More to come later..
9.19.2005
Picture Time
There's been complaints about lack of pictures lately, so here's some recent ones from the collection..
Some students invited me out to show me Kirov Park in Ust-Kamenogorsk. These are 3rd year interpreters.
American Music 101: Phantom Planet
Train Station at Almaty-1
Typical train stop - merchants sell their goods to hungry and thirsty passengers, as well as local specialities. Anything from hot dumplings to vegetables to cokes to dried smoked fish that smell like hell
Steppe. 90% of Kazakhstan looks like this, I hear. Thank the lord I have some mountains and rivers in Ust.
Teaching Local Teachers in the Villages outside of Almaty.
My counterpart at VKG University, Dinara Matkarimova.
Korean (basically Russian) Birthday Party for my host father's brother in the villages outside of Almaty.
More to come later..
More to come later..
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1 comments:
Jay,
As Tevye said in "Fiddler on the Roof," "On the other hand..."
Here's some thoughts from one of those who were left behind in the States (I'm Tom Burke, Margaret Burke's dad.)
While you are concerned about life in the US going on without you, we here in the US/New York are jealous of you, and bemoan our fate...the rest of the world is going by without us. We're stuck here and you are making a difference where a difference can be made. (Even if it only may seem like you are making a small difference.)
You are growing, seeing a whole new world, experiencing life, real life, as we will probably never have a chance to do again. At leasat not 10 time zones away. (But I will concede, the reality of toilets on trains is one I'd rather read about.)
And we are worring about the same old bs -- $3.00 a gallon gas, whether Frist really had insider knowledge when he sold his stock, and why what's her name split up with whatever his name was. (It was a big deal I guess, it made semi-headlines in the paper.) Exciting stuff!
Now I was lucky and traveled, literally, around the world in the Merchant Navy when I was your age. But I was in a place for a day or a week. I saw a lot. Learned a lot. And had a great time. But I never got the chance to really "live" a place. We carried America around in the cabin of our freighter. It was a challenge, but not that much of one.
I wouldn't be too worried about life going on without you back here. When you get back, how do you think you will compare to those who stayed at school, who think exotic food is anchovies on pizza, or who find a dead cell phone zone the absolute limit of the discomfort they can tolerate?
Just think of how absolutely damn capable, how totally competent, you (and Margaret and all the other Kaz 17's) are going to be in 2 years (actually, how damn capable you are already.)
You'll look the same as you used to. Sound the same. Be undifferentiated from a bunch of other folks your age/your education.
But there you will be, sitting talking to someone, or in a group, and someone might be relating how they moved from Syracuse to Chicago, or LA to Seattle and how much of a challenge it was...relocating, getting used to a new city, making new friends, finding a new job. How they had to hunt to find the Ikea or Costco, or how tough it was to find a decent Thai restaurant (not in Seattle, of course.)
The temptation would be to coyly drop a bit of Russian, a story about fighting your way off a train, or -30 degree winters. But my guess is you will have grown so much, you'll probably just smile and let them go on.
Do I sound like I'd trade places? In a heartbeat. And I'm looking forward to next summer, when I get a chance to cling to the steel bar in the toilet for dear life, and grope with my trousers to keep them off the floor. What an adventure! Nah. It's only an adventure after the fact. It's really an inconvenience.
But all that stuff is small stuff. Inconvenient, yes. But only for the moment. Makes for great stories and great blog entries.
But the reality seems so much bigger than that.
It sounds different, being in a city and at a university versus being in a village. But there seems to be an equal challege in either place. Both are tests of not just your intellect, but your perserverence, character, self-reliance, patience, perspective and most clearly, your sense of humor.
We've got the Verizon 20 cent a minute Kaz call plan. So if you need a call, let us know. I am a total news junkie and can keep you abreast of stuff. (except for the New York Times columnists like Tom Friedman. The Times is now charging $49.00 a month (or is it a year, can't recall) to read their best columnists. It's sure going to kill they internet influence).
I wouldn't worry too much about what's going on here. The same old stuff will be going on two years from now. Now I suspect you've got a bit of your tongue slightly inserted in cheek as you write. You actually sound like you have a real good perspective on all this.
I enjoy your writing a bunch. I'm getting a well-rounded picture reading you and Margaret. Keep up the blog.
Best regards
Tom Burke
Stormsail2@aol.com
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