In Baseball Terms, Peace Corps is a Grounder to the Right Side to Advance the Runner.

BESEECH ME, AUTUMN!

A year ago to this day, Pavlodar city and I became friends for the first time. It was 0° C at that time—I did the John Mayer, sensitive and cool look (high-collared and zippered sweater with a tweed jacket on top) in order to stay warm. Today, I have a beard and Michelin man coat. I’m still here, and Darwin proves right again.

Furthermore, I have lapsed into the Siberian form of clean heroine addiction: thermals.

I’ve heard some people attempting to be clever say that they are, ‘naked under their clothes.’ This is not the most clever of remarks, but if we accept this statement, then I will not be naked for the next five months. The thermals, once put on, never want to be taken off. They become a part of you, giving you a warm feeling when all else seems so frozen on the outside. To go without them for even a day, the body ravages with the shakes, the mood becomes extremely aggravated and you just might die from withdrawal. They are my wintry drug. And its hold is just starting. I should come clean around March.

I ate that.
A few weeks back, I took a trip to the local village of Shareeshiganok once again, and photo captured some of the moments whilst riding a bicycle, eating lamb fat and galloping across the Virgin Lands steppe to wrangle sheep, horse and cow. There is now a new volunteer experiencing his first time at that village this week, of which will bring some victory and difficulty. Here’s to victory.



This past week also brought a pleasant turn for English language literary lovers. With the help of a wonderful friend and former student of mine, I have partnered with the Oblast City Library of Pavlodar to form an English and American literature and material room in their central building. The section will feature classic literature from British and American writers, a plethora of contemporary magazines from the States and books with a wide range of subject matter (Geography, Modern Art, Biology, Business, etc.), all available to the public for free. The first part of this on-going partnership was made possible through the generosity of the Darien Book Aid, individual donations from family and friends, and some books from my personal collection. You too can send books for donation to the city library via my post office address. You may personally inscribe the books if you choose, or ask me to do so upon arrival.

The address for any donated books, and my personal address for any cookies you wish to send is (please use both English and Russian variants):

Mr. Andrew Holets
Public Foundation “Challenge”
83 Krivenko Street, Apartment 122
Pavlodar, Kazakhstan 140008

Эндрю Холетс
ОФ “Challenge”
Ул. Кривенко 83, Кв. 122
Павлодар, Казахстан 140008

Also, for the first time since being six years old, I got to register for a library card. I’m hoping to check out a book just as amazing as that first, “A Light in the Attic.” “Лампочка на чердаке” doesn’t seem to have the same whimsical ring though…

An Open Letter to the Philadelphia Phillies:

First off, congratulations on your National League Eastern Division Championship—through the grandeur of overwhelming media coverage of every game and the overblown focus on the Mets’ collapse, every stitch on every pitch was seen in my mind. Romero’s golden left arm, Myers’ goatee of death, Howard’s endless strikeouts and home runs, Burrell’s resurgence, Rowand’s every play a tug at our heart strings and the future, Utley’s prevail, Iguchi’s quotes and little league fundamentals, Hamels’ chiropractor, and that lousy shortstop that used to pop everything up since 2001 finally become the Jimmy Rollins we knew he could be: Gorgeous Season. There was a little, very loud devil sitting on my shoulder that kept telling me to go home to attend the World Series. Thankfully, the angel won out, though only in the result of your playoff death.

I wish to ask you this: Could you please play like that again next season and the next so I can actually attend a playoff game?

Sincerely,

Andrew Russell Holets
Fan since age 9

p.s. Jim Eisenreich is my favorite player of all-time. We used to count his twitches when they'd zoom in during his at-bats. Amazing guy. You should get him to throw out a first pitch when I come back. Eisey!


Finally, I just want to come clean about how selfish we Peace Corps volunteers can be when given the right circumstances. This past week, a fellow volunteer downloaded the new Radiohead album without paying anything, and I asked him to actually put it on his flash drive so I did not even have to spend time on the internet for it, despite it being offered free of charge.

“Человек становится равным тому, чей язык и тскусство он знает.”
-Абай кунанбаев

“A man attains an equal level with anyone whose language and art he understands.”
-Abai Kunanbayev, Kazakh Poet and Philosopher

In honor of Al Gore's Nobel Prize, here is a photo of my lovely director hugging a tree.

A Series of Reviews

The Endless Steppe--the view for 87 percent of any train ride.

Kids getting covered in spider webs--the perils of drug use! Listen, children!

A new month, a new set of ideas and the continuous attempt to find some sort of rational as to why I live in Kazakhstan.

1) To fulfill a mission of spreading friendship and understanding on behalf of the people of the United States of America, or “You’re A Good Man, Andrew Holets!”

Maybe during the summertime, but that sun is going down earlier and earlier and it’s high time I finally wash those thermals from last March. With the sunshine comes happier people, whether that be because of the life flowing from the earth and environment or it the increased opportunity for people to drink longer publicly on the streets, I don’t know. Either way, autumn will barely have time to check in before winter consumes all. Friendship proves more difficult when everyone is concerned with warming their extremities.

2) To increase the skills and capacities of my primary organization and co-workers.

