ISSYK KUL OR BUST!

Eight months ago I decided I wanted to join Peace Corps. Before it was a big dream but in December I decided to make it a reality. I asked, what do I want? What job and location would make me happy? After working with middle school and high school students I knew the next step would be taking on university classes. High school teaching fit me and I loved what I took away from the experience but there were some pieces that did not suite me… what if college is a better fit for my teaching style? The idea of working with highly skilled and motivated students makes me inspired and that sort of energy is contagious. As far as location: honestly, I couldn’t think of a better place for me than Tahoe. How can you beat the beautiful, clear, blue lake and the mountains reflecting in the still water? The hiking? The skiing? It’s a place that has what I love. When I drove out of California with my car packed to the brim, I realized I could possibly never live in a place like that again. Tahoe wasn’t wrong for me, I loved it there… but it wasn’t right either… perfect but not perfect for me. You know what I mean? Anyway…

Wednesday I was given my permanent assignment and I cannot think of a better placement. Peace Corps directors drew a huge map of Kyrgyzstan on the pavement and had all 60 of us stand on the edge and take a look at the country we will serve. Gazing at the big blue blob in the north-east corner I crossed my fingers and made a final wish for mountains, water, and a university. please, please, let me be with what I love. I breathed a sigh of relief when my name was announced and I skipped across the country to join my new sight mates around a new but familiar home.

I will be working in the English department at a university on Lake Issyk Kul. The school is about 4,500 students with 50 teachers in the English department. My job consists of bringing English fluency into the classroom, teaching grammar, new teaching methods, running an English club, setting up teacher seminars, and giving English support to teachers when needed. As for the great outdoors: I will be 30 minutes from the local ski resort along with plenty of hiking right out my backyard. When I asked about the skiing, a PCV that is on his way out told me he left his telemark setup for me to pick up when I get to my new home. The lake is 30 minutes away, up to 65 feet of clarity and doesn’t freeze in the winter… from a small amount of salt content, not depth. (Did I mention it’s warm?) It’s the second largest alpine lake in the world and it’s my new playground.

Sometimes I doubt myself, sometimes I wonder if what I decided on was the right choice. But not this time. Not at all.