Well, today was an amazing day!! After cleaning the house for three hours in the morning (I have various insects trying to stay as guests), I agreed to go to Laura's house for lunch. On the way, it started hailing. But this was not just any normal hail but the second day in a row of hail after nearly a month and a half of rain. Within twenty minutes, the main street in Dushanbe was a river - as the drainage was completely clogged. There were no pedestrian pathways because the whole boulevard was a river - more than half a foot deep. We managed to drive through the main street, but Laura's house was on perhaps the worst side street in town. The taxi driver at first refused to take me onto that side street. Instead, he pulled over, turned on a DVD player and told me we would wait the weather out. But then our friend Samvel got on my phone and told him that he couldn't leave a woman in such weather without getting her to destination.
So, a few minutes later, we ventured into the side street where Laura lives (near the Korean embassy and the Youth Theater). The car couldn't get through so much water and it stalled twice. After ten minutes, we were 10 yards from her house, and the driver just refused to go on. He pulled over to the side of the "river" and turned another movie on. Laura and Sam were not willing to let this ruin our lunch. I looked over and Laura was attempting to walk through the flood to our taxi. I desperately tried to get her to stop with wild hand movements from inside the car. Eventually, Sam stopped her and instead put on some girly flowery flip flops and walked through freezing mud water to get to the taxi. I don't know why!! Anyway, after a few more minutes, the driver pulled up the side of the house. The landlord - a 70 year old man - gave me a pair of rain boots and then on top of it offered to put me on his back so I could make it 2 meters across the water. (Obviously that was a crazy suggestion!) When I stepped down, the water only made it half way to my knees but it had a relatively strong current.
In any case, eventually we all made it inside. The funny part was that on the way Laura didn't even know there was a river outside her house. I kept calling while we were trying to get through the water complaining that it was inappropriate that she should be asking me to go to her place under such circumstances. The best image I saw though was the head of a stuffed bear traveling down the main street nearly faster than the cars! I really wished I had had a camera.
There was so much hail on the streets I thought the city looked like a salt mine. - Later, we walked home after the flood had disappeared. All that is left now is a 3-4 inch spread of mud everywhere. On the way to my apartment, I saw this wonderful wedding dress. Outside the bridal shops here they place a sample wedding dress, and apparently one shop hadn't taken their dress in when the river of mud water was coming down from the mountains. The dress was its normal pretty shape - but up until the waste it was the color of mud.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Hot water
The weather has finally turned pleasant - after 20 days of rain, rain, and more rain! But I am not convinced that the sun is here to stay. Anyway, it was absolutely fascinating - but two days ago my friend wanted to take a hot shower at my place, and once again there was no hot water. This was - for me - the last straw! I have spent the last two months trying to fix the water problems in my apartment. First I woke up at midnight to neighbors banging on my door because I had flooded the whole building when a hose broke off the filter to my washing machine. The next week, the sink in my kitchen broke (another cheap Chinese hose) and I again flooded the downstairs neighbors. Then another pipe in the bathroom was leaking - and all the while the hot water boiler in the shower was leaking rust. Finally, I decided to suck up the price of a new boiler in the case my landlady won't replace the broken thermex when she returns from vacation (as she was originally arguing that since I am living in the apartment long-term, it's my apartment and I am responsible for any and all repairs). The "santeknik" (plumber) put in a new thermex and after that for a week, I would have hot water one day and cold water only the next. Finally, my friend, who wanted a hot shower, had a brilliant idea and turned on the hot water faucet(tap) running between the thermex and the shower head. BUT WHAT KIND OF santeknik, who knows I want hot showers would leave it closed???
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Still in Dushanbe!
