Ipod Flash Drive Failure or 9 cool things KTs done in Turkmenistan

So, still the ipod doesn't want to do its thing. Thats fine. I will try to write it from memory, or as close as I can. Here are 9 COOL THINGS KTS DONE IN TURKMENISTAN in no particular order.

1. Death Moo: My family a few weeks ago slaughtered a cow. I am way closer to my food here than I have every been before. So, back to the cow slaughter. I got to help (in that sort of way that a two year old helps to bake a cake. I mostly cleaned up). It began the day before with the digging of a giant pit for the cows blood because we are in a muslim country here. Then the morning of, (vegetarians might want to go to peta.org now) the cow was trussed up and its throat cut. I did not actually witness the death blow because I am a woman and according to Turkmen supersition, seeing the cow die would cause infertility. I did hear the death moo though. And, I learned several important things, namely that a cow has large stomachs and an amazingly large portion of the cow is edible, despite my thoughts to the contrary. Since death moo, though we've had more meat and more things cooked in beef fat. I'm not above steak; bring on the next cow. (Actually I think the next death will either be our thanksgiving turkey or a ram that will be killed for a muslim holiday in december.)

2. Toys: Turkmen love having a party. I have been to a party for the purchase of a new car, for the return of a relative from the army, for the 41st day since the death of a relative, and for weddings. Weddings are a big deal here, and generally a rocking good time. Here is the break down of most of the weddings that I have attended. Hour 1 is spent testing the band, deciding if we like it, and waiting for the bride and groom to arrive. Hours 2-3 are spent on food. Wedding food goes all out. There are delicious plates of russian salads, bread, sodas, olives, and cookies. Also, usually stuffed peppers or cabbage leaves. Delicious all of it. Hours 4-5 are dancing. Wedding bands and singers can be like rock stars, and weddings are their concerts. I lack the graceful delicacy of most turkmen dance steps, and I have a terrible propensity toward a hip swing (not cool here), but I have a good time. Also when you dance, they hand out hand towels, plastic bags, fly swatters, and occasionally money. Yay for party favors that are actually useful!

OK, so running out of time on the computer so the other 7 cool things I've done in turkmenistan will have to wait, but a sneak preview: 3) Kow Ata, 4) Garasslyk, 5)Freedom 6)ECA 7)Technical Training 8)Other People 9)Something Else that I will remember later.

Oh, and for those who are interested: Kate and Noah are the best site mates ever and Lale greatest most adorable teacher on earth.

Things to Send

There has been some mentino of fun and exciting things that I will need from the states. I am keeping a list on the right of the blog of things that will be useful and if people want to send them, great. Otherwise letters and best wishes are the best thing ever.

Disclaimer

last post irrelevant as i moved my disclaimer to be more prominent

Prominent Disclaimer

Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to read my prominent disclaimer and take note

Slowly Updating and Early Mail Race Results

There will be a much longer and indepth post of my life and times in turkmenistan when I can figure out how to get my Ipod to be a flash drive. But lots of cool stuff has happened. There have been weddings, cow slaughters, bat guano, and beer! Stay tuned.

Thanks to everyone who wrote to me, and please keep doing it. Letters make my life. We sit around at our site and read them to each other. It is nice to know that somewhere in the world, two weeks before someone sat down and thought of me. I am loved in the world.

On to mail race results: Nigeria is the surprise front runner. 8 days from lagos to Ashgabat. Freaking weird. Kenya averages about 10 days, so does most places from the states. I still havent recieved any packages and I am pretty sure that I was supposed to have a few. Anyway, keep sending stuff.

Turkmeni Where?!?!?!?!

I am writing from Turkmenistan, from the peace corps office which is basically the only time I will get internet for the next few months (next three months to be exact). I am mostly at my training site, which is a crazy small village. (I dodge and angry sheep on my way to the outhouse.)

Langauge is still slowly coming and increasinly frustrating. I have the skills of a drunken mongoose at the best of times, but my host family has the patience of many many saints. They seem to get that the American is a little bit "special" and needs to be coddled. I am definatly outclassed by both my host sisters, given that I can't get a full bucket of water out of the well. I also can't mix dough properly, wash my clothes, or generally anything else that makes turkmen women the "pearls of the east."

Of particular note, I slightly illegally went to the bazaar with my family. Peace Corps didn't want us to go. But i bought some material for my koinek (traditional dress with rockin' awesome embroidery around the collar). The bazaar was crazy. There were russians, Iranians, and carpets that spill out of stalls. I was in way over my head, but it was pretty cool.

Otherwise all is good. WRITE ME LETTERS

Welcome to Miami...

Its that crazy time when I feel like something has ended and something else has not yet started. I'm in a mixed up world of limbo, purgatory, and Elysium fields with a frightening mix of Target thrown in. Its weird to shop for things to need in a place I've never been. I decided to buy sharpie pens, but did not take the jumbo box of dryer sheets.

I've mostly just been drifting with my sister for the past few days. I want to go back to college where the most difficult challenge of the day is where to find 3 more girls to play intermural dodgeball. I know I am selling my sister short because she is amazing and is one of those people who does absolutely everything and then some (currently she is an active member of 3 intramural teams, is an engineering major, works at the gym, tutors calculus, and still has time to train puppies), but I'm feeling nalstalgic for college. It was a place I understand, though it would be strange to still be there when all my friends have moved on.

I'm off to New Jersey tomorrow for some extended family bonding. I will be in the city on Tuesday (probably sipping mango mojitos at Papillon with Mikey if anyone cares to join) Then its off to DC on the 27th in preparation for Peace Corps craziness.