tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33486271560804546602023-11-16T03:48:28.387-08:00The Adventures of Hotard<b>This blog will catalog my experiences applying to, preparing for, and serving in the Peace Corps. I hope to keep interested friends and family updated, as well as help other who are thinking about applying for the program.</b>Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.comBlogger223125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-34650108641011277192011-11-24T20:05:00.000-08:002011-11-28T09:00:37.281-08:00Peace Corps Kazakhstan is closingPeace Corps Kazakhstan is officially suspending the program. This week all of the volunteers left their sites to gather in Almaty. I think they will be leaving the country before the end of next week.<br /><br />The reasons for this have not been stated officially. Generally, it seems to be a combination of security concerns and growing government resistance. My friend Becca does an excellent job writing about the closing of the program <a href="http://beccazsky.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/a-eulogy-to-peace-corps-kazakhstan/">here</a> which goes into a better explanation of the situation.<br /><br />For me, hearing the news of the closing was particularly tough. I just left the country two months ago, and I had to leave suddenly. I had intended to stay until December; I guess even had I stayed there, I would not have met that original goal. I know what the volunteers there are going through in some way. Imagine you are living your life. You have friends. You have a job. You have plans for next month, for next spring, even for next year. Then someone tells you that you have to leave. You have a week to say goodbye, and it is likely that you will never come back. All of your plans, all of your life, you just have to leave it behind. That feeling of loss and sadness is what most of the volunteers in Kazakhstan are facing. It's something most of us probably never thought of when we entered the Peace Corps. I knew there would be challenges, but I think a sudden departure was probably the least expected and most difficult of those challenges.<br /><br />I don't know the exact reasons that the program is shutting down. The ministry of education is spinning it. The embassy is spinning it. One goal of PC is obviously diplomatic, so neither side wants to make the other look bad. The Ministry of Education has said that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kaz</span> income has increased greatly over the past two decades, and PC leaving is a natural progression. However, this is really not true. The urban/rural divide is still a huge issue in Kazakhstan, and rural schools are bad. This problem isn't unique to Kazakhstan. Schools in poor neighborhoods in America are also generally bad. America is one of the richest countries in the world, and we still have a gigantic problem with the quality of education.<br /><br />This past year, the Kazakhstan government began hiring more foreign teachers to work in the best schools in Kazakhstan. The salaries for these teachers is reportedly as high as $60000 a year. That is crazy money in Kazakhstan. Despite the hiring of these teachers, some Peace Corps volunteers were working in these same schools. Is Peace Corps needed if the government is willing to pay that much money for teachers? Probably not. BUT, those are the elite schools. The best of the best. Once Kazakhstan is willing to invest the same money in the village schools that the majority of volunteers are at, then the ministry's statement becomes credible. Until then, why turn down FREE native speaking English teachers?<br /><br />Either way, Peace Corps is leaving. Is it a good decision? Maybe. Honestly, it was always a hostile environment. I never realized this until I was talking to an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">RPCV</span> friend from Ecuador. Apparently, it is not necessarily a global volunteer phenomenon for everyone in your community think that you are all spies, to worry that your phones are tapped, and to have the state police regularly calling your boss to inquire about you. In some countries, they just accept Peace Corps without a Soviet-influenced mentality. Of course, every country has its challenges. In Kazakhstan, dealing with state police was one of those challenges. However, if a volunteer got to go to a country where that was not an issue, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">that'd</span> probably be better.<br /><br />I was rather surprised that they are pulling out all the volunteers. Once government resistance increased, I thought they would just phase out the program. If someone were to ask me if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">KZ</span> was a good place for a new volunteer, I would have to consider the other possible countries the volunteer could go to. If in those other countries, the volunteer was less likely to be forced to move from their home community, have the police break into their apartments, or be accused in the media of being spies, then I'd have to go with the other countries. If someone were to ask me if the volunteers should all leave immediately, then I'd have to weigh the cost of those risks with the pain caused by sudden departure. I assume that PC considered that, and it still chose for the volunteers to leave early.<br /><br />Right now is a tough time for a lot of people in Kazakhstan associated with Peace Corps. Host families and workplaces are left confused. PC staff must now find a new job. Volunteers must say goodbye to the country they had probably fallen in love with. My heart goes out to all those people.<br /><br />Knowing that in the almost two decades PC was there, it made a real difference in the lives of some of the citizens of Kazakhstan makes the feeling of sadness a little easier to stomach.Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-26769443222538625372011-10-21T21:42:00.000-07:002011-10-21T21:44:42.163-07:00Trains in America vs Trains in KZTrains are the way to travel in Kazakhstan. Planes are too expensive. Buses are uncomfortable. If you want to get across the vast lands that are Kazakhstan, you are probably taking a train.<br /><br />Trains are not the way to travel in America. Most people go by cars. If you travel long distance, you are probably going to take a plane. There are certain places that use trains to travel (New England, East Coast, around Chicago maybe, West Coast?), but for the majority of the country, trains are something from the past.<br /><br />But how do trains here and there compare?<br /><br />Price<br />Trains are cheap in Kazakhstan. The cheap class of a ticket for a ten-hour train ride from Taraz to Almaty costs about $10. So a 24-hour train ride is probably about $20. Trains in America are not cheap. The 24-hour train from Savannah to Boston cost $125. This was equivalent to the cost of a plane ticket. I took the train because it was easiest to ship my bike. Cost is a big problem with trains in America. If trains and planes cost the same in Kazakhstan, people there would also not take trains.<br />Winner: Kazakhstan<br /><br />Bathrooms<br /><br />Amtrak has much cleaner bathrooms. Amtrak has bathrooms you can use all<br />the time, even when you are passing through a city. Amtrak bathrooms<br />have a light to show you someone is occupying it. Kazakhstan's bathrooms<br />are dirty, sometimes closed (since you don't want to open the hole to<br />the tracks in a city), and have no occupancy indicators. It seems like<br />Amtrak would be the clear winner, right? Wrong. Kazakhstan bathrooms<br />have a much better set up for long-distance train rides. They have a<br />drain in the middle of the floor. They have lots of hooks you can hang<br />things with. They are practically made so you can shower yourself in<br />there. And yeah, you don't really want to hang out in them, but why<br />would you ever want to hang out in a train bathroom. I value<br />practicality over comfort, and Kazakhstan trains win hands down. Winner:<br />Kazakhstan.<br /><br />Lightning Round<br /><br />1. Air-conditioning: Amtrak has it. Kazakhstan does not. Sometimes the windows do not even open. Winner: Amtrak.<br />2. Lights. Amtrak never turns the lights off. Kazakhstan does. Winner: Kazakhstan.<br />3. Food available. Amtrak has food available on the train. Kazakhstan has food available at every stop along the way. Amtrak's food is boring and standard. Kazakhstan has melons, smoked fish, shashlik, fresh fruit, etc. Plus, babushkas will usually give you food for free. Winner: Tie<br />4. Buying tickets: Amtrak let's you do it online. Kazakhstan lets you do it online. Winner: Tie.<br />5. Seats: Amtrak has comfortable seats. Kazakhstan has beds! Beds! But sometimes people sit on you when you are lying in your bed. Hmmm.... Winner: Kazakhstan by a hair<br />6. Customer Service: Amtrak was awesome when I was shipping my bike to Boston. They were not good when my bike didn't show up. Kazakhstan train customer service usually ranges from bad to average. Winner: Kazakhstan.<br /><br />Total count: 5 for K, 1 for A, and 2 ties<br /><br />In short, if you can't tell, I love trains in Kazakhstan.Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-48030403056032075742011-10-04T15:03:00.000-07:002011-10-08T21:08:54.710-07:00Home in AmericaI left Kazakshtan on September 10, 2011. I've been home now for about three weeks. I don't know when I'll be back. I enjoyed my time there. I met great . I saw a lot of interesting things. I came back with amazing stories and friendships.<br /><br />I'll post more about Kazakhstan eventually. There are always more stories to be told. But for now, I'm moving on. I am living in Savannah with my parents and I have begun the process of "looking for a job."<br /><br />However, while I was in Kazakhstan, I happened to meet a lot of people who were touring the world on bicycles. It started with Michael from the Czech Republic, followed with Stellen, Stephen, Koen, and countless others. I'm not adventurous enough to tackle the globe, but I've decided to go a bike trip before entering the world of work. I 'm going to be going from Boston to Savannah (approximately 2000 KM). To record this adventure, I've started a new blog. I'm going to try out wordpress and see how I like their platform. You can find my new blog at <a href="http://www.hotardonabike.wordpress.com/">www.hotardonabike.wordpress.com</a>.Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-6147506441253470452011-09-05T22:30:00.000-07:002011-09-05T22:30:02.215-07:00Heading East: Career and Leadership Camp!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4xw5nyYaI2snl2P0_SkLVFUn9USkDBnw4NQrqxM-xdWP3nZQYoKWusDF3bPa3cvclZ2St_AkHkeWzvOVube7xSPePC9fDWVbq7Vmovo6lj0r9MkZhPzCtEkAznxWbzVW8VH7vVZlIt8/s1600/IMG_7005.JPG">
<br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtVAiHp4TBXbFH6TJBH4hOZiKZS2j_oxZJpEdX_c2mQQK5Nkm7xsuNjVz-vj15NYy5ZUYoQnBCUWKzBi0lhdv023l0UbZkTeohzjyEpZdSbeTv4qdHqQn3BYOPbOMjcdvr0yEKsDwlfY/s1600/IMG_6987.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtVAiHp4TBXbFH6TJBH4hOZiKZS2j_oxZJpEdX_c2mQQK5Nkm7xsuNjVz-vj15NYy5ZUYoQnBCUWKzBi0lhdv023l0UbZkTeohzjyEpZdSbeTv4qdHqQn3BYOPbOMjcdvr0yEKsDwlfY/s320/IMG_6987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647260730739008082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">rock</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">roll</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">faces</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">while</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">setting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">self</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">timer</span>
<br /></span></div>
<br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">haven</span>’t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">everywhere</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Kazakshtan</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">made</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">west</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">past</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Kyzlorda</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">so</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">saw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Caspian</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Aral</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Sea</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">cities</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">way</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">made</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Pavlador</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Kokshetau</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">past</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">week</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">finally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">able</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">cross</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">off</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">Ust</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">Kamenogorsk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">list</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">likely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">last</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">city</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">that</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">visit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">Kazakshtan</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">since</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">travel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">restrictions</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">placed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">last</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">three</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">months</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">service</span>. (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">Understandably</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">want</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">to</span> “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">finish</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">strong</span>” <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">sites</span>.) <p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">Back</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">June</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">volunteer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">Ust</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">sent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">email</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">saying</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">doing</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">camp</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">leadership</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">careers</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">international</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">education</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">When</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">boiled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">down</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">that</span>’s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">focus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">bulk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">service</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">couldn</span>’t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">imagine</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">better</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">camp</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">mean</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">work</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">travel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">visit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">East</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">Kazakhstan</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">Oblast</span>. I’d <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">imagine</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">competition</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">stiff</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">claim</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">spot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">camp</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">really</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">idea</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">said</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">help</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">out</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">and</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">rearrange</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">summer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">schedule</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">make</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">fit</span>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">Ust</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">is</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">long</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">away</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">Taraz</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">left</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">last</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">Thursday</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">on</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">midnight</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">bus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">Almaty</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">looking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">cheap</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">so</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">grabbed</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">seat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">back</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">row</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">been</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">couple</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">years</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">since</span> I’d <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">done</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">that</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">and</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">forgotten</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">uncomfortable</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">row</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">makes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">ten</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">hour</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">ride</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">zombie</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">day</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">Almaty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">boarding</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">my</span> 23 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">hour</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">train</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">Ust</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">set</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">off</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">at</span> 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">PM</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">train</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">ride</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">much</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">comfortable</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">though</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">able</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">catch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">sleep</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">finish</span> “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_268">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_269">Big</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_270">Short</span>” <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_271">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_272">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_273">excellent</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_274">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_275">anyone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_276">interested</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_277">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_278">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_279">financial</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_280">crisis</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_281">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_282">wanting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_283">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_284">interesting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_285">story</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_286">should</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_287">find</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_288">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_289">read</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_290">it</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_291">Saturday</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_292">night</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_293">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_294">able</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_295">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_296">hang</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_297">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_298">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_299">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_300">old</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_301">friend</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_302">AC</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_303">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_304">Sunday</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_305">Meriah</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_306">showed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_307">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_308">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_309">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_310">city</span>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_311">Ust</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_312">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_313">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_314">capital</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_315">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_316">East</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_317">Kazakshtan</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_318">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_319">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_320">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_321">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_322">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_323">oblast</span>’s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_324">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_325">city</span>. A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_326">few</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_327">hundered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_328">kilometers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_329">away</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_330">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_331">Semei</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_332">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_333">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_334">home</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_335">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_336">Abai</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_337">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_338">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_339">housed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_340">Dostoyevsky</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_341">for</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_342">while</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_343">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_344">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_345">liked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_346">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_347">visit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_348">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_349">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_350">well</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_351">but</span> I’m <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_352">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_353">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_354">vacation</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_355">days</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_356">now</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_357">Ust</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_358">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_359">famous</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_360">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_361">its</span> “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_362">strelka</span>” <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_363">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_364">means</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_365">arrow</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_366">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_367">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_368">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_369">city</span>’s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_370">riverwalk</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_371">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_372">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_373">call</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_374">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_375">arrow</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_376">because</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_377">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_378">rivers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_379">meet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_380">at</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_381">certain</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_382">point</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_383">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_384">it</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_385">Overall</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_386">Ust</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_387">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_388">lot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_389">prettier</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_390">than</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_391">imagined</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_392">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_393">heard</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_394">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_395">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_396">city</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_397">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_398">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_399">polluted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_400">because</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_401">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_402">its</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_403">large</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_404">industry</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_405">sector</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_406">there</span>’s a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_407">lot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_408">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_409">mineral</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_410">processing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_411">done</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_412">there</span>), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_413">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_414">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_415">didn</span>’t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_416">stop</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_417">them</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_418">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_419">having</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_420">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_421">nice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_422">riverwalk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_423">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_424">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_425">nice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_426">parks</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_427">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_428">smoke</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_429">stacks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_430">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_431">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_432">factories</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_433">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_434">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_435">noticeable</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_436">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_437">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_438">city</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_439">skyline</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_440">though</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_441">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_442">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_443">seemed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_444">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_445">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_446">located</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_447">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_448">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_449">center</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_450">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_451">town</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_452">rather</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_453">than</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_454">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_455">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_456">outskirts</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_457">Also</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_458">much</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_459">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_460">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_461">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_462">Taraz</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_463">will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_464">quickly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_465">mention</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_466">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_467">city</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_468">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_469">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_470">most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_471">criminal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_472">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_473">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_474">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_475">Kazakhstan</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_476">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_477">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_478">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_479">Ust</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_480">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_481">quick</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_482">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_483">say</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_484">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_485">ecology</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_486">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_487">horrible</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_488">However</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_489">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_490">didn</span>’t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_491">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_492">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_493">pride</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_494">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_495">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_496">fact</span>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_497">Aside</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_498">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_499">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_500">parks</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_501">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_502">rivers</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_503">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_504">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_505">smokestacks</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_506">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_507">next</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_508">most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_509">noticeable</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_510">thing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_511">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_512">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_513">city</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_514">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_515">chain</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_516">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_517">cafes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_518">called</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_519">Pizza</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_520">Blues</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_521">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_522">seemed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_523">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_524">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_525">everywhere</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_526">In</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_527">Taraz</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_528">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_529">have</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_530">lot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_531">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_532">cafes</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_533">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_534">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_535">don</span>’t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_536">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_537">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_538">major</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_539">chains</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_540">In</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_541">Shymkent</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_542">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_543">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