Strictly speaking, if we're going for chronological order then the title should be the other way round as the near death experience came first, but that's by the by.
Yes, it's true, earlier this week my stomach (which I had great faith in seeing as it survived four and a half months in Brazil without the slightest revolt) decided it didn't agree with whatever I ate (too much fruit methinks) and so I had a 45 minute date with the bathroom at 2 in the morning as my bowels decided to empty themselves however they could. Beautiful. Thankfully I am back to normal now but I know now to be more wary with what I'm eating and drinking. Think I'll steer clear of cherries and apricots from now on...
The near-death experience came last Sunday and it's certainly something I will not be forgetting easily. I don't think I've ever feared for my life as much as I did then thanks to the stupidity of some 20-something Kazakhstani guys who thought they would be giving us a fun afternoon and evening! Seeing as it is ridiculously hot here in Shymkent, I have been dying to go swimming since we arrived and so when one of the host homes (a young recently married couple) offered that they and their friends would take us to a nearby swimming spot, we readily agreed. Little did we realise then. We started to gather at 4pm at Mega, the super-shiny shopping centre in the centre of Shymkent which juxtaposes against the hot and dusty streets of the rest of the city. As Kazakhstan is pretty laid back when it comes to timing, it was 5pm before we were ready to set off. We were split into different cars and off we set. A little more quickly than we are used to but we know drivers here are pretty nippy so we thought little of it. It was only once we hit the roads outside of the main city that we realised perhaps the driving was a little more than we had bargained for. I'm talking something like out of The Fast and The Furious. And literally breaking every single driving rule I can think of!!!! No seatbelts, talking on a mobile whilst driving, speeding, going through red lights, drinking beer...at one point, three of the guys drew their cars into a row across the road, revving their engines before slamming on the accelerators and racing up the road. I was in the car on the inside of the road and along with Grace and Ben, the other passengers, was literally screaming as we saw an oncoming lorry! Parents and friends, I PROMISE FAITHFULLY NEVER TO TAKE SUCH A RISK AGAIN by getting into a car with these lunatics on any other occassion! We all agreed later that a lesson had been learnt.
Having said all that, once we got to the second lake (the first was too full...so 2 and a half hours of hair-raising driving later we finally got to some water!!!), had a thoroughly refreshing swim. It was just approaching dusk which gave the place a lovely light and we got to see the mountains near Shymkent too in the hazy distance. It was rather pretty after the dusty confusion of the city. Dinara and I didn't want to stay too late so took the first opportunity of getting back to Shymkent with the first car leaving. Still, this wasn't quite the direct route home we were hoping for as the couple in the car insisted taking us to a cafe first and stopped off to persuade another family member, Oscar, to come too. There were a few comments that Oscar and I should get married but they were only joking. I think! Although we didn't really want to go to the cafe and stay out even later, it was a display of Kazakhstani hospitality and people here are really just genuinely interested in English people (we're a very rare breed) and are eager to learn more English.
Dinara and I got off quite lightly compared with the others in our team who had stayed on at the lake - they weren't so lucky. The crazy lunatic drivers insisted on having a party which meant everyone had to stay late and when they eventually agreed to head home, all three cars got stopped by the police! It all sounded very confusing but involved trying to bribe the policemen... But thankfully the whole team did eventually get home safe and sound. It was an adventure not to be repeated and one that we can now look back on and laugh!
On more a more GX programme-related note, we started our volunteer placements last Monday. I am working for a Youth Clinic with Olga. The clinic is not yet open as the building (an old 'House of Blood' - where blood was donated and transfused) is being thoroughly renovated and repaired, but the organisation also works with schools etc to provide education and information and healthy living and sexual health. I'm not entirely sure if the building will be ready before we leave but we'll have to see. This week has been very quiet and there have been long hours when Olga and I have been sat in our room (yes, we have our own room!) chatting and trying to make some decorations for the room with the very limited resources we have (pens keep disappearing as well...). A lot of the other workers were hard at work preparing for an Anti-Drugs event which happened on Friday evening. I'm hoping that that's part of the reason why we did not have much to do and that things will pick up from this week. There's talk that we might be giving some English classes to the rest of the workers in the clinic as none of them speak much English and they are keen to learn more. To be honest, I have found the week quite frustrating as I'm the type of person who wants to get stuck in and make a difference from the beginning but it is really difficult when I am unable to communicate with anyone else except Olga. But these are probably just teething problems and hopefully as the weeks pass we will be able to identify how we can make a difference.
