29. April, 2004
...I'll explain again about the project. Earlier in the year, three students came to me, wanting to do write a project (grant) for our school. We talked to the director and some other teachers, and decided that what our school needed most was a "karaoke machine" or in Russian a "musikalni zenter". It's basically an enormous boombox, with two-microphone capacity and can play CDs, VCDs and cassettes. If we can figure out how to rig it up to our soviet era tv, we could even do karaoke. The school needs it because we don't have an assembly hall or PA system. That means our assemblies are outside, so the system needs to be transportable. Also, they will use it for concerts, which can be done in the club accasionly, and are usually held in the hallway. When we do concerts, we have to "hire" someone to play music, but the guy in the village who has one of these machines is not dependable and charges a lot of money.
I wonder if this makes sense? Anyway, the other part of the project is to buy a lot of books. I've been having some problems with this part. My director requested mostly Kyrgyz literature books, and it appears that she hasn't heard about the new national educational curriculum, because the two (only 2!) Kyrgyz bookstores don't have most of the books any more. That's how (not) tuned in we are to educational reforms in Ming Bulak. The teachers are trying to teach with the exact same books that were used during their early teaching years, even if that was twenty years ago. So I will probably buy what I can, and then go back to my village and ask what to buy with the remaining money.
I've been enjoying my time in Bishkek, though it's disorienting as usual. It's strange what a different world it is. I say this every time I come here, I know, but I really do think that many if not most of the people who live in the city have little awareness of the insularity and poverty of the life in the village. But my perspective might be different because as an outsider it might be harder for me to accept certain aspects of village life and traditions, and also because when I am in Bishkek, I am constantly with so many Americans that I feel like I'm part of the ex-pat community, rather than a "real" volunteer, a teacher in a small village.
...I'll explain again about the project. Earlier in the year, three students came to me, wanting to do write a project (grant) for our school. We talked to the director and some other teachers, and decided that what our school needed most was a "karaoke machine" or in Russian a "musikalni zenter". It's basically an enormous boombox, with two-microphone capacity and can play CDs, VCDs and cassettes. If we can figure out how to rig it up to our soviet era tv, we could even do karaoke. The school needs it because we don't have an assembly hall or PA system. That means our assemblies are outside, so the system needs to be transportable. Also, they will use it for concerts, which can be done in the club accasionly, and are usually held in the hallway. When we do concerts, we have to "hire" someone to play music, but the guy in the village who has one of these machines is not dependable and charges a lot of money.
I wonder if this makes sense? Anyway, the other part of the project is to buy a lot of books. I've been having some problems with this part. My director requested mostly Kyrgyz literature books, and it appears that she hasn't heard about the new national educational curriculum, because the two (only 2!) Kyrgyz bookstores don't have most of the books any more. That's how (not) tuned in we are to educational reforms in Ming Bulak. The teachers are trying to teach with the exact same books that were used during their early teaching years, even if that was twenty years ago. So I will probably buy what I can, and then go back to my village and ask what to buy with the remaining money.
I've been enjoying my time in Bishkek, though it's disorienting as usual. It's strange what a different world it is. I say this every time I come here, I know, but I really do think that many if not most of the people who live in the city have little awareness of the insularity and poverty of the life in the village. But my perspective might be different because as an outsider it might be harder for me to accept certain aspects of village life and traditions, and also because when I am in Bishkek, I am constantly with so many Americans that I feel like I'm part of the ex-pat community, rather than a "real" volunteer, a teacher in a small village.
29. April, 2004
I just got back from a reception that was held for the director of Peace Corps, Gaddy Vasquez. The highlight was the drama piece, done by Kyrgyz students of a volunteer. It was a retelling of Cinderella. Cinderella's father went to the ball and asked where the vodka was, and Cinerella committed armed robbery to steal a dress from a store. The prince bribed the police to get her out. It was pretty funny, and definitely a product of Kyrgyzstan!
I just got back from a reception that was held for the director of Peace Corps, Gaddy Vasquez. The highlight was the drama piece, done by Kyrgyz students of a volunteer. It was a retelling of Cinderella. Cinderella's father went to the ball and asked where the vodka was, and Cinerella committed armed robbery to steal a dress from a store. The prince bribed the police to get her out. It was pretty funny, and definitely a product of Kyrgyzstan!
new look!
Dear Readers:
A number of new stories have been added to Erika's blog- it's all in chronological order.
Please feel free to browse through the archives (links to each month are at right)!
Updates will be more frequent in the future!
Thanks for reading.
-Susan
A number of new stories have been added to Erika's blog- it's all in chronological order.
Please feel free to browse through the archives (links to each month are at right)!
Updates will be more frequent in the future!
Thanks for reading.
