Ten hours after leaving T-stan:
I arrive in Bangkok and wander around for two hours trying to find a place to stay. I guess it's the high season.
Eight hours after arriving in Vietnam:
I am attacked by a dog and he bites my ankle. Don't worry, I've had three different rounds of rabies vaccinations...no symptoms yet.
Two hours later:
I fall into a swamp.
The next day:
A 15 km trek through the jungle of Cat Ba Island off the coast of North Vietnam...quite similar to Pandora but we only saw one monkey and no Navi
Two days later:
We're flooded out of Hanoi. The rain is coming down so hard and I am a happy bubble of warmth inside a big, blue poncho.
A few days after that:
Roaming around Hoi An, Vietnam I run into a Russian/Israeli/Australian/French dude and we immediately start babbling on and on in Russian about the greatness of Central Asian food.
And I am immediately homesick for plov but grateful to be able to have this weird thing in common with another person out here on the coast of Vietnam.
Next stop: Laos
Monday, January 25, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Good Bye
I knew it was coming but wasn't sure how I'd feel leaving Turkmenistan.
I spent the last few days rigorously saying my good-byes, but not really feeling the blow just yet.
The night before I left Yoloten I had dinner at my best friend in Yoloten's house and we hugged each other and cried and made plans to hopefully see each other again and never lose contact.
I visited some students right before leaving Yoloten and we hugged and I promised to help them with anything I possibly could in the future.
And standing at the airport with my friends, we stood there and cried and held each other and promised to never forget.
And I sat on the plane continuously calling and texting random friend and family, still saying good-bye.
As the plane started moving the tears started flowing uncontrollably and I couldn't believe I was actually leaving.
I'll never forget.
The past two years have been the best two years of my life.
I spent the last few days rigorously saying my good-byes, but not really feeling the blow just yet.
The night before I left Yoloten I had dinner at my best friend in Yoloten's house and we hugged each other and cried and made plans to hopefully see each other again and never lose contact.
I visited some students right before leaving Yoloten and we hugged and I promised to help them with anything I possibly could in the future.
And standing at the airport with my friends, we stood there and cried and held each other and promised to never forget.
And I sat on the plane continuously calling and texting random friend and family, still saying good-bye.
As the plane started moving the tears started flowing uncontrollably and I couldn't believe I was actually leaving.
I'll never forget.
The past two years have been the best two years of my life.
Hollywood in Yoloten
January 11, 2010
Random people have been telling me for weeks that something was going to happen today, but I didn't quite know what. My students told me specifically:
Make sure Monday January 11 you are free from 3:00 until 10:00. Be at home and await instructions.
"Angela did you know there's going to be a party for you at the disco on Monday night?" a friend of mine told me last night.
"Ahhhh...so it's at the disco..." I said with a smile. It's hard to keep secrets in such a small town.
At about 4:30 a student showed up with a piece of paper with instructions: Do you think California is the only place for Hollywood? Well you're wrong! Follow the arrows throughout our lovely town to find Yoloten's own Hollywood
So a few other volunteers and I wandered through the streets following the arrows that they had strategically posted and then when we arrived at the park two of them jumped out of a nearby car and kidnapped me. We drove around the block until we got to the door of the disco where all my students screamed "SURPRISE!"
It was incredible...they made a Hollywood-themed party and named it the Yoloten Angels Awards.
Throughout the disco they hung their projects from the past two years...the posters they made for Earth Day, the vision boards they made for their future, etc.
They presented everyone with different awards for the work they did throughout the past two years, and throughout the awards they did different songs and dances. It was absolutely INCREDIBLE.
I can't even describe how much time and effort those kids put into that party. They said they'd been working on it for over two months, practicing dance routines, etc.
At the end they presented me with my award: 'Best Angel'.
It was the most fantastic night... one that will live in my memory forever.
Random people have been telling me for weeks that something was going to happen today, but I didn't quite know what. My students told me specifically:
Make sure Monday January 11 you are free from 3:00 until 10:00. Be at home and await instructions.
"Angela did you know there's going to be a party for you at the disco on Monday night?" a friend of mine told me last night.
"Ahhhh...so it's at the disco..." I said with a smile. It's hard to keep secrets in such a small town.
