Rustled Feathers.

This week is the first time out of my city in Karakol. It feels so good to get out! Bishkek seems like a whole new place compared to Karakol. Karakol is a lot smaller even though it too is a city. Also, I am visiting my friend An in the village and my host family from when I first got here. It seems like it would be very tough to live in the village. My friend has to walk a long way to go get water, and her family does not eat any meat for protein for weeks. It was also nice to be around a lot of animals. She has cows, chickens, cats, and dogs. So, it was relaxing to see even though she is going through a lot and there is some stress.

It feels like I am visiting home right now. It is the closest idea to home, because I feel more comfortable here because it seems safe. I was trained here. Also, tomorrow I will do work in Bishkek and Kant City is close.

I will say it is really stressful sometimes to speak with other Peace Corps volunteers. At the same time, if I have not seen the people I arrived with I also miss them all. A lot of other volunteers are traveling. I am sad that I am not going anywhere for the winter. Some volunteers are even going to the United States. I wish I could go home to visit during my service, but it will probably not be possible.

Last week, I had Giardia. It was so bad. It felt like I would explode, but then I took some medicine and I was better the next day. I think I had it for awhile, but it kept getting worse until I was very uncomfortable. I believe I caught it from not boiling the water once. Giardia gives you horrible gas, burps that taste like sulfer, and diarhhea. Very high pressured basicly, I had to squeeze into my pants. haha.

Sometimes it seems like I am loosing my sense of humor. Then I realize I still had it. I was seriously squeezed into a marshutka with about 25 people on it. Pressed against the wall standing on one foot for 2 hours to the village. Then it seemed humorous when I got off to see the other people with rustled hair and all sweaty looking. It is so cold outside, and they were all sweaty.

Anyway, I try to stay positive and make lots of friends. I am enjoying my time here in the city right now.

Miss everyone.

Carolyn