I was waiting until my invitation to be excited; I had wanted to wait until I knew for sure where I was going before I allowed myself to be excited. However, after Saturday afternoon I just can't help it- I am more than excited, I am exhilarated. 

Saturday afternoon was the New York area sendoff. It was an event for current nominees and invitees from the area. Of course I went. There were more people than I expected and many RPCVs (returned peace corps volunteers). The New York recruiter, who served in Kyrgyzstan, gave a great speech, even Kari and Anne were impressed- now they too want to sign up, although I think their declarations were in jest.  The event got me really pumped up, and I can't wait to go. I'm excited about my impending departure, excited about my two years in Kyrgyzstan (I hope/think), excited to teach English. Really, it will be somewhat unfortunate if I don't end up going to Kyrgyzstan, especially now that I have learned to spell it. I have already done research about it and pondered what my daily life will be like, so if my invitation ends up being to somewhere other than Kyrgyzstan I will be disappointed, which was why I was trying not to be too excited. Oh well.

In my research on Kyrgyzstan I have discovered a some interesting things. Here are a few:

• Ulak Tartysh: A popular game played throughout the Asian steppe, and practically the national sport of Kyrgyzstan, in which players compete for possession of a headless goat carcass. With hardly any rules, the game is played atop specially trained horses, and violence is common, if not encouraged.
• Bride-napping: Yes that's right; bride-napping is still popular in Kyrgyzstan despite being outlawed by the government. Sometimes the bride is in on it and is given previous warning by her soon to be groom, and is done as a way to avoid paying a bride price. However, much more common and sinister is for an unsuspecting girl to be kidnapped and forced to marry a man. [If you've seen the movie Borat- it is what Borat attempts to do to Pamela Anderson.]
• Kumis: the Kyrgyz national drink- fermented mare's milk. How do you say shots at the bar in Kyrgyz?
• This landlocked nation is sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of Central Asia because of its similarities to the alpine nation- green pastures, jagged snow capped peaks, crisp fresh water lakes

So there are a few facts for you. Clearly I'm pretty stoked about the mountains and Ulak Tartysh, and less excited about the other two. I don't see myself getting out of drinking Kumis, and I'll have to think of a way to appear less attractive to the local population (any ideas?).

Today I faxed in my final forms and I'm hoping that not only was I instantly medically cleared, but that my invite will be in the mail. So I'm crossing my fingers AND knocking on wood. With luck my invite will be in my hands by the end of this week.