Fests, fields, forests, and fresh food - Fantastic!

I love Russians. Let me clarify: I love Russians, on occasion. They are a great cause of good, innocent humor in my life almost daily and it puts random smiles on my face when least expected. As I was getting my lunch today, the 70 year old or so cook asked if I’d like some tea. I said sure and she replied that it’d be ready soon. So I ate lunch and went back to work, forgetting about the tea. An hour later, she comes into my office and says “I thought you were going to have tea!” I answered that I simply forgot and she replied with two words «Не хорошо» (that’s not good), turned around, and walked out of my office. Very funny, haha – I guess you had to be there and know her. I love Russians.

Elevator rides always provide to be an almost daily psychology experiment. Isn’t it funny that regardless of what country you’re in, if you don’t know the person, you try to avoid eye contact by trying to stare off in some other direction, as boring and meaningless as that advertisement on the elevator wall is. It gets more interesting and challenging as the number of people increase and there are fewer places that you can look for 10 seconds. When a person has several bags, I like to look down and see what things they’ve bought. And if and when they get off the elevator before me, I like to see how fast I can push the “close door” button without hitting them; I haven’t hit one yet!

I wish I had a camera inside my eye so that I could sneak a picture whenever I felt like it. Can someone please develop that technology? If I had a nickel for every time I’ve said that to myself, I’d have about 15 cents. Which isn’t quite enough to implant a Nikon into my retina, but I’m starting small, thinking big.

Maher Sherif, a volunteer who was working in Uralsk for the past 10 months, has been relocated to Pavlodar as part of a measure of Peace Corps’ efforts to cut our budget by almost 16%. 16%!!! Grant, you might want to get that pen out and write a letter, because this next year is not going to be fun for a lot of people. As local inflation jumps higher and the US dollar falls, Peace Corps headquarters around the world are in for a real tight fit this next year. Anyways, Peace Corps closed Maher’s Oblast (state) because it’s in the “Fly Zone,” meaning they have to fly him in and out of Almaty for different events throughout the year, which is expensive. Pending his decision of whether or not he likes the organization here in Pavlodar, I may have a new site mate for another year, which would be really nice as “The Pav Boys” are leaving within weeks…

I’m starting a German club this Sunday, an idea I’ve been toying with for some time. Oktoberfest began about a week ago and so there is no better time than now to begin :-). Speaking of language, I’ve started back with the tutoring and I’m determined to make this year a year of studious studying and Slavic saturation. Russian language needs to be a big priority for me this year as I plan to use it in the future. Pray for me, remind me, and harass me about “did I do my homework.” Because there is no better opportunity to study a language than to live for two years among the people who speak it.

There are many times when it’s hard to press onwards when it comes to many aspects of my job here. Only those with lots of positive energy and enthusiasm who don’t let themselves get let down easily will have the greatest of times in the Peace Corps. Thankfully, most of the volunteers here are unrelenting people who care greatly and give what they can. But man, it’s too easy to get depressed here in Kazakhstan. For several weeks, attendance at English club has been really low and the new German club I started… well a big fat zero showed up. I spend time preparing, asking people to come, asking people to call others, and it’s obvious that no one did their part. My director seemed fairly excited about the idea as she was once a German teacher, but she didn’t call any of her friends who still teach to tell their students like I had asked and she had agreed. Press onwards, press onwards…

Saule's uncle, aunt, and cousin.


Aikosha is the cutest little girl ever :-)


Celebratory devices, by the WW2 memorial


From left to right: Baruzhan, Nick, Adam, Jeff Whitehill, and Andrew


My first mushroom! Champignons are a tasty addition to any fall diet.


Ludmila, my tutor, and her student's father, Valerya (right)


The forest between the fields and the river.


Pretty background (the foreground on the other hand...)


На золотая осень! (To a golden autumn!)


"Welcome, our dear sponsors!"


Cute kids with leaves singing and dancing.


The older group of kids, for whom my "Planet of Youth" project will benefit.


Me, acting like i'm a badass, even though I'm not. I was running sound and video for our sponsor's event.


My canned food (minus the frozen spaghetti sauce and eggplant in the freezer)! I'm ready for the winter, brrrrr


To the other volunteers: be jealous. Fresh brocolli, mangos, and avacados! Thanks a million to Maher Sherif, who brought them from Almaty.