One thing I don't mind adapting to...

Adaptations

Things I Never Thought I’d Do That Have Now Become Regular Practices…

Peeing in the backyard at night—it’s so much closer than the outhouse and no one can see me anyway in the dark! Oh yeah, and Kyrgyz people do it, too, don’t worry!

Not using toilet paper after peeing—for the above reason.

Wearing the exact same outfit everyday for a week—why change a good thing?

Only taking my wool socks off to banya—yeah, these babies smell gooood at the end of the week!

Not wearing makeup except for “special occasions,” such as, um… well, the special occasions are becoming fewer and fewer, too. The 10-15 extra minutes of sleep in the morning is well worth this sacrifice!

Not washing my face at night, due to the previously mentioned lack of makeup wearing. If once a day is good enough for my teeth, it’s good enough for my face—right Kristen?

Only washing my hair once a week or once every two weeks! And being perfectly content to pull it up in a bun and throw a hat or headscarf over the greasy mess.

Did I mention only bathing once every 2 weeks? Hmmm…. That seems so minor now I almost didn’t think to list it…

This is breaking the “hygiene” theme, but when’s the last time you had a baby goat in your kitchen? Ours has been spending meals with us to escape from the cold.

"Jangi Jil Menen"

Two more students wishing you a Happy New Year (Jangi Jil Menen, in Kyrgyz)

Sparklers on the Dance Floor

Some of my favorite girls having a blast on the dance floor.

Yolka!

Me and some of the girls from one of my favorite 10th grade classes at the New Years Party.

Cookies!

Me and Amy with our delicious Christmas sugar cookies! Baking is always an adventure here, but it's worth it!

The Ugly Sweater--Is This a Joke?

Betsy & Michaela exhibiting their fashionable outfits on Christmas morning. Isn't this sweater the most stereotypically ugly Christmas sweater ever?? Betsy's parents ACTUALLY sent it to her as a real present!

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

It’s true that the holiday season just isn’t the same when you’re away from home. Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas without the decorations, the music, the shopping, the baking, and waking up at home on Christmas morning. But we do our best here in Kyrgyzstan! For a Christmas away from home, mine was enjoyable. All the volunteers in Talas got together for the weekend in a village a couple hours from mine. On the 23rd, we baked cookies (thanks to the sugar cookie mix, cookie cutters, and sprinkles Mom sent!) and had a wonderful dinner of macaroni and cheese. On Christmas Eve, we ate more cookies, had a small gift exchange, sang Christmas carols, and then cooked a delicious dinner of breaded chicken! I guess at home, it wouldn’t be that special, but in Kyrgyzstan, chicken is a rare treat, and breaded chicken at that! That night we hung out and played games, and on Christmas morning I was awakened by a phone call from Kristen! We spent the morning and afternoon curled up in our blankets and sleeping bags watching Christmas movies on someone’s computer. It was a perfect way to spend the day. The best part of Christmas, however, was probably that evening when Mom and Suzanne called. It was Christmas evening for me, but they had just woken up on Christmas morning in California. It meant a lot to be able to share the Christmas morning excitement with them, even from 12,000 miles away. And that was Christmas!

New Years itself has been similarly low-key, but on Friday (December 30th), I went to one of the student parties at my school—called “yolka”—and it was a blast! It was the party for the 10th and 11th graders, which was perfect because I teach all of them in 5 different classes, so I knew everyone there (except, of course, for the students who haven’t bothered to come to my class!). They had a giant “New Years Tree” (perhaps I should mention they don’t celebrate Christmas here—haven’t really even heard of it—so New Years has adopted many of our traditional Christmas symbols: the tree, Santa Claus, and some of the decorations), food, and all the students had dressed up like it was prom. The girls spend all day in town having their hair done! They had prepared dances and songs and put on a kind of talent show (something I look forward to participating in next year!). I had such a blast hanging out with my students—I really enjoy them and just had a sense that with them was the right place for me to be. After the talent show, they put on music and everyone was dancing—even me! I hope I am able to post pictures so you can get a feel for what it was like.

So now the holidays are over, and we are all returning to normal life, which I hope means students will start coming to my classes again! Thanks to all of you who called and sent emails wishing me a Merry Christmas, and I know the packages are coming! I felt very loved and missed, and I love and miss you all as well. Here’s to looking more like Jesus in 2006…