Our Young Graduate

The ceremony was not a treat, though I did get to replace my usual teacher-like behavior with something more enjoyable. While they recited Ruhnama quotes and acted out scenes from the book, the auditorium was a buzz of talking, pictures, people getting up and walking around, and the occasional confused lady walking around looking for her son. I would usually be shushing, shunning, accusing, and disciplining everyone who made a peep (my job is 24/7 here, make no mistake), I sat in silence. I occasionally myself talked a bit to my neighbor and even walked over to chat with our own graduate. I could contain my inertia to discipline by considering the apathy towards these 'readings', by considering them purposeful. Sure, they weren't, but I felt great thinking of how our mass anti-something movement was going out here. Three cheers for uncivilization!

New Job

I screamed when I heard about the job, which was fodder for Dick, the middle-aged humorist of the group.

I am a little disappointed that I'll be leaving so soon and that I have so little time to say goodbye to everyone. I'm not sure how much closure I'll have, but I'm not moving that far away. I figure, I don't have to promise to return. I can tell everyone that now it's their turn to visit me in Moscow!

The job is a year contract but they usually want people to stay for two years. At least I'll be getting back to America gradually. One step at a time.

Seatbelts! We've got seatbelts!!

Thanks to Courtnee Neilsen in Serdar, the country of Turkmenistan is glorifying the seatbelt.

Ahh yes, I recently came to the taxi stand in Serdar "pit of hell", Turkmenistan to get a taxi back to Balkanabat. I am not 50 yards from the cars before I hear the usual, "Ashgabat!!!" "Chiliken!!!" "Turkmenbashy City!!!" "Balkanabat!!!" called out to me, as if I would decide my destination solely based on their exuberance. At any rate, amidst their cries I suddenly hear, "Seatbelts!!! I've got seatbelts!!!!" Picking up his scent, several other drivers join in--"Seatbelts! My car has them!." "We've got seatbelts here!"

Turns out Courtnee has made a habit of requiring seat belts every time she gets in the car. They now associate Americans with seatbelts. Hey, I say that's great! We went from not being able to find one, to agreeing on seatbelts before price.

We Peace Corps Volunteers are just trying to make the world a better place--one safe car trip at a time.

India Observations #5

Why do they just pee everywhere?! I've seen so many men peeing that it doesn't even suprise me anymore. Whoop, a man peeing. And a cow strolling past. And a man yelling "HELLO YOUNG WOMAN EXCUSE ME TAXI TAXI TAXI". I did have a very relaxing day today despite all the peeing. We saw a movie. It was in English.