Another GX development is that we have taken part in several Community Action Days already which is encouraging as through these actions we have a purpose regardless of our placements and through them we also take part in the community. The first CAD I missed as I still wasn't feeling 100% on Thursday evening, but the rest of the team went to a nightclub, introduced themselves at the front and stated their purpose - giving out condoms to encourage safe sex so as to prevent the spread of HIV-AIDS (a rapidly increasing problem in this region) and STIs. Apparently it was quite a fun evening but the condom distribution got a mixed reception as some people just did not want to know. I think sex is still quite a taboo topic in Kazakhstani society, especially in this region which is known for being more "traditional".
Our second CAD was on Friday - the team were involved with the Anti-Drugs event which took place in one of the parks in the centre of Shymkent and was to mark the International Day of Combat Against Drug Addiction and Trafficking. The Event was kind of a concert thing with lots of acts - dancers (including some breakdancers who involved contortion in some of their moves!), singers (the GX team were spontaneously invited up on stage to act as backing dancers - a very surreal experience dancing on stage in front of a couple of hundred Kazakhstani people!), quizzes about drugs, and then GX. Our team performed a sketch about why drugs are bad which involved string tying people together representing the different pressures that drugs exert on a person. Unfortunately the string kept breaking but I think we just about managed to pull it off! Our other involvement was in a "volunteers' dance" along with some othe local young volunteers. We had only learn the dance that afternoon so were a bit nervous but it was actually rather fun and went well. The concert closed with the symbolic act of launching lots of helium balloons. We left feeling that it had been a good evening's work and that, hopefully, the message about drugs will have hit home to at least some of those who attended.
And then yesterday (Saturday) we did another mini-CAD in about 20 minutes where we handed out 150 information packs about HIV-AIDS to young people in the centre of Shymkent, representing one of the volunteer placements which supports HIV-AIDS orphans. Again, a bit of a mixed reception but most people were happy just to take a plastic bag from us, I think as it was easier than stopping to chat or to refuse!
Phew! Mega-bloggage going on there. But a lot has been happening recently. Every day is different and my mood is yo-yoing a bit at the moment too. I think I am finding it more difficult to settle in here than I had expected I would but things are definitely on the up as we take part in CADs. Hopefully our role in the placement will begin to take shape this week too... I'll update you on that next time.
But til then, with lots of love,
Beth xxx :)
Prayer points
Praise:
- That we are getting stuck in to some Community Actions;
- That I am beginning to feel a bit more settled. Getting to grips with the bus system, and being able to update my phone by myself are just little daily victories!
- That I am being taught to trust and rely more on God day by day. This experience is really helping me to focus more on Him.
Prayer:
- For team health. I think most people have suffered a little in some way since we arrived.
- For more opportunities for the team to take part in the community.
- For my placement - that Olga and I will find some meaning to us being there which will keep us thoroughly occupied!
Thanks and God Bless. B x
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Contact address
In case you feel like testing out the Kazakhstani postal service (I have absolutely no idea what this is like!), I am staying at:
26a Kentau Avenue
160002 Shymkent
KAZAKHSTAN
26a Kentau Avenue
160002 Shymkent
KAZAKHSTAN
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
The novelty factor
Hello from Kazakhstan!
After 5 days of being in Kazakhstan, we've finally made it into an internet cafe. I think it looks like any othe internet cafe around the world since it seems to be identical to the ones I used to frequent in Brazil 5 years ago!
Anyway, the last week has been absolutely jam-packed full of new and strange experiences which are making my head feel like bursting! I believe it's called culture shock..... Hopefully as we get settled into our host homes and placements over the next week then this feeling will subside. The whole team seems to be feeling this way at the moment, Kazakhstanis included - apparently Shymkent (our host community) is pretty much like a different world to most of them too!
The whole adventure started last Thursday when we jumped on board a coach from Harlow, and from there to a bmi flight from Heathrow bound for Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty. We arrived in the wee small hours of the morning, getting to our hotel at 4am and so only got about 3 hours sleep before breakfast and the commencement of our bombardment with new experiences, starting with breakfast itself. I have never had cabbage and beef at 8am before! There were other courses to breakfast too, including a type of porridge of which we had several varieties whilst in Almaty - almost makes up for the lack of cereal. ;) Other 'cross-cultural musings' about food are that in Kazakhstan, tea is drunk with everything, and can either be taken with milk, lemon, sugar, none of the above, and can come in an instant packet. Also, I think I may get rather fat in Kazakhstan as most meals seem to include meat and potatoes, and the pastry snacks we have been provided with are delicious, and they are mostly fried. Oh dear...
