Blogs from Uzbekistan, Asia - page 28

Mening Kun (My Day) I know I said that I would tell you about what my days have been full of but Im sitting here and really, it wouldn't be all that interesting to write about. But for the fam's sake, Ma, Im sure you want to know it all and thats because your my mom and moms are like that and thats why I love you, Ill sum it up for you. We have language class (which includes some time spent on cross culture) for 4 hours, either morning or afternoon sessions, Monday-Thursday and Saturday mornings. It is held in small groups, in our village (maybe I told you this in a past blog, I recall) and it is just the 4 of us. We team teach, our practicum, at a school near by, a ... read more

I'm finally writing about my trip to Samarkand, three weeks later. I think that I've hesitated because the cities attraction, it's spectacular architecture, rich with history and legend, is hard to capture in a photograph, especially in the dead of winter when the grandiose domes are half covered with snow and the sky is grey and no sun is shining on the bright blue and green mosaic tiles. I tried my best. I mostly tried to get some interesting perspectives to entertain and satisfy myself. Now, giving you a brief history about the city, what it means to Central Asia, how it was entangled in The Great Game and the Silk Road and then, what remains, this, I can do a little bit of. First off Samarkand dates back to the sixth century BC and has ... read more

To many silly, crazy things have been talked about amongst my American friends and I lately. So all day today I have thought, God, everyone at home would get a kick outa all this. This led to me feeling a tinge homesick tonight (I refuse to let myself truly indulge on homesickness. A) I'm too busy and B) It's only been 5 weeks, lets pace ourselves, Jen.) I think you all may get a kick of of some of this. Most of these are about food. I dont know why. Let me share... Cotton oil is fuel- First of all, let me start by telling you about the Kazon. Pretty much everything is cooked on the stove, in this big iron pot. Pot, not pan. But it is similar to the iron skillet deal (only wiped ... read more

Let me explain how the outskirts of Tashkent are laid out. At least in my direction. I am about 20 minutes out side of Tashkent, center. So even though what I describe sounds very village like (and that it is) keep in mind that, really, I haven't seen anything yet. The rural villages are miles and miles away from the next village over or closest town. But now, I'm in a suburb. I live in a village of about 150 people. It has a two small stores (very much like wild wild west general stores, to give you an idea), a cafe (that only the men use, we are told), a bus/taxi stop (where the drivers try to charge us, the Americans, 2x as much for a taxi to the main road where we catch the ... read more

January 27, 2005 Me: Assalomu alaykum! ("hello, peace be upon you!") You; Va Akaykum assolom! ("I also wish you peace!") Me: Yah-shim-is-iz? ("how are you?") And You: Yah-shi! Siz Chi? ("Good! And you?"...is what I hope you can say) Me (unfortunately): Kasilmen. ("Im sick.") You: Af-sus. ("sorry to hear that.") Sorry to throw a curve ball in there like that but it is the truth and its all apart of playing this game called "Im a PC volunteer (rather, trainee)" they tell me. I am sitting in my room at the sanatorium when I should be at one of my Language/Cross Culture (LCC) classes. Why you say? I woke up at 4 am with an upset stomach which led to many an unpleasantries, and now I am tired and trying to make myself feel better by ... read more