Beware: Emotions ahead.

So, I’m having a really hard time coming to terms with the fact that some of my best friends and family will no longer be within the same time zone as I am. In a matter of two months, some of the most incredible people that I’ve come to know and love will be scattered across the country (maybe even globe!) and I’m not gonna be able to talk to or see them as often as I’d like.

It’s a funny thing, Peace Corps. You come in thinking that you’re gonna change the world, one small step at a time, and really you come in and YOU change, not the people around you. Yes, you teach some people English or you transfer some skills that will be worthwhile in the future, but really, you’re the one that changes. I had hoped that’d be the case once I got here, but didn’t realize the depth of which I’d change once arriving in country. Yes, things have been rough and I’d like to have gotten the hell out, but looking back over the two years, I literally wouldn’t change it for the world. Seriously. Whether or not they feel the same way, the people with whom I’ve spent the last two years are my family and I don’t know what I’d do without them. I will think about them every day for the rest of my life. There are experiences I’ve had here that only they will ever understand or comprehend.

And at the same time, that’s incredibly frustrating. I’m going to want to be able to just look at someone and know that they’re thinking ooyat at the same time I am or we’ll be able to shoot Kyrgyz back and forth to one another without having to translate. It’s going to be hard not to take these past two years for granted and just assume that everyone around me hasn’t moved on with their lives and will be on the same pages as I am with everything. I hope that anyone out there that reads this slash knows me will be tolerant of all these things and forgiving of all my silliness when I get home in two months. Two years is a lot to forget/repress within a few months. Sigh.

‘Cause I’m in a list kind of mood, here are a list of things in Kyrgyzstan I’ll miss and a list of things I’m the most excited about upon returning the ‘Murica! And yes, this will be on-going…

Things About K-stan I’ll Miss:

-       $1 beers

-       getting matches/gum/bullion cubes as change

-       Jaky’s (my little host sister) laugh

-       My CP and her family

-       Mountains and the landscapes of Kyrgyzstan

-       Traffic stopping for cows/horses/sheep

-       How cheap the cost of living is

-       Being dirty for multiple days and no one (really) caring

-       The Wall and Lenin’s big ol’ head

-       Sneaky friendship shots

-       Simplicity and happiness with the way of life

-       Haggling for 6+ hour road trips for under $10

-       Random tois slash baikeh circles by the side of the road

-       Call to prayer in my village/anywhere in country

Things I’m stoked about once I hit Stateside:

-       Road rules being followed

-       Englishcha

-       Toilets

-       Taco Bell/food

-       Full shower with pressure and/or baths

-       JT and Lolla slash all other live music

-       Effective and timely public transportation

-       Not getting shamed when people find out I’m single at 25

-       Taxis that don’t have to be full to go anywhere

-       Consistent electricity

-       Real bed and pillows (not a couch and airline blankets)

-       Non-streamer toilet paper

As I said before, these things are going to be constantly in flux and could change slash be added to in the next eight weeks until I leave. But until then, please know that I am the most grateful for everything and everyone over the past two years and don’t know how I can ever thank you. I love you all and cannot wait to see you in a few months.

<3