Countdowns ON...all bets off --

It's been a while since I've been able to blog --

The countdowns have begun:
Days til I leave site: 17
Days til I COS: 21
Days til Thailand: 24
Days til America: 36

I'm excited to get back to America, but incredibly sad to leave -- bittersweet.

For those of you who thought I would NEVER last in the Peace Corps: "SUCK IT"

Coming back as a poor, homeless, jobless, carless woman doesn't sound all that exciting. But I know that everything will be okay -- actually, I don't, but my Aunt seems sure of it...so I'm gonna take her word for it :)

Now, if I had just placed bets with all those people who were certain I was going to fail...I wouldn't be coming home poor -- oh, well, I guess proving someone wrong is kind of like getting a big fat paycheck...kinda...

Ice, Ice, Baby --

I wish it would snow more. I’m SO over ice! It’s SO warm in the day and rains...then overnight freezes! Bleh. This makes walking difficult. I try to pretend I’m cool...mostly I fail. I slip, I slide and sometimes I even fall all over the place. I try REALLY hard NOT to fall. If I feel myself slipping I just stop and wait to stop...it’s kind of like if your driving a car :)

One day I wasn’t so lucky. There are 6 steps leading up to my apartment building. I was leaving my complex and heading to work confidently, per usual. I step out onto the steps and immediately am on the ground, then before I know it, I’m hitting EVERY SINGLE step. Kind of like sledding only not as fun because clearly I didn’t mean to be sledding. There were a few people sitting on a nearby bench. Great. I get up quickly and pretend that is exactly how I get down the steps every day. I’m sure they are not fooled. I hate when a day starts like that...I managed.

Two days later I decide that I’m going to make brownies...yea, brownies...I have everything I need for brownies...oh, except eggs...well, that’s okay the store is located directly across the street from me. I’ll just run over there quick and pick some up. Riiiiiight. This ALMOST worked. I put on a coat and grabbed some cash then ran to the store quick. The cashier was concerned that I didn’t bring anything to carry the eggs home safely in...ha. like I needed something to carry them home safely in...I live across the street. She put them in a plastic bag and I was on my way. Just as I was crossing the street to go home, I loose my footing completely and before I knew it I was on the ground. My eggs were all cracked. Defeated, I rose and continued walking home. I was NOT going to return to the store...I got home, took the shells out of the bag of cracked eggs as best I could and saved the eggs for scrambled eggs in the morning. Made brownies the following day...everyone wins...minus the part where I fell :(

Winter’s *almost* over...

Hello 2010 --

The very idea of a New Year’s Resolution seems rather overwhelming. I mean, I have goals for the day or the week...perhaps the month...but goals for the whole year...get real! Of course, you’re going to fail...a year is practically an eternity! I hope that I will always be setting goals and striving to be a better person – I think this happens in small steps. But New Year’s Resolutions tend to be the “vision” without the goals and objectives. I have things that I want to work on throughout the year, but plan to add new goals and edit previous goals as I continue trying to better myself. I’ve become a bit obsessed with lists...I made one. In no particular order –

1. Listen to church on podcsts at least once a week (I hope to edit this in the future to say twice a week) -- I've gotten out of routine and miss fellowshipping with other believers and, aside from a 10 hour overnight bus and 3000 tenge, a podcasted church service is about as close to church as I'm getting over the next year. CLBC (podcasts)...HERE. I. COME.

a. Pray often


b. Read God's word daily


c. Hide God's word in my heart by memorizing one verse per week


2. Be a friendly person -- If i don't have something nice to say, I want to not say it at all. I want to have time for people and only say those things that are encouraging and uplifting

3.Be the best teacher that I can be so that in the future I don't say things like "I wish I had done..."

a.Live so that the Volunteer who replaces me hates me...in the nicest way
possible, of course, because my school (hopefully) says things
like, "Christina..."


4. Take daily walks and appreciate life -- this has to be more than a walk to work :)

5. Use the travel days that PC gives me to visit people, strengthen friendships and see more of this country.

6.Cook something new twice a month (work on getting this to once a week) -- I've fallen into a pattern of oatmeal for breakfast and spaghetti for dinner -- one would think this would get old -- it hasn't, but I wan to try and cook new things

7.Write more hand written letters home (wherever that may be) -- who doesn't like recieving actual mail?

