Pat in the Kyrgyz Republic: 2010 and Vacation

Well, it's finally 2010. That means I've completed my full calendar year of service (2009). Only about 8 months to go. These 8 months seem to like it will be a long time but at the same time it seems like the time will go by so fast. Although, I think it still feels like a long time because it is now basically the halfway point of winter. I'm tired of winter...not much left, just gotta stick it out.

I'm working through some issues of thinking about whether I want to stay and try to work in Bishkek after service, or go home, or travel. I'm also pretty upset that my village will most likely not be getting a replacement volunteer for reasons that I shouldn't discuss knowing that I would probably come across to someone as "mean" or "negative." I just feel pretty bad about it. I always felt that one of my primary purposes in a new site was to get my village to want to have another volunteer through integration and just being a good person all of the time. To have things end up like this is really demotivating and at times depressing. So, I just feel like the only thing that is keeping me positive about work and teaching are my students. They are wonderful and always make me feel better about doing what I am doing over there. Yes, over there. I'm writing this during my last day of vacation here in America.

And speaking of that vacation...It has been very helpful, relaxing, and fun. I was fretting about coming home, worrying about this and that and stupid things. Honestly, it was like I never left. I'm grateful that I got to see all my friends and family - it was really nice to see everyone. I ate soooo much good food and showered eveyday. I even got to exercise and go running in winter! Not a usual or possible thing to do in my village. I'm too afraid of the dogs to go running. Plus there's that little issue of ice/packed snow covered roads for 4 months of the winter. Anyway, thanks to everyone for making my vacation awesome. I'll be back before we both know it, I'm sure.

So, come tomorrow I'll be spending many, many hours on two different planes getting back to Bishkek. I'll miss everyone here but it's easier leaving this time than it was a year and a half ago. Now just have to wait out winter and it's smooth sailing after that.

Pat