Start digging!

I was always told that if I started digging a hole that I would eventually end up in China. But according to my globe, I'd actually end up in Kyrgyzstan. So instead of digging, I just flew over there! I was in Central Asia for two weeks and got home last night. I don't think words can describe what an awesome trip and incredible experience I've had over the past two weeks. I'm now home and trying to adjust my body clock back to EST! We were on a plane for over 24 hours yesterday and I was so happy to get off that plane! I'm also happy to be back because you can flush the toilet paper in America! And you can brush your teeth with tap water! And even better, I have internet access and my blackberry works again! (I know, I know... I actually went two weeks without e-mail!!! I broke down and went to an internet cafe one time but it was all in Russian so it was slightly frustrating!)

I'm really struggling with coming up with appropriate descriptions of my awesome time there! I think I could blog about it for years and years to come! But I won't try to fit it all in one blog-- you'd be reading for days and days! Let me stop for a second- basically you can break the trip into two parts: the first week we went to Issyk-Kul which is the big lake there. We spent time on a retreat/vacation with American friends who live throughout K-stan. Then the second week, we spent in Bishkek and for a couple of days in there, we stayed in a village for a couple of days. All in all, we got a full view of Kyrgyz life.

Without a doubt the most unique experience was being in the village! I have to say that the idea of staying in a village was a little disconcerting but it wasn't as bad as I thought and the whole experience stretched me. I kind of went into that part of the trip with the attitude that I was probably never going to be in this environment again and just to go with the flow! Speaking of flow- they didn't have a bathroom at the house we stayed at so we used the most disgusting-ever outhouse for two days! An it wasn't really what I thought of as an outhouse. It was a shed over a hole in the ground! But I survived only due to Charmin-to-go! (WARNING! There is a somewhat disgusting picture coming up!)




Anyway, onto lovelier topics... I had never really been in a situation where I couldn't communicate with words. I saw how important non-verbal skills are! There were two translators which made things a little bit easier. The head guy of the village brought over his donkey and asked me to ride it. So I did. I thought he was just not going to go anywhere because he's a donkey. But no, he was kind of galloping. And I was riding this donkey bareback. I really thought I was going to fall off and break a bone! Instead, I was just screaming the whole time and when I looked over, all of the village people were laughing hysterically. They said they hadn't laughed that hard in a really really long time. I'm glad I could do my part to bring some enjoyment to their lives!

Anyway, from time to time in the next couple of weeks, I'll share some more stories and I'll post some pictures from my trip. For now, I'm happy to be home and in my own bed. Today I plan on trying to go through the nearly 2000 e-mails I got while I was gone! Oh and I'll probably take a short nap! I'm trying not to have any jet lag and so far, I think I'll be just fine! It probably won't hit me for another few days!