It is not OK to be scared of dogs in Dushanbe anymore. Actually, I made quite a fool of myself today. I have to walk down a relatively dark street to get to my house, and there was the silhouette of a dog half way between me and my front door. In the meantime, two girls were walking my direction, and they turned out to be friends of mine from the u.s. – They didn’t really understand my immense fear of being eaten by a strange dog on my way home from celebrating my host parents’ 25th wedding anniversary. I’ve learned to like dogs, but my fear (after being bitten in 6th grade) just won’t go away. Every night I scrutinize the situation to see what dogs are waiting for me.
I brought my host parents two ice cream logs for their anniversary day, but it turns out the father doesn’t eat ice cream. In fact, none of the men over the age of 20 touched the ice cream, so the mom wound up eating four helpings. This was after she weighed herself and complained about having gained 4 kilos. The Tajik men say only the women eat cake and ice cream.
It hailed today. Actually, it was sunny and warm, and then it rained, and then it was sunny, and then it rained, and then it was windy, and then it rained, and then it was sunny, and then it hailed, and then it was sunny. Isn’t April wonderful?! I went for my Sunday walk to the Chinese restaurant, which is about 12,000 steps from my house. I ate spicy tofu – got into an awkward conversation with a woman in the bathroom, who didn’t understand why if it was a single toilet restroom, it was either her or me in there and not both of us – and then I walked home.
On the way home, I got caught in the rain and stopped at Laura’s house for tea and mandarins. We talked about her rose garden and my possible trip to Uzbekistan with Karim in May. She and Sam might join us. From there, I continued walking home, and just as I was reaching my front door, my host mom invited me for Osh and told me to come straight away. Naturally, though, the Osh wouldn’t be ready for another three hours, and I wound up sitting at their house and getting annoyed at their children for continually asking dumb questions like “Is America beautiful?” How is it that 12 year olds don’t understand that a whole country cannot be either beautiful or ugly?
Anyway, life is going on. There is much to update everyone on....but I am soo busy with exam preps and research studies - as well as general work. I've recently gotten a grant to study Human Rights Education in Tajikistan, so I will be particularly busy in the upcoming months.
I brought my host parents two ice cream logs for their anniversary day, but it turns out the father doesn’t eat ice cream. In fact, none of the men over the age of 20 touched the ice cream, so the mom wound up eating four helpings. This was after she weighed herself and complained about having gained 4 kilos. The Tajik men say only the women eat cake and ice cream.
It hailed today. Actually, it was sunny and warm, and then it rained, and then it was sunny, and then it rained, and then it was windy, and then it rained, and then it was sunny, and then it hailed, and then it was sunny. Isn’t April wonderful?! I went for my Sunday walk to the Chinese restaurant, which is about 12,000 steps from my house. I ate spicy tofu – got into an awkward conversation with a woman in the bathroom, who didn’t understand why if it was a single toilet restroom, it was either her or me in there and not both of us – and then I walked home.
On the way home, I got caught in the rain and stopped at Laura’s house for tea and mandarins. We talked about her rose garden and my possible trip to Uzbekistan with Karim in May. She and Sam might join us. From there, I continued walking home, and just as I was reaching my front door, my host mom invited me for Osh and told me to come straight away. Naturally, though, the Osh wouldn’t be ready for another three hours, and I wound up sitting at their house and getting annoyed at their children for continually asking dumb questions like “Is America beautiful?” How is it that 12 year olds don’t understand that a whole country cannot be either beautiful or ugly?
Anyway, life is going on. There is much to update everyone on....but I am soo busy with exam preps and research studies - as well as general work. I've recently gotten a grant to study Human Rights Education in Tajikistan, so I will be particularly busy in the upcoming months.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Stuck in Istanbul
Hello!
Greetings from Istanbul - yet again. I am heading home for two months, one month medical leave, one month vacation...(or so I hope it doesn't turn into two months medical leave) - but yet again, the Turkish air flight from Dushanbe to Istanbul was delayed by about 9 hours.
After waking up at 2:30, we left for the airport. A guy came up to us and I thought he said to my colleague, who went to the airport with me, "The plane left at 11:30." I immediately thought he meant 11:30 at night, three hours early. I told my colleague to ignore the crazy man. Afterall, planes never leave five hours early.