8.Read one actual book per month -- if this doesn't sound like much, I'm currently reading 0 books per month, but will work on increasing this number in the future.

9.Reunite with my sweet family at the end of this year and be an active member of my famly realizing that I didn't get to pick them, but I wouldn't trade them in for anything or have it any other way. I love you guys! and can't wait to see you!

I’m starting small...9 goals...really only 8 because I can’t really do number 9 for some time. I hope to re-evaluate where I am and make changes *when* necessary to these goals...

"When I say I'm a Christian" -- written by Carol S. Wimmer

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting “I am saved”
I’m whispering “I was lost”
That is why I chose this way.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
And need someone to be my guide.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak
And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed
And cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are all too visible,
But God believes I’m worth it.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
Which is why I speak His name.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I’m loved.

- Carol S. Wimmer

2009 Recap --

Well, 2009 was certainly a good year. Let’s do a brief recap of moments from 2009...

January:
•Christmas in Karaganda!
•Gosti to my first host family
•Kresheny (I didn’t jump in the lake, but attended the service and watched the
others jump)
•Success at finding Diet Coke <-- this was a BIG accomplishment :)
•Jubilee party for Alex’s host dad

February:
•Site visit from RM = counterpart change!
•Visit to Jessik in Kgan
•“No Smoking” seminar with my new CP
•Alex moves into an apartment
•Reconnect with my paternal grandma via internet

March:
•Peace Corps Birthday party at the orphanage
•Arts-N-Crafts club at the orphanage
•Naryz --> travel to Shymkent
•IST
•Guiness Pub night with Volunteers and CPs

April:
•American English Competition in Balkhash 2
•BridgeTV
•DDR
•Reconnecting with my “dad” via the internet

May:
•OCAP conference in Karaganda
•Keep Shakin’ What Yo Momma Gave Ya – Women’s Empowerment Weekend
•Hiking in Talgar
•Ecological Seminar planned
•Playing basketball with the neighbor kids
•Lots of trips to the mini amusement park
•MULLET!

June:
•100 days of CAMP begins!
•One of my students gets a call back from Bota foundation
•Joke day at camp --> toothpaste everywhere :)

July:
•English Club and Kristina’s Store
•Hiking / Camping in the mountains in Talgar
•Circus
•Bowling
•17th school camp

August:
•I found an apartment!!
•Lots of swimming in Lake Balkhash
•Trying dog meat
•Travel to Astana

September:
•First Bell Ceremony
•I try Kymyz
•Town day celebrations
•Healthy Life seminar
•Teaching English with my CP = work!

October:
•BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
•Alex goes to America
•Halloween party
•Fall concert
•“Cooking Party” --> Monte

November:
•New Site Mate, Sam, arrives
•Shaping class
•Met other foreigners who live here!
•Circus time
•Playing LOTS of Skip-bo

December:
•MST
•School Day
•Out with women from Shaping class
•Christmas Eve Service in Almaty
•Road Trip to Taldy
•Karaoke
•Lady Gaga

Overall, it’s been a pretty good year in Kaz. I can’t complain. I am starting a list of things I want to complete while still in Kaz, rather than all the restaurants I plan to frequent after Peace Corps...although that is a fun list! :-)

December --

Well, I’ve been MIA for a about a month. My computer completely crashed and would not turn on...which was kind of
tradgic considering a year in a foreign country without a computer would be manageable, but so much more enjoyable with a computer. Thankfully, there is a computer shop owned by a friend of a friend who fixed it for free! YEA for that! The only problem was that I lost EVERYTHING on my computer. Thankfully, it was mostly word documents that I don’t care a lot about or aren’t somewhere else (email or blogger) and my pictures are on my hard drive (thanks to Alex for suggesting that months ago!).

