2002-11-20 - 3:16 p.m.
Miss me yet??? Well, this is my first trip out of site since November 3, and to my great surprise PC office now has free internet. Awesome!! First, my address will remain the same. Second, try calling if you dare, 011.998.272.31.355, probably will not work, but I have heard rumors that is does. Sending stuff is entirely your deal, but no cash and remember I will need stuff later when i begin a secondary project, yet undetermined, and will again call on family and friends. But anything American, like cassettes, videos, educational and movie, rubber bands, stapler (we have staples but no stapler, ha) mags, newspapers for our resource center, books, markers, pens, etc... Mom sent a penceil sharpener, of the sort that used to be bolted onto classroom walls, and it literally shocked the school. A lifetime supply of pencils to be sharpened came from locals, neighbors, teachers, etc... It is hilarious. Little things like a football, or golf ball, or baseball card, etc.. would make my students overjoyed. Pics of christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year, as well as later of easter and such will help with my lectures of holidays.
Much to discuss... In late Oct., I met a man named Robert Rand, former editor for NPR. He interviewed me for a story on cotton to aire on All Things Considered sometime, he told me a few months and as part of a series on the show. keep your ears open and if he emails me I'll let you know. It's audio, so you can hear my voice, and hopefully the local officials will not be disappointed with my views, or maybe you will see me sooner than expected (PC okayed the interview).
It is Ramazan now and my family and counterpart awake at 4am, prepare breakfast, east before 5:30am, then fast until sundown. I do not. Rosa is "fast" in Uzbek, actually arabic i think. I also attened a mosque service with my counterpart in my mountain village of Xisarak. Most elderly men, I sat with my champon (robe) and dopi (hat) as the unheated room was home to thirty praying muslims. They were very kind to me. They meet every night during Ramazan at 7pm. I have only attened once, but I "open my stomach" every evening with "dates" or raisins, as tradition calls. I have been a guest for dinner often, and last week I was served a meal as the surrounding hosts just looked on, still observing their fast (It was only 4 pm). I felt a little odd eating all the food, but they insist and constantly offer what is on the table to the guest.
My school situation is moving along steadily and whenever I do not have class, students pack my room to talk or ask questions. Mikhal, a ninth graders with okay English approaches me everyday and says, "Hello, Mr. Kevin. I think the weather is very (insert weather condition) today." He's Willard Smith of Uz. And yet others invite me to their homes for dinner, and one parent gave me four apples yesterday on the street as I crossed her and her sons path in a local store. Currently, we are studying Thanksgiving, and the set of encyclopedias from 1992 that a past PCV was able to get for our room has proven very useful.
At home, I am doing what I call the Heidi Chase, which happens to be the name of the past Parkent volunteer. she lived with my family as well, and I am often compared to Heidi, by foods liked, language ability, school clubs organized, and friends visited. But my home is beautiful, set in the mountains which are now snow capped. My room is cold, but thermals and sleeping bag keep my nights toasty. Reading and writing are a bit of a problem because of the cold, so I do most of that at school. We eat seated at a knee high table, and underneath is a sandal, or warm coal pit like deal, where we hang our legs and feet. I reminds me of a trap door and the fam. hangs here until bedtime because it is the only warm place. I will not discuss bathing, becasue it happens so infrequently.
I went apple picking two weeks back, and my aim was a well received by my host grandparents, who own the orchard. Apples, peanuts, tomatoes, and potatoes are my primary meals, with various combinations of them. I do enjoy my coffee and perculator, although supplies are running low. Let me know your Christmas wishes. Take care.
