I know where I'm going!

I have an old blog that I was intending to post a long time ago but internet has been sketchy at best. So, I will start a new one! I have found out that I will be living in Naryn oblast for the next two years. That is very exciting because I love snow and I love mountains and they are everywhere. I guess the village I will be living in is roughly 7800 ft above sea level. Crazy. The pretty much only speak Kyrgyz there. So much for learning Russian. But that’s ok because I think that would be a little much for me right now. It is winter there 6 months out of the year and I am now very happy that I packed so many wool socks and long underwear.
Hmm… Interesting stories that have happened lately. My sister came home and started asking me body parts in English. Come to find out she is asking me because we are having liver for dinner. It really wasn’t that bad. I had about 4 pieces. They were cooked over an open fire on a stick. I think an open fire can make anything taste good.
My friends threw me a party for my birthday. It was so much fun. They made a chocolate cookie bar and sangria. Amazing! We sat around and ate and laughed and just enjoyed our last few moments together. We are leaving one another in about a week. Eeeks. The good thing about my site is that there is already a volunteer in the village (at the other school) and I have some friends that are just down the road. I am so excited to get there and start my work. So soon!
I have done some great hiking and seen some beautiful scenery! I can’t believe how amazing the mountains are in this country and I have not even begun to see the best ones. The sad part is that there isn’t a ski resort that is very close to me, but I have friends that are close to some in Issk-kol and there is skiing there. So here’s hoping. Laura when you come visit, we can go up there! 
I will get my address out to everyone as soon as I get it. For care packages I am requesting dried fruit because where I am going there is very little of it and none in the winter (October-March). I will be eating potatoes, carrots, onions, and tons of meat and fat. Exciting. Anything that would be a good snacky thing with either protein or fiber would be wonderful! Thank you so much!
I hope this finds you all well!