The real reason for my immediate assumption that the man was making up a story or that he had a heard a rumor about "early departure" was because this same colleague five minutes earlier had asked me if I felt a third earthquake (yes, third) two days before in the middle of the night. Of course I hadn't - because there was no earthquake. However, the Tajiks - prone to rumors and group mentality, had spread "news" that an earthquake would strike at like 2:30 am. For this reason, all Tajiks (in the know or who had friends) came out of their houses and stayed out for several hours.
My colleague, who agreed that you can't predict earthquakes that way - still left his house for at least an hour because all his neighbors were outside and another one of our co-workers had called him. I quietly wondered why nobody called me. (hmm...).
We turned back around, I went back to sleep in my Dushanbe apartment, and now at 11:30 at night Dushanbe time, I am finally half way to NY in a cute little hotel called the Gunes in Istanbul. I was quite lucky that I had bought the ticket to NY completely through Turkish air, because many people on the flight from Dushanbe who had connecting flights with other airlines, were turned away and not provided any accomodation or meals. How horrible!
The real lesson is to either buy a ticket through one airline or to take out travel insurance in the case of absurdities - like being stuck in Istanbul. Actually, I love Istanbul - if you have the time to get into the city. Unfortunately, it's almost 9PM now, and at 8AM, the shuttle picks me up for the airport.
Despite liking Istanbul in general (particularly for the restaurants), i can't stand the airport. When I arrived - they told me I could stay at the "airport hotel." That's all they said. They told me to exit passport control and then follow signs for airport hotel. This I did, but only after complaining that it's a small scam to make me pay for the visa fee. As always, I tried to get answers to whether they would pay for the visa fee, and they just kept telling me to wait, and wait, and wait. Finally, I said, "what am I waiting for" - and they admitted that there's nothing to be waiting for, because they don't cover the visa fee. I think I'll be obnoxious and file a travel insurance claim for the Turkish visa fee.
After I passed the passport control, I followed the sign for "airport hotel," walked down a highway ramp, and got directions from police officers. I arrived at the "Turkish Air airport hotel", went to the front desk and a woman (with supreme attitude) told me it was a private hotel and I should leave immediately. Perhaps I am too literal?? I walked back up the hill to the arrivals terminal, with my heavy backpack, visibly distressed, and found an information desk. I asked the nice woman there how I can get to the free turkish air airport hotel. She pointed to the other end of the hall - and said, there is a sign for airport hotel.
I walked onwards, and When I reached the other end of the hall, EVERY single kiosk said "Airport Hotel" - I seriously decided that I was in an idiot's paradise. Anyway, reaching the conclusion of an idiot's paradise has left me exhausted. :)
Wish me a good flight tomorrow to New York!
Greetings from Istanbul - yet again. I am heading home for two months, one month medical leave, one month vacation...(or so I hope it doesn't turn into two months medical leave) - but yet again, the Turkish air flight from Dushanbe to Istanbul was delayed by about 9 hours.
After waking up at 2:30, we left for the airport. A guy came up to us and I thought he said to my colleague, who went to the airport with me, "The plane left at 11:30." I immediately thought he meant 11:30 at night, three hours early. I told my colleague to ignore the crazy man. Afterall, planes never leave five hours early.
The real reason for my immediate assumption that the man was making up a story or that he had a heard a rumor about "early departure" was because this same colleague five minutes earlier had asked me if I felt a third earthquake (yes, third) two days before in the middle of the night. Of course I hadn't - because there was no earthquake. However, the Tajiks - prone to rumors and group mentality, had spread "news" that an earthquake would strike at like 2:30 am. For this reason, all Tajiks (in the know or who had friends) came out of their houses and stayed out for several hours.