Over the weekend that we were in Almaty, we had various bits and pieces of training and a press conference with the national press (!), but also a chance to do a bit of sightseeing. I think the highlights for me were going to the city's best viewpoint, Kak Tibya (pronounced something like that at least) and looking out over the city towards the majestic Tien Shan mountains which rise up to the east of the city. We also went to the foothills of the mountains, where some of us climbed up 841 steps to get another spectacular view! Stunning.
We have quickly learnt that traffic in Kazakhstan is crazy. Crossing the road is a mission, even more so here in Shymkent than in Almaty and drivers nip around pretty quickly, seemingly with few road rules! We're mainly sticking to buses which, as you can imagine (and like in any new city), have their own system which we will hopefully get used to.
On Monday night we left Almaty to travel by overnight train to Shymkent. Although the process of leaving the hotel and getting on board the cramped train and into the compartments was a bit of a stressful mission, once on board I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. Before the sun went down I was more than happy to gaze out of the window (lying front down on one of the top bunks with my head next to the open window through which the breeze was a welcome relief!). The steppe landscape was mesmerising - it seemed to go on forever with very little interruptions, just the occasional isolated settlement or lone horse. Once night fell, we tried to get a bit of sleep - I got more than I thought I would, even though I was on the top bunk and was told that I had to be careful when the train stopped as I might be catapulted onto the floor!
Yesterday (Tuesday) morning, we received a fantastic welcome at Shymkent station - quite a lot of people turned out for our arrival, complete with a massive 'Welcome 2 Shymkent' banner and English and Kazakhstani flags. We were all whisked away to our host homes. Dinara and I are staying with Rashida, an English teacher in her late 20s. There is also her daughter (Medina) and her father in the house. She has given up her large double bedroom for us and she is sleeping on the sofa. The house itself is much more spacious than Harlow. It is in a peaceful area and there is an overgrown kind of garden where I picked fresh raspberries for breakfast this morning. :)
Yesterday and today we have been having yet more training, but we also now know our placements. I will be working at Youth Friendly Clinics with Olga but we have yet to be told what this involves so we will have to wait and see until Monday! Some American Peace Corps volunteers came to speak to us today about volunteering in Kazakhstan and we were told to expect a very different style of working to what we are used to. Intriguing.
OK, running out of time so my comments on Shymkent will have to wait for another time.
Love to all,
Beth xxx :)
Prayer points:
Praise:
- That we and all our luggage arrived safely in Shymkent!
- For the welcome that we have received here.
Prayer:
- That we all settle in quickly. The whole team seems to be suffering from culture shock at the moment which I think is affecting our energy levels.
- That Olga and I will be able to get stuck in at Youth Friendly Clinics on Monday, that we will be challenged, inspired, and learn through the experience whilst making a difference!
- For host home relationships. As we have only been here 1 and a half days it will take a while to build these up. I'm still feeling a bit awkward and shy so I'd really appreciate prayer for this.
Thanks!
After 5 days of being in Kazakhstan, we've finally made it into an internet cafe. I think it looks like any othe internet cafe around the world since it seems to be identical to the ones I used to frequent in Brazil 5 years ago!
Anyway, the last week has been absolutely jam-packed full of new and strange experiences which are making my head feel like bursting! I believe it's called culture shock..... Hopefully as we get settled into our host homes and placements over the next week then this feeling will subside. The whole team seems to be feeling this way at the moment, Kazakhstanis included - apparently Shymkent (our host community) is pretty much like a different world to most of them too!
The whole adventure started last Thursday when we jumped on board a coach from Harlow, and from there to a bmi flight from Heathrow bound for Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty. We arrived in the wee small hours of the morning, getting to our hotel at 4am and so only got about 3 hours sleep before breakfast and the commencement of our bombardment with new experiences, starting with breakfast itself. I have never had cabbage and beef at 8am before! There were other courses to breakfast too, including a type of porridge of which we had several varieties whilst in Almaty - almost makes up for the lack of cereal. ;) Other 'cross-cultural musings' about food are that in Kazakhstan, tea is drunk with everything, and can either be taken with milk, lemon, sugar, none of the above, and can come in an instant packet. Also, I think I may get rather fat in Kazakhstan as most meals seem to include meat and potatoes, and the pastry snacks we have been provided with are delicious, and they are mostly fried. Oh dear...
