Handstands In Kyrgyzstan

To My Wonderful Friends, Beloved Family, and Quirky Comrades,

The wait is almost over.  After much anticipation and a great deal of preparation, my grand adventure as a Peace Corps Volunteer in “The Alps of Central Asia” is set to commence in a few short weeks.  For those of you not familiar with the reference, “The Alps of Central Asia” is commonly used to describe the dense mountainous country known as the Kyrgyz Republic (previously Kyrgyzstan).  As an outdoor enthusiast, my jaw nearly hit the floor when I first discovered the rare and unique beauty found country wide.  With the prowess of the Tian Shan Mountains, the flourishing Fergana Valley, and the awe-inspiring Lake Issyk Kul all in my new backyard, my heart is already racing as I envision all the potential exploration of such untapped wilderness.

The twenty seven month journey of a lifetime will kick off at the end of this month with a stateside orientation intended to finalize any last minute paperwork, administer immunizations, and mentally prepare (if that is even possible) us Volunteers for the exciting ride that awaits us.  After this brief one day stint, we will be off and away; destined for our new lives in the country we will soon call home.  Our itinerary from the U.S. to the Kyrgyz Republic will be hectic, our sleep schedules scarce, and our senses overloaded, but we will be in country and ready to hit the ground running only days after our illustrious au revoir from our cherished Motherland.   

Shortly after our arrival in country, my fellow compatriots and I will each move in with a Kyrgyz family with whom we will have the privilege of living with for the next three months as we undergo intense language, cultural, health, safety, and job specific training.  Given there is much to learn in a short amount of time, the pace will be rigorous and the days long.  However, the obvious idea behind such earnest diligence is to equip us with the essential tools and cultural appreciation to not only survive the next two years as Volunteers, but to thrive and excel in our positions.  Assuming one completes training (not all do), it is then with a deep-seated passion for service and newly acquired skills that a “trainee” becomes a “Volunteer”.  Thus, earning the unique opportunity to serve the Kyrgyz Republic and her people.

I know many of you are curious as to what it is that I will actually be doing when serving the Kyrgyz Republic.  Well, I have been assigned the role of a Sustainable Organizational and Community Development (SOCD) Volunteer.  Essentially what this entails, or so I have come to understand, is working with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on a grass roots level to assist in a variety of ways in the development and advancement of sustainable business and community development initiatives.  Through my readings of Peace Corps literature written about the position, and information contained in current and past volunteer’s written works, it is clear that professional exposure and experiences vary between SOCD Volunteers.  Although the main objectives for sustainable development are the same, the actual work done may differ depending on the needs of the NGOs a Volunteer becomes involved with.  Additionally, job functions and specific roles are not always well defined within all NGOs, and areas of focus may or may not be obvious.  Consequently requiring creativity, flexibility, and vision from Volunteers to conduct needs assessments and identify and implement appropriate courses of action.

I am told that business in the Kyrgyz Republic, by nature, runs a little slower and operates a little different than what is considered customary in the U.S.  I have also been told to expect a certain amount of frustration as part of the job as setbacks are common, and progress can be torpid. Although I am very optimistic about the impact I hope to have, I am not naive enough to think that I will miraculously bring about any radical change.  For progress in developing Nations, like the Kyrgyz Republic, is measured over years and through the work of many.  However, I do believe through cultural understanding and active partnership I can tailor my approach to that of a Kyrgyz approach, thereby (or at least in theory) maximizing the effectiveness of my efforts.

The hour will soon be here.  The excitement is barely containable, and the expectations are high.  For those of you that know me best, I truly feel this is the next step for me both personally and professionally.  I am deeply passionate about the work that I will be doing and hope the experience will speak to my soul.  I will be brining my laptop and my camera with me so I can document my work and my adventures along the way.  I hope that you will join me in this conquest for global citizenship, and through your support, maybe, just maybe, some positive change can be brought to the world we all live in.