Thanksgiving Departures

Winter has set in. My feet are propped up on my space heater trying to thaw out from the unheated workday… I think a few seasons have gone by without an update from my life here—the changing weather and the coming holidays have inspired me to write.

Today was a swing of emotions, which is not uncommon for me here—but this time was a little different. The joy of checking my email to find my brother’s flight itinerary for an April visit was clouded about an hour later by the director of my NGO announcing her departure to Bishkek (the capital) for work. Leila, one of my best local friends must move to the big city to provide for herself and her parents with a better paying job. It’s the reality that most offspring must support their parents first and take what little is left for themselves. Dreams are often trumped by the necessity for a decent, immediate paycheck—whether it takes them to the international organizations in Bishkek or to manual labor jobs on the racist streets of Moscow, there’s a constant exodus from the regions. I had a good cry.

In a few hours it will be Thanksgiving, I’m headed to Bishkek to spend the holiday with some American development worker friends and to say farewell to another good friend who’s calling it quits in terms of Peace Corps. We’re down to about half of the volunteers we came with in the summer of 2007. The short trip will be a needed escape from the cold apartment and office in Karakol, it will be a beautiful drive to think about what my situation will be like without Leila.

On this holiday, I’m thankful to have worked and developed a friendship with such a progressive woman and leader in Kyrgyzstan.

Happy Thanksgiving…