My Toilet is Cooler Than Your Toilet

January 28, 2009

It takes less than four hours to have a new toilet.

I know this because we now have a new toilet.

It’s actually a very simple process…fill in one hole, dig another, pop that outhouse on top of the new hole and ba-BAM! New toilet paradise.

Naturally my pampered mind immediately thought of those shiny porcelain things we have in America when my host mother told me we had a new toilet.

But I came back to reality real quick. It’s a beautiful thing- hardly any smell, less flies, and better yet- no spashback worries!

If that isn’t good news, I don’t know what is.

Halfway There

January 22, 2009

I should be beaming with pride right now because I have officially made it through one full year of service as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Turkmenistan.

But I’m kind of freaking out.

I have only eleven months left to get done everything I need to get done in order to prove my time here successful.

And I don’t know if I can do it.

My goals for Peace Corps Turkmenistan 2009 (in no particular order):

-Finish the Turkmen-Russian-English cookbook

-Write a grant for the printing costs of the cookbook

-Have a successful book club (IN PROGRESS, WOOOOOO!)

-Bring my intermediate students to the advanced level

-See at least one advanced student get into a university (I know this is out of my hands, but it would be awesome…simply awesome)

-Draw a world map with my students

-Write a grant for a dvd player for my school

-Score Intermediate High in Russian on the Language Proficiency Test

-Score Advanced Mid in Turkmen on the Language Proficiency Test

-Take the GREs and score well

-Apply to grad school

-Figure out what the heck I’m going to do with the rest of my life

One year has past and at this time last year I was a scared new volunteer, freezing in cheap Talkuchka boots not really sure what I was doing here.

A year later, I’m no longer scared, the Talkuchka boots have completely snapped on the bottom allowing muddy water to seep into my socks, and I’m not unsure what I’m doing here…only of how to accomplish everything that needs to be done.

Just a few more weeks of winter...

Home Sweet Home

Twenty-f0ur hours ago I was sitting on the steps of the Taj Mahal.

I am now in Ashgabat eating leftover naan from last night's dinner.

Vacation was awesome, but it's good to be back, as always.

2009 is going to be a very promising year.

Goa to Delhi

Thirty-two hours on the train...

11 cups of masala chai...

9 card games...

eight samosas...

six different types of curry...

four bowls of rice...

Three good friends...

Two books...

One stupid man who wouldn't stop touching my feet...

zero blankets...

zero heat.

I will never, ever complain about the trains in Turkmenistan again.

Beautiful Goa

After lying on the beach sipping pina coladas all afternoon yesterday I asked my sweet Indian waiter for my bill.

He smiled and started writing on a small piece of paper, then turned and handed it to me.

"Here is your bill," he said.

I looked at the paper and smiled. It said, "I love you so much. You have such a beautiful smile. Please come back for drinks later and don't ever stop smiling."

Unfortunately I didn't have time to return in the evening, but I will someday. I promise.

I really love it here.