_544">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_545">five</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_546">Madlens</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_547">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_548">maybe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_549">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_550">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_551">comparable</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_552">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_553">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_554">seemed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_555">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_556">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_557">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_558">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_559">Pizza</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_560">Blues</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_561">than</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_562">that</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_563">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_564">eventually</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_565">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_566">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_567">try</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_568">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_569">out</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_570">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_571">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_572">pizza</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_573">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_574">horrible</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_575">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_576">rate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_577">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_578">below</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_579">Totinos</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_580">pizza</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_581">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_582">terms</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_583">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_584">taste</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_585">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_586">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_587">somewhat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_588">cheap</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_589">though</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_590">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_591">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_592">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_593">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_594">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_595">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_596">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_597">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_598">least</span>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_599">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_600">camp</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_601">itself</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_602">ran</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_603">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_604">Monday</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_605">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_606">Friday</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_607">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_608">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_609">located</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_610">about</span> 80<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_611">km</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_612">outside</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_613">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_614">city</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_615">at</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_616">camp</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_617">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_618">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_619">university</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_620">owned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_621">on</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_622">small</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_623">lake</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_624">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_625">setting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_626">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_627">gorgeous</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_628">Small</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_629">rock</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_630">mountains</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_631">surrounded</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_632">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_633">lake</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_634">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_635">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_636">great</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_637">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_638">doing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_639">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_640">short</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_641">treks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_642">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_643">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_644">down</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_645">Melissa</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_646">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_647">picked</span> 18 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_648">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_649">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_650">best</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_651">students</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_652">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_653">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_654">them</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_655">being</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_656">girls</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_657">because</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_658">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_659">boys</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_660">applied</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_661">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_662">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_663">camp</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_664">During</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_665">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_666">four</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_667">days</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_668">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_669">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_670">them</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_671">write</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_672">resumes</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_673">statements</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_674">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_675">purpose</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_676">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_677">prepare</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_678">for</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_679">mock</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_680">interview</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_681">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_682">surprised</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_683">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_684">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_685">much</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_686">work</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_687">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_688">put</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_689">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_690">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_691">outside</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_692">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_693">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_694">sessions</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_695">In</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_696">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_697">free</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_698">time</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_699">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_700">may</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_701">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_702">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_703">sitting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_704">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_705">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_706">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_707">lake</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_708">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_709">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_710">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_711">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_712">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_713">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_714">resumes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_715">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_716">statements</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_717">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_718">purpose</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_719">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_720">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_721">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_722">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_723">teambuilders</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_724">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_725">leadership</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_726">activities</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_727">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_728">them</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_729">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_730">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_731">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_732">lots</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_733">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_734">fun</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_735">with</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_736">In</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_737">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_738">evenings</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_739">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_740">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_741">evening</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_742">activities</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_743">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_744">included</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_745">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_746">finally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_747">using</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_748">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_749">karaoke</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_750">program</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_751">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_752">Ken</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_753">gave</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_754">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_755">years</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_756">ago</span>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_757">For</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_758">me</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_759">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_760">camp</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_761">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_762">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_763">awesome</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_764">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_765">students</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_766">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_767">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_768">enthusiastic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_769">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_770">engaged</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_771">My</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_772">favorite</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_773">memories</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_774">include</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_775">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_776">talent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_777">show</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_778">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_779">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_780">end</span> (I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_781">juggled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_782">volleyballs</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_783">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_784">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_785">least</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_786">tried</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_787">to</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_788">while</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_789">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_790">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_791">volunteers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_792">sang</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_793">Lean</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_794">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_795">Me</span>), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_796">karaoke</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_797">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_798">most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_799">popular</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_800">song</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_801">was</span> “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_802">My</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_803">Heart</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_804">Will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_805">Go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_806">On</span>”), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_807">team</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_808">builders</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_809">mountain</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_810">climbing</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_811">Jenny</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_812">Elena</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_813">and</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_814">actually</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_815">made</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_816">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_817">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_818">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_819">top</span>!), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_820">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_821">yoga</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_822">yeah</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_823">even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_824">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_825">yoga</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_826">for</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_827">whole</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_828">week</span>.) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_829">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_830">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_831">volunteers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_832">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_833">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_834">great</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_835">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_836">amazingly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_837">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_838">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_839">someone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_840">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_841">Kaz</span> 20, 21, 22, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_842">and</span> 23. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_843">Now</span> I’m <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_844">back</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_845">at</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_846">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_847">thirteen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_848">weeks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_849">left</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_850">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_851">Kazakhstan</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_852">That</span>’s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_853">like</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_854">college</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_855">semester</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_856">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_857">so</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_858">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_859">it</span>’s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_860">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_861">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_862">fly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_863">by</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_864">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_865">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_866">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_867">try</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_868">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_869">hunker</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_870">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_871">now</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_872">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_873">finish</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_874">strong</span>. </p>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsh6X05L53WxMqiFs9a10_G2V5TVoNBFsJm7XenIIu2t425N8lw77paRE1gwfEaCfPGsSyfVgrCAkSHRLU4VdXWUHPW59FeGjUsfRMvnIOfZgEryjSJBB4dAKefQ9Y9M4kZwGFbtS1Mno/s1600/IMG_6979.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsh6X05L53WxMqiFs9a10_G2V5TVoNBFsJm7XenIIu2t425N8lw77paRE1gwfEaCfPGsSyfVgrCAkSHRLU4VdXWUHPW59FeGjUsfRMvnIOfZgEryjSJBB4dAKefQ9Y9M4kZwGFbtS1Mno/s320/IMG_6979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647260725452244642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_875">Camp</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_876">location</span>
