2 years as a stan

2009-02-11T20:02:00.000-08:00

FUNNY STORIES

I was at my english club and I was getting things ready to for my lesson and this girl was there i had never seen before and I was like who is she she keeps raping me with her eyes then I was walking around and she kept following me and wouldn't go away she was like following me. SO I sit down and start looking over my stuff for the lesson and notice she is standing over me and i ignore her then she asked if I understood russian i said some. so i go back to reading then she KNOCKS on the desk to get my attention then asks if I like the Russian girls here I say I guess they are girls right.....you'd be surprised how much i get asked that...then I go back to reading and she saids stop i'm here and I said what do you want in russian really loud and she said YOU and I said GO AWAY...so i kind of got harassed lol It was really awkward and she is like 16 and I didn't know how to react.

I was at my dance class and my counterparts husband was there he is like a coreographer in the big city so he's kind of awesome but he was like Jacob you need to shave your armpits for dance. I said why? He said b/c its not beautiful girls don't like it and I said that I don't care and he was like but you have too. I just saaid ok and let it go but it was weird for him to say it so seriously. SO what do I do? Do I shave them or what? I was thinkin maybe just a trim! lol!

Long Time Since Then

2009-01-13T23:10:00.000-08:00

SOOOO....LIFE!!!

The holidays are over the time has become to have normal work scheduale...ahhh!!!

X-mas I had to teach and my students learned songs and we played and it was cute! I had other students call and say happy christmas or merry christmas and I was really happy about that. I then did nothing else. It didn't feel like x-mas so i didn't feel awkward or sad or anything. UNTIL the parents called then that was sad. I also got a new sweater from the host family for America's Christmas. They put it under the tree and everything. Then me and my host dad drank 2 bottles of champaign together. Thats about it there! AWFUL headache the next day and moving on...

New Years eve:
The biggest holdiay here pretty much, to me it was lame! I did enjoy the time with the family but i fell asleep for like 2 hours during the day because i was tipsy and tired. I then got up and was groggy all night. I had a huge feast that was amazing and ate Monty. Then at midnight we shot off fireworks that were great. I was a little tipsy and scared for my life because EVERYONE goes on the street and then lights them off, and the houses are rather close to eachother and people are also. The whole thing was not safe but great lol! I think thats about all...except after midnight a couple came over and my dad gave him his shirt for some reason i didnt really understand why or what for but he did and it was my favorite shirt of his lol! What a great guy he is! Totally like Jesus in that moment! Proceeding to the next weeks

I didn't do much the next week except not leave the house. I was tired and never wanted to do anything I think this was because of minor depression lol! Now i'm working and doing great! I'm excited to leave and get up. I started working with an orphanage yesterday and it went well except all i'm doing everywhere in this damn city/town is teaching english and its annoying, and takes a lot of time to plan and think of what to do, and they don't retain anything. I teach they forget I say it and they have no idea what i'm saying lol. O' well we'll see how long it lasts!

I'm getting really close to my friends here that are other PCV's we great times together with mini excursions throughout the week or on the weekend. Sorry for those that read this i've been awful at writing on here and i'm going to try to write more often about crazy things. Like the gypsy that grabbed me and wouldn't let me go! lol! I will also try to update more pictures! Well поко (bye) for now!

2008-10-03T03:48:00.000-07:00

More Adventures WHOOOPEEEE!

2008-10-02T04:38:00.000-07:00

So I kind of don't know where to begin because i'm the worst blog entry person ever! I will try to write more often but here it goes...
Kazakhstan has been treating me great! I don't know where to begin with this so i'll just go...side note...I have an adorable kitten in my lap and its so cute...I have been doing the same thing now for over a month Language class for four hours in the morning and more technical crap in the afternoon. I am enjoying my time with all of the people surrounding me especially since I can vent to them in english if I'm not doing the best and my relationship with my host g-ma is becoming even greater but i'm getting bored and wore out. I don't know why exactly because my summer was way more intense than this. Maybe its a different kind of intense I can't figure it out. It could also be because I miss my friends from college and family etc. but I hope they know I love them (you) and the support I am receiving is wonderful, THANK YOU!
I got to go to Lake Issyk in the Mountains a couple weeks ago and it was amazing. It was the prettiest blue water i have seen in my life. It was perfect temperature outside and I got to relax with the peeps. I saw this girl that was like 15 years old getting carried b/c it looked like she had passed out but come to find out I heard one word in Russian that I knew and it was Пива or Piva which is beer so basically she was so drunk there were 4 people carrying her. It was kind of scary and crazy. The kids here, at least the little ones do not get disciplined very much it seems. I have a little grandson that is 3 come over a lot and he is super fun but its kind of weird when he can speak and teach russian to me lol! But he doesn't listen to me when I tell him to do stuff but whatevs.
Sunday's are our only day off and we played soccer with a bunch of local kids, it was wonderful and I think my team won! It was great! The kids are all pretty good but I scored once I was pretty impressed with myself. One of the trainees and a good friend, Joe, scored on his own team...it was hilarious.
I went to the museum in Almaty and the train station to figure it out and learn about the history of K-stan! It was really interesting and the culture here is very diverse...it is somewhat like the states. At my practicum i have been playing volleyball and other games with teenagers. It has been great but it ended today and it feels nice b/c it wasn't really what I was expecting to do at a practicum.
One of the highlights that I have had being here happened yesterday when i was teaching english to 16 and 17 years old at the school down the street b/c EVERYONE in Kazakhstan will teach English in some fashion during their 2 years. We introudced hobbies and went over fruits. It was great but they already knew most of the things we were trying to teach; therefore, I asked at the end of the lesson what they really wanted to learn and do. Almost all of them just wanted to talk and learn about America and they were so excited and loved the English Club we had started. It was nice to feel special and to be able to share America with them. I can't wait until the next time I go!
FINALL,
I FIND OUT TOMORROW WHERE I WILL BE FOR THE REST OF THE 2 YEARS I WILL BE HERE! I am so excited and will have to update more quickly to let everyone know!