My colleague, who agreed that you can't predict earthquakes that way - still left his house for at least an hour because all his neighbors were outside and another one of our co-workers had called him. I quietly wondered why nobody called me. (hmm...).
We turned back around, I went back to sleep in my Dushanbe apartment, and now at 11:30 at night Dushanbe time, I am finally half way to NY in a cute little hotel called the Gunes in Istanbul. I was quite lucky that I had bought the ticket to NY completely through Turkish air, because many people on the flight from Dushanbe who had connecting flights with other airlines, were turned away and not provided any accomodation or meals. How horrible!
The real lesson is to either buy a ticket through one airline or to take out travel insurance in the case of absurdities - like being stuck in Istanbul. Actually, I love Istanbul - if you have the time to get into the city. Unfortunately, it's almost 9PM now, and at 8AM, the shuttle picks me up for the airport.
Despite liking Istanbul in general (particularly for the restaurants), i can't stand the airport. When I arrived - they told me I could stay at the "airport hotel." That's all they said. They told me to exit passport control and then follow signs for airport hotel. This I did, but only after complaining that it's a small scam to make me pay for the visa fee. As always, I tried to get answers to whether they would pay for the visa fee, and they just kept telling me to wait, and wait, and wait. Finally, I said, "what am I waiting for" - and they admitted that there's nothing to be waiting for, because they don't cover the visa fee. I think I'll be obnoxious and file a travel insurance claim for the Turkish visa fee.
After I passed the passport control, I followed the sign for "airport hotel," walked down a highway ramp, and got directions from police officers. I arrived at the "Turkish Air airport hotel", went to the front desk and a woman (with supreme attitude) told me it was a private hotel and I should leave immediately. Perhaps I am too literal?? I walked back up the hill to the arrivals terminal, with my heavy backpack, visibly distressed, and found an information desk. I asked the nice woman there how I can get to the free turkish air airport hotel. She pointed to the other end of the hall - and said, there is a sign for airport hotel.
I walked onwards, and When I reached the other end of the hall, EVERY single kiosk said "Airport Hotel" - I seriously decided that I was in an idiot's paradise. Anyway, reaching the conclusion of an idiot's paradise has left me exhausted. :)
Wish me a good flight tomorrow to New York!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
I'm in Tajikistan Again!
Hello Everyone!
I know it has been about eight months since I last posted. I really don't have a very good reason for such a violation of your interest in reading this except that about the same time I started writing another blog for the Foreign Policy Association. Having a required blog means that my energy has been sapped for writing personal accounts. the site is: religion.foreignpolicyblogs.com
Just to update, I'm now living once again in Tajikistan. I've been here for about six months, working on a project through the Geneva Graduate Institute - called the Tajikistan Dialogue Project. The length of my contract is 18 months, which really can take a toll on someone unsuspecting - but as it is now my 3rd visit here, I think I'm ready to survive Tajikistan for the long haul.
Winter is starting to set in now in Dushanbe, but fortunately during the 7th and 8th months, I'll be returning to NYC to prep for the bar exam.
Hopefully tomorrow or soon, I can post a few pictures for you.
I know it has been about eight months since I last posted. I really don't have a very good reason for such a violation of your interest in reading this except that about the same time I started writing another blog for the Foreign Policy Association. Having a required blog means that my energy has been sapped for writing personal accounts. the site is: religion.foreignpolicyblogs.com
Just to update, I'm now living once again in Tajikistan. I've been here for about six months, working on a project through the Geneva Graduate Institute - called the Tajikistan Dialogue Project. The length of my contract is 18 months, which really can take a toll on someone unsuspecting - but as it is now my 3rd visit here, I think I'm ready to survive Tajikistan for the long haul.
Winter is starting to set in now in Dushanbe, but fortunately during the 7th and 8th months, I'll be returning to NYC to prep for the bar exam.
