Back in Andijon and all is peaceful ("tinchlik"), and Uzbeks like it this way. General opinion surrounding the Tulip revolution next door was that "hooliganism" was causing all the chaos and government propaganda was successful in leading most to believe that American-backed institutions (specifically Soros) paid people to protest. But no one could answer my question as to how much would it take them to stand up against the government, the riot police, and the militia. I would not let them win the argument that it was all money and no heart. Where I lose the argument is when they say, "At least it's peaceful here." If that is the way they prefer things to be, then who am I to even suggest that my ideals are better? At least the dialogue is there and that is enough for this American harbinger of democracy...
So I stay in all day from the mud and rain, clean my house, eat homemade peanut butter cookies, and read American history to prepare for the Foreign Service exam in a few weeks. Its somewhat a right of passage in the expat community here to take it and fail, at least once. But looking forward a year from now when we finallly COS (leave Peace Corps), it practically takes a year to prepare. So half of me is forging ahead with projects (youth leadership, a couple of school repairs, all that good helpful stuff), and the other half is networking and focussed on finding a job, another half is planning some travel, and my last half is looking foward to some very exciting personal plans.
Life is peaceful, and generally good. It certainly goes on...people have found a way to circumvent the closed borders to enter Kyrgyzstan to carry on their trade with the Korasu bazaar, internet cafes are sprouting like crazy and prices have lowered by half in the competition, and my NGO just signed a five year agreement for a UN project. Tinch.
Hey, I'm preparing to fail the foreign service exam for the second time. Good luck!
Posted by: julie | 04/05/2005 at 05:29 AM