Thursday, October 06, 2005

Elevators and Manicures

Nothing really exciting has been happening here. I currently am in the process of looking for an apartment as Peace Corps has approved my group to move out of our host families on November 1. I have already looked at one apartment that is owned by one of the doctors at my hospital. It is a cute studio on the seventh floor of a building that sits on the Ulba River. I am tempted to take it as the price is right, and it faces east so I have a great view and excellent sun exposure. The downside is that all of the other PCV’s live on the other side of the river and Soviet elevators creep me out. I know that doesn’t seem like a big deal however, taxi rides are 300 tenge a pop, and I would love to walk home and having been caught in an elevator in the states, I know what it is like, and at least there I knew whom to call, here I wouldn’t have a clue.

Side Note: The True Peace Corps Experience

There is a local expat who for her birthday wanted to have a girls spa day, so on Saturday she treated my girlfriends and I with manicures, pedicures and hair masks at the spa. Well, I took great pride when during my manicure, the manicurist had to clip calluses off of my fingers, specifically my thumb. Evidence that I have been working hard during my PC service here in KZ. Well, you know how when you feel calluses, you are not always sure what they are from. The next morning I figured it out. Here the best way to communicate with other PCV’s is by texting on our cell phones. When I tried texting one of my site mates, I noticed that my thumb was really tender. Apparently, that delightful manicure removed my “texting callous.” Hhmmm, I wonder how long it will take before I rebuild it back up again…such is the life of a Peace Corps volunteer.