COS & PC Lingo

These are busy days, with COS fast-approaching and less than a month left in country! Yes, that’s right: less than a month left in country. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since I arrived in Kyrgyzstan and now I’m getting ready to go home. A new volunteer, my replacement, has arrived in my village; my girls and I are doing final preparations for the ACCELS test next week; and last week, the K-13s enjoyed our COS conference at Issyk-Kul, during which Talas (the 3 of us remaining) won the first annual Kyrgyz Kup (an inter-oblast competition held at COS conference)! And the next month will fly by, as it’s shaping up to be quite full. Traveling to Bishkek with my girls for the ACCELS test, a Halloween Concourse, souvenir shopping, and lots of goodbyes. So the reality that the end is near is beginning to set it. My reflections will come later, once I’ve had a chance to really process things, but for now, I just want to apprise you all of my coming home plans!

My COS (Close of Service) date is November 2; this is when I will officially no longer be a Peace Corps Volunteer. K-13 Volunteers will be slowly leaving the country throughout November, so I’ll be one of the first to leave. I’ll leave Talas on November 1 and Kyrgyzstan early in the morning of November 4. But before heading home, I’ll make a stop in Ireland to visit my friend Ben and his wife, Jolynn. I’ll have about 5 days in Belfast, and I’m really looking forward to seeing Ben (the last time I saw him was 2 ½ years ago, also in Ireland! Ha!), meeting Jolynn, and taking some time to reflect on and process the last 2 years before entering the whirlwind of a homecoming. On November 10, I’ll set out for home, arriving in Fresno around 10pm.

Homecoming! It’s hard to believe it’s really, truly going to happen so soon. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend the last 2 years anywhere but in Kyrgyzstan, but I’m also ready to come home now. I’m ready to see my family and friends, and to eat some Mint Chocolate Chip ice-cream :-). Since I’m coming home so soon, I thought it would be helpful for me to educate you all as to some of the PC Lingo. That way, we can understand each other a bit better when talk of my experience is full of acronyms like PCV, COS, and ET (as it inevitably will be, no matter how hard I try to break myself of the habit). So study up! There just might be a classic Lisa quiz at my next party…

PC: Peace Corps
“I’ll meet you at the PC office.”

PCV: Peace Corps Volunteer
“Talas has the best PCVs.”

RPCV: Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
“I’m a China RPCV. I served from 1998-2000.”

K-13, K-14, etc.: Refers to the group with which volunteers came to country. I am a K-13; my group is the 13th group of volunteers in Kyrgyzstan. The K-14s arrived a year after us, etc.
“I’m excited to meet the K-15s! Hopefully they’re as nice as the 14s.”

ET: Early Termination—to leave before your 2 years of service is complete, of your own volition
“If life doesn’t get better soon, I think I might ET.”

Med Sep: Medical Separation—to be sent home before your 2 years of service is complete for medical reasons
“Did you hear they’re Med Sepping that new volunteer?”

Ad(min) Sep: Administrative Separation—to be kicked out of Peace Corps for breaking rules, damaging your reputation in your community, etc.
“Oh yeah, she was Ad Sepped.”

COS: Close of Service—leaving after completing your 2 years of service
“Are you COSing? When is your COS date?”

Site/Permanent Site—where you live after training; Jon-Aryk, Talas is my site
“Remember to call the Duty Officer when you get back to site.”

PST: Pre-Service Training—the first 3 months of training with Peace Corps
“We lived together in PST.”

IST: In-Service Training—a training that happens about 3 months after volunteers arrive at their permanent sites
“I haven’t seen you since IST!”

MST: Mid-Service Training—a training that used to happen after volunteers had been at site for a year
“It stinks that K-13s didn’t get an MST this year.”

CD: Country Director
“I love the new CD! Don’t you?”

PM: Program Manager
“I have to submit a report to my PM before tomorrow.”

LCF: Language and Culture Facilitator
“Ainura was my LCF during training.”

PCMO: Peace Corps Medical Officer
“I need to talk to the PCMO; I have strep throat again.”

DO: Duty Officer—a rotating member of the Peace Corps staff who volunteers have to call when they leave and return to their sites
“I forgot to call the Duty Officer yesterday when I got back to my site.”

HCN: Host Country National (a local)
“It’s important to have good relationships with HCNs.”

DOS: Description of Service—document all PCVs write before they leave; official certification and description of PC service
“Have you written your DOS yet?”