At about 4:30 a student showed up with a piece of paper with instructions: Do you think California is the only place for Hollywood? Well you're wrong! Follow the arrows throughout our lovely town to find Yoloten's own Hollywood
So a few other volunteers and I wandered through the streets following the arrows that they had strategically posted and then when we arrived at the park two of them jumped out of a nearby car and kidnapped me. We drove around the block until we got to the door of the disco where all my students screamed "SURPRISE!"
It was incredible...they made a Hollywood-themed party and named it the Yoloten Angels Awards.
Throughout the disco they hung their projects from the past two years...the posters they made for Earth Day, the vision boards they made for their future, etc.
They presented everyone with different awards for the work they did throughout the past two years, and throughout the awards they did different songs and dances. It was absolutely INCREDIBLE.
I can't even describe how much time and effort those kids put into that party. They said they'd been working on it for over two months, practicing dance routines, etc.
At the end they presented me with my award: 'Best Angel'.
It was the most fantastic night... one that will live in my memory forever.
Twenty five dolla make you Holla
January 9, 2010
Turkmenistan is, overall, an extremely safe country. With the exception of a few insane taxi rides and an unpleasant incident with my banya gas heater, I have never felt my life was in immediate danger.
Turkmen people are, for the most part, extremely gentle and that's one thing I love the most about being here.
Yet today, five days before my departure, I had an encounter unlike any other. I was in a city about 45 minutes north of Yoloten and I got in a taxi heading home. Unfortunately, when we stopped in Turkmengala, fifteen minutes away from Yoloten, everyone else in the taxi got out.
"Are you still going to Yoloten?" I asked.
"Yes," he said. "We'll just wait for more people to come."
And then he looked at me long and hard and asked me where I was from. I told him I was from the America and he proceeded to stare at me.
"You are SO beautiful," he said. "I really, REALLY like you."
And he continued to stare at me and tell me how much he liked me, making no effort at all whatsoever to find other clients for his taxi.
"Uhhhh...okay dude are you going to Yoloten or what?" I asked.
"I really, REALLY like you," he said. "Can I kiss you?"
"NO!!!!!" I yelled. "If you're not going to Yoloten, then just tell me so I can find someone else!"
"I'll go, I'll go," he said. But he continued to stare at me. "I really, REALLY like you."
He reached over to the glove compartment and pulled out some money. About 25 dollars worth of manat. He leaned over and handed me the money.
"This is for you," he said. "I really, REALLY like you."
I immediately freaked out.
"WHY are you giving me this money!?!" I screamed at him. "WHY!"
"Because I REALLY like you," he said with a creepy smile.
"I do NOT want your money!" I yelled and threw it back at him. Luckily at that moment a bus going to Yoloten pulled up to the taxi stand. I jumped out of the car and headed toward the bus.
"Wait, you didn't pay me for the taxi ride!" he yelled.
"YOU are an asshole and you should be ashamed of yourself," I said to him in English as I shoved my taxi fare at him.
"But I don't know English," he said.
"Oh, go to hell," I replied.
Turkmenistan is, overall, an extremely safe country. With the exception of a few insane taxi rides and an unpleasant incident with my banya gas heater, I have never felt my life was in immediate danger.
Turkmen people are, for the most part, extremely gentle and that's one thing I love the most about being here.
Yet today, five days before my departure, I had an encounter unlike any other. I was in a city about 45 minutes north of Yoloten and I got in a taxi heading home. Unfortunately, when we stopped in Turkmengala, fifteen minutes away from Yoloten, everyone else in the taxi got out.
"Are you still going to Yoloten?" I asked.
"Yes," he said. "We'll just wait for more people to come."
And then he looked at me long and hard and asked me where I was from. I told him I was from the America and he proceeded to stare at me.
"You are SO beautiful," he said. "I really, REALLY like you."
And he continued to stare at me and tell me how much he liked me, making no effort at all whatsoever to find other clients for his taxi.
"Uhhhh...okay dude are you going to Yoloten or what?" I asked.
"I really, REALLY like you," he said. "Can I kiss you?"
"NO!!!!!" I yelled. "If you're not going to Yoloten, then just tell me so I can find someone else!"
"I'll go, I'll go," he said. But he continued to stare at me. "I really, REALLY like you."
He reached over to the glove compartment and pulled out some money. About 25 dollars worth of manat. He leaned over and handed me the money.
