I finished my first week of teaching this morning. I am astonished by how difficult teaching English to people in a language that I only learned three months ago actually is. I talked to Kenneth on the phone this morning, ate some mac and cheese at a local cafe, and checked my email. I received a few messages on Friendster, and I read that E. Darling has moved to Santa Fe. Looking at Friendster further drove home that I am far away from life as I knew it at home. The previous volunteer at my school taught the students words but no grammar. Most of the students are at a first grade level with their English, but not for much longer with my bad ass whipping them into shape. I am also teaching little kids, which I have the most fun doing of all. We sing "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," truly a classroom classic. I get to act like an idiot, and I don't have to be dissapointed that they don't know any English. I start my clubs and such next week.
I went to a rocking, Kyrgyz party at my director's house on Thursday afternoon. We drank fortified Moldovan wine (read Night Train) and drank vodka. I hung out with all the old ladies who teach at the school, and we got really drunk and sang songs to each other. We eat "Beshbarmak" which means five fingers. It is a plate of mutton, rice, and carrots that you eat with your hands. This whole custom makes a lot more sense when you are buzzing and ready to eat some meat.
I got pretty homesick this week, but I wrote some letters and felt better. I am going swimming in a pool in a nearby village where Olympic athletes from this part of the world train. I saw the Kazakh bike time riding by on the main road on the North Beach of the lake today. Fantastic. Will write more later when I feel like I have more to say. -MJ