Over the weekend that we were in Almaty, we had various bits and pieces of training and a press conference with the national press (!), but also a chance to do a bit of sightseeing. I think the highlights for me were going to the city's best viewpoint, Kak Tibya (pronounced something like that at least) and looking out over the city towards the majestic Tien Shan mountains which rise up to the east of the city. We also went to the foothills of the mountains, where some of us climbed up 841 steps to get another spectacular view! Stunning.
We have quickly learnt that traffic in Kazakhstan is crazy. Crossing the road is a mission, even more so here in Shymkent than in Almaty and drivers nip around pretty quickly, seemingly with few road rules! We're mainly sticking to buses which, as you can imagine (and like in any new city), have their own system which we will hopefully get used to.
On Monday night we left Almaty to travel by overnight train to Shymkent. Although the process of leaving the hotel and getting on board the cramped train and into the compartments was a bit of a stressful mission, once on board I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. Before the sun went down I was more than happy to gaze out of the window (lying front down on one of the top bunks with my head next to the open window through which the breeze was a welcome relief!). The steppe landscape was mesmerising - it seemed to go on forever with very little interruptions, just the occasional isolated settlement or lone horse. Once night fell, we tried to get a bit of sleep - I got more than I thought I would, even though I was on the top bunk and was told that I had to be careful when the train stopped as I might be catapulted onto the floor!
Yesterday (Tuesday) morning, we received a fantastic welcome at Shymkent station - quite a lot of people turned out for our arrival, complete with a massive 'Welcome 2 Shymkent' banner and English and Kazakhstani flags. We were all whisked away to our host homes. Dinara and I are staying with Rashida, an English teacher in her late 20s. There is also her daughter (Medina) and her father in the house. She has given up her large double bedroom for us and she is sleeping on the sofa. The house itself is much more spacious than Harlow. It is in a peaceful area and there is an overgrown kind of garden where I picked fresh raspberries for breakfast this morning. :)
Yesterday and today we have been having yet more training, but we also now know our placements. I will be working at Youth Friendly Clinics with Olga but we have yet to be told what this involves so we will have to wait and see until Monday! Some American Peace Corps volunteers came to speak to us today about volunteering in Kazakhstan and we were told to expect a very different style of working to what we are used to. Intriguing.
OK, running out of time so my comments on Shymkent will have to wait for another time.
Love to all,
Beth xxx :)
Prayer points:
Praise:
- That we and all our luggage arrived safely in Shymkent!
- For the welcome that we have received here.
Prayer:
- That we all settle in quickly. The whole team seems to be suffering from culture shock at the moment which I think is affecting our energy levels.
- That Olga and I will be able to get stuck in at Youth Friendly Clinics on Monday, that we will be challenged, inspired, and learn through the experience whilst making a difference!
- For host home relationships. As we have only been here 1 and a half days it will take a while to build these up. I'm still feeling a bit awkward and shy so I'd really appreciate prayer for this.
Thanks!
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Clarity
I've no idea why the previous post was labelled Tuesday 9th June - it seems to be a bit behind times! I'm leaving tomorrow, on Thursday 11th June.... Bx
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Goodbyes
Given that in less than 12 hours we will be leaving Harlow, bound for Almaty, Kazakhstan via Heathrow, I'll keep this brief.
I'm giving up on a full update of the last month, my apologies. All I'll say to fill in the gaps is that I have continued to find the programme incredibly beneficial, even if it has had its challenging moments. We've had some fun, including a fancy dress party, more birthdays (mine included - awesome day with lots of sunshine and food!), more African drumming and dancing complete with bright costumes, and then more general GX socialness. We've had plenty of informative discussions at our Global Citizenship Days including about individuals and society, the role of women, democracy, and one which Dinara and I led on education - did you know that 72 million children around the world are denied the right to a basic primary education? I'd highly recommend checking out Global Campaign for Education and taking action - add your name to a petition! We completed another Community Action Day at a place called Grove Cottage which is a nursery for disabled children from 0-5 years old. We got down to a spot of painting, cleaning, gardening, and washing of the minibus. We took a trip to Cambridge. Dinara and I made a flying trip back to Norwich. The whole team turned out for a bit of friendly rivalry and watched Kazakhstan vs England in the football last Saturday at the pub - the result will no longer be mentioned. And in all, there's just generally been a lot going on!
