7

Being surrounded by Americans every day has highlighted some national characteristics that I had forgotten about. Namely optimism, and its overwhelming governance of all decisions/moods - Anything is possible, everything will work out and everyone will like us. This differs greatly from the British, who are rather more pessimistic about, frankly, everything. Unless it concerns winning the World Cup, which without fail, and despite all evidence to the contrary, people still believe will happen.

Or maybe it is just me, although I would have to class myself as an “Optimistic Pessimist”. I like to think that while looking for the best in each situation, I am still grounded to the reality that things will almost definitely work out differently, and, sometimes, negatively.

If an optimist is proved wrong in any given situation, then it means something negative occurred, invariably leading to sadness/depression/loss of motivation etc. However, if a pessimist (and especially an optimistic one) is proved wrong, then something good happened, which is clearly a cause of celebration!

Spring is well and truly here, and its amazing how our town has transformed in under a month. Greenery –heck, even blossoms on the trees - being the most notable change for the better. While the air is dustier, there is less of the coal dust in the air, so walking anywhere is a slight improvement. People’s clothing has started to change as well, more colour, and there is a lot more leg on show, even if only amongst the students. Short clothing certainly isn’t banned here, indeed, with the spring fashion, it is easier to see how similar Kazakhstan’s youth is to their Western counterparts. Mimicry of pop stars is seemingly universal.

One of my co-workers had to teach a lesson about British schools, which included grammar schools. Which, in case my memory fails me, were phased out 5 years ago. Its outdated textbooks, and a questionable grasp of world geography and history (so far) that have made the lessons hard to plan.

6

It rained yesterday for the first time since I have been here, and I cant articulate how happy it has made me! Obviously the main effect has been the reduction in the dust, and therefore a nicer walk to school, and tri-weekly run around the football pitch. It has however, had the effect of making the weather nicer as well. Since the rain stopped, the sky has been a wonderfully dark shade of blue, with barely a cloud to be seen. The snow-capped mountains are once again clearly visible, and starkly white in contrast to the sky. And the temperature is a more manageable 20ish degrees.

Still nothing exciting to report, sorry. I played football again last night with my host brother and his friends… at 11pm. The Astro-turf pitch is up in the mountains, with a lovely view over Almaty which would be great for pictures if it wasn’t so late. I have reverted to my normal position in defence (was a forward in Japan), and my only sellable skill is still paying the bills, namely I am bigger than everyone else.

I cant wait to get out to my real site, hopefully up in the mountains, and really start doing what I came here to do. The teaching has so far been, frankly, easy and even a little dull. Nothing that different from Japan really, namely local teachers with a limited knowledge of English, and textbooks that hinder rather than aid teaching. Making my own unit and lesson plans, as well as getting involved in community is daily becoming more appealing. Even if that means the loss of my double bed and indoor plumbing.

5

My promise to write things down, was, to be blunt, a lie. Sorry.

Still, is there anything new to report? My life in Kazakhstan has, so far, been rather monotonous. School from 8am till 6pm, the mornings spent studying Kazakh, and the afternoon devoted to teaching and observing my fellow trainees. There are 10 of us here in our village, Tusdy Bastau. 4 Californians, 1 Texan, 1 New Jersyite and a Montanan. An eclectic mix of ages/interests and personalities and I look forward to spending the next two years with (a few) of them. We will all be in the East of Kazakhstan, which, given the size of this country is rather a large area to cover, but none the less, what is a 7 hour bus ride in a country that takes 48hours to travel from the east to the west.

The weekend is coming, and I hope to spend as much of it outside as possible. Its already dangerously close to 30degrees, so the window for ‘outside fun’ is rapidly closing. While its not the humid heat of Japan – less of the constant damp clothing that was my bane for 3 summers there – the daily dry throat is starting to grow old.

Especially as I have started running again. No bicycle, and less time currently for hiking have forced me into it, a necessary evil. And as long as there is someone to talk to, mainly Jason as the moment- thanks buddy- it isn’t as bad as I remember. I haven’t run ‘for fun’ since I was 16, so to say ‘started again’ might be pushing it a bit. Still. I am not the slowest in our group, so my ego is enjoying the running, even if my legs aren’t.

Not much time for taking photos either, which is a shame. I am doing the best I can, and I have been assured that I will have plenty of time when I arrive at my site. That, coupled with – in theory at least- a more rural and authentic environment should provide me with plenty of victims/targets.

4- photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/punkrockpete/sets/72157594487168440/

3

4 weeks later. What to say? Ive seen an AK-47, a cooked sheep head, experienced an election (way to go Nazarbayev with 95% of the vote) and remembered 1 or 2 Kazakh words.

Still tired, still trying to take in as much as possible. We went to a music concert today at a music college that Peace Corps has ties with. Listened to some great Kazakh and Russian and Uigur music, ate some food, drank some fermented camels milk and watched a beauty contest, walked across Almaty, got asked to leave a café and ate mutton in soup for dinner- the same dinner I have had FOR FOUR WEEKS.

It was 22degrees today, so I am sunburnt of course.

I really should write stuff down, as I clearly have forgotten much of what has happened since I last wrote anything. Oh well, something to work on.

2

Was thinking on the walk back home from school how different this country is. Not simply from the UK or USA, but from the other ex-Soviet nations ive visited. It is certainly true here that ‘your castle is your home’. The contrast between how a house or neighbourhood looks, and what its like inside, is very dramatic. My host family’s house is a palace inside, massive TV’s all over the place and a billiard table etc.

My village has a lovely backdrop of snow covered mountains, although given by the temperature today, I fear the snow wont be on the ground for long.

so. Kazakhstan

As this is my first real access to internet in a month, ill just upload these two little entries i wrote down a few weeks ago. Sorry for the brevity, but i am not much of a journal writer.

Writing down my thoughts is a rather novel experience. But here goes.

So ive been in Kazakhstan for less than a week down, and just had my first full day of training.

So tired

The language has more consonants that it knows what to do with, and all the vowels sound the same.

Aaarrrgggggg

Falling asleep writing this. Havnt had dinner yet. And its only 7.30pm.. on Monday.

The Kazakh rock music im listening to isn’t keeping me awake!