IST

After three months at site, PC holds a training for PCVs and their CPs to help strengthen the work relationship, discuss cultural differences, and have some fun while bonding. For us TEFLers, IST was last week at a hotel about 2 hours outside UB.

The training got off to a crummy start as our flight was first delayed (multiple times) then cancelled. All of the East- and West-Siders who are fly sites (meaning the travel to UB is either too dangerous in winter or just too far by land) missed the first day of training, not even arriving to the resort until 11pm Monday. Our flight also got delayed on the way back, but luckily we got out the same day. Some West-Siders weren't so lucky. But the rest of IST was pretty awesome. We learned so much in the sessions, everything from grant writing to strategies for capacity building to classroom games & activities. Our evenings were free for us to do whatever with. Inevitably this meant drinking and dancing in the rooms, a favorite pastime of both cultures. We even taught some of the CPs games like Beer Pong and Flippy Cup. One evening I went snow-tubing with a few other PCVs; it was really fun until a giant rock decided it wanted to meet and greet my behind. The resulting bruise made sitting though sessions quite uncomfortable. Zuger. On the last evening we played bi-cultural trivia and then had a dance party in the dining room. Trivia was such a big hit we're already planning on doing it again at MST. All in all, it was a really great time, and I'm looking forward to implementing the things we learned in our work.

The view from the hotel. The gers are rent-able; luckily we weren't in 'em!

Ambassador Addleton giving a speech. I sat with him during lunch; very interesting man.

Playing beer pong. My CP is on the far right.

Language lesson.

Trivia night. I'm just to the left of center.

Dance pause for picture!

The conditions on the evening of 12.17.11 (aka: why I was so very glad to leave UB).

And what about Bambuul you ask? She got to have fun with Bagii and Spicy, her 4-legged site-mates at J&K's apartment. Big thanks to J&K for taking great care of her in my absence. I can't believe how much I missed my Bams. I've definitely got a bad case of puppy love. And I can't believe how much she grew: she's now able to jump onto our bed without my help!