Hopefully tomorrow or soon, I can post a few pictures for you.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Spring then Winter and then Spring again
It snowed this past week, but within three days, all the Spring snow had disappeared. Now, it is a beautiful 65 degrees outside. The city is so green and after a tough winter, the sun is appreciated by everyone!This picture is a view outside my office window.
Monday, April 21, 2008
On Second thought...Three (3!!!) Trillion Dollars??
Here is the most unusual and thought provoking
WEBSITE for TODAY
http://3trillion.org/
"What would you do with 3 trillion dollars?"
WEBSITE for TODAY
http://3trillion.org/
"What would you do with 3 trillion dollars?"
A Sign of Worse to Come
QUOTE for TODAY
"Capitalism without bankruptcy, it is said, is like Christianity without Hell. With recession looming, the air in America's bankruptcy courts is thick with brimstone and the coals are being heated in readiness for the many sad souls whose sin was to borrow too much." - The Economist, March 29, 2008
WEBSITE for TODAY
"Corporations and Human Rights" - The UN Position
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/SRSG-report-Human-Rights-Council-19-Feb-2007.pdf
This is a report on corporate accountability and human rights. Corporations should have a human rights policy and assess their impacts.
"Capitalism without bankruptcy, it is said, is like Christianity without Hell. With recession looming, the air in America's bankruptcy courts is thick with brimstone and the coals are being heated in readiness for the many sad souls whose sin was to borrow too much." - The Economist, March 29, 2008
WEBSITE for TODAY
"Corporations and Human Rights" - The UN Position
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/SRSG-report-Human-Rights-Council-19-Feb-2007.pdf
This is a report on corporate accountability and human rights. Corporations should have a human rights policy and assess their impacts.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
New Amnesty International Press Release
According to Amnesty International's 4-15 Press Release
- At least 1,252 people were executed in 24 countries and at least 3,347 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries.
- Up to 27,500 people are estimated to be on death row across the world.
- Iran executed at least 317 people, Saudi Arabia 143 and Pakistan 135 – in comparison to 177, 39 and 82 executions respectively in 2006.
- Eighty-eight per cent of all known executions took place in five countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the USA.
- Saudi Arabia had the highest number of executions per capita, followed by Iran and Libya.
- Amnesty International has been able to confirm at least 470 executions by China – the highest overall figure. The true figure for China is undoubtedly much higher.
On the flip side, for some information about the innocent people who have been put to death, take a look at one of the webpages of the Death Penalty Information Center: "Executed but Possibly Innocent" at: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?&did=2238
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Early April News
A useful WEBSITE for today:
For all you history nerds out there, there is an ISN webpage that has a very good history review: It is an interactive timeline of 1945-1963:
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/edu/adl/standalone_obj/timeline/timeline.html
In news about me, I will be working with the Tajikistan Dialogue Project in Dushanbe as of May. I will be saying goodbye to full-time work as a profressor at the Kazakhstan Institute, although I may get the chance to teach some online courses. More news to come on this pending move later.
My friend Serguei will be visiting from Moscow this week, and I hope to get some sightseeing in - which means more pictures for all of you. The weather in Almaty has been perfect for almost three weeks, and I am delighted to be walking through the city on the weekends. You should come visit!
For all you history nerds out there, there is an ISN webpage that has a very good history review: It is an interactive timeline of 1945-1963:
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/edu/adl/standalone_obj/timeline/timeline.html
In news about me, I will be working with the Tajikistan Dialogue Project in Dushanbe as of May. I will be saying goodbye to full-time work as a profressor at the Kazakhstan Institute, although I may get the chance to teach some online courses. More news to come on this pending move later.
My friend Serguei will be visiting from Moscow this week, and I hope to get some sightseeing in - which means more pictures for all of you. The weather in Almaty has been perfect for almost three weeks, and I am delighted to be walking through the city on the weekends. You should come visit!
Monday, March 31, 2008
What stories the UN wants reported from 2007
In case you were trying to fill those gaps in your knowledge about the world and its overabundance of problems...