<br />
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJHtYo_osI8_L1dJbA7wv4CaBCE9mtPZq7sxk73DHE8rr4lv96tV-1mXtghsnHl8RIn8WZlqVojav7wWZHTC3NawOx_4fgj8ovKh_6X88dCGa986dAKoQiMKvDEon4mWeQdEyi2BGNAY/s1600/IMG_6964.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJHtYo_osI8_L1dJbA7wv4CaBCE9mtPZq7sxk73DHE8rr4lv96tV-1mXtghsnHl8RIn8WZlqVojav7wWZHTC3NawOx_4fgj8ovKh_6X88dCGa986dAKoQiMKvDEon4mWeQdEyi2BGNAY/s320/IMG_6964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647260720941818210" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_877">Sunset</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_878">over</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_879">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_880">steppe</span>
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<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gTQca5d_ZSsm-HYs_lB4R_PFum8wQrGFl_lContm4YeBpe_O89GFZ9-0aX5Lfeo9FBYxayHsxd64Yv8f8bgrcMCsoffb0go6AgwAvU3zHUdCcrWPUJVdWD5uWq2b4FWtP8n05-8EvDI/s1600/IMG_6976.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gTQca5d_ZSsm-HYs_lB4R_PFum8wQrGFl_lContm4YeBpe_O89GFZ9-0aX5Lfeo9FBYxayHsxd64Yv8f8bgrcMCsoffb0go6AgwAvU3zHUdCcrWPUJVdWD5uWq2b4FWtP8n05-8EvDI/s320/IMG_6976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647260717668127698" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_881">First</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_882">take</span>
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqd_sE8IiqDdsnst5bGKCkzx7aIB5jJJxRKleXuQJucrpLYksoUI5rEBehZkVmjhuIL9RUe7h7HOvXEtcBDqmfIXKlm07FZfPD82DOdH97Marx52YFZNlQmOdcMX42aYvIvXfI9OGapo/s1600/IMG_6990.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqd_sE8IiqDdsnst5bGKCkzx7aIB5jJJxRKleXuQJucrpLYksoUI5rEBehZkVmjhuIL9RUe7h7HOvXEtcBDqmfIXKlm07FZfPD82DOdH97Marx52YFZNlQmOdcMX42aYvIvXfI9OGapo/s320/IMG_6990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647260735053899394" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_883">My</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_884">favorite</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_885">teambuilder</span>
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<br /></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4xw5nyYaI2snl2P0_SkLVFUn9USkDBnw4NQrqxM-xdWP3nZQYoKWusDF3bPa3cvclZ2St_AkHkeWzvOVube7xSPePC9fDWVbq7Vmovo6lj0r9MkZhPzCtEkAznxWbzVW8VH7vVZlIt8/s1600/IMG_7005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4xw5nyYaI2snl2P0_SkLVFUn9USkDBnw4NQrqxM-xdWP3nZQYoKWusDF3bPa3cvclZ2St_AkHkeWzvOVube7xSPePC9fDWVbq7Vmovo6lj0r9MkZhPzCtEkAznxWbzVW8VH7vVZlIt8/s320/IMG_7005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647265632982007282" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_886">Our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_887">beautiful</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_888">lodging</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OnxxChVESwJFJsPFYDd9k4k62SXORWFNyOfYVYp7cewyKVDwdJPunMwSnDtDINpQYkXGne1MZbZSEi3K6fWVq2-boj2uKQKiUFKmO1NG91h6TH7Ii1cetOCDsWPIikYxN5_K_83-Cdo/s1600/IMG_7000.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OnxxChVESwJFJsPFYDd9k4k62SXORWFNyOfYVYp7cewyKVDwdJPunMwSnDtDINpQYkXGne1MZbZSEi3K6fWVq2-boj2uKQKiUFKmO1NG91h6TH7Ii1cetOCDsWPIikYxN5_K_83-Cdo/s320/IMG_7000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647265630722624226" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_889">Trust</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_890">fall</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_891">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_892">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_893">students</span></span>
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<br /></p> Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-81510798189693071332011-08-31T22:15:00.000-07:002011-08-31T22:27:44.184-07:00Continued thoughts on Georgia: Civil War<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">In 1991, Georgia announced independence from the Soviet Union. And soon afterwards, they went to war. Two of its regions wanted to secede from Georgia: Abkhazia and South Osseida. They had been part of Georgia during the Soviet Union, and they were historically parts of the kingdom of Georgia on and off again for the past two thousand years. However, there were some reasons for them to want to be separate. I don’t know much about South Ossedia, so I’ll focus mostly on Abkhazia. (This is what we may call interpreted history rather than objective history. I am repeating what I was told, so in some ways this is the history that exists in the minds of at least some people in Georgia. I must admit that this is a one-sided story, but unfortunately that’s the only side I got to hear. I hope that reading this will encourage some people to look up information themselves and find out more.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Abkhazians have their own language. They are also mostly Islamic, while Georgians are Christians with a capital C. However, in 1991, only say 20% of the population in Abkhazia was actually Abkhaz. Georgian (or Mengrellian, but they consider themselves Georgian). So 20% of the population said, we want to secede. And 80% said, what? And then the minority said, get out. And the majority said, what? And then war started and 200,000 people fled Abkhazia for Georgia. The Abkhaz with the Russians helped kick out 80% of the population and then declared independence from Georgia. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">A new country and a new economy are hard things to manage. Countries all over the Soviet Union went into chaos in the early 1990s. Imagine everything depending on the government. Your job, your healthcare, all your utilities. And then one day, the government stops existing. It’s hard to imagine. People don’t get paid. Things don’t get made. Utilities don’t work. People have no heating in the winter. It was tough times. In Georgia, these were exacerbated by a civil war. Not only was there a sudden lack of government, there was a war and hundreds of thousands of refugees. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was fortunate enough to meet some amazing people during my trip, and it turned out about a dozen or so of them were refugees. Through a friend of a friend, I met up with Irakli and his family in Zugdidi, which is the city closest to the border with Abkhazia. Of course, the fighting has been over for 15 years now, and they are living a normal enough life. The government gave them an apartment to live in. Irakli and his brother both graduated from university. His father has a small business making bags for food products. But they long for their old life. Irakli grew up in a town on the coast of the Black Sea. Their house was only 30 meters away from the water. His parents grew up in that town. That was their life. And now, they are forbidden to go back. And with a mere percentage of the original residents, their house has probably been looted and now sites abandoned. Sitting there, 30 meters from the water, empty.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Irakli and his family live in a normal, although modest, apartment. Some of his relatives still haven’t received normal apartments. They live in a converted preschool. It’s not bad, but for them, it still didn’t feel like home. Soon though, seventeen years after the war, they are going to finally get apartment in a new city and somehow try and start a new life there. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">August 2008. For me, that’s when I came to Kazakhstan. It’s also the Beijing Olympics. I remember because they started on my birthday. Maybe you remember another event that happened around that time. Russia invaded Georgia. The way I remember it being presented, Russia was the bad guy picking on little, innocent Georgia. They wanted to disrupt some pipeline or get land or something. In reality, this was a complicated situation. I don’t really understand what happened, but it wasn’t just a flashfire event. It had been building up for years and fighting had been escalating for months leading up to the incident. The wikipedia page on it presents an interesting story, although it is flagged for questionable neutrality (although I’m not sure from which side; it presents both in a negative light). It seems simple to conclude though, that both sides were at least partly responsible. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">My new friends briefly recounted some events from the first war and the 2008 war. When I was riding around in Irakli’s uncle’s Zhugili (an old Soviet station wagon type car) he joked that it was his tank. It’s what they used when they were fleeing Abkhazia with eleven people and everything they could bring with them crammed inside. A small shell actually hit the top of it, but it was stopped by the luggage they had on top. Their tank, indeed. In 2008, everything happened quickly. Russian jets were flying everywhere. They apparently bombed the Borjomi region which started some serious fires. There were civilian casualties, including at least one foreign journalist. Peace Corps volunteers were also affected. I heard they called their Safety and Security Office saying, “Uh… there are Russian troops in my yard. What do I do?” (Since then Peace Corps rules in Georgia have been extra strict. They are issued cell phones. They get free minutes on all calls between Peace Corps phones. And you MUST have your phone with you at all times.) But the war was a short one, and a tentative peace was made. However, a war only increased incentive and justification for Russia’s presence in the disputed territories. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The refugees know that the process won’t end soon. They certainly don’t expect to go home tomorrow. But I think they have hope. How can they not? In their minds, that is their land. Their houses, their belongings, they are just 100 kilometers away, but across a distance that cannot yet be crossed. They talk about Abkhazia fondly. The beaches butt up right against the mountains. Not like Batumi, which is flat. They long to go home; they hope one day they might be able to, but until then, they are living their lives in other parts of Georgia. </p>Two incidents were interesting to me. One, when we were going to a cave city about 70 km away from Borjomi, we brought along a young boy of about eleven years old. He was Abkhaz, but he was visiting Georgia. The other travelers were me, and four refugees from Abkhazia. They spoke about him as if he was a novelty. Look at us, four refugees, an American, and an Abkhaz. What a crazy bunch! It seemed like they were slightly jealous of the boy, and why wouldn’t they be. He still gets to live there; and they can only dream. At one point, he was saying how beautiful Georgia was, but how Abkhazia was even prettier. The four other people with us jokingly said, we know, we lived there our whole lives! <p class="MsoNormal">Another time, someone was telling a friend news of Abkhazia they had heard from the boy’s mother. Apparently, Russian tourists were trying to go into the region, but they had trouble because police enforcement is rather lax there. My friend became slightly incensed, why were Russians going there? What were they doing there? There’s no reason for them to be there? And I could only think that I’ve heard constantly about how it’s amazingly beautiful, why wouldn’t they go there if they could? But that logic wasn’t in the mind of my friend. That’s his home, what right do people have to go there when he himself can’t. I assume that’s what he was thinking. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">For me, it was fascinating talking to the people of Georgia about what had happened. Never in my life had I talked to refugees before. In development, you hear a lot about them. Refugees. Refugee camps. But then to meet someone who had to leave their home and couldn’t go back. To change their whole life due to war. And I longed to hear the other side. I know what I heard had to be at least somewhat biased, but honestly no one spoke badly about anyone else. If there were any bitter feelings, they did not share them with me, their guest. They only spoke about their land which is now unreachable for them. The beauty of it, and how much they miss it. Either way, it was quite an impressive display of forgiveness or restraint. And a reminder that things are never as simple as they seem. </p> Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-52776065279644716332011-08-17T20:23:00.000-07:002011-08-17T20:28:17.983-07:00Drinking in Georgia: A Beginner's Guide<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ4rDXMe1o_9ToFBpAXBqZSQKrmq3q98kZJgm6Vx04oZ3sDBUzf-NXmnU7T6LDVA0k-qpcl1I31bu8rpei5AsjbPxr6hkYvVqdWd36k2vdbwaVS9WAHeUfRSce0kId-eGRHqbQnBjpfw/s1600/IMG_6753.JPG">
<br /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]-->One of the joys of visiting Georgia is the wine. Georgians love wine. They love to drink it. They love to make it. They love to toast with it. But people there don’t just sit and sip on their wine. They toast and then they guzzle. That’s one reason why they drink more white wine then red wine. Sure, they make red wine, and they love it, but they admit guzzling glass after glass of red wine in a night is a lot harder than white wine.<p class="MsoNormal">
<br />So let’s say you sit down at a Georgia dinner, and you are poured wine. What’s the proper etiquette? You must wait for a toast. Who gives the toast? A special chosen person called the tomador. This is the table commander. He is the man in charge. He also has a second in command, but I don’t remember what that guy is called. So the tomador will say a toast about something, and then the second guy will elaborate on the toast. Then everyone drinks their glass of wine all the way or almost all the way. Don’t sip it. Down that thing. If the toast was to something normal, you can leave a bit left in your glass (friends, meeting, country), but if it something very important (to the dead, God, etc), you should drink the whole thing. Then they fill your glass back up and you wait for the next toast. There’s no drinking it in between toasts. (However, in my experience, albeit limited, we were allowed a glass of juice or water as well that we could drink from freely.) How much time is there between toasts? Sometimes just a few minutes, sometimes five minutes, sometimes longer. It depends on the tomador. Are you allowed to say your own toast? Eventually, but you better wait for a bit, and then you have to ask permission from the commander.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The toasts are usually from a set list. There’s the normal toast for meeting, for friends, for the dead, for God, for women, for peace, for etc… For me as a visitor for only two weeks, this was pretty fun. I don’t know how I’d feel there as a volunteer there for two years though. Maybe I’d get sick of the repetitiveness, but I think a lot of it depends on the table commander. Generally, they should be gregarious and interesting. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Where do they get all of this wine from? Often, they make it themselves. The eastern part of Georgia are where most of the vineyards are, but many people also have some grape vines growing in their own yards. The harvest season is in September, and apparently September and October are the times visit because Georgians celebrate this time of year (it’s also not 40 degrees in Tbilisi like it is in August). Even the people who don’t grow their own grapes may buy kilos of it to make wine out of. One family I talked to bought about 500 kilograms a year of grapes. From this, he’s make about 300 liters of good pure wine, and 300 liters of good, watered-down wine. (I am not really sure how accurately I remember the numbers, but it was a lot of grapes and a lot of wine.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Wine is not all that they drink in Georgia though. They don’t just throw away the grape stuff after they extract the wine. They distill it to make a drink called chacha. Homemade liquor. Usually above 60 proof, possibly much much higher. Not being content with just this, they also make homemade vodka from other fruits like plums. My friend Irakli and I actually ran into his uncle distilling some vodka in the apartment lawn on my birthday. He invited us to sit down and try it. Later he measured it with this floating gauge to find out it was about 65 proof. The homemade pickles helped get that stuff down. Oh, you toast chacha and vodka the same way as with the wine.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ4rDXMe1o_9ToFBpAXBqZSQKrmq3q98kZJgm6Vx04oZ3sDBUzf-NXmnU7T6LDVA0k-qpcl1I31bu8rpei5AsjbPxr6hkYvVqdWd36k2vdbwaVS9WAHeUfRSce0kId-eGRHqbQnBjpfw/s1600/IMG_6753.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ4rDXMe1o_9ToFBpAXBqZSQKrmq3q98kZJgm6Vx04oZ3sDBUzf-NXmnU7T6LDVA0k-qpcl1I31bu8rpei5AsjbPxr6hkYvVqdWd36k2vdbwaVS9WAHeUfRSce0kId-eGRHqbQnBjpfw/s200/IMG_6753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642032098418366274" border="0" /></a>How to make vodka
