So, I dont know what you know about the Peace Corps' pulling out of Kazakhstan. It made the international news, so does that make me a celebrity now?
There were a number of 'facts' floating around, as well as 'official reasons', and i thought i would address them all, with my understanding of the reasons.
Peace Corps told us that the programme was being 'suspended', with 1 week's notice, due to:
- Security concerns- both attacks on volunteers (there had been 3 rapes), and increased terrorist activity (not aimed at volunteers)
- Political - the KNB, as well as certain government departments, had grown less helpful and were causing problems, in regards to getting teaching permission for the following year
- Budgets - Kazakhstan was a very expensive programme, and in order to meet the security issues, it would have cost a lot more money.
This is what were were told, and it makes sense to me, but the 1 week notice would suggest the the security issues were stronger than we were told.
Now, the official response from the Kazakhstan government was, and I paraphrase:
'We are a top 50 developed nation now, and we don't need volunteers any more'.
This attitude would seem to support the issues Peace Corps had regarding political issues.
What all of this meant, was that instead of 27months of volunteering in Kazakhstan, I left after 8, having spent 2 months in full time training, 3 months on summer holiday, and only 3 months actually teaching. It was very frustrating, as I was just starting to feel like my presence was making a difference, and my language learning was bearing fruit.
Oh well.....I enjoyed my time greatly, and learnt plenty.
There were a number of 'facts' floating around, as well as 'official reasons', and i thought i would address them all, with my understanding of the reasons.
Peace Corps told us that the programme was being 'suspended', with 1 week's notice, due to:
- Security concerns- both attacks on volunteers (there had been 3 rapes), and increased terrorist activity (not aimed at volunteers)
- Political - the KNB, as well as certain government departments, had grown less helpful and were causing problems, in regards to getting teaching permission for the following year
- Budgets - Kazakhstan was a very expensive programme, and in order to meet the security issues, it would have cost a lot more money.
This is what were were told, and it makes sense to me, but the 1 week notice would suggest the the security issues were stronger than we were told.
Now, the official response from the Kazakhstan government was, and I paraphrase:
'We are a top 50 developed nation now, and we don't need volunteers any more'.
This attitude would seem to support the issues Peace Corps had regarding political issues.
What all of this meant, was that instead of 27months of volunteering in Kazakhstan, I left after 8, having spent 2 months in full time training, 3 months on summer holiday, and only 3 months actually teaching. It was very frustrating, as I was just starting to feel like my presence was making a difference, and my language learning was bearing fruit.
Oh well.....I enjoyed my time greatly, and learnt plenty.
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