Friday, September 5, 2008

A note on my address ...

If you plan on sending me something, you'll need the English variant of my address as well :

Deanna Evans
Kyrgyzstan (or Kyrgyz Republic)
Osh Oblast
Uzgen Rayon
Myrzake

I'm moving!

My apologies to anyone who' s waited anxiously for a blog posting .... :) it has definately been a while. My training is coming to a close and soon, I will be able to share more about this country and my experiences.

At the end of this month, I will be moving to my 'permanent site' which is located in the southwest of the country - in Osh oblast, which is very close to the Uzbek border. I was able to make a trip to my site last week along with the other volunteers who will be working and living in the south. We met with our local counterparts - in my case, an English teacher with whom I will 'co-teach' English lessons.

I was able to attend my school's 'first bell' ceremony, which is also a national holiday called 'Knowledge Day' ... it was really interesting. What would have been a schoolyard 'assembly' in the U.S. was truly a 'ceremony' here in Kyrgyzstan. Each class or 'form' of students was represented by one student who on behalf of their group called out the groups' mantra and name and reported to the student body president. Students performed popular pop songs and finally, the ceremony was closed with a young girl (hoisted on top of an older boy's shoulders) ringing a large bell to mark the start of classes. After the ceremony, a group of female students approached me ... they were geniuenly excited to meet me, and in English, told me their names.

It has been four or five years since my school has had a Peace Corps volunteer, and I have a feeling I am the first American many of the students have met.

That's it for now... My new address is below.


куда: кыргызстан
ош областы
озгон району
мырзаке айылы
кому: эванс диана