Today, the 8th of March, is International Women’s Day. While this holiday was initially intuited by the Soviet Union in 1911, it’s now celebrated the world over. Initially intended to encourage and celebrate the working women, the 8th of March is celebrated all over the world as a civil awareness and anti-sexism day.
In Kazakhstan this mean all males with whom you have a close relationship (friend, husband, classmate etc) must buy you a mandatory present. This year I have been the obliging recipient of 3 silk flowers, a mirror with a vampire hologram and some very, very stinky perfume. Also, if you’re ever in Kazakhstan on the 8th of March, don’t forget the mandatory: ’Happy Holiday!’ to every human being with a uterus who walks by you.
In perhaps my own personal act of freedom and rebellion, yours truly has done something simply unheard of. I ripped the winter plastic off my windows. Then I opened them. It felt so, so good. Finally I have liberated my self from the Kazakhstani winter that always seems to get me down. True it may be a delusion that winter is over, but I don’t care, today was Women’s Day, and I say it’s time to take the plastic down.
Hopefully I feel as good about this decision tonight as I do right now. If not, there’s always more blankets right?
I have a bunch of news! I will be extending my service an additional 8 months, and will be home mid-July 2012. I’m going to be PCVL (Peace Corps Volunteer Leader) of the southern Oblasts, which basically means helping other volunteers with anything they might need, and communicating directly with Peace Corps about what’s going on afield.
Also, schools ends May 25th- and then I’m out of Zhanatas forever! I’ll be moving to Taraz, a mid-sized city about 3 hours from where I live current and the oblast center. A bunch of volunteers I adore live there or close, and I’m going to have three new amazing jobs on top of my PCVL responsibilites.
First, I’ll be teaching in college at Parasat, which from the people I’ve asked has quite the reputation as a good school to study English.
Then, I’m going to working at a PDI, or Professorial Development Institute, which means I’ll be helping teach methodologies, strategies and English materials. This is really exciting, because I won’t only be working with English teachers- I will be working with teachers in general! This is such a neat opportunity for me, and a great way to get even better at speaking Kazakh. It’s also a huge vote of confidence in my language from the PDI. I couldn’t be happier.
Lastly, and most amazingly, I’m going to work at a lyceum for orphans. They requested Peace Corps help because there are a select group of orphans who want to study abroad and have reached the local teacher’s English limits. These kids are incredibly motivated and have dreams that rival even mine. I am so, so excited to help them!
Top all this great news off with getting back from India and being crazy in love.
Yeah, I ripped the plastic off the windows.
It’s gonna be sunny.
