6 down, 21 to go

Six months is a long time. It is longer than a semester at college. It’s longer than a NFL season. It’s long enough to see the progression of three seasons in a country so far away from home. It’s the longest I’ve been away from my family in my life, the longest I’ve gone without watching The Daily Show. On Saturday, February 23rd I, along with my fellow Kaz 19s, reached the six month milestone in our twenty-seven month PC commitment. At times it seems that August was just last week. But more often, when I realize how much has happened, how much I’ve learned, experienced, and changed since then, it seems a lifetime ago. As much as I would love to take a day or two to reflect, process and synthesize these last six months, I just don’t have the time. I’m happily busy with teaching, leading English clubs, playing basketball, eating borsch and balish, spending time chatting with my host family or counterpart, tutoring, relaxing with Petro PCVs, reading, sleeping, playing guitar, writing emails and blog updates. Spring break starts for me on March 18th and I have a good ten days in which I might be able to assemble an organized report, complete with pie charts and clear analyses of the events and activities, perhaps a PowerPoint presentation – but don’t hold your breath. Life isn’t that organized, doesn’t lend itself so easily to pie charts and PowerPoint presentations. All I can say is that at six months, I feel good and I’m glad I am where I am, doing what I’m doing.