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> They also drink beer, but they don’t toast it. You can casually drink it like you want to. </p> Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-68483936096059981032011-08-12T11:34:00.000-07:002011-08-12T12:32:34.240-07:00Fill up your bottle<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Georgians</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">proud</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">water</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">probably</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">should</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">be</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">famous</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">mineral</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">world</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">main</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">brand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">being</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borjomi_%28water%29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Borjomi</span></a>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">whose</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">bottles</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">may</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">in</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">nearby</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">supermarket</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">It</span>’s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">funny</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">squiggle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">writing</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">aka</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">Georgian</span>). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">company</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">started</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">bottling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">salty</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">fizzy</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">mineral</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">filled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">town</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">Borjomi</span> 120 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">years</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">ago</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">billboards</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">now</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">commemorate</span>). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">However</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">Borjomi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">unique</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">Georgia</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">Many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">places</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">bottle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">springs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">ground</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">Georgia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">seemed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">ones</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">popular</span>. <p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">Of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">course</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">tons</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">tons</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">natural</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">springs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">through</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">country</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">and</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">trip</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">Georgia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">complete</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">without</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">stopping</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">numerous</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">times</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">during</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">trip</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">drink</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">natural</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">springs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">now</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">pipes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">spickets</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">coming</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">them</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">Going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">Kazbegi</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">marshrutka</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">stopped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">twice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">driver</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">passengers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">enjoy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">spring</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">water</span>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyoef9VQ11CdF1aTpOJK2ha78lkztiu4oaQwdWPcspMQCcaPtwZDZczGnir8FEcAHZOTwp1xfy9VE2KQpQuBUL2-rME_RSYQwTxo3iKwOK-sd7deu2QiKgTllibTInjip9uS2704yJC8/s1600/IMG_6620.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyoef9VQ11CdF1aTpOJK2ha78lkztiu4oaQwdWPcspMQCcaPtwZDZczGnir8FEcAHZOTwp1xfy9VE2KQpQuBUL2-rME_RSYQwTxo3iKwOK-sd7deu2QiKgTllibTInjip9uS2704yJC8/s200/IMG_6620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640042268077449234" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">taste</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">good</span>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">Other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">trips</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">same</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">You</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">stop</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">car</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">out</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">fresh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">mineral</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">water</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">Sometimes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">tastes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">great</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">sometimes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">tastes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">its</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">full</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">metal</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">Either</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">way</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">here</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">love</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">drink</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">it</span>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOzf-TLgPta8m9G7kJmlgt-M-4-XQ8RQa1ddQakhBvtCyA2_4ua_s233nb-9CbkEkMKACJurb5qZdE18oZcgmFt7IHU5NklU1VDS9RLzR-00b5CsdhquX9AlO3h1MfBwT6UOjc2yACcw/s1600/IMG_6828.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOzf-TLgPta8m9G7kJmlgt-M-4-XQ8RQa1ddQakhBvtCyA2_4ua_s233nb-9CbkEkMKACJurb5qZdE18oZcgmFt7IHU5NklU1VDS9RLzR-00b5CsdhquX9AlO3h1MfBwT6UOjc2yACcw/s200/IMG_6828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640052434160641922" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">tasted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">great</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">near</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">town</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">Rustavi</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoJyULv-fVeafLpefmTHGqyXwfv1Y4kmKLF_gfdsKeI9VXgMMLVDkLuIMQ9FpHoX5lFjhMrMvQYqhfYexbDT6-htbdrZg36fa0893cr1vwmiG4IOswJqrL-OwcPop4JCGJjysF2cBD48/s1600/IMG_6882.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoJyULv-fVeafLpefmTHGqyXwfv1Y4kmKLF_gfdsKeI9VXgMMLVDkLuIMQ9FpHoX5lFjhMrMvQYqhfYexbDT6-htbdrZg36fa0893cr1vwmiG4IOswJqrL-OwcPop4JCGJjysF2cBD48/s200/IMG_6882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640052767213045618" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">Green</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">Monastary</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">near</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">Borjomi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">tasted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">pretty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">good</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_MAlG_l0oMq_HjtIZF3A3NWLF8F5T399Ch9cBxs6NyBOr2u_QLZHgE2Wyff11H_CVRCQ7kKtmOqfL4j4ERgzAzU5KLcELc2yWrk6ZBgoZapulx9QtLz8sP9TFb3byVe0FBxNsu9s-vo/s1600/IMG_6781.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_MAlG_l0oMq_HjtIZF3A3NWLF8F5T399Ch9cBxs6NyBOr2u_QLZHgE2Wyff11H_CVRCQ7kKtmOqfL4j4ERgzAzU5KLcELc2yWrk6ZBgoZapulx9QtLz8sP9TFb3byVe0FBxNsu9s-vo/s200/IMG_6781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640042452557434450" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">line</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">too</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">long</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">so</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">didn't</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">try</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">water</span>.
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">Borjomi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">famous</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">though</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">park</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">center</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">town</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">contains</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">fountain</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">fill</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">cups</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">drink</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">mineral</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">free</span>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuHBwnsRRw70DsAULXV_hc1NijFB7MB4ZGe35xbUlVnM_u-7bGw8SdP3or2y2m52c8FOKr3wxZlYsn120NY9oifOAGR8NTu4wb2UI6SjiwKheailcwlJnBLWzUYklapEQmx49wye9moQ/s1600/IMG_6797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuHBwnsRRw70DsAULXV_hc1NijFB7MB4ZGe35xbUlVnM_u-7bGw8SdP3or2y2m52c8FOKr3wxZlYsn120NY9oifOAGR8NTu4wb2UI6SjiwKheailcwlJnBLWzUYklapEQmx49wye9moQ/s200/IMG_6797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640052210279593762" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">Me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">filling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_268">up</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_269">cup</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_270">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_271">FREE</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_272">Borjomi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_273">water</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_274">Another</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_275">spring</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_276">nearby</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_277">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_278">cold</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_279">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_280">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_281">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_282">better</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_283">And</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_284">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_285">creates</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_286">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_287">interesting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_288">phenomenon</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_289">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_290">vendors</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_291">selling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_292">empty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_293">plastic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_294">bottles</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_295">Never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_296">have</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_297">seen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_298">person</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_299">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_300">person</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_301">selling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_302">empty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_303">plastic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_304">bottles</span>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRvVbcGip5E6exhQmTdjSeH8CFP9Q9-aZdMgWQL2S2I2yCDabdWC_gShivJqaLhLGcIAp8474-8dAlHKYRd34G8lfW_9yHS6FXlqCIp8Nfa3KUiPqkSIXtkjv3vGehVYTgXgbN9N9frc/s1600/IMG_6799.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRvVbcGip5E6exhQmTdjSeH8CFP9Q9-aZdMgWQL2S2I2yCDabdWC_gShivJqaLhLGcIAp8474-8dAlHKYRd34G8lfW_9yHS6FXlqCIp8Nfa3KUiPqkSIXtkjv3vGehVYTgXgbN9N9frc/s200/IMG_6799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640053773500242658" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_305">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_306">water</span>’s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_307">free</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_308">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_309">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_310">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_311">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_312">buy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_313">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_314">bottle</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_315">When</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_316">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_317">filled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_318">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_319">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_320">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_321">Borjomi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_322">spring</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_323">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_324">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_325">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_326">filling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_327">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_328">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_329">ten</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_330">liters</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_331">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_332">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_333">spring</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_334">water</span>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_335">In</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_336">somewhat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_337">ironic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_338">twist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_339">though</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_340">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_341">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_342">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_343">places</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_344">stayed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_345">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_346">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_347">Georgia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_348">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_349">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_350">running</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_351">water</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_352">couple</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_353">times</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_354">day</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_355">There</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_356">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_357">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_358">everywhere</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_359">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_360">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_361">don</span>’t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_362">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_363">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_364">infrastructure</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_365">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_366">keep</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_367">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_368">pumping</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_369">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_370">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_371">houses</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_372">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_373">day</span>. </p> Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-15654719277948076752011-08-11T12:42:00.000-07:002011-08-11T13:01:49.431-07:00A Primer on Georgia (Michael's on vacation!)So I went on vacation and finally have something to write about. For the next few entries, my blog is going to feature stuff about Kyrgyzstan and Georgia. Georgia being the country and not the state. I should probably write about Kyrgyzstan first, but I’m in Georgia now, so it’s fresh. First a short introduction to Georgia. <p class="MsoNormal">Georgia is a small country located in the Caucuses. Is it Europe? Is it Asia? No one seems to know. (Even when I was given my Peace Corps assignment, I remember wondering this. Okay, Central Asia. So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bulguria</span> and Ukraine are out. What about Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan? When asked, people don’t really know. They see themselves more European, but overall they are the Caucuses.) They are technically in Europe, but they are Caucus people. That’s important to know. