Campaigns, cold, cabbage, and cuteness

I was in a melancholy mental rut the past week, but I’m out of it now as I’ve been way to busy to feel sorry for myself. I realized that people here will rarely understand me, why I’m here, my thoughts, etc. I dress differently than the locals here often, in that brown ¾ length coat and carry around a laptop and a travel mug of coffee or tea. When I first arrived to K-stan, I thought it necessary to fit in here in as many ways as possible, dress included. But I’ve decided I like my style, whatever that is, and despite my earlier efforts to fit in, I still had “an aura” about me, as one local man mentioned.

The man who told me that is part of a new group of friends I have started to make. I met several of them playing billiards several weeks ago, but I got invited to banya with them on a weekly basis. Thursday is that night and it’s a long-standing tradition for these people to meet, drink beer, and have guy talk. I don’t contribute much, but it sure is fun to watch and listen. And I can always go for a good banya, can’t everybody?

Tomorrow, Friday, we open up our “Благотворительный Марафон” (Charity Marathon) with a concert at the newly built “Дом Дружба” (House of Friends, cheesy, I know). My part is showing a PowerPoint, some of our promotional video, and running sound and music. How I ever got sucked into the roll of techie, I’ll never know. Scary that I’m the most technological knowledgeable at my organization :-p

It’s Thursday again, which means that I’m working at the HIV/AIDS center “ОФ Challenge.” It isn’t a treatment center or needle-exchange center, but rather an information center that makes advertising and does different info campaigns and hotlines. There are only 2 staff members and they’re very comfortable with each other, by which I mean that they aren’t afraid to say anything to one another. At “Samal,” as I was explaining to the director here, we speak very nice and proper Russian, but at “Challenge” the Russian is on a whole different level of informality and slang. It’s good exposure to hear a more relaxed style of conversation.

I finished my calendar design for “Samal” – it’s a fundraiser that, should we sell all 20,000, will make about $16,667 dollars. Not bad for a couple days of work, eh? I’ve been busy with that, making posters, powerpoints, designing invitations and tickets for different events, and learning a whole lot about different programs needed to do all of this. I never thought I’d be building my computer skills the way I have been, but I’m certainly thankful for the experience I’m getting.

Just got back from the banya and oh! how good it feels to be so clean. Nothing to end a long day like a hot steam bath and cold showers, a beer, and chatting with “the guys.” Sorry I don’t have more photos, hasn’t been to see recently.

Guacamole! From avacados I picked up in Almaty.


That's a lot of cabbage! "Samal" is ready for winter.


A poster (in A3 format) I made to promote ways to help "Samal." In big letters, it says "All kids are loved, all kids are equal!" Then is says "December 3 is International Disabled Person's Day. They need our help and support!" Then with the Red letters: "Send an SMS 'help' to 7107. Call, Write (our numbers and email). Come to "Samal" Center (our address)


Front side of the calendar. In Russian is the full name of our organization around the picture and then in orange: "All kids are loved, all kids are equal!"


The backside of the calendar. The quote at the top says: "Better to do one meaningful act than to speak 1000 words of charitableness."


Fall fashion show on the balcony!


Quiche, mmm.


Awesome picture of Obama and his daughter. Love him or hate him, he does have a cute family.