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JenHill - Jen Hill

Who am I. Well, I am a 25 year old female, from Frederick, Maryland, and have put in my notice at the design firm I've been working at since graduation. Why? Because I am about to embark on what is sure to be my biggest adventure yet. I have joined the Peace Corps and am going to be living as the locals do in Uzbekistan for the next two years. So really, who I am is a question I am trying to answer myself. So for now, Ill just let what I'm doing and where I'm going speak for me and maybe, if it is even important or really significant, I will let the world know exactly who I am, questionnaire style, at a later date.

Let me warn you all, I am by no means a writer, 'tis a gift I was not given (but truly wish I had). That said, I believe that this fantastic journey I am about to experience, is not only worthy, but it's main purpose is to make my friends and family, and anyone else who is interested, aware of the pulse of the people outside our own small version of life. I feel that that is more important and is what this world needs, more than anything I can share with these new people I am about to meet. So, I shall try my best to channel this strange and upsidedown land through this blog. And again, please excuse the botching of the English language, hopefully get past it and grab a cup of joe, sit and enjoy. Remember to share your thoughts with me, quiz me, intrigue me, whatever strikes you.

Departure for Uzbekistan: January 16th
Stay tuned...

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Joined on: December 29th 2004
Last Login: March 23rd 2009

Blog Entries: 23
Photos: 85

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Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by JenHill, order by Date newest first.

By JenHill
May 22nd 2005

5.22 Faith(ful) Asia » Uzbekistan

Ive been putting off writing this blog and up until this evening and I wasn't sure why. I think it may be because the roles that both women and men play in this country are, well, heady. Maybe Im naive. Maybe its just a matter of being overly dramatic. But I think that this topic by far is the most tragic yet absolutely fascinating thing that I have observed in this country. Is it religion? Is it culture based? What is it that makes the roll of women and men here so different, so incredibly different than what I grew [View Full Entry]

By JenHill
May 9th 2005

What its like: at SCHOOL Asia » Uzbekistan

my favorite 6 form guys
Johongir, Islom, me and Bekzod in my classroom.

My counterpart- Teaching is going really well. My counterpart has continued to prove herself to be not only one of the best teachers in the school but has really made my time here so far a bit more comfortable. Probably since she has had two other volunteers and they have helped her understand the little things that we do, say and feel that seem so odd to most Uzbeks. But beyond that, she is an awesome person, very inspiring (more later). The kids- The kids are great. I'm teaching 1 6th, 5th and 4th, 2 3rd, and 5 2nd forms (grades). [View Full Entry]

By JenHill
May 7th 2005

Foreign Asia » Uzbekistan

lunch room...

How much is four weeks out of two years? No need to do the math. The answer isn't really important, nor is the question. Though the thought floats in and out of my head quite frequently. Im sure thoughts like that will fade as I continue to settle in to what I how call life as I know it. I think its all just part of, dun dun dun... the adjustment period. Not my favorite part of this whole journey but it has its purpose and Im trying to recognize that. The excitement of my ever changing schedule, everything being new [View Full Entry]

By JenHill
May 4th 2005

Weed burning at 5 a.m. Asia » Uzbekistan

And by this I mean... There is this weed that is some what sacred here in Uzbekistan. The name of it escapes me but people burn it for numerous reasons. Or hang it outside of doorways, which I would much rather prefer because this stuff has a horrible, horrible smell. I really like all these folksy ways the people here live by. I get a kick out of it and some of it I honestly buy into, there was medicine and ways of healing before modern medicine but this, this aint one of them. Its used allot out in the villages [View Full Entry]

By JenHill
April 18th 2005

4.19 Project: Village Life Asia » Uzbekistan

Sharifa the Neighbor

Project: Village Life Parts I, II, III Ok, so I said check back with me later to see if I was as strong as I thought I was. Well, lets make sure I was clear on what defines, Strong. Then you decide. Im on the edge, not quite sure. If crying on my first night at my new home places me in the Not So Strong column than mark in down in ink, "Jen, not so strong." What can I say, its 'weird' enough to be worlds away from home home and then to, all in one day, up root myself [View Full Entry]

By JenHill
April 13th 2005

4.13 Simply...Strong Asia » Uzbekistan

Buvi Saidazimov

11:00 p.m., Wednesday night. Last night in SavHos. I'm sadder than I thought I would be. Or rather, I have tried not to give it too much thought. So Im really just rolling with it today. I just got my marching orders, "Visa, in hand. Tomorrow, 9 am, report to the main PC office and by 1 pm, we will have you on your way to Jizzakh." First thought, 'wow, Im really going.,' second thought, 'shit, gotta pack.' We have been waiting here, futzing around for the last week and a half waiting to get our g.d. Visas, wondering when and [View Full Entry]

By JenHill
March 28th 2005

3.28 PST I Swear Asia » Uzbekistan

Beer Pong for all hardCORE PCV's...

So today is a better day, last week was rough, having to come back to training after seeing where I will be for the next two years. For any of you who are interested, here is how it will go when I move (if I move or whenever I move) to site. Swearing in is on the 5th and we go to site the next day. Leading up to the swearing in as volunteers, there is a counterpart conference that is the 3rd (just for our counterparts) and the 4th (us&them). The morning of the 4th we will leave our current [View Full Entry]

Uzbek nationals and fellow PC workers...

By JenHill
March 23rd 2005

3.23 PST Overwelmed Asia » Uzbekistan

I am sitting in my room right now, overwhelmed by some of this weeks events. And it's Wednesday. I have to say, it didn't start off well. Navrous holiday was this week, Monday was the official holiday. It is the Persian New Year but mainly known as the first of spring (the kids also don't have school all this week yea, so it's spring break. Nothing new, same as in the states but it starts off with a bang of a shindig). So my family had a guest over for holiday dinner and he was to put it simply, an ass. [View Full Entry]

By JenHill
March 20th 2005

3.20 PST-Zarbdor, Jizzakh region, Uzbekistan = My new home Asia » Uzbekistan

It's Wednesday night and I'm just sitting down at my computer and am going to attempt to start this blog entry, I am exhausted. We have just returned from our trip to visit a current Volunteer's site. The site visits were random (I think that it too hard to send each person to their future sites, some have been placed where no volunteers are currently, some volunteers are busy and cant have a trainee visit, stuff like that.). I do think that they placed NGOs at current NGO volunteer sites, TEFL's with TEFL's, Healthy's with Healthy's and so on. But luckily, [View Full Entry]

By JenHill
March 10th 2005

3.10 PST I Heart Sundays Asia » Uzbekistan

Gazelkent Bus Station

So this past Sunday I had a fantastic day. I made dinner for my family. But first, few of us played basketball in the A.M. against a local high school girls team. Man, that was quite a site. Poor Miquela, who played in high school herself and was damn good, had told her school that she and some other volunteers would play and on Friday a bunch of volunteers said the couldn't make it for sundays game, so the reserves stepped in (aka, the "I dont know how but if you need bodies, were there" troops). Imagine that old soviet blood, [View Full Entry]

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