ups and downs

Hi. I’m sorry I haven’t updated sooner. Almost every computer I use blocks blogspot, so it hasn’t been for lack of trying. Thanks to everyone who has emailed to check in. I am safe at my site in the northern region of Kyrgyzstan and far from the violence in Osh and Jalalabad. All of the Peace Corps volunteers in the southern region were evacuated safely, though they had a very scary time getting out of Osh. It seems the violence has calmed down but the refugee crisis along the Uzbekistan border is still dire. I’m continuing to read updates and hoping for improving news reports. Some Peace Corps volunteers have decided to leave the country for various reasons, but I don’t anticipate the evacuation of all Peace Corps volunteers. I want to try to stay in my community as long as it’s possible (and safe). There have been no signs of unrest so far where I live. We have to take it one day at a time. A constitutional referendum is planned for next weekend, so I'll definitely be lying low in my community. I'll email updates when I can, or you can check in with my sister.

Secondly, I want to say THANK YOU to those who donated to my grant for new textbooks a few weeks ago. I was going to post a plea for donations but it got funded before I even had a chance. Thank you so much to those who donated. I can’t believe how fast it happened. It will make a world of difference for us during the next school year. A special thanks to the Atlanta Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers group who sent me a lovely email telling me they’d fund the remaining amount. I’ll post lots of pics when we get the textbooks.

This summer, I’m giving English clubs at the school, working on some grants, and helping other volunteers with projects. I’m looking forward to going on hikes and being outdoors a lot as soon as my killer allergies calm down.

The last day of school ceremony, which they call “last bell,” was on May 25^th. The winter seemed interminable at times but now that I'm posting these pictures, I can't believe how quickly the school year went by. Here are a few pictures:

(1) A group shot of most of the teachers at my school; (2) Me with some of the graduating 11th graders; (3) the teachers celebrating at one of our village hotels; (4) some of my best 6th grade students