So how have I been feeling? Well, right now, I must admit to being a little zombified from 12 weeks of intensive action. In some ways the reality that we are actually really and truthfully upping sticks and going to live in a faraway scorching hot country has been dawning on me little by little over the past week, but since I seem to be in a permanent state of autopilot at the moment, there's still a small part of me which hasn't quite grasped it! Yes, the bags are packed (well, very almost), but I will always have this feeling of not being quite prepared enough for going out into the unknown. And yet, tomorrow at 9am, we shall set off.
I'm rubbish at goodbyes as many of you will probably know. The past week has been full of them so I'm a bit goodbyed out but I've still a couple more to get through tomorrow morning with Kofi and Efua. There may be tears, especially if I don't get much sleep tonight (very likely!).
Another significant goodbye was at St Mary's Church on Sunday morning. I think I only attended St Mary's maybe 7 times, but it has had lasting impact on me. I couldn't have been made to feel more welcome and supported. Whenever I went along weighed down by GX issues, it managed to lighten my load, lift me and refresh my spirit. And it was another way through which I became a little integrated into the community, and outside the structure of GX. Not to mention it has been so important to me to have that Christian input into my time here - I would be far weaker without it so I am truly thankful.
We also put on a Community Farewell on Sunday to say a big thank you to our host homes and volunteer placements. We had copious amounts of food, a time of posing for the paparazzi (well, the paparazzo - there's was one newspaper there!), and a presentation which included music, dancing and film. It was a bit disappointing that not that many people turned out for it but the whole thing was very much organised last minute - I suppose it was the principle of saying goodbye and thanks though which mattered. Our amazing decorations (banners, tissue paper flowers, paper chains etc) made the place look brilliant at least.
Phew, the clock keeps ticking. Now there's less than 11 hours (I think this is taking me an age to write as I've been watching the footie at the same time!). But seriously, as this UK chapter comes to a close, I am in rather reflective mood. Goodbyes are acting as an emotional drain on me, but I am certainly looking forward to what the next stage will bring and the novelty of a new culture to get to grips with. Nerves are kicking in, but I think the adrenaline is needed to keep me moving!
It's time for me to draw this to a close. So a few final prayer points:
Praise:
- For the successful completion of this first phase.
- For the friendships that have been developed between the GX team and the communities of Harlow and Bishop's Stortford, in our host homes, at our volunteer placements, and in other ways.
- For all that we have learnt, both personally about ourselves, and about development issues.
Prayer:
- For safe travel, both flying to Kazakhstan tomorrow and within Kazakhstan - on Monday evening we will be taking an overnight train from Almaty to Shymkent.
- For the next phase, that we can make a lasting positive impact in Shymkent and develop more cross-cultural friendships.
- For the team as we pull together to reassess how we are working. Last Friday and Monday we were evaluating how things have gone and although there have been a lot of positives, we all recognise that there is a lot more we could do. We have decided that we need to be clearer about our aims so please pray that we can carry this through when we get to Shymkent.
Thanks so much guys. Sorry this post has been a bit vague and boring - a snapshot of my state of mind at the moment. But I hope all are well. For those about to graduate, have an amazing time and all the best with what's next. And all the best to everyone anyway.
And so with much love, until Kazakhstan,
Beth xxx :)
I'm giving up on a full update of the last month, my apologies. All I'll say to fill in the gaps is that I have continued to find the programme incredibly beneficial, even if it has had its challenging moments. We've had some fun, including a fancy dress party, more birthdays (mine included - awesome day with lots of sunshine and food!), more African drumming and dancing complete with bright costumes, and then more general GX socialness. We've had plenty of informative discussions at our Global Citizenship Days including about individuals and society, the role of women, democracy, and one which Dinara and I led on education - did you know that 72 million children around the world are denied the right to a basic primary education? I'd highly recommend checking out Global Campaign for Education and taking action - add your name to a petition! We completed another Community Action Day at a place called Grove Cottage which is a nursery for disabled children from 0-5 years old. We got down to a spot of painting, cleaning, gardening, and washing of the minibus. We took a trip to Cambridge. Dinara and I made a flying trip back to Norwich. The whole team turned out for a bit of friendly rivalry and watched Kazakhstan vs England in the football last Saturday at the pub - the result will no longer be mentioned. And in all, there's just generally been a lot going on!
So how have I been feeling? Well, right now, I must admit to being a little zombified from 12 weeks of intensive action. In some ways the reality that we are actually really and truthfully upping sticks and going to live in a faraway scorching hot country has been dawning on me little by little over the past week, but since I seem to be in a permanent state of autopilot at the moment, there's still a small part of me which hasn't quite grasped it! Yes, the bags are packed (well, very almost), but I will always have this feeling of not being quite prepared enough for going out into the unknown. And yet, tomorrow at 9am, we shall set off.
