So the NYtimes published a great article about the Kyrgyz Republic today. The article discusses how a lot of the older generation miss the days of communism, which is true in a lot of former communist nations. But check it out, and look at the picture gallery- a nice introduction to the country.

In a Kyrgyz Garden, Unburied Soviet Memories

My invitation packet finally got here, and I’m headed to exactly where I thought I would be- Kyrgyzstan! I am thrilled! After all the finger crossing and wood knocking, Fed-ex finally delivered my packet, a second one. The first one disappeared before I even knew it arrived.

When I had spoken with my PO, he informed me that the packet would be in my hands Saturday or Monday, of last week. When Wednesday came and went, and I still did not have it- I got a little nervous. I began stalking the Fed-ex delivery guys, shamelessly. By Friday I had had enough. I emailed my PO and within minutes he called me. My invitation packet had in fact been delivered at 8:47 am, Monday morning. According to the information immediately available- no one was home and so the package was left on the doorstep. Odd, considering Jacqui was home and knew I was expecting a package. After leaving menacing notes to my neighbors demanding they return this all-important parcel, I did a little sleuth work. After speaking with various staff members at Fed-ex, and the driver's representative, I discovered that the package had been delivered, but not to my building. So, I contacted my PO and he obliged my request for a second packet. And it arrived this morning! I even slept with my door open so that there was no way I would not hear the buzzer.

There are forms to fill out, and a ridiculous amount of information to read through, hundreds of pages. According to my assignment packet I will be a Secondary Education Teacher (ages 13-17), teaching English, most likely in a small town or rural community.

K-16 (I will be in the 16th group to serve in Kyrgyzstan) dates:

• Orientation/ Staging: July 3-5, 2008
  
• Pre-Service Training (in country): July 7- Sept. 18, 2008
  
• Dates of Service: September 20, 2008- Sept. 19, 2010
  

Now I just have to get all the final paperwork in, sell my furniture (anyone need a bed?), and pack up my stuff. 

Invite

I got it! I got my invitation! I spoke to my PO (placement officer) earlier this evening over the phone. He had a few last minute questions for me, and once he was satisfied with my answers, and had typed them up (I could hear his keyboard clicking away), he informed me that first thing Friday morning he would Fed-Ex me my invite!

He did not tell me over the phone where I was going- just confirmed that it was early July to Central Asia. So while I am not 100% sure that I'm going to Kyrgyzstan, I'm 99% that's where I am headed. It is rumored that the Kazakhstan programs leave in August, and the Turkmenistan programs leave in September. I should know the full details once my invitation packet is in my hands, either Saturday or Monday.

When I hung up the phone with my PO, I was so overcome with emotion I nearly cried. I instantly called mom to tell her. As I'm trying to get the words out, my throat was closing and my attempts to suppress sobs, I think, only served to freak her out a bit. A cry of happiness, of relief, of impending anxiety.

After I spread the good news I went online to check the message boards. I've joined two, ok three, online Peace Corps groups: the yahoo group- peacecorps2, and two on facebook- Future Peace Corps Volunteers and Eastern Europe, Central Asia PCVs. In the last few days I've become compulsive about checking the message boards. I always check to see if anyone has received a Central Asian invite. So far, I've found three others with early July departures- July 3rd to Kyrgyzstan. Two of them are TEFL (teach English as a foreign language) like me, and one is health extension. There should end up being about 60 volunteers, mostly TEFL, going over together. I guess now I just have to wait, rather impatiently, for my invite packet to arrive!