So, based on reader feedback, I got a bit ahead of myself by jumping deep into grammar before actually, you know, explaining how to read. So today, I’m going to walk you through standard Cyrillic, and the modified versions used to write the different languages seen here in Kyrgyzstan! Continue reading “Language Lessons: Reading And Cursive”
I’m really excited to share with you a short Kyrgyz film that is taking the short film circuit by storm this year. It’s called Seide, and it was written, directed, and produced by the incomparable Elnura Osmonalieva, a FLEX alumnus and current NYU MFA student who has a true gift for stunning visual storytelling. Let’s take a look. Continue reading “Kyrgyzstani Movie Night: Seide”
It’s the end of the month, and as a part of a new blogging and photography goal I’ve set for myself with BloggingAbroad, I’ve been taking photos based on prompts (and just from life in general), and I wanted to share a few with you! Take a look, read about it, and click to enlarge if you want to see more closely. Continue reading “June 2016 Photo Roundup”
June has been a busy month work-wise, even though I feel sometimes like I’m not doing a whole lot at the same time. This is sort of a hallmark of the Peace Corps – so many of us are so driven, that even though blogging, teaching, and helping your organization is work, there is not enough work to fill the day to the levels we are accustomed in the US. But despite that feeling, quite a lot happened! Continue reading “Mile 14: Trainings And Travel”
Ramadan is slowly becoming my favorite time of year. This year is the third year that I’ve had the wonderful chance to spend Ramadan in Central Asia – I spent one in Tajikistan, and this is now my second in Kyrgyzstan. And even though Ramadan here is very different from Ramadan in, say, Jordan, or Oman, it has its own wonderful unique charms that make me smile with every moment. Continue reading “The Return of Ramadan”
Something I’ve come to love over many years living near mosques is the “adzhan,” or call to prayer. It’s an omnipresent sound and inimitable piece of the landscape in many countries with large Muslim populations, and serves to help Muslims pray at the proper times of day. Let’s dive in a bit to learn more about this beautiful tradition. Continue reading “Adzhan: The Call To Prayer”
Any visitor to Central Asia, Iran, and a bunch of other places has probably noticed that just about every road is flanked on both sides by channels that flow with water or fill with trash. They’re everywhere. And even though they have a name, very few locals know it, let alone dictionaries, and despite their ubiquity, almost no one has researched or written about them. But given that falling into one is one of my funniest stories from when I lived in Tajikistan, it’s about time that I educated myself! Behold, let’s learn about the famous aryk (арык)! Continue reading “What Are Those Concrete Ditches?”
A lot of major metropolitan areas have a sort of associated summer retreat area that isn’t too far away. New York has the Hamptons, Boston has the Cape, DC has the mountains, San Francisco has Napa… and Bishkek has Issyk-Kul. Some of my local friends go out there as often as they can. And on my way to the airport on a recent Friday on my way to Bishkek, I got a call inviting me along. Always accept the invitation, they say. So, within a few hours I was in a car with a bunch of guys headed for a relaxing weekend on the beach along the South Shore, where I’d never been before. Continue reading “Beach Vacationing In Kyrgyzstan”
Bishkek. Capital of the Kyrgyz Republic. Largest city, hub for culture and industry. And the place most people first encounter when they arrive in Kyrgyzstan. In fact, it’s very difficult to visit Kyrgyzstan and NOT end up in Bishkek for at least one night because all the flights leave in the middle of the night. I’ve been in Bishkek a lot lately for training, so I’ve put together this guide to some of my favorite sights, hangouts, and day-trips that you too can do during your time there. Continue reading “72 Hours In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: A Destination Guide”
A new group of Peace Corps Trainees just arrived in Kyrgyzstan, and since they’re discovering quickly how a traditional house is laid out in Kyrgyzstan, I thought that today I could tell you what makes up the places where we live here here in Kyrgyzstan. Continue reading “A House In Kyrgyzstan”
