The Long-Time Coming Work Update and Holy Hyperlink Overload

Contrary to what you may believe after reading my last post, I do a lot more as a PCV other than sit around pondering weighty topics and thinking up big words (though my ample time spent on the bus provides me with just what I need to do those two things). Truth be told, my work-load has only picked up in the last few months, and whereas other PCVs are tapering off and preparing for departure, I am finding more and more things that must be done before I leave (what's new, right?). So, in an effort to keep you abreast of my work activities, here is the quickly cranked-out version of what I have been doing in Kazakhstan as of late. And by "cranked out", I mean really, I just sat and thunder-typed my way through it, so don't go looking for eloquence in the rundown :D I'm all business today, people. Time is tenge. (Click here for the last update I gave you back in March. Shame on me).

• DemCom Project in Abai and Timertau (see this post for the original grant)- photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5
  
• DDR Project in Aktas (see this post for the original grant)- photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5
  
• Insights into Development Conference in Almaty (see this post for the original grant or here for the official website and program)- photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5, photo 6
  
• Women's Crisis Center in Abai- photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5
  
• International Volunteer Conference in Astana- photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4
  
• Camp GLOW in Kokshetau- photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5
  
• European Commission Grant (see this post for the original grant)
  
• Miscellaneous/Extraneous items to come shortly (I simply ran out of steam on this post).
  

In other news, I recently secured an apartment in Houston, I purchased tickets to see Journey in the Woodlands on September 24, I registered for the Houston Half Marathon in January 2012, I registered for the IronMan Triathlon in May 2012 (yea, that's how hardcore I am), and I begin my new job on September 15. Two weeks from now, I will be on an airplane to Scandinavia, where I will see the latest Harry Potter movie and revel in the fact that I am an RPCV from the Republic of Kazakhstan. America, I'm coming straight to your heart at 5:47 PM East-Coast time on August 15th. Get. Ready.

Wanna know a secret? I'm not even back in the United States yet and I'm already contemplating when I can go on my next international vacation. There is clearly something wrong with me because my idea of stress relief is staring at the world map on my wall and making fantasy backpacking itineraries. *Sigh*.