The United Nations has made it easier for all of us to get educated with its release of the
2007 List of Ten Stories the World May Wish to Hear More About:
You can read about them at:
http://www.un.org/events/tenstories/07/index.shtml
THE STORIES: 2007
Northern Uganda: Major steps towards peace in a decades-old conflict
The Excluded: The hidden world of the stateless
Extreme weather events are part of a “new normal” trend
The suffering of the girl soldier
At a fragile crossroads: Afghanistan and the international community must pull together
A deadly disease no more – advances in malaria prevention and treatment
Promotion and protection of human rights: The role of special procedures of the Human Rights Council
Policing for peace: The law-and-order role played by blue berets
Southern Sudan: A path to ‘indivisible peace’ in the country
Bird flu pushed back – but threat of a human pandemic remains
The United Nations has made it easier for all of us to get educated with its release of the
2007 List of Ten Stories the World May Wish to Hear More About:
You can read about them at:
http://www.un.org/events/tenstories/07/index.shtml
THE STORIES: 2007
Northern Uganda: Major steps towards peace in a decades-old conflict
The Excluded: The hidden world of the stateless
Extreme weather events are part of a “new normal” trend
The suffering of the girl soldier
At a fragile crossroads: Afghanistan and the international community must pull together
A deadly disease no more – advances in malaria prevention and treatment
Promotion and protection of human rights: The role of special procedures of the Human Rights Council
Policing for peace: The law-and-order role played by blue berets
Southern Sudan: A path to ‘indivisible peace’ in the country
Bird flu pushed back – but threat of a human pandemic remains
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Noruz was last week, andI'm sorry it took me so long to recognize it here on my blog!
It's been a very busy week with lots to do and much to think about.
Noruz is the Persia-originating New Year, which marks the beginning of Spring. On this blog still you can see my pictures of Noruz in Iran in 2005.
Central Asia New Years are a bit different naturally than the contemporary Iranian Noruz. For one, it's a much more social activity. If the Iranian noruz is a time to celebrate with family, the Navriz in Kazakhstan is a time to celebrate as a community, which can include your work colleagues and friends, as much as family. One Kazakh woman here described Noruz (not as a celebration of Spring or the coming year) but as a celebration of friendship.
Although the University did not mark Noruz day until a week after (March 22 was the official Noruz day here), the city and government put on a big celebration of Noruz on the 22nd. In the "old square," there were thousands and thousands of people (the locals to Almaty said it was only villagers who were new to Almaty that go) watching a concert, eating traditional foods, riding horses, playing games, and so on. The festivities in the square start around 9-10am and go until night. I arrived at noon against the directives of my students, who said that after 11:30 it starts to get too crowded and chaotic. It was a bit much, I have to admit. By nightfall, however, it apparently gets even worse, on account of the alcohol consumption.
In this entry and above are some photos of Noruz spirit in Almaty.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Rainy Almaty Day
Today is the official working holiday for Women's Day - but I am sitting in my office preparing powerpoint slides on US election procedures. How fun!
In the course of my reading, I came across a rather interesting word: "perquisite"
This may sound a tad strange - but I had no idea that perk was an abbreviation of perquisite (or maybe I once did and forgot?), and I don't think in all my reading I've ever seen the word perquisite...how curious!? As it always happens though, once you learn a new word - you will probably see it everywhere!
Finally, I took a 5 hour walk yesterday around Almaty. Forgot the camera (and my pedometer) though!
I discovered some nice cafes, a park (with horse back riding), a carnival looking Russian cathedral, and I learned how to walk to the Green Bazaar from my office (this bazaar is the smaller market with lots of vegetables and fruits, as well as some house supplies and clothes). It started raining in the last half hour of my walk - and has been raining since.
Oh, It also seems that whatever the weather is in Dushanbe on Thursday will come to Almaty by Monday - or is this just a coincidence?