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Also, here I should note that everything I know about Georgia I learned from being here, talking to people, reading Lonely Planet, and skimming <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wikipedia</span>. So this is definitely not well researched.</p>Anyway, Georgia is a small country. There’s about 5 million people here. 3.5 million are Georgians, and 1.5 million are others. That includes Armenians, Turks, Russians, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Azeris</span>, etc. However, even all Georgians are not all the same. Some are different nationalities like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Svans</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Megrellians</span>. Georgia shares borders with Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. It also has a big coast on the Black Sea. However, the country is only a few hundred kilometers wide, and in the past two weeks, I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ve</span> been able to make it to within miles of Turkey (really like 100 yards away), Russia, and Armenia. <p class="MsoNormal">Georgia is Christian. Wait, they are a democratic with freedom of religion. But they are a Christian nation. Those 3.5 million Georgians, pretty much all of them are Georgian Orthodox. And everywhere you go, it shows. If there is a hill overlooking a town here, there is a cross or a church or both prominently sitting on top. The mosques and other religious places are hidden away. When you pass by a church, people cross themselves. Wearing crosses is very popular. How this actually translates into practice, I’m not sure. But the display of religious here is important. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Georgians like to drink. The main things they drink are wine, beer, vodka, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">chacha</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Chacha</span> is a homemade liquor made from grapes, after they are finished making their homemade wine. They seem to drink all three major categories of alcohol: beer, liquor, and wine. And a lot of it is homemade. They also have an interesting way of going about it that I’ll cover later on. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Georgians speak Georgian. Georgian not like any other language in the world. That’s not entirely true. People here speak different versions of Georgian like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Megrellian</span>, Georgian, or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Svani</span>. However, Georgia has its own alphabet and it has its own language branch. Yeah, like Germanic covers English, Germany, etc. Latin has Spanish, French, Italian. Slavic has tons of languages. Georgian is a whole language branch for like six million people. Crazy. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The older generation (up to about 30 maybe?) all knows Russian from when they were in the Soviet Union. The younger generation is learning English instead, trying to bring it closer to the West, but possibly excluding its regional neighbors. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In addition to these facts, I will soon elaborate on mineral water, mountain landscapes, the Black Sea, and a civil war. And once again, none of this is well researched. Any wrong information is an honest mistake. I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ve</span> just had an amazing time learning and exploring this wonderful country, and I hope more people are able to learn about it.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And just for fun, a picture or two:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYfbfcXtAwNu9E4htq5REorTXkvbhmfY_WZSzKx0H8l8rogj4HVIkqUE_3f6po2KGpYskIy6xSb8yXTkABVVneoz5AoNbo3iyXyJwIMmG4HL9juw041qvJ98vHPFKyyON0RuBi3tIBmc/s1600/IMG_6630.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYfbfcXtAwNu9E4htq5REorTXkvbhmfY_WZSzKx0H8l8rogj4HVIkqUE_3f6po2KGpYskIy6xSb8yXTkABVVneoz5AoNbo3iyXyJwIMmG4HL9juw041qvJ98vHPFKyyON0RuBi3tIBmc/s200/IMG_6630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639688660542982114" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Church on a hill
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElm1JV2hDdMzoAtqw2TFsbrqzamcr_Hw1dsFKlydzZn5H_S6OJhgl7q2TWSjatnFVf8OePjf2V4fVo84VLBy3lG9OZWC1_L-s-6UqO9beCy2_275p1kFpa8SpUFhLGoaZ_seQLJIY_oc/s1600/IMG_6523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElm1JV2hDdMzoAtqw2TFsbrqzamcr_Hw1dsFKlydzZn5H_S6OJhgl7q2TWSjatnFVf8OePjf2V4fVo84VLBy3lG9OZWC1_L-s-6UqO9beCy2_275p1kFpa8SpUFhLGoaZ_seQLJIY_oc/s200/IMG_6523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639688259397752194" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Georgian alphabet.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-78785390224476079102011-07-12T12:11:00.000-07:002011-07-12T12:34:47.309-07:00Just another Tuesday...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">With</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">volunteers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">having</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">finally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">left</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">summer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">camp</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">faced</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">quiet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">evening</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">alone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">city</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Instead</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">relaxing</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">head</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">over</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Asa</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">help</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Jessica</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">with</span> "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">evening</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">baseball</span>," a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">take</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">baseball</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">camp</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">since</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">temperature</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">the</span> 40s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">quite</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">few</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">days</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">now</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">Things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">happened</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">trip</span>:<br /><br />- I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">brought</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">giant</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">bag</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">full</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">plastic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">bottles</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">onto</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">Asa</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">bus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">problem</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">since</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">put</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">giant</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">bags</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">full</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">brought</span>.<br />- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">When</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">bus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">made</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">sudden</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">stop</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">woman</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">near</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">Mark</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">almost</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">fell</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">window</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">Half</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">body</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">fell</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">including</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">arm</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">holding</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">purse</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">Okay</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">wasn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">danger</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">since</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">window</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">ledge</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">too</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">high</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">but</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">don</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">held</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">onto</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">purse</span>.<br />- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">helped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">hand</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">guy</span> a 25 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">kilo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">bag</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">sugar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">off</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">bus</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">crazy</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">last</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">America</span>)<br />- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">arrived</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">without</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">calling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">Jessica</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">local</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">us</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">find</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">baseball</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">at</span> 7 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">not</span> 6, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">running</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">late</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">local</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">them</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">wouldn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">until</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">about</span> 7:20<br />- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">Tried</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">playing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">baseball</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">kids</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">realize</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">yeah</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">years</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">still</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">don</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">speak</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">Kazakh</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">Luckily</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">kids</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">helped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">translate</span><br />- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">When</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">local</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">dad</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">showed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">wondering</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">on</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">parent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">interest</span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">awesome</span>?!), I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">ask</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">him</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">put</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">bat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">because</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">though</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">wasn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">swinging</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">it</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">seem</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">notice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">kids</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">him</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">Maybe</span> I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">too</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">overly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">cautious</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_268">but</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_269">don</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_270">want</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_271">anyone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_272">getting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_273">hit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_274">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_275">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_276">bat</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_277">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_278">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_279">said</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_280">eh</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_281">they</span>'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_282">re</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_283">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_284">kids</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_285">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_286">put</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_287">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_288">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_289">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_290">awkward</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_291">situation</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_292">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_293">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_294">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_295">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_296">want</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_297">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_298">let</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_299">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_300">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_301">said</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_302">bat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_303">and</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_304">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_305">trying</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_306">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_307">politely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_308">take</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_309">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_310">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_311">him</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_312">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_313">realized</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_314">that</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_315">may</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_316">soon</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_317">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_318">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_319">angry</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_320">man</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_321">holding</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_322">bat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_323">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_324">deal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_325">with</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_326">Luckily</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_327">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_328">situation</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_329">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_330">defused</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_331">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_332">Mark</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_333">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_334">over</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_335">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_336">said</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_337">Hello</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_338">culturally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_339">forcing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_340">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_341">man</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_342">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_343">shake</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_344">Mark</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_345">hand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_346">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_347">relinquish</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_348">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_349">bat</span>. (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_350">Would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_351">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_352">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_353">to</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_354">man</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_355">in</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_356">hostage</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_357">situation</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_358">saying</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_359">Salom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_360">maleiikom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_361">accomplish</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_362">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_363">same</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_364">thing</span>?)