That's right kids, I'm headed to KYRGYZSTAN!!

It's already clear to me that I'm totally horrible at keeping this blog deal up-to-date, so if this is any indication to what will happen when i'm over there, you all can expect to see about one blog per month, and that may be pushing it! I'll make it a new years resoultion to improve the 'ol communication skills.

But since my first/last post, i've accepted my invitation to serve! Kartwheels all around! I will be leaving March 25, 2011 to serve the Kyrgyz Republic as a Health Educator. Since accepting my position, i've been busy getting all the required and time sensitive requirments sent out. Even though I already have a passport, we are required to get a "no-fee" passport. Not totally sure what the difference will be but I don't have to pay for it, score! I also just sent out my aspiration statement and a resume. It will help give our counterparts in Kyrgyzstan an idea of who we are since they don't know anything about us at. And now that all that is done I'm busy inhaling every piece of information I can about the place that I will be spending 27 months of my life in. So far, it looks just absolutely beautiful. From what i've read, it appears that about 80-90% of the region is covered by the Tian Shan mountains, very stoked about that. And it's also going to be cold. Very cold. Luckily for me I'm a mid-west gal and I love the cold. When I originally got my nomination it was for South America and I was worried that I was going to need a truck load of sunblock, but i'll be trading that in for a warmer jacket and boots!

I've also been busy attempting to learn the cyrillic alphabet. It's a little mind blowing and overwhelming but i'm pretty pumped. I"m hoping to have that down by the time I leave since the PC says that if you've got that down, you're in good shape. So stay tuned for that progress.

So until March you will find me busy trying to learn everything I can about my future home, but I'll also be busy spending as much time as I can with family and friends before I go. And first on the list, Nashvegas NYE baby!

Patience- a state of being

According to the greatest, most reliable source of information out there, Wikipedia defines patience as the following...


The state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Patience is the level of endurance one's character can take before negativity. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast.


During the whole process of trying to get one's self into the Peace Corps, they constantly tell you that this is a great time to practice something you'll be needing a whole lot of...Patience. Well i'd like to think I did this quite well, but according to this written in stone definition, I failed. I indeed displayed annoyance, anger, and negativity. Good thing it isn't a deal breaker.


After months and months of the waiting, the returned medical packets, the endless blood draws, I finally received the holy grail of the the Peace Corps...my invitation to serve! Then came the next shocker, I was no longer going to Central or South America leaving in January. I would now be going somewhere in Central Asia leaving in mid to late March. Well...wasn't what I had been planning on since my nomination last May but I'm super exicited even if it hasn't all set in yet! So now instead of waking up each day to check the toolkit, i'll be rushing home to see if my big blue Peace Corps packet has arrived yet...and of course i'll be practicing more of this patience thing.