This week American aid workers living in Kyrgyzstan could enjoy up to three holidays. Either way you slice it, it's a double-edge sword of fun free time + lost productivity.
Yesterday, November 7th, was celebration of "Social Revolution Day." My project follows the U.S. Embassy holiday calendar and apparently our government doesn't fancy/recognize the old social revolution concept, so we worked yesterday. Ryan's project does not follow the U.S. Embassy holiday schedule, so he - and his office - had yesterday day off. Today is Kurman Ait, or Eid el-Adha (I had to look that up), the most important feast of the Muslim calendar. Everyone gets today off work. I'm going to spend the day partly working, but I will also be able to do some baking, set up our bike trainer, do a dash of blogging, and enjoy a long power walk with another girlfriend in Osh named Maggie. Last but not least, this coming Friday is Veteran's Day in the U.S. My project is taking the day off while Ryan's is not. Isn't that fun? A checkerboard of holidays which ultimately provide international aid projects a perfect foil for procrastination. Bigger question: why can't they schedule this crap in April or May, when the weather is nice?
