Saturday, October 20, 2007

I'm going to Kyrgyzstan!

In a fit of impracticality, I have chosen as my next destination the job which offered me the least in terms of salary, and have decided to head for Kyrgyzstan. The program only accepts teachers under 30, so I figured it was now or never. After all, when else will I get the opportunity to go to Kyrgyzstan? Assuming all goes as planned, I'll be leaving for Kyrgyzstan at the very beginning of January and staying for at least ten months. I'll be living in the capital city of Bishkek and teaching at The London School in Bishkek. In case you're scratching your head, wondering where the hell this Kyrgyzstan place might be, here are some maps to help you out:

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13 comments:

Diana said...

What an adventure!

Will you have net access there? (I don't want to miss the daily blah from central asia...)

Anonymous said...

It just occured to me that I can never move to Kyrgystan. I will be changing diapers and watching Barny or whoever it is these days. My days of moving to Kyrgystan are over and I've never even visited.

I've every excited for you! I assume that you will have internet. Isn't that a requirement for you??

Brooke said...

I know a Kyrgyz lawyer who lives in Bishkek. I'm sure she'd love to meet you and show you around. Her name is Elida, and I met her through my job at the IU Center for International Education and Development Assistance. She had a faculty grant to come to the States and prepare the law curriculum at IUPUI in Indianapolis for her university back home. I just happened to be the staffer in charge of facilitating her airport pick-up, apartment, etc. I can introduce you via email if you'd like....

Brooke S.

Brooke said...

P.S. - I also have LOTS of friends here at IU who work in Kazakhstan, so if you're interested in taking that trip while you're there, I can get you set up with that, too. :)

-Brooke S.

Anonymous said...

I am already exited as if I am the one who is traveling to Kyrgyzstan. Your blog comes to life when you are overseas - the more exotic the better. And there can't be too many places more exotic than Kyrgyzstan! In fact, I've never heard of it until you mentioned it. So when are you taking us all to Kyrgyzstan through your blog?

Adi

Anonymous said...

Wow. Looks like some good reading ahead.

Anonymous said...

I am so excited for you, Jane!

Gwen said...

Fantastic! Will it be feasible for me to come visit? What's it like to get a visa? I'll be in the US on November 3, btw.

annie said...

Diana and Melissa - yes, I will have internet access. Not in my apartment though, sadly, although I didn't have internet in my apt in Russia... I just spent all my time at school :-)

Also Melissa - you could always bring the baby... or leave her with Alex for a few weeks!

Brooke - yes, yes and YES! I'll send you a message soon.

Adi - I'm very excited, although right now it seems so unreal. I'll be leaving in early January - perhaps January 1st!

Bob - I hope so! :-)

Caitlin - Thanks!

Gwen - Sure! I'll have my own apartment so it shouldn't be a problem. While the visa process seems similar to that of Russia (needing an invitation and all), it doesn't seem nearly as complicated. As in my invitation is a *.doc file written up by the school. I can't believe you'll be here so soon - how time flies!

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Good to see that the Hermitage Life Plan is working out. You should write a self-help book about it. :-) It seems that one of the neccessary elements is a cool mom who can look after the cats and the house when you're out of the country... wish I had one of those.

Anonymous said...

Awesome! I was offered a job there (though in a fit of practicality- one of the few I've ever had) I grudgingly turned it down in favor of a job that would help pay off my loans. The school seems solid and the area is just beautiful. Jealous!

-Amanda

annie said...

Megan - you're right, this would definitely not be feasible without my mom's help. I'm very lucky!

Amanda - that's too bad! Although it's definitely an *impractical* decision to go there; I won't make much money at all... but I think the experience should be worth it.

Brooke said...

RAD.