Wanderlustress

Tashkent Update

I now have a small window to let everyone know that I am safe and sound through all that has been happening in and around Tashkent. Since you have probably seen more reporting on the situation and getting confirmed reports, I will leave the information sharing at that for now because I do not get any confirmed reports directly and there are a lot of rumors.

Peace Corps is doing everything they can to keep us safe. They have restricted our travel in and out of our sites and they have accounted for everyone. So for now, all is quiet.

Will send another update when I can.

Love to all...

My Assignment at F.I.D.O.

I have been assigned to work at an NGO in Andijon called FIDO (no, not like the dog). It is entirely run by women! The only male staff on board is our driver. This has a lot of significance to me because of my frustration with the role of "gender space" here in Uzbekistan, where I have observed at close range extremely smart and capable women who are pressured to stay in their traditional roles as housewives. More on gender spaces later, but for now, I look forward to getting to know the women at FIDO who have chosen a different path in their lives in a country with such strong social pressure to do otherwise.

FIDO is mostly active in community mobilization, which means organizing and training people in small villages to take action on a social cause in their community. Because of the multi-ethnic composition of the Ferghana Valley, and the close proximity to Kyrgystan and Tajikistan boarders, FIDO works on a "Peaceful Communities Initiative" that fosters friendship and understand between people in the local villages. They hold cross-community sports events, chess tournaments, cooking competitions (for women only, of course), and other activities that bring people together. They also have "successful dialogue" training for teachers and students, to help mitigate conflict among children, or between children and their families. There is even an initiative to train women on the legal system, woman's rights, and human rights.

During my four day site visit, I was able to visit several of the villages that they work with along the Kyrgyz boarder. Some of these villages were so small they only have about 1,000 - 2,000 people living in them. I met with school directors, community leaders, and volunteers who work with FIDO. It was a remarkable experience as I was very well received by everyone. Most people even thought I was Uzbek, due to my Asian features and similar skin color.

I'm really looking forward to being part of FIDO and learning more about the needs of people in the local communities and how they can be alleviated by FIDO's activities. Right now, we are waiting for word on a grant to work with schools for children with disabilities. It will be heartbreaking, but there is SO much to be done.

Like Christmas

I swear its like having Christmas and my birthday rolled up in one every time packages and mail arrive. The curry pastes, coconut milk, even fish sauce from mom are all ripe for a pot of much craved curry. The box of spices, noodles, and mixes from Singapore make my mouth water every time I think about it. The garlic tobasco finally arrived and much enjoyed on Osh, the national rice dish. The instant oatmeal starts off my day much healthier than stale non and butter. And the toiletries have been put to good use to soften the roughness that comes with living in Uzbekistan.

A BIG thank you!!!

...so now for some much needed news and reading material. Now is the time to recycle those old issues of the Economist, interesting NYT articles, and tabloid clippings via Uzbekistan. Not to worry about appealing to any particular taste I may have. Nothing goes to waste here. If I don't like it, I can either wrap nuts in it, or use it for toilet paper ;)

>>Snail Mail

Back from Andijon

My site visit to Andijon went exceptionally well, meaning that I liked it there much more than I thought I would for some reason. Perhaps it was just a safeguard against major disappointments that kept my expectations in check. Never the less, I liked the city, my new host-family, and I especially like the NGO that I have been assigned to work with.

Andijon is located in the eastern region of Uzbekistan known as the Ferghana Valley. The entire valley is a finger enclave surrounded entirely by Kyrgyztan and Tajikistan, except for a thin sliver of mountain pass connecting it to the rest of Uzbekistan. Andijon City is as far east as you can get in Uzbekistan without being in Kyrgyztan. It is a very interesting region given the ethnic mix, mountaineous terrain, and close proximity to the other two countries. It is a very rich and fertile region and is considered the "Pearl of Central Asia"!!! Because of the surrounding mountains and lush valley, Ferghana has water, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. The people in the region are known to speak the "purest" form of Uzbek, unlike the variety of dialects spoken throughout other parts of the country. Hospitality is also supposedly second to none, which was certainly true during my four day visit.

So it looks like I will continue to live in a quite modern, comfortable, safe and abundant environment...not to mention completely fascinating, too!

Checking In

Just checking in after a couple of busy weeks. I was able to breath a sigh of relief after the mid-training language exam, but not for long...before I was asked to give a training session on Project Design for my NGO group, and move in with a different host-family. Then after all that was over, I anxiously awaited my permanent site placement announcement, which is........Andijon, in the eastern region near the famed Ferghana Valley. I will know more about it after my site visit next weekend.

In the mean time, I'm speaking more and more Uzbek each week, feeling more assimilated in some intersesting ways that I will elaborate on later.

For those of you who wish to send school supplies, Garlic Tobasco (hint hint) etc. etc., I will definitely get it so please send them! >>Snail Mail