A quick update

Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve written. Other than a brief medical evacuation to Bishkek (I had a strange hives outbreak. Not to worry—doing fine now), I’ve been in Toktogul. I’m continuing to enjoy this town, my wonderful host family, those mountains that just won’t quit being fantastic. Max and I got a visitor last week—Erik, another volunteer who lives in a village in the northern state of Talas—and we had a great time showing him our town and lovely lake.

In a few days, I’m embarking on a nearly-two-week trip across the country to Issyk-Kul. While I’m pretty attached to my own lake here in Toktogul, Issyk-Kul—which means, literally, “hot lake”—is supposedly the one to see. I’ll be helping another volunteer with a boys’ camp she is running, visiting several other volunteers and doing a few hikes. I’ll be sure to post some updates.

In the meantime, a few photos from the past month here in Toktogul:

The bazaar in Toktogul.

So much wonderful produce right now! I try to eat a lot of food
that looks like THIS. 

My host sister, Jibek, and host mom making apricot jam.

Malika is, of course, helping out. 

So many apricots!

Max (my fellow Toktogul-ian), me and Erik,
another volunteer who visited us from Talas.

En route to the lake.

The boys put together a pretty good picnic.

My lake.