Mail, exercise, being sick, and the white rabbit...

The weather here is finally shifting to spring.  The sun is hot, the wind is cool, and neighbors are gardening / cleaning up their land after the snow has melted - lots of trash burning.  This is good new for me because I think that the exercise plan I am going to implement while here at site is going for walks around my village during the day.  I imagine listening to my ipod and enjoying the "fresh" air.  One important thing about being in another place under these circumstances is making sure you are doing something to keep your body moving.  Some sort of exercise or activity.  When we get to our permanent sites I assume that being more involved in the community sports etc. will be easier.    

Don't send mail after this coming week!  Wait until I move to my permanent site.  Mail takes a while to get here so if you don't send it sometime next week then wait until the end of May and I can get you my new address.

On the rollercoaster of culture shock....I am on the upswing FINALLY.  This week was much better even though I was sick.  Since I spend ALL DAY with my training group doing language training, technical training, teaching, english clubs, etc... we all are sort of sick at the same time.  I have recovered from my sinus infection / cold and am feeling much better.  I didn't miss anything because of it and now I feel that I have an ability to start memorizing again.  : )  I did a lot of preventative things to avoid getting too sick like taking lots of vitamins, drinking water, sleep, etc.  That was a good strategy that I would recommend.

We have a new albino rabbit!  I don't know if I have mentioned this before in the blog??  Anyway, the rabbit is really cute and SO SOFT.  My host family got it for my youngest host sister.  It is currently in its green cage behind me eating breakfast.  Also, last night the cat slept with me almost all night which was nice.  She likes to have skin to skin contact with me and I woke up with her laying on my pillow above my head. 

Megan

Kazakhstan Fun Fact:  There is typically no make up work given for absences (sometimes students will be absent for 2 weeks), especially in villages.