9/24/08

On September 18^th we swore in as Peace Corps Volunteers. The new U.S. ambassador to Kyrgyzstan invited us to a reception at her residence. You would have thought we were reenacting a movie scene where starving people are clamoring for food from a disaster-relief truck! We formed a crowd around the banquet table and waited with baited breath as the cook brought out each platter. Each tray barely touched the table before all it was emptied of all its contents. It’s surprising no one was injured in the struggle for American food. The food here isn’t bad. But there is little variety and after a few months, the craving for certain foods (peanut butter!) can be pretty strong...