MST

Firstly: I appologize for not writing on my blog in a long time. I happen to be very busy, even though most Kyrgyz people have a plethora of time on their hands. It must be something with 'helping the Kyrgyz people move toward a brighter and shinier future, or something like that. I dunno.

Secondly, MST was a blast. (MST stands for 'Mid-Service Training' for all you non-Peace Corps members which is, I think, all of you) What is MST you ask? Well, the Peace Corps is a Government institution and as with all Government institutions the participants have to get their alloted amount of 'educational' hours or else the institution gets in trouble. So last week, the 26th of January to the 30th, all the volunteers in Kyrgyzstan came together in Cholpon Ata for a 'volunteer chogolush' or meeting. On the faculty end of MST there was lots more talking that we (the volunteers) had all heard before and some that was valuable and we didn't sleep through. But the volunteer end of PST was great fun. We all got to see volunteers from the corners of Kyrgyzstan. We talked, laughed, cried. I got to see Nicole, Dan and Tim, my old Ak-Beshim (our training village) buddies and kids from Talas, Osh, Talas, Naryn and Chuy oblasts. I only wish that we could all see each other for longer periods than three days. But I guess that short spurts are better for not seeing each other at all in our two years. Unfortunately, the next time we get to see each other is our last time: sometime in September. So that sucks. But it was a worthwhile time and I have the pictures to prove it!