-Susan
18. April, 2004
It’s hardly rained at all, but today was very windy, and finally it clouded over and we had a drenching spring shower. Now it’s clearing up again and the sunset is shining through my rain soaked windows. The garden in starting to look green, and the apple trees have white blossoms. It’s the first time in five years that the buds haven’t been frozen off in late frosts.
I got back from Megan’s today. We went to Jambul, did email, shopped in the bazaar. At her house we made ourselves a salad. Her family borrowed a VCR, and we watched Return of the King and the Count of Monte Christo. We went for a walk and played scrabble. We learned that you can make poor man’s kahlua out of vodka and instant coffee and lots of sugar, so we made an ice cream kahlua concoction. It was delightful.
What would I do without Megan. At home today I went for a run and had a Russian lesson with Rosa. Her oldest son is home from Bishkek. She said how he’d rather be back in the city, but they can’t really afford to keep him there. Rosa talked about how she wishes she could live in the city, too. She seemed tired.
It’s hardly rained at all, but today was very windy, and finally it clouded over and we had a drenching spring shower. Now it’s clearing up again and the sunset is shining through my rain soaked windows. The garden in starting to look green, and the apple trees have white blossoms. It’s the first time in five years that the buds haven’t been frozen off in late frosts.
I got back from Megan’s today. We went to Jambul, did email, shopped in the bazaar. At her house we made ourselves a salad. Her family borrowed a VCR, and we watched Return of the King and the Count of Monte Christo. We went for a walk and played scrabble. We learned that you can make poor man’s kahlua out of vodka and instant coffee and lots of sugar, so we made an ice cream kahlua concoction. It was delightful.
What would I do without Megan. At home today I went for a run and had a Russian lesson with Rosa. Her oldest son is home from Bishkek. She said how he’d rather be back in the city, but they can’t really afford to keep him there. Rosa talked about how she wishes she could live in the city, too. She seemed tired.
11. April, 2004
Happy Easter! I just got out of the banya at my neighbor’s. It is lovely to be clean, although the banya this time was so hot I almost thought I wouldn’t make it. It was so it felt like each breath was burning my throat and lungs. I calculated how many minutes I’d have to get clean before I passed out. I don’t know how people do it.
I spent the afternoon in Kierovka today, where I accompanied Megan, Nate, and John on a game of frisbee golf. The reservoir was sparkling blue, the mountains are starting to look green in places, and the grass has tiny yellow flowers. It was wonderful to wander up and down the hills and among the inlets of the reservoir under the bright wide open sky. The boys shook hands respectfully with the shepherds they met, and we took a break for a while to sit and laugh at all the goofy degrees of “baas” that the sheep make. Spring is truly miraculous.
Yesterday several volunteers came to my village, and we went for a hike in the mountains near my house again. The weather wasn’t great, and it rained a little on our way down. It was nice to have some company on my birthday. Afterwards we ate Megan’s yummy carrot cake, which she made for my birthday. I took a piece of cake over to Rosa’s (it was her husband’s birthday, too) and gave a piece to Melice and Zamir. They thought carrot cake sounded rather crazy. They also thought I was crazy when I escorted my guests to have a look at the cow head that’s been lying around the house for a few days. I saw it first the other night when I was brushing my teeth. It was stuck into a bucket, and there was a knife stuck into the back! The legs were not far away. They are going to make brain-jello, a delicacy. No thanks!
Happy Easter! I just got out of the banya at my neighbor’s. It is lovely to be clean, although the banya this time was so hot I almost thought I wouldn’t make it. It was so it felt like each breath was burning my throat and lungs. I calculated how many minutes I’d have to get clean before I passed out. I don’t know how people do it.
I spent the afternoon in Kierovka today, where I accompanied Megan, Nate, and John on a game of frisbee golf. The reservoir was sparkling blue, the mountains are starting to look green in places, and the grass has tiny yellow flowers. It was wonderful to wander up and down the hills and among the inlets of the reservoir under the bright wide open sky. The boys shook hands respectfully with the shepherds they met, and we took a break for a while to sit and laugh at all the goofy degrees of “baas” that the sheep make. Spring is truly miraculous.
Yesterday several volunteers came to my village, and we went for a hike in the mountains near my house again. The weather wasn’t great, and it rained a little on our way down. It was nice to have some company on my birthday. Afterwards we ate Megan’s yummy carrot cake, which she made for my birthday. I took a piece of cake over to Rosa’s (it was her husband’s birthday, too) and gave a piece to Melice and Zamir. They thought carrot cake sounded rather crazy. They also thought I was crazy when I escorted my guests to have a look at the cow head that’s been lying around the house for a few days. I saw it first the other night when I was brushing my teeth. It was stuck into a bucket, and there was a knife stuck into the back! The legs were not far away. They are going to make brain-jello, a delicacy. No thanks!
