Blogs from Osh, Kyrgyzstan, Asia - page 3

While working in Kyrgyzstan this year I was supporting a number of youth centers to develop the work they do. After delivering one training session in Osh city I wanted to take a walk up the main mountain (or big hill) that over looks the city center. As I was planning to go a number of the young people from the center offered to walk with my. Before I knew it we were joined by around 20 of the guys from the center. I met with Aini (my wife) and we started to take walk. I was really nice and on the way we went into some of the caves. Many people from the city enjoy to take a walk up here in the evening and some go running here to keep fit. At the top ... read more

Uzbekistan: the Fergana Valley and onwards into Kyrgyzstan -9th July - mile 9617 We ride out of Tashkent and head east up and over the mountains into the Fergana Valley. Its a beautiful days riding with great views of snow capped peaks, babbling brooks & alpine lakes and then dropping down into the green & fertile valley. This is supposed to be the most densely populated region of Uzbekistan but it doesn't like feel it. Apart from a few factory chimneys belching out smoke we are riding though small agricultural villages where every house is fronted by pergolas draped with vines. It has a very rural feel about it. The crops are all in very neat lines in the fields, the road is edged with neat lines of trees with their bases painted white, there are ... read more

Day 24, July 19, 2009, Sunday, Jekshembi: So, the schedule did get worked out and we bought a ticket on Kyrgyz Airline to return me to Bishkek today. That meant that most of yesterday was full of goodbyes including a visit in the late afternoon to the home of Amariam for an afternoon meal including a sheep's head. Amariam and I talked about what it takes to get accepted at an American University. She is preparing to take the TOEFL here and the SAT exam as she graduates. Her English is very good, with only an occasional difficulty. She would like to work in an business where her abilities as a translator would be useful. In addition to the sheep's head, the meal consisted of a rib for each of us, a salad called mother's tongue ... read more

Day 21, July 16, 2009, Thursday, Beishembi: I got home about 10 pm from yesterday's adventure into the heart of Southern Kyrgyzstan and the village of Aidarken. I was exhausted from the travel and the experiences and went straight to bed after unloading a bag full of goodies from the afternoon-long-into-the-sunset-dinner at the home of Faruh's wife's family. Travel to Aidarken was with Faruh's brother-in-law and his wife and baby, Mustafa. Faruh's brother-in-law studied theology for 10 years at Al-Azhar in Cairo and he works in the foundation that represents the ideas of Fetullah Gullen in Kyrgyzstan. Given the large number of phone calls during the day, I would say that he is in a fairly important position with the Young foundation. There are offices in Bishkek and in Osh that have been pointed out to ... read more

Day 20, July 15, 2009, Wednesday, Sharshembi: I awoke a little late again this morning. It affects getting any writing done or any reflection. It is one of the difficulties when one is doing home stays. Getting some time alone to write was easier in Bishkek because everybody slept until at least 8 or 9 am and they left me alone. Here in Osh, the family actually keeps normal hours and are up by 7:30 am or by 8 at the latest and wants to feed me, or have a conversation. Marat is watching the part of “I Am Legend,” the Will Smith film, that we did not see yesterday before we went to his Great Aunt's house. I am having some coffee before heading off to some other village experience with the brother-in-law of Faruh. ... read more