First Birthday in Turkmenistan May 29, 2009

Hello all! So I’ve got some time to kill before I take my first vacation as a PCV to Thailand. I just thought I’ld give you all an update about my first birthday in Turkmenistan. I must say it was a pretty rememberable experience. The celebration actually started off the day before my birthday on Wednesday. I was surprised by some of my friends in Ashgabat when they told me they had planned a dinner for me that evening. So I had a real nice dinner with Amy, Andrea, Mayagozel, and Maya on Wednesday then I traveled with Amy back to her site for the evening. The next morning, my actual birthday, Amy and I ventured over to Mayagozels’s house for a delcious breakfast and conversation. Then it was off to my site for my weekly English club (I ended up showing up late, but my girls were cool with it). Anyways after I had my club I was just going to go home and start packing for Thailand, but I was stopped by 3 teachers and my director who told me I must wait at the school for something. I was a bit perplexed because normally they let me come and go as I please. So I waited around making small talk with some of the other teachers until I was dragged into my directors office.Then every teacher who happened to be at school that day was also called into the office just for a special birthday announcement for me. Then the whole staff presented me with a boquet of flowers and 2 new pieces of material to get dresses made. The director and my english teachers just really wanted to show me how much they appreciate me being here and it was really special. I was really touched by their outpouring of love for me. I really wasn’t expecting anything from them, but the fact that all of my teachers were there showing me just how much they care for me and appreciate me.  It was so humbling too because I know they don’t have a lot of money, but they just poured out what they could give. I’m going to be taking pictures of my dresses when they are done so you all can see them. Overall, it was a very special birthday celebration.

And on that note off to Thailand! Look for my next blog “Abby’s Adventures in Bangkok” next week sometime. Hopefully with two guest bloggers Cathy and Kenny Warner!