"This is for you," he said. "I really, REALLY like you."
I immediately freaked out.
"WHY are you giving me this money!?!" I screamed at him. "WHY!"
"Because I REALLY like you," he said with a creepy smile.
"I do NOT want your money!" I yelled and threw it back at him. Luckily at that moment a bus going to Yoloten pulled up to the taxi stand. I jumped out of the car and headed toward the bus.
"Wait, you didn't pay me for the taxi ride!" he yelled.
"YOU are an asshole and you should be ashamed of yourself," I said to him in English as I shoved my taxi fare at him.
"But I don't know English," he said.
"Oh, go to hell," I replied.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Still in the Kara Kum
Everyone makes fun of me for staying a few extra weeks after my Peace Corps Close of Service (COS) but I don't care.
These last few weeks have been fantastic...I've had time to get TWO more dresses made, I've reconnected with local friends I hadn't seen in a long time, and it gave me time to get one last round of parasites in my belly.
I have ten days, and a long list of things that have to get done before I leave this country, and I don't know if I'll make it, but like every year, I resolve to be more organized. Yes, my American friends and family, I know you're laughing hysterically at this.
My students continually come by my house to talk, hang out, ask for help with some random thing, etc, and as the days go by, I'm beginning to freak out a little bit more.
Ten more days...
These last few weeks have been fantastic...I've had time to get TWO more dresses made, I've reconnected with local friends I hadn't seen in a long time, and it gave me time to get one last round of parasites in my belly.
I have ten days, and a long list of things that have to get done before I leave this country, and I don't know if I'll make it, but like every year, I resolve to be more organized. Yes, my American friends and family, I know you're laughing hysterically at this.
My students continually come by my house to talk, hang out, ask for help with some random thing, etc, and as the days go by, I'm beginning to freak out a little bit more.
Ten more days...
Happy Birthday to Me
December 30, 2009
Having a birthday so close to New Year’s Eve definitely has more minuses than pluses but over the years I’ve gotten used to it.
Yet this year was pretty cool.
I was in the kitchen preparing food for tonight and my host sister was outside sweeping, cleaning up for the guests that were coming in another two hours.
All of a sudden we heard a gigantic BOOM! And a firecracker landed in our yard, followed by another one. My poor host sister freaked out and threw open the gate to yell at whoever was doing this, only to be met with all my students singing at the top of their lungs, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!”
I ran out of the kitchen and my host sister was laughing so hard she was crying; it was absolutely hilarious. They brought cakes and cookies and presents and it was so incredibly sweet.
What a great birthday
Having a birthday so close to New Year’s Eve definitely has more minuses than pluses but over the years I’ve gotten used to it.
Yet this year was pretty cool.
I was in the kitchen preparing food for tonight and my host sister was outside sweeping, cleaning up for the guests that were coming in another two hours.
All of a sudden we heard a gigantic BOOM! And a firecracker landed in our yard, followed by another one. My poor host sister freaked out and threw open the gate to yell at whoever was doing this, only to be met with all my students singing at the top of their lungs, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!”
I ran out of the kitchen and my host sister was laughing so hard she was crying; it was absolutely hilarious. They brought cakes and cookies and presents and it was so incredibly sweet.
What a great birthday
Eat FRESH!
December 26, 2009
Christmas 2009.
Scene: My friend Dan and I have just killed a chicken for dinner. Well, he did the actual killing since I’m a girl I’m forbidden to end the life of an animal. I’m pouring boiling water over the carcass and plucking out the feathers.
“Man, this takes FOREVER! I swear Turkmen are so good at this,” I complained. “When my relatives from the village do this it only takes them like, ten minutes.”
“Well, think of it this way,” Dan said. “They’d probably have a really tough time ordering a Subway sandwich.”
True that.
Christmas 2009.
Scene: My friend Dan and I have just killed a chicken for dinner. Well, he did the actual killing since I’m a girl I’m forbidden to end the life of an animal. I’m pouring boiling water over the carcass and plucking out the feathers.
“Man, this takes FOREVER! I swear Turkmen are so good at this,” I complained. “When my relatives from the village do this it only takes them like, ten minutes.”
“Well, think of it this way,” Dan said. “They’d probably have a really tough time ordering a Subway sandwich.”
True that.
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