9.23.17 - Sunday - free day... Danny's going hiking again today...
Autumn has arrived in Chatkel, Bishkek. The temperature which had been hovering around the 80s in the daytime is now down to about the 60s. Nighttime temperature is in the 40s. While some of the families raise cows alongside chickens, Danny's host family only raise chickens. The chickens are usually fed by the time Danny gets up.
There is no running water inside the house, however there is faucet outside. The Peace Corp does provide a water filter for each of the volunteers.
Danny has now completed 5 weeks of training and will find out in about 2 weeks as to where he will be 'permanently' placed. (Total training period is about 3 months.)
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Popular Kyrgyz Dishes
Danny's Kyrgyz diet has been quite a bit of carbs... noodles, potatoes, and bread. Danny's favorite so far is Plov.
Plov - fried onions and carrots mixed into spiced rice served with chunks of tender, boiled meat on top.
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| PC: Silkroad Explore |
Lagman is meat, vegetables and noodles served in a broth.
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| PC: Silkroad Explore |
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| PC: Silkroad Explore |
1st teaching lesson
9/20/2017 -
As part of his training, Danny started one of nine teaching lessons. Today, he spent 35 minutes teaching past tense verbs to a class of 10th graders. The students have been 'learning' English since the 3rd grade but they don't really have command of the language.
As part of his training, Danny started one of nine teaching lessons. Today, he spent 35 minutes teaching past tense verbs to a class of 10th graders. The students have been 'learning' English since the 3rd grade but they don't really have command of the language.
Cultural Day - Danny plays the Komuz
The Peace Corp Volunteers participated in Cultural Day today. Some of the volunteers danced. Click on the orange link to view video of local dance.
https://www.facebook.com/search/str/peace+corps+kyrgyz+republic+%E2%80%93+k25+%28official+group%29/stories-keyword/stories-public?esd=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
Danny played the Komuz - a three-string Kyrgyz instrument.
Youtube video of a Kyrgyz playing the Komuz -
https://www.facebook.com/search/str/peace+corps+kyrgyz+republic+%E2%80%93+k25+%28official+group%29/stories-keyword/stories-public?esd=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| PC: Matt Blumenthal |
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| PC: Matt Blumenthal |
Youtube video of a Kyrgyz playing the Komuz -
😊
Monday, September 18, 2017
Life in the slow lane
Four weeks in the village so far.
Monday through Saturdays, the PCVs are busy in class from about 9-5. After class, the PCVs returns home for dinner and study some more before a little time to themselves and then bedtime. Sunday is their only free day. The PCVs have spent their Sundays, hiking in the mountains, going to the city (Bishkek) or staying home to help their host parents get ready for entertaining guest.
Money - 69 som is equal to about $1.00 USD. 2 liter of beer is 90 som & vodka is about 200 som.Ski rental and lift ticket are less than $50 at the best resorts . As a PCV trainee, Danny is paid $30.00 USD bi-weekly. currently he has no expense so his income will be used to buy food when he goes to the city (Bishkek) on Sundays.
Internet- After living with the speed of internet at 4G, Danny finds himself back to 2007. The speed of internet is 2G in Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 Internet can be spotty and when we can, we communicate via email and/or FB messenger every couple of days.
Meals have consist mostly Cabbage & lots of fresh tomatoes. Kyrgyz does not eat rice. Their carbs consist mostly of bread & noodles. Host mom has been canning tomatoes in preparation for winter.
Care package - Upon arriving in Kyrgyzstan, Danny realize he only brought along his brown belt and no black belt. teachers are viewed as professional so appearance is very important. Black shoes and brown belt is a no no. Hence a great excuse to fill a box with more than just a black belt; brown dress shoes for the brown belt and a couple of extra sweaters. Our coffee 'snob' family spoiled with freshly roasted coffee beans finds it unbearable is to drink folgers coffee. And so freshly grind vacuum packed French and Italian roast as well as a variety of Chinese tea fills the box. 18 pounds cost about $150 which Danny will hopefully received in about 5 days. It's been about 15 days and still no package.
Monday through Saturdays, the PCVs are busy in class from about 9-5. After class, the PCVs returns home for dinner and study some more before a little time to themselves and then bedtime. Sunday is their only free day. The PCVs have spent their Sundays, hiking in the mountains, going to the city (Bishkek) or staying home to help their host parents get ready for entertaining guest.
Money - 69 som is equal to about $1.00 USD. 2 liter of beer is 90 som & vodka is about 200 som.Ski rental and lift ticket are less than $50 at the best resorts . As a PCV trainee, Danny is paid $30.00 USD bi-weekly. currently he has no expense so his income will be used to buy food when he goes to the city (Bishkek) on Sundays.
Internet- After living with the speed of internet at 4G, Danny finds himself back to 2007. The speed of internet is 2G in Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 Internet can be spotty and when we can, we communicate via email and/or FB messenger every couple of days.
Meals have consist mostly Cabbage & lots of fresh tomatoes. Kyrgyz does not eat rice. Their carbs consist mostly of bread & noodles. Host mom has been canning tomatoes in preparation for winter.
Care package - Upon arriving in Kyrgyzstan, Danny realize he only brought along his brown belt and no black belt. teachers are viewed as professional so appearance is very important. Black shoes and brown belt is a no no. Hence a great excuse to fill a box with more than just a black belt; brown dress shoes for the brown belt and a couple of extra sweaters. Our coffee 'snob' family spoiled with freshly roasted coffee beans finds it unbearable is to drink folgers coffee. And so freshly grind vacuum packed French and Italian roast as well as a variety of Chinese tea fills the box. 18 pounds cost about $150 which Danny will hopefully received in about 5 days. It's been about 15 days and still no package.
9.10.17 Bishkek
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZItfmpl96s/?taken-by=djamesyee
On their day off, Danny and the PCVs from his village plans to takes the hour long 'marshrukta' to meet up with other PCV in Bishkek. A marshrukta is similar to a bus. The fare is approximately .50 usd. Girls should probably avoid taking public transportation alone as groping is common.
9/3/17 - Week 2
After 2 weeks of village life, Danny was finally able to 'escape' to the mountains for a day. One of the host parent drove a some of the PCVs to the mountains where the air is refreshing and a welcome change from the constant smell of burning trash and cow & sheep feces of the village.
There are a few shepherds in the mountains and no actual trails other than sheep eating their way through.
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