Recipe for a great California summer: Giants games, trips to the lake, tanning, barbeques, road trips to San Diego, reading, beaching, more tanning, even more beaching, swimming (either done while beaching, going to the lake or in Kait’s pool) and dancing.
Turkmenistansummer: sweating.
See the difference?
I have always been accustomed to summer being a busy time. Whether I was off at various sporting events, either watching professionals or just my little brother, there seemed to always be something on the calendar. At the outset of the summer here, I was told that things really shut down over these three months. It would be simply too hot to do anything. Boy, were they right. Literally, I found the streets abandoned every day from 12 to 4 while people retreated to their homes to nap and the hours before and after that focused on cooking, cleaning and even more dynçing (resting). At first, this was a difficult adjustment. I went from working 27 hours a week (aren’t you all jealous) to working a big whopping 10 which left all too much time to myself for thinking.
A time that used to excite and refresh me, turned out to put me and the Volunteers in general, in kind of a slump. Things seemed more difficult at site, I felt less motivated and basically useless, and then there was the constant longing for my vacation.
In the end, summer took two friends from me and made me feel like I wasn’t very good at my job since I wasn’t actually working. Summer humbled me as I moved for the 4th time in Tagta, making my grand total of various living accommodations: 8 (a number that no other Volunteer can come close to). Summer made me long for the convenience of a movie theater on a hot day and cry for a hot dog.
Although summer stole a few things, it gave some things back in return. Summer concluded in the best way possible: two weeks inTurkeywith two great friends. Summer gave my counterpart the opportunity to see how other Volunteers work in their sites which surprisingly reaffirmed her confidence in me and the system we had established. Summer also made me realize that my students are the most exciting aspect of being here. Yes, I love getting koyneks made but I love teaching more than I love the dress I’m wearing to do it in. And although I spent plenty of time thinking about home, my friends and the unavoidable changes that our friendships are experiencing as a result of me being here, I also find myself thinking that I was content. There are frustrating days, days where I feel successful and other days that seem to pass without me noticing but in the end I am grateful to be here. I love my job, I love my fellow Volunteers, I love the families that have welcomed me into their homes (some more than others) and yes, again, I do love koyneks.