I'm rubbish at goodbyes as many of you will probably know. The past week has been full of them so I'm a bit goodbyed out but I've still a couple more to get through tomorrow morning with Kofi and Efua. There may be tears, especially if I don't get much sleep tonight (very likely!).
It's funny how settling somewhere for even a mere 12 weeks can have such an impact on you and you become attached to the people and places - I'm leaving with good associations and ones which I hope will continue on long after we've packed up our suitcases and taken to the skies. Saying goodbye to Realife last Thursday was more of a wrench than I thought it would be. Even though Kassym and I have just been doing a few odds and ends of projects these last few weeks, I really enjoyed it and I got to know some of the others who worked there a bit better, especially Maire who fundraises for Realife by auctioning off celebrity autographs on eBay. I'm sad to leave but I'm sure I will return as it's not exactly far from Norwich - something which has made it easier.
Another significant goodbye was at St Mary's Church on Sunday morning. I think I only attended St Mary's maybe 7 times, but it has had lasting impact on me. I couldn't have been made to feel more welcome and supported. Whenever I went along weighed down by GX issues, it managed to lighten my load, lift me and refresh my spirit. And it was another way through which I became a little integrated into the community, and outside the structure of GX. Not to mention it has been so important to me to have that Christian input into my time here - I would be far weaker without it so I am truly thankful.
We also put on a Community Farewell on Sunday to say a big thank you to our host homes and volunteer placements. We had copious amounts of food, a time of posing for the paparazzi (well, the paparazzo - there's was one newspaper there!), and a presentation which included music, dancing and film. It was a bit disappointing that not that many people turned out for it but the whole thing was very much organised last minute - I suppose it was the principle of saying goodbye and thanks though which mattered. Our amazing decorations (banners, tissue paper flowers, paper chains etc) made the place look brilliant at least.
Phew, the clock keeps ticking. Now there's less than 11 hours (I think this is taking me an age to write as I've been watching the footie at the same time!). But seriously, as this UK chapter comes to a close, I am in rather reflective mood. Goodbyes are acting as an emotional drain on me, but I am certainly looking forward to what the next stage will bring and the novelty of a new culture to get to grips with. Nerves are kicking in, but I think the adrenaline is needed to keep me moving!
It's time for me to draw this to a close. So a few final prayer points:
Praise:
- For the successful completion of this first phase.
- For the friendships that have been developed between the GX team and the communities of Harlow and Bishop's Stortford, in our host homes, at our volunteer placements, and in other ways.
- For all that we have learnt, both personally about ourselves, and about development issues.
Prayer:
- For safe travel, both flying to Kazakhstan tomorrow and within Kazakhstan - on Monday evening we will be taking an overnight train from Almaty to Shymkent.
- For the next phase, that we can make a lasting positive impact in Shymkent and develop more cross-cultural friendships.
- For the team as we pull together to reassess how we are working. Last Friday and Monday we were evaluating how things have gone and although there have been a lot of positives, we all recognise that there is a lot more we could do. We have decided that we need to be clearer about our aims so please pray that we can carry this through when we get to Shymkent.
Thanks so much guys. Sorry this post has been a bit vague and boring - a snapshot of my state of mind at the moment. But I hope all are well. For those about to graduate, have an amazing time and all the best with what's next. And all the best to everyone anyway.
And so with much love, until Kazakhstan,
Beth xxx :)
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Photos of the UK phase
Getting near a computer connected to the internet for an uninterupted amount of time seems to be a near-impossibility these days so it has been an absolute age and a half since I last updated! And it will have to remain that way until tomorrow at least (poss longer). But whilst I've a few spare minutes, maybe a few photos will suffice. So sit back for the show... Bx
My host home, right near the beginning - Efua on the left (host mum), and Kofi on the right (host dad), Grace is second left (another English volunteer), Dinara is in the middle (my counterpart), and me second right (obviously!). Aigera (Grace's counterpart) took the photo.
The next three photos are from Stortford Music Festival - some of the team in our green T-shirts and pirate hats, and African drumming and dancing!
My host home, right near the beginning - Efua on the left (host mum), and Kofi on the right (host dad), Grace is second left (another English volunteer), Dinara is in the middle (my counterpart), and me second right (obviously!). Aigera (Grace's counterpart) took the photo.
The next three photos are from Stortford Music Festival - some of the team in our green T-shirts and pirate hats, and African drumming and dancing!
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