Issyk-Kul~ isso-cool

My birthday was July 14 and I wanted to do something really special, so I thought that it would be great to go to Lake Issyk-Kul! Everyone says how wonderful it is and that I MUST go- so I did. My friend Tanya and I left the train station early Friday morning at 6:30. The train is the cheapest way to get there, and I would say the best way. It takes about six hours (twice as long as going by car), but I got to see much more of the Kyrgyzstan landscape and oh how beautiful it is! The train was also nice because it wasn’t crowded, you could get up and walk around if you wanted, or lay down and sleep on the beds; and since Tanya and I only got 3 hours of sleep the night before, we took advantage of that option! Upon are arrival, we found a marshruka to take us to Kosh-Kol, the area where we were going to stay. The weather was perfect- sunny with a nice breeze and the first glimpse of the lake was amazing! Turquoise waters with snow capped mountains in the background! It was truly picture perfect! Issyk-Kul is an inland sea, like the Great Lakes in the States- it is huge! When we finally reached our destination, we made our housing arrangements and waited for Ira to meet up with us, (she was in the area for a conference that ended on Friday). We stayed in a very typical Soviet style camp. We had a little house with 3 cots in it, a little end table and a stool. We went to an eating hall for our meals, and the bathrooms were down the pathway. It was nice; one doesn’t really need too much more, especially when you plan on spending all day, every day at the beach- which is what we did! We were blessed with very nice weather, sometimes it can change without notice, but it was great the whole time we were there. Besides relaxing on the beach, we also went swimming. The water was great, crystal clear, blue and refreshing with a hint of saltiness but not nearly enough to bother your eyes or leave a bad taste in your mouth like ocean water. I also got to ride a horse on the beach, sit on a camel, eat cotton candy- yes I was also surprised to see the kids walking up and down the beach with bags of cotton candy to sell! It was my birthday treat and a bit better than the option of the traditional smoked fish hanging from the bar by its eye sockets. Unfortunately the national favorite did not seem too appetizing to me, so I passed and said I’d try it another time! There was also a sailboat (yatch) that gave rides and we did not let that chance pass us up! It was one of two boats that I saw at anytime on the water. There was a smaller motor boat, one jet ski, a wind surfer, and a couple of paddle boats and that was it! It was definitely one of the best birthdays ever! It was just what I needed too, because prior to, I was feeling a little bit down about not being with family and friends and this is one of the months that I knew I would miss being home; missing out on camping, picnics, and family gatherings. So I was glad for my friends and it was not hard to see just how blessed I am here- paradise three hours away! I would definitely rate Issyk-Kul as one of THE BEST places in the world!! You should come and visit and see for yourself!

Humiliations Galore...well a few

Today I took Mushroom (the cat) to the vet, so she could get fixed and we would no longer have to deal with unwanted kittens. Unfortunately, no one who could speak Russian fluently was able to come with me, so I was on my own. So I wrapped Mushroom up in one of my beach towels and brought along my plastic tote to carry her home after the procedure. So we get to the bus stop and I get on the marshruka holding the wrapped cat in my arm, carrying the tote and trying to hand the driver my money. Well he steps on the gas and some guy who was taking the tote from me trying to help flew back into the seats, Mushroom got scared and tried to get away, and I am trying to hold on to the cat so she doesn’t get loose on the bus and have no free hands to hold on the bar so I am trying to keep my balance and not go flying backwards like the guy. Needless to say it was a very comic moment and everyone on the marshruka laughed. Getting off the marshruka was much easier, and I eventually made my way to the vet. When I went in, I saw the lady who helped us earlier this week. We had brought Mushroom in to get checked out for worms and set up an appointment for her surgery. I had said in my broken Russian and gestures, that we had an appt at 10 for the cat to be fixed. Though she looked at me like I had said nothing at all, (maybe I didn’t), and said something that I did not understand, and continued to repeat it a few more times just as fast and as stern as before and all I could do was just smile and shake my head- meaning: “I have no idea what you’re saying”. I don’t think she was too pleased about my lack of ability to communicate. So she picked up their appt book and read our phone # and Tanya’s name and I said “da”- that means ‘yes’. So she took the cat and the three doctors went into the back room with Mushroom. Meanwhile a man came in with a dog and asked where the vets were and I said in the room. At least I’m pretty sure that is what he asked. Then another man came in with a dog and a couple came in with some small animals that were in baskets, I think they were puppies, and then another lady came in with a small dog. So it was a full room. All the people were talking and then the lady with the small dog said something to me, but I didn’t realize she was talking to me at first, but before I could say anything, the first guy said that I didn’t understand Russian, and then there were some comments made. Then the vet came out and asked me for something, she said it very fast and I did not even have a chance to compute what she said when she repeated herself and all I could do was offer what I had brought for Mushroom- the towel and the tote. But that was not what she wanted. Once again she looked very irritated that I had no idea what she wanted, but she wasn’t that helpful in helping me understand her either. So there I was looking like a complete idiot in front of a waiting room of people, who once again began talking about me not understanding anything. It is interesting that when people see that you can’t communicate they think that you know nothing, but really I knew they were talking about me and understood some of it. Word to the wise, people understand more than they can speak! Anyhow, they eventually brought Mushroom out in a body bandage which is really pathetically cute. I paid the women and then I was on my way home and thus the frustration and humiliation at the vets was over.

English Club Part II

So, it was Friday and it was party time! The theme- cultures, so we had a Mexican themed party, with a Kyrgyz and American twist to it. After our discussion on the topic we played a fun word recognition game. Then we were ready to eat- tacos! I was asked to go first so I could demonstrate how to make one. We had soft shells, so I emphasized the importance of the fold! Everybody loved them! After everyone had eaten more than enough, it was time for game #2- the sit and pop a balloon relay race! This was really hilarious to watch, the first guy jumped up and sat down on the chair and balloon and broke the chair! They really enjoyed it. One older lady said it was quite a shock to her butt. :) After the balloons, it was time for the finale of the games- the piñata! I made the piñata and there is only one thing I would do differently and that would be to have stronger string! We had tied it to a broom which I held while standing on a chair. After the first two people, the string had broke and so I then held the string and prayed that no one hit me (we were using my wiffleball bat). But then the string broke again and this time it was too short to hold so we placed it on the floor and the people had to hit it there. It was a lot of fun! It is neat to see people doing things for the first time and experiencing the fun. The next week was our last week. It was a good week. On Wednesday we talked about holidays- because it was the 4th of July and a holiday for me. I got to learn about their holidays, which are many! They have about 3 Independence Days, and almost everybody’s favorite holiday is New Years Day, (not to be confused with Old New Years Day). This sparked the idea for our last Friday party- a Christmas in July party. Christmas in July is a common thing in the US, though I really never understood why we needed Christmas in July, but it worked for us! On Friday, our last day, we had a great time. First we talked about what they think of when they think of Christmas, and what they do. Then we were able to tell them about the origins and reason for the holiday! It was good. Afterwards we ate a lot of food, I mean a lot of food! Then had a “white elephant” gift exchange which was really funny! Yeah, I ended up with the toilet paper. :) Then we ate some more- candy and cake! By that time it was late but no one wanted to leave because it was sad that it was the last day, and because everyone was too stuffed to move! But we will begin again in September and until then we invited them out to a weekly English ‘Word study’. Hopefully we will see some of the same people coming out to this! I am sad it is over, but I am glad to have made these friendships and can now build upon them!