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Happy March 8 - International Women's Day!!
March 8 is a big holiday in the former Soviet Union. Yesterday, the university had a big celebration for the women staff and faculty. They had a concert and gave us each boxes of chocolate. I have a chocolate storage in my office now, especially after getting back from Switzerland. At 6 pm, the chair of the department and the male faculty poli sci professors arranged a pizza party for the women professors and gave us all roses - I left the flowers there -- never did like cut flowers. The corn pizza was awesome - for those of you unfamiliar with this part of the world - corn and peas are normal pizza toppings.
In any case, today is the official woman's day - but Monday is the national working holiday since March 8 fell on a weekend.
This week is Spring break also. I was originally planning to go to tajikistan - got the visa and everything - but changed my mind -
Quite busy grading midterms. I finished today grading 47 exams for my terrorism class. Only 17 students passed. it wasn't a hard test - and those 17 passed with a 10 point curve.
and passing here is 50%....
If anyone wants to take one of my exams for fun - particularly in USpolitics let me know, I'll email it to you.
The girls here are the best students - by far!! I especially have to say that on women's day.
Not much other news.... the weather is beautiful now, and I plan to take a walk tomorrow and photograph Almaty a bit.
Oh, I've been traded from the College of Social Sciences to KIMEP's new college of law, assuming I stay - which is a big IF because I only signed a one semester contract.
See you!
In any case, today is the official woman's day - but Monday is the national working holiday since March 8 fell on a weekend.
This week is Spring break also. I was originally planning to go to tajikistan - got the visa and everything - but changed my mind -
Quite busy grading midterms. I finished today grading 47 exams for my terrorism class. Only 17 students passed. it wasn't a hard test - and those 17 passed with a 10 point curve.
and passing here is 50%....
If anyone wants to take one of my exams for fun - particularly in USpolitics let me know, I'll email it to you.
The girls here are the best students - by far!! I especially have to say that on women's day.
Not much other news.... the weather is beautiful now, and I plan to take a walk tomorrow and photograph Almaty a bit.
Oh, I've been traded from the College of Social Sciences to KIMEP's new college of law, assuming I stay - which is a big IF because I only signed a one semester contract.
See you!
Sunday, March 02, 2008
To Geneva and Back
Hello!
This morning at 6 am, I arrived back in Almaty after 8 days in Geneva. I missed an entire week of classes - not very good form, but I was determined to take the National Competitive Exam in Geneva, where I do not need a visa. I could have taken it in Tajikistan, but that could have turned into a nightmare at the border...
I thoroughly enjoyed taking the 4.5 hour exam! (I'm not being sarcastic, I really am that much of a nerd)...For the past five days, I have been thinking constantly about my answers and their shortcomings -- as well as some points, I surely must have scored. The questions were not necessarily hard, and if I had had less work here at the university, I would have done a lot better. Either way, there were no questions that were a complete shock, so I hope it turns out positively.
Now, I am preparing for the week before the midterm vacation...
This Thursday, I give midterms and then I hope to head out to Tajikistan. It's not clear yet though because I have neither a visa nor a plane ticket, and I'm scared to fly to Tajikistan....
I moved this week also to a new apartment, with a nice Kazakh family - paying instead of 850 for my own horrible studio with old furniture, 550 for a room in an apartment with a woman and her two sons. I haven't decided if it-s good or not that she's been somehow insistent on feeding me olivie salad and manty...But they are a nice family and quiet. She said this morning that her sons never do anything but watch tv and play computer games - never reading or writing...
I wouldn't advertise that about my children, if I had any and they "never read or write"...
Almaty is finally spring weather. When I left at 5 am for Geneva last week, it had snowed about a foot and the airplane took two hours to leave the gate because they had to really de-ice and prepare the plane. My nerves were not very happy to see a foot of snow on the wings and what seemed to be a blizzard outside. The airport didn't seem to be worried in the slightest. I imagined that this kind of blizzard would have led to cancelled flights in the US.
