned things around and won the World Series, to get a letter from home to find out Stoltz is engaged and Rob Ryan has a kid on the way, to get a package from Tim and find out the Center has broke ground on its new building! All thoughts of fantasy, or reality, but all of these are stories and news that I really will miss, but need to step outside of for a while.

People join Peace Corps for many, many reasons. My reasoning for joining was really quite selfish. I was so turned to Peace Corps knowing it would allow me to experience the ups and downs of living in a foreign land, to learn a new language, and to really explore the caverns of my shifty mind. I really wonder how much the kids I will be teaching know how much they will also be teaching me. I love the fact that I get to be a teacher, to help someone else become something better; especially since that is when I tend to also become something better.

This is easily the most anxious I have ever been, for anything, throughout my entire life. I have met so many great people already at Staging here in Philly, and I expect to meet many, many more great people as times moves on. Every great person I meet through Peace Corps gets me more and more excited to take this next step.

My life is about to get turned upside down, and that is very exciting.



A Duet, by Will Smith and Jason Lemberg

Now this is the story all about how
My life got flipped,turned upside down
And I’d like to take a minute just sit
right there
And let me tell you how
I became the Prince of my Fear.

The Eve or Soon a Voyeur To My Own World: Bullet Points

The Abbreviated Edition (for those who requested it):

I leave the States tomorrow evening, for two years. Life is about to get really crazy, in a good way.

Ø Two Years!
Ø Voyeur on to my own life
Ø Jason Lemberg and Will Smith Duet