Anyway, December was full of lots of holidays, fun times and travelling!
At the beginning of December we had MST (Mid Service Training) -- it was nice to
see everyone again
It was in Almaty
We all had a chance to say bye to Megan ::tear:: and eat fabulous Chinese
food (thanks Kyle)
We went to see The Grinch performed in English (thanks Jacob)
I visited my first host family and went to a church service <-- first time
in 15 months! Amazing!
The following week my school had School Day -- pretty big deal here
We prepared for this by cleaning for 3 days and practicing lessons --
English lessons weren’t being judged! Yea!
Then Independence day; followed by
American Christmas; and
Travel to Almaty again and attend a Christmas Eve Service!
More travel to Taldy to meet up with other Volunteers -- such a good time!
Lagman
Inside Jokes
Cheap Beer
Karaoke
Travel back to site and go back to work
Novie Goad
Of course this hasn’t actually happened yet, but I am out on Holiday Break
right now!
Tomorrow the teachers at my school will have a celebration at school
I’ve been invited to a couple NYE parties, but really just think it sounds
nice to be lame at home...too bad Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve isn’t
broadcasted in Kaz...

Other exciting events of December:
Dancing with my site mate and our Shaping class women
Having students over for Grilled Cheese sandwiches
Meeting foreigners
Becoming obsessed with Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup (and by soup, I mean, heated
juice..duh)
Making lots of banana bread


I forgot my hard drive in Taldy; so no music / movies for a while...bleen. Also, my computer isn’t reading my camera right now...I’ll get it figured out...but for now...no pictures...

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Future Possibilities

Call me naïve, tell me I live under a rock and that I sometimes just don’t get it, BUT I really truly thought that people in the circus joined the circus because, well, because it was destiny. Like, okay, so you didn’t do so well in high school. You can’t work with numbers and barely passed shop class. You’re not really into school. It’s just not your thang, but on the other hand you CAN swallow fire, right, where’s that going to get you? Naturally, this would make you a “shoo-in” for the circus…wouldn’t it? Well, I thought so...

I recently went to a circus here at site. I’ve been before. This was a different one; but I guess they are all kind of the same. I still find myself mesmerized and loving every minute of it, similar to that of a 7 year old:) There were all sorts of acts. Mostly the usual: hula hoop girl with 50000000 hula hoops, some animals that could do some sweet tricks, a few clowns, a hysterical act, a couple dances, a magic show routine, fire swallowing, sword swallowing, walking on nails, jumping on glass and, who can forget, juggling everything under the sun.

During the circus, it occurred to me that joining the circus would be friggin’ awesome! I mean, how amazing would it be to be part of a traveling circus and duh, you’re with clowns ALL DAY. That would just be totally fun! So let’s see: Traveling+Lots of fun+Amazing stories. I want this!

Of course, shortly after this realization I also realized that I don’t have a “natural” talent that would be able to be used in the circus. I can’t juggle anything and definitely not swords, I can’t eat fire and I certainly cannot walk on nails. This just isn’t my destiny. I was not satisfied with this though. I have decided that I will be able to juggle by February and after I get good at juggling balls I’ll try my hand at swords. If nothing I’m sure I could always be the clown. Some clowns say nothing. They’re just silly and do charades. Yes, this is exactly what I’ll do.

When I got home that night I thought I would Google: Joining the circus. This is when I learned there are actually “Circus Schools” <-- really? They’ll teach me how to eat fire? Wow. But the prices seemed a bit high for the small amount I’m going to be paid in the circus. They teach other cool things too, like the trapeze <-- I don’t want to do that though. Then they went on to talk about how depressing life is in the circus. Really?! Really? I do NOT believe that for one minute, there’s a clown! He’ll make you a balloon animal when you’re having a bad day and everything will be right in the world again. I also learned that it would look “better” (on your resume I guess) if you could do something additional to being a clown…like juggle or make balloon animals…hmm, maybe I’ll practice making balloon animals this summer at camps? I know I can be good at this!

I then looked for possible traveling circus jobs. I found only one. For a Vet Tech. Really? Do Vet Techs actually join the traveling circus? I don’t know. I thought I could be that, but that would require me to go back to school for a while for a degree I don’t actually care about so that I could join the circus…it seems like a lot of work and I wouldn’t be done for a few years only to travel with the circus for a year or two. Hopefully, there will be a job opening…eventually.

Of course, when you’re done with the circus can you really put that on your resume? Like I was in the Peace Corps for 2 years then joined the circus for 2 years and now I want to have, like, a real job…do people hire former circus performers? I hope so! I will be The Shit! Wish me luck! And stay tuned.