From Geneva, I took a trip with Mahdi to see his friend Mahdi (yes, same name) and Cecile, his wife, and their new baby Sara in Neuchatel.
It was my first time in Neuchatel - 90 minutes by train from Geneva - a quaint little city. It reminded us of Chambery, even though at the time, Mahdi and I were unable to remember the name Chambery - which drove us crazy - I started naming every French city and district I could think of...Despite the brain failure, Chambery was a great trip, and I thought it was a great little city.
I'll try to put up photos of neuchatel soon. The reason my photos have been few is that I couldn't find my cannon battery charger, the drive on my computer is crazy and doesn't like me to touch it with either my mp3 player or camera, and I'm a little lazy with all this work I have...
Today, seems to be about 6 degrees C - which is totally wonderful, compared to -20 over the past month. On the other hand, I've heard that the Kazakh students here become hormonal and crazy in the spring and stop doing all work completely - sometimes pratically dropping out of the classes.
Does anybody have any suggestions for me - should I take the bar exam this summer and in NY?
Looking forward to your comments.
This morning at 6 am, I arrived back in Almaty after 8 days in Geneva. I missed an entire week of classes - not very good form, but I was determined to take the National Competitive Exam in Geneva, where I do not need a visa. I could have taken it in Tajikistan, but that could have turned into a nightmare at the border...
I thoroughly enjoyed taking the 4.5 hour exam! (I'm not being sarcastic, I really am that much of a nerd)...For the past five days, I have been thinking constantly about my answers and their shortcomings -- as well as some points, I surely must have scored. The questions were not necessarily hard, and if I had had less work here at the university, I would have done a lot better. Either way, there were no questions that were a complete shock, so I hope it turns out positively.
Now, I am preparing for the week before the midterm vacation...
This Thursday, I give midterms and then I hope to head out to Tajikistan. It's not clear yet though because I have neither a visa nor a plane ticket, and I'm scared to fly to Tajikistan....
I moved this week also to a new apartment, with a nice Kazakh family - paying instead of 850 for my own horrible studio with old furniture, 550 for a room in an apartment with a woman and her two sons. I haven't decided if it-s good or not that she's been somehow insistent on feeding me olivie salad and manty...But they are a nice family and quiet. She said this morning that her sons never do anything but watch tv and play computer games - never reading or writing...
I wouldn't advertise that about my children, if I had any and they "never read or write"...
Almaty is finally spring weather. When I left at 5 am for Geneva last week, it had snowed about a foot and the airplane took two hours to leave the gate because they had to really de-ice and prepare the plane. My nerves were not very happy to see a foot of snow on the wings and what seemed to be a blizzard outside. The airport didn't seem to be worried in the slightest. I imagined that this kind of blizzard would have led to cancelled flights in the US.
From Geneva, I took a trip with Mahdi to see his friend Mahdi (yes, same name) and Cecile, his wife, and their new baby Sara in Neuchatel.
It was my first time in Neuchatel - 90 minutes by train from Geneva - a quaint little city. It reminded us of Chambery, even though at the time, Mahdi and I were unable to remember the name Chambery - which drove us crazy - I started naming every French city and district I could think of...Despite the brain failure, Chambery was a great trip, and I thought it was a great little city.
I'll try to put up photos of neuchatel soon. The reason my photos have been few is that I couldn't find my cannon battery charger, the drive on my computer is crazy and doesn't like me to touch it with either my mp3 player or camera, and I'm a little lazy with all this work I have...
Today, seems to be about 6 degrees C - which is totally wonderful, compared to -20 over the past month. On the other hand, I've heard that the Kazakh students here become hormonal and crazy in the spring and stop doing all work completely - sometimes pratically dropping out of the classes.
Does anybody have any suggestions for me - should I take the bar exam this summer and in NY?
Looking forward to your comments.
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