Summer Camp

Since summer is over, this may seem untimely. However, I just realized that I never shared photos or stories from the Jalal-Abad summer camp I completed this August.

What the camp lacked in facilities, we made up for in content. Together with 5 other PCVs and 5 local volunteers, we taught on various life skills, including: self-esteem, healthy relationships, reproductive health, nutrition, and goal setting. At the end of week-long camp, the students then created and presented their own lessons on these very topics that they could again use in the their communities. These kids were sharp and managed to impress me at every turn.

In addition to this very successful transfer of skills and knowledge, we had some hilarious times. We played a hide-n-seek variant, Sardines, and thought we had actually ‘lost’ a student for over an hour. The students completed a Scavenger Hunt that included a request for them to serenade a particular PCV. The songs that they came up with in the heat of the contest were adorable! We prepared over 300 hundred water balloons and used them to ambush the students in the middle of the soccer field. After momentarily starring in shock, they rushed after us to find our stockpile and mustered up a serious counter-attack. We had an all-night bonfire that included the craziest game of charades I’ve ever witnessed and the roasting of potatoes in-lieu of marshmallows. We awoke in the middle of the night to the sounds of a mouse eating our chips on the cabin floor. We held a talent show that easily demonstrated our miserable lack of talent as well as our inability to understand the Kyrgyz sense of humor as performed by the students. We fit more students/people in one old, rickety Soviet bus that also carried all of our camp’s food, bedding, and supplies. This bus traversed steep, unpaved terrain that included a precarious, dry riverbed.

I took hundreds of pictures and not one shower. After this camp, I vowed to never again eat soup for breakfast. We videoed some of the camp’s conditions for a piece I call, “Outhouse Exposes: Episodes 1-4.” We set goals for ourselves as trainers each and everyday. We maintained an insanely positive attitude after each and every pitfall. I gained some great experience teaching young people in this country. I learned so much from my fellow volunteers on how to be a volunteer. We celebrated our victories and laughed off everything else. This camp definitely prepared me for the difficulties that I faced during my conference a month later.

Summer Camp Photos

Teambuilding exercises!





My reproductive health presentation to the young ladies.






Badass bonfire.






Hiking to a waterfall.






Group shot as the camp comes to a close.






Absolutely packed busride home from camp.

Conference Photos!

To my great relief, our Gender Equality Conference last week was a great success. There are plenty of things I wish I had done differently, but that just leaves more room for improvement come next year. And I look forward to working extensively on gender issues in the meantime using the valuable wisdom gained from this crazy experience. I'm glad it's over and want to share some photos with yall:
Having fun with ice breakers!



Thoughtfully pondering gender issues.



Resourcefulness at its finest.



Yoga time.



More quality learning and sharing.



Some debates were more heated than others.



The fearless leaders determining the next course of action. Ha.



Look at all our certificates! So proud.



Volunteers really stepped up. I'm so grateful and impressed by what we accomplished.



So happy to be done!

Gender Equality Conference

It's been really hectic here the past weeks in preparation for our upcoming Gender Equality Conference. Only 2 more days until we kick off this annual event. I am really excited for the themes we will cover...I'm just realizing quickly how difficult the details can be when trying to work within the context of another culture. I'm sick, so emotionally drained, and stressed to the max.

On the upside, I think this is a conference that we can be proud of. I have 15 confirmed presenters and 50 participants, who will hopefully rise to the occasion and make up for any of my planning pitfalls. Flexibility is crucial. Check out our logo and wish me good luck in next few days:

Yummy Summer Food

I guess September 1st calls for autumn here in Osh, though the weather is not quite aligned with the new season. Saying goodbye to Summer in Osh is hard to do.


The early stages of my host mama's lagman. The beauty of most national dishes from this region is that they can be cooked in just one pot. That's a potential cooking show in the making.



I'll really miss the summer fruits and vegetables! For the past month, almost every meal is followed by a second course of melon. Above, Nika is enjoying cherries and apricots.