2008-09-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of me my friends and places here in Kazakhstan! Hope you ENJOY!

FINALLY A POST!

2008-09-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Me and my Бабущка

I haven’t posted since I’ve been here in Казакстан! Its so great here! Its been an amazing beginning for a crazy adventure. I had Pre-service training in Philadelphia and it was a good time to prepare and meet the KAZ 20 crew. They are the people that will be serving with me for 2 years. There were 62 of us these included the teachers and myself we are OCAP Organization Community Assessment and Planning…which is working with NGO’s! There are about 18 of us OCAP peeps and the rest were all teachers so I have an awesome group of people to have this adventure with. There is so much I could type on this first blog but I will summarize my first few days in the KAZ…
First off the title of my blog is me and my Бабущка (bab/oosh/ka)…this means grandma. I live with a host family that consists of me and my new Kaz grandma…here is a picture of her! This was within the first minutes of meeting her. She is a blessing and calls me her son to everyone. She cooks this amazing food…does my laundry and all those great things that grandmas do when you go visit. I love her! I live in an apartment that is surrounded by other apartment buildings which other PCV’s live in. I have an awesome friend named Andrew that lives across from me. I am pretty sure this whole experience would be harder to not have him around…он ест врат (he is my brother). We also live by these amazing mountains they are right outside our apartments and the sunrise/sunset are amazing and its kind of mind boggling that this is our home until November.
A typical day for me is waking up eating завтрак (breakfast) with my Бабущка. Then I get dressed/iron my clothes because they dress up nice here then I’m off to 4 hours of language class learning Russian or Razooski! Its hard but I’m getting better at it. After 4 hours of class I then have more “class” or workshops to sit through or our practicum twice a week. After class I got home eat dinner and usually go out with Andrew to play futbol or go for a run then I go home study/do homework and finally go to bed! That’s my life but its amazing so far. I actually go to bed kind of early but I have long days.
I started my practicum and it was awesome. I will be working with an NGO at a school so I’ll be able to work with kids a lot. They want us to help with different projects that they have going on in the school, classrooms (English) and hopefully I’ll be able to coach the volleyball team. Its probably one of the best places I could think to work at J I’ll let ya know how it goes!
I got a cell phone today. The number is 8-777-704-98-72...its free for me if you call me! I don’t really know how you call it but I know the country code is 7. I have also heard its like 2 cents a minute for you to call me with skype and skype is free to download online! SO DO IT! J
If anyone talks to my parents you can tell them I’m alive and well….well until next time! I love you all and miss you! If you want more details just ask J

~джаков~
p.s. we will have DSL internet by next week so I’ll be able to keep in touch better or by the time I post this!

Sorry!

2008-09-04T23:42:00.000-07:00

I will update fully tomorro!

AUF DEUTSCH

2008-08-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting in the airport next to one of my new friends and probably one of the only friends i may have for two years that is from America, his name is Andrew (Jack "Daniels" is also with us)
and he is a great guy but anyway I will be leaving for Germany in about an hour or so! I am super excited after training and meeting everyone, it has been such a blessing with all of the conversations and people I have met. I don't feel crazy now and the stories I have heard have been great with the new FAM KAZ 20! Kaz 20 is MONEY! I am also surprised by how much faith in God these people have or the people that I have met. Not bringing up anything about my faith others have brought up their own and i now feel at peace that there is support within Kazakhstan with some of the people here. Yea God!

I am also glad to finally be a part of a community of non-believers or what not...its weird b/c of my life and what i've done but I'm so excited! I love it! I am getting nervous a littl about meeting people and not knowing any Russian but time will make it so much easier as i learn and integration and become accepted!

I will be able to communicate with a laptop and cell phone there. They said 99% of the volunteers have cell phones and can usually use them often! I can text A LOT and can also receive phone calls for free but it won't be for you! I'm excited to hear from you and share my stories! I will hopefully be able to upload some pictures when i get there of where i'll be and all that shiza!