Yes! I’ve been blessed with a potential-laden counterpart, and that’s a good enough target for anyone. This may be one of those overlooked aspects of Peace Corps service, but I believe that this experience has made me hone the ability to identify who you can cooperate with, who has talent, who has the drive and give you the mentality that you can help or change that person. And I thought that mentality was left only to teachers and fathers that sire sons with an early pension for the color pink. They all see the individual development and want to steer them in a desired direction, perceived to be the best. I think I’m getting there (“Is this merely good-intentioned imperialism, sir? Uh…I hope not.”). Yes, that’s a good reason to do this.

3) On a daily basis, Kazakhstan is a nation that delivers entertaining circumstances and people.

True. Whether it our office’s pet rat that scours our garbage can, Кристов Крыса, or the women in ludicrous high heels or the late-night descents into vodka and loud, blabbering, endearingly revealing toasts or the gold-toothed smiles or the grilled meat on a skewer or the hospitality of its people or the total lack of bullshit, Kazakhstan gives me one praiseworthy story a day, an hour.

Jam sessions with fellow Platzkart train travellers--bonus of train travel

4) I have one year, two months and ten days until my contract is up: why stop now?

The Phillies made the playoffs, an intelligent and beautiful girlfriend back home, a job that pays a salary, my family, basic living comforts, an ability to truly communicate with everybody, familiarity, friends, being a tangible part of peoples’ lives, the Phillies made the playoffs, good music, two-ply, Phillies games, family, family, friends, Phillies, concerts, conversations over coffee, girlfriend, hugs, driving a car, weekends, Christmas, sandwiches, ‘thank you for shopping at…’, oh God sandwiches.


Wait! The political process in America and the possibility of a Thompson/Romney/Clinton presidency! That deters me just enough!*

I’ll stay in Kazakhstan a bit longer with the hope that my girlfriend comes to Kazakhstan. And stay up until 4 AM and listen to mlb.com radio every playoff game. And contact friends and family through e-mail and skype (andrew.holets). And hope, with the hope of every word in the holy bible, that people I care about are always safe. Money is of no use. Oh, and I’ll try to make sandwiches with horse meat here.

5) There are not many other better options.

I live in a nice apartment on the top floor. I speak a second language almost every word of my day. My job, in its essence, is to help people. I sleep easy without an ounce of selfish toss and turn. Idealism is not dead. I can say one sentence the rest of my life to shut up people that doubt my cold-weather fortitude: “I wintered in Siberia…twice.” This is a test—sitting in an office is not. I have an increasingly real reason to have children and teach them of the world. I am growing a beard to raise money for an HIV/AIDS and Healthy Living Awareness event. That, by itself, is awesome. I owe this to everyone, for me, for others.

6) It is only two years.

Yes, it is only two years. Stop making it seem like the hardest thing in the world—it’s not. It will be over, and you better do your best. You’re not a good person because of it, you’re only good if you do good. Keep doing good. It’s only two years. Two years of Peace Corps, not Marine or anything else that taxes the body more so. It is only two years.

7) You’re actually doing something you said you wanted to do.

Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. Cool.


That covers my short list of why I’m here. There are many more; more added and taken away each day. But the Phillies! Arrgggh!

Recent Events:

-My boss has finally returned to work.
-Our organization traveled to Shymkent and made some good contacts with USAID and others regarding the terrible HIV/AIDS situation in Southern Kazakhstan. The trip must be given credit to fellow PC volunteer, Mika Yasuo, a most industrious young woman.
-Most of my students have returned from their trips to the States. I’ve received two pens from Florida and Virginia, respectively, as gifts. The pride could not be higher for them.
-Film Club is booming, with over 25 attendees last week. I’m attempting to secure a local theatre for a real cinematic experience.
-Two packages received from Deborah Holets regarding supplies for the Shareeshiganok Children’s Club (see previous journal entry). She sent paper, crayons, glue, pencils, craft supplies and coloring books.
-Started teaching English at a furious rate.
-Stopped shaving for the next month in order to raise money from local sponsors for an HIV/AIDS and Healthy Living Awareness Day. If you would like to sponsor this project or simply receive daily photographic updates of the beard/fundraising event, please e-mail andrewholets@gmail.com.

If you would like to send something to the Shareeshiganok Children’s Club, you may send it to this address:

Andrew Holets
Public Foundation, “Challenge”
83 Krivenko Street, Apartment 122
Pavlodar, Kazakhstan 140008

Эндрю Холитс
ОФ “Challenge”
Ул. Кривенко 83, Кв. 122
Павлодар, Казахстан 140008

(Craft supplies, children’s activity books and anything fun for kids of all ages are greatly appreciated.)

If you wish to send stuff/letters specifically to me, that address works just the same (smile face!).

*An open letter to America,

If I have to return to America on November 13th, 2008 and find that the president-elect is Fred Thompson or Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani or Hilary Clinton, this man will live in either a different country or at least a remote area of America that is unaffected in as many aspects as possible by the executive branch.

And finally...

I listened to the Phillies game on mlb.com. My neighbhors will nary forget the crazy American shouting, "whooooohooooo's" at 3:34 AM for the rest of their lives. I gave out ten high-fives today to locals.

Also...

this web journal is the representation of my opinion solely and has no connection to the ideas, ideals or opinions to the United States Peace Corps organization.