This one’s for the birds…..

Well, it was another normal day. I was at my computer working and listening to some music and then I heard our neighbor’s rooster crowing, which is normal, though usually I hear it much earlier in the morning. Then I heard him again, and realized, something was different- it was much louder, like he was right outside my window. So I looked out the window and saw nothing, and looked out a few other windows to see if I could see him. Nothing- but then I did see something unusual, our next door neighbor, and elderly woman, was on a ladder leaning up against the outside of her house and she was looking over into our yard. I figured she had to be watching something, so I continued to look out the window and then I saw him….the rooster! He is one big bird!! Then I remembered the cat was out. I was concerned for two reasons- 1st this rooster was bigger than my cat and was afraid that she would get hurt if they crossed paths; 2nd what would I do if they did cross paths and she killed our neighbor’s rooster?! Luckily while he was on one side of the house, she was on another side and came in through the window! That problem solved, but I still had a very large rooster roaming our yard- with very dangerous potential! I did not grow up on a farm, but I had seen how people caught chickens but I also knew that roosters had some serious weaponry and was not so confident about doing this all by myself. So I thought about my friend who lives a few houses up the street. I would ask her for advice and help. I opened the front door and saw that he had gone into our outdoor room, so I quickly shut the door! Now he was contained! That’s was another accomplishment. But I really did not know to which neighbor he belonged, so after he was caught, what would I do with him? At that time my elderly neighbor got back on the ladder and I asked if it was her’s, she looked like she did not understand, so I ran inside looked up the word 'rooster' in my Russian/English dictionary and ran back out. I asked if the rooster was her’s and she shook her head no and pointed to the neighbor’s house behind ours. Knowing what to do with him after he was caught, I then walked to Yylkon’s house, explained my problem and she and her brother said they would come and help. Did I say that this bird was huge! Her brother went into the outdoor room and the rooster jumped up on the windowsille, which made him an easy grab! He took hold of the rooster without injury! Then he threw it over our back fence into our neighbor’s yard! We all laughed about the situation as I walked them to the gate door. Yes, you never know what the day might bring!! I had some moral support from John who had the idea that if things had gone bad, then maybe I could invite the neighbors over for a late thanksgiving dinner- but with chicken. Thankfully they got their rooster back and no one got hurt, and I got another interesting story for my blog.

Thanks...The Party

The Thanksgiving party was pretty good. I started by sharing about why we celebrate Thanksgiving and tied it into other things to thank God for- especially His provision for us now and eternally! Then we played a couple games and ate some good food- mostly breads, fruits and other goodies. I am very thankful for being here! The people who come out to club are great and I’m getting to know them more and more. We have about 20 people coming out now to conversation club- not including the beginners class! It is truly amazing! We would like to split the class- but alas we have no other native English speakers to help out. But I am thankful for all those who come out and that I am able to help where I can. I am thankful for the many people back home who remember me and the work here, and who are supportive in so many ways! My family. That He placed me here- in a country very similar to home and provides for my every need! For providing opportunities to serve the people here. For the hard times that draw me closer; the good times that are joyful; and the many lessons that help refine me into the vessel I am to be. I am thankful for the beauty and awe of the creation that surrounds me- a constant reminder of His power and goodness and creativity. Yes, there are many things to be thankful for!

День Благодарения!

Happy Thanksgiving! Well, Thanksgiving is here, and at first I was undecided if I wanted to try to recreate a Thanksgiving day here and invite my friends and people I know over for a Kyrgyz style Thanksgiving meal. I was thinking about roasted chickens instead of turkey- fried potatoes instead of mashed, but there would be no substitute to apple pie! But then after thinking about all that needed to be done and the time in which I had to do it, I was already tired! So I opted not to do my Thanksgiving. Usually Thursday is my free day so, I just relaxed and took the day easy. But I did make the calls home to family before going to bed. I know, not very exciting- but I knew that the next day we would be having a thanksgiving party in English club and on Saturday a ‘girls night out’ that the girls from English club were invited to, so I thought 3 big activities in a row might just be too much.

Disconnected

Ever be talking to someone on the phone and get disconnected? Or get booted off the internet when you’re in the middle of researching something or writing an email? Yeah- it can make you feel stranded, frustrated and wishing to get back to where you were at; to continue with what you were in the middle of doing. Sometimes I feel disconnected. I talk with people from home and they tell me all that is going on; what’s new in their life, what they’ve been up to, etc. Then the operator comes on and interrupts: something I used to be doing, my life and relationships I had, have been disconnected. I am no longer a part of the same things. I am on another line altogether. It’s a weird feeling. To think that my life and that of others back home are now running in two different directions. So much has changed, it is like living in a parallel universe. Life there continues without me. Life here continues without them. Though it makes me realize how blessed I was with such friends back home, and how I miss not having such friends here. The disconnect from home becomes more and more evident and it makes me sad to think that I am not a part of their lives anymore. I have different kids calling me ‘aunt’ Mindy- tatya Meendy or Meendy Jeh; and my nephews and neice are half a world away and I miss being involved in their lives. But at the same time, I am so glad to be here and integrating into a new culture and lifestyle! Making new friends and becoming a part of a broader family. I guess it’s all part of the process. The cost. Life is but a wink of an eye, so really, there is nothing that is too great a cost, too painful, or too difficult that can even compare with the glory that awaits. With all this being said, please don’t think that I’d rather not talk to people back home- by all means I love to hear what is going on!!! I just wanted to share as I process these new thoughts and feelings. Thanks for listening….. errr…reading.

And the Survey Says.....

In English club our topic was family- so what kind of activity do you do with such a topic? I thought of a couple, but one I thought would not work out, so I went with my other idea- Family Feud!! Ah yes, that game show putting one team against the other to guess correctly what the “survey says”. I did have to modify it a bit- I had no surveys. But I came up with my own topics and wrote my own answers. Some topics were: ‘things that you find in the bathroom’, and ‘name one thing that you watch’- and their answers had to match those on my list. We slpit the class into two ‘families’- they named themselves- the crazy family vs the tornado family. We did a practice round so they could get the feel of how it worked. It was a lot of fun! They enjoyed it and of course what is a game unless you have a prize which consists of chocolate candies! But they are good sports and shared with the losing family! It was another happy ending to the episode of English club!!!

First Snow

This morning I woke up to a beautiful scene- snow!! I thought maybe I would because the night before the wind was freezing and the sky was that nice red color that occurs before it snows. Well I was so excited I went out and took some pictures. After I went and had breakfast I went out again to shovel. We got about 5 inches altogether!!! The really good packy stuff too, so after I shoveled I decided to build a snowman! I love the first snow! Though, it was also because of the first snow that no marshrukas decided to stop at our bus stop. But I guess you got to take the good with the bad. Anyway it was a good day!