MUCH LOVE,
Jacob

Almost There

2008-08-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

I'm DONE with YOUTHWORKS!!! Finally, it was an amazing summer and I learned so much about myself, God, people, and most importantly the Anishinabe people! That also means the first people and for those who don't get it Native Americans. The Ojibwe tribe was amazing and really opened up themselves to us!

Anyway...its Wed. the 13th of August and I leave on sunday for Philadelphi then I get to stay there until the 19th! I leave the 19th at 9:30 p.m. for my flight to KAZAKHSTAN!!!!

I'm excited but I don't think its hit how much I'll miss people and life here since i haven't really got to sit back, relax, and think. I know God is faithful and renew and refresh me.
My plea to you all is that you keep in touch with me b/c i know it will be hard eventhough I try to make myself think it will be easy as pie. SOOO keep in touch so I don't get lonely. This is my mailing address/packages until November then I'll move again from my training! It makes things go a lot faster if you have the mail in both cryllic (the alphabet used in russian) and in English. So print off the cryllic if you can or write it lol....Thanks so much guys i love you all and I'll probably have e-mail too! BUT who doesn't like to get mail ;) Peace out!

Peace Corps Kazakhstan..............Корпус Мира Казахстан
P.O. Box 257............................ а/я 257
Almaty 050022....................... 050022 Алматы
Kazakhstan.............................Казахстан
ATTN:

whats up buck?

2008-07-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

SOOOO... an update on my life! I am going to be leaving for Kazakhstan on August 17th but I will be in Philly for 2 or 3 days, which is very exciting b/c i miss the city there! I have been excited about leaving but getting more nervous too...I don't really know too much of what to expect but I hope and pray that is everything and more than I expect. Russian also isn't the easiest language to be learning lol! I'm getting a laptop soon and I'm really excited my parents are helping me pay for it! They rock!!! I miss them a lot! My sisters baby boy is doing well and his name will be Milo which is great to me! I really just want everyone to keep in touch with me b/c i'll need all of your support while going through this journey and everything else...

My phone broke today so i'll probably need the numbers of all of yours again and its the same number to call me!

If you want to contact me call but my new e-mail is Jacobebuck@gmail.com so that will have to be used since i won't have a phone while i'm gone!

Here we go!

2008-07-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

I have accepted my invitation to go Kazakhstan for two years! This means I will be leaving for pre service training on August 18th to the 20th then I'll be heading there for 2 years and three months. I should be home approximately Nov. 7th 2010!!! I know its very long but, I am really excited but nervous all at the same time. I have so much to do while i'm in Cass Lake, MN until the first week of August but it amazing how God is helping with the summer and everything that I need.

The world is a small place...This was proven to me the other day when I found out that the prayer partner we have is the girl that did kids club last year and we knew eachother well but she asked why I was going to Kazakhstan and I told her for the peace corps and she then told me that she was going to be there also in two weeks because her brother was there doing the peace corps. I was in awe and was excited to hear about this.

I had the opportunity to experience another week with a youth group from last summer and it was one of the most amazing weeks of my life. I hope they know how much they mean to me and how much i'm praying for them! Its like I have another family in Eleva, WI! I can't wait to visit them.

Well..I can't think of much else to say besides I miss all of my AU family and friends!! I will be there in August and we should all partay!

AN INVITATION TO SERVE

2008-06-25T21:17:00.000-07:00

I finally have recieved an invitation to the peace corps. FINALLY! BUT guess what!? Its in Kazakhstan...weird huh!? I'll be doing community development there most likely with youth! I would leave on August 18th and be back Nov. 7 2010! Crazy huh!? August 18th is a week after I get done with Youthworks! I'm stoked to do the Peace corps but obviously there will be people to miss, like friends, family, and a nephew that is being born some time late this year! I won't see him for 2 years. It seems as though the country is amazing and I believe it is what I want and God wants of me! I can't say much more now but PLEASE contact me soon if you want to talk and your prayers mean a lot in my life right now! God Bless and I will be praying for you all as well!

buck boy

What to do?

2008-06-21T06:24:00.000-07:00

I was asked yesterday if I was willing to go to Central Asia instead of Africa. First I was like what the heck what countries are those? LOL! The countries that these consist of are Kazakistan (sp?) Turkmenistan, Azerbajian, etc...pretty much the stan countries. I don't know what to do or think because that was the one place I was not sure about going to, but I believe that I may have gotten a placement/invitation there today. I guess it doesn't matter where I go as long as I get to serve and have the experience but I was so excited about seeing and being in Africa again. Any ideas? I will let everyone know when I know more details but keep this in your prayers! O' and i would leave the 18th of August.

Also I am in Charleston, West Virginia this week and the staff here is awesome! Its weird floating around but I kind of like it and I get to experience many different sites and places. Wish me luck! God Bless and miss you all!