<br />- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_365">On</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_366">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_367">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_368">back</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_369">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_370">tire</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_371">of</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_372">van</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_373">blew</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_374">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_375">while</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_376">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_377">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_378">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_379">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_380">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_381">road</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_382">Not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_383">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_384">unusual</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_385">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_386">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_387">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_388">loud</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_389">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_390">scared</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_391">me</span>.<br />-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_392">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_393">take</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_394">taxi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_395">back</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_396">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_397">town</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_398">Usually</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_399">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_400">let</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_401">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_402">off</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_403">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_404">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_405">far</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_406">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_407">town</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_408">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_409">sometimes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_410">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_411">take</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_412">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_413">further</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_414">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_415">guys</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_416">asks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_417">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_418">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_419">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_420">going</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_421">say</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_422">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_423">center</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_424">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_425">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_426">doesn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_427">say</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_428">anything</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_429">Once</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_430">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_431">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_432">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_433">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_434">city</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_435">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_436">go</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_437">little</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_438">further</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_439">than</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_440">normal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_441">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_442">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_443">stops</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_444">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_445">drop</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_446">off</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_447">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_448">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_449">women</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_450">passengers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_451">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_452">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_453">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_454">us</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_455">One</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_456">has</span> a 2000 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_457">tenge</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_458">bill</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_459">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_460">the</span> 150 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_461">tenge</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_462">ride</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_463">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_464">pulls</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_465">into</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_466">gas</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_467">station</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_468">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_469">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_470">change</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_471">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_472">can</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_473">find</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_474">any</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_475">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_476">asks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_477">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_478">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_479">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_480">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_481">going</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_482">again</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_483">say</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_484">center</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_485">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_486">again</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_487">says</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_488">nothing</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_489">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_490">runs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_491">across</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_492">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_493">street</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_494">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_495">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_496">change</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_497">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_498">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_499">comes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_500">back</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_501">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_502">gives</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_503">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_504">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_505">change</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_506">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_507">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_508">tells</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_509">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_510">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_511">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_512">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_513">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_514">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_515">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_516">because</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_517">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_518">isn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_519">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_520">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_521">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_522">center</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_523">am</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_524">confused</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_525">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_526">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_527">why</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_528">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_529">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_530">tell</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_531">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_532">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_533">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_534">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_535">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_536">sitting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_537">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_538">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_539">car</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_540">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_541">five</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_542">minutes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_543">while</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_544">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_545">attempted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_546">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_547">find</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_548">change</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_549">Perhaps</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_550">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_551">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_552">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_553">equally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_554">confused</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_555">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_556">why</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_557">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_558">thought</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_559">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_560">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_561">take</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_562">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_563">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_564">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_565">center</span>.<br />-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_566">While</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_567">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_568">back</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_569">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_570">decide</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_571">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_572">peak</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_573">in</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_574">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_575">cafe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_576">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_577">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_578">opened</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_579">up</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_580">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_581">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_582">called</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_583">Mr</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_584">Kumpir</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_585">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_586">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_587">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_588">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_589">interesting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_590">logo</span>. http://www.mrkumpir.com/eng/menulerimiz.html <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_591">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_592">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_593">inside</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_594">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_595">find</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_596">surprisingly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_597">nice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_598">looking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_599">restaurant</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_600">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_601">waiter</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_602">seats</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_603">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_604">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_605">brings</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_606">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_607">menus</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_608">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_609">turns</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_610">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_611">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_612">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_613">menus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_614">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_615">every</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_616">table</span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_617">Some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_618">restaurants</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_619">here</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_620">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_621">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_622">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_623">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_624">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_625">menus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_626">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_627">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_628">whole</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_629">place</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_630">Further</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_631">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_632">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_633">find</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_634">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_635">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_636">menu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_637">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_638">ridiculous</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_639">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_640">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_641">full</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_642">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_643">kumpirs</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_644">What</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_645">is</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_646">kumpir</span>? A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_647">baked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_648">potato</span>! I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_649">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_650">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_651">seen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_652">these</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_653">at</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_654">cafe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_655">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_656">Kazakhstan</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_657">Even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_658">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_659">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_660">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_661">homemade</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_662">here</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_663">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_664">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_665">typically</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_666">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_667">baked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_668">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_669">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_670">decorated</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_671">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_672">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_673">toppings</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_674">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_675">these</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_676">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_677">gourmet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_678">ones</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_679">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_680">included</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_681">toppings</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_682">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_683">red</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_684">cabbage</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_685">broccoli</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_686">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_687">beans</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_688">Further</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_689">exploration</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_690">revealed</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_691">value</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_692">menu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_693">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_694">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_695">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_696">order</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_697">hamburger</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_698">fries</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_699">and</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_700">drink</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_701">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_702">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_703">price</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_704">Yeah</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_705">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_706">course</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_707">these</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_708">exist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_709">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_710">Almaty</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_711">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_712">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_713">Taraz</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_714">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_715">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_716">mindblowing</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_717">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_718">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_719">stark</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_720">contrast</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_721">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_722">Asa</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_723">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_724">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_725">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_726">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_727">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_728">only</span> 30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_729">minutes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_730">before</span>). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_731">Wait</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_732">what</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_733">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_734">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_735">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_736">menu</span>? A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_737">waffle</span>? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_738">Like</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_739">real</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_740">thick</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_741">waffle</span>? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_742">No</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_743">way</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_744">Yes</span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_745">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_746">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_747">real</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_748">waffle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_749">iron</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_750">However</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_751">waffles</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_752">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_753">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_754">gourmet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_755">waffles</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_756">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_757">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_758">come</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_759">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_760">fruit</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_761">chocolate</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_762">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_763">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_764">toppings</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_765">In</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_766">addition</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_767">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_768">these</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_769">items</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_770">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_771">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_772">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_773">grilled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_774">cheese</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_775">sandwiches</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_776">regular</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_777">sandwiches</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_778">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_779">chicken</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_780">shnitzel</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_781">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_782">turned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_783">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_784">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_785">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_786">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_787">fried</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_788">chicken</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_789">breasts</span>). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_790">All</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_791">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_792">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_793">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_794">made</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_795">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_796">ridiculous</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_797">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_798">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_799">fact</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_800">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_801">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_802">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_803">past</span> 36 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_804">hours</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_805">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_806">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_807">attempt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_808">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_809">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_810">super</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_811">American</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_812">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_813">made</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_814">waffles</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_815">baked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_816">potatoes</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_817">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_818">chicken</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_819">fingers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_820">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_821">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_822">relished</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_823">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_824">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_825">fact</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_826">that</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_827">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_828">culinaryily</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_829">unique</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_830">Nope</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_831">Just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_832">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_833">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_834">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_835">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_836">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_837">street</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_838">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_839">tried</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_840">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_841">order</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_842">kumpirs</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_843">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_844">speciality</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_845">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_846">Mr</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_847">Kumpir</span>), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_848">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_849">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_850">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_851">out</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_852">That</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_853">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_854">pinch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_855">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_856">say</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_857">yes</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_858">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_859">still</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_860">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_861">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_862">Kazakhstan</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_863">To</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_864">add</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_865">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_866">ridiculousness</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_867">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_868">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_869">point</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_870">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_871">waiter</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_872">even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_873">came</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_874">back</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_875">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_876">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_877">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_878">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_879">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_880">doing</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_881">And</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_882">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_883">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_884">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_885">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_886">check</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_887">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_888">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_889">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_890">service</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_891">charge</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_892">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_893">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_894">bread</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_895">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_896">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_897">gotten</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_898">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_899">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_900">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_901">for</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_902">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_903">truly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_904">complimentary</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_905">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_906">place</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_907">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_908">overpriced</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_909">but</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_910">hope</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_911">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_912">manages</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_913">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_914">stick</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_915">around</span>.Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-51790359785684086622011-07-05T22:12:00.000-07:002011-07-05T22:18:09.042-07:00Summer campsI haven't written on this thing in forever. Surprisingly, it is working without proxy servers and I am actually on blogger. Awesome.<br /><br />This week I have a ten day summer camp with kids from our Access program. I was basically in charge of putting most of it together, so I had to run all around town and find things to do. The hardest thing in Kazakhstan is getting documents from places that sell you things. So we had to nix t-shirts because they were too expensive with the right documents. So far we have had a picnic, a scavenger hunt, tours of the city, visit to the museum, icebreakers, and day at the park. Today is bowling, then American sports day, then a trip to the movie theater. We have a great group of volunteers from the South helping at the camp.<br /><br />Next week, there is a break. Then Astana, then Kyrgyzstan?, then camp, then break, then Ust, then Georgia, then three more months as I hunker down and finish strong. I'll try to update soon with some pictures from camp, since I can now post them with blogger.<br /><br />Oh and Happy Astana Day!Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-39023305445746222402011-06-13T20:18:00.000-07:002011-06-13T20:19:43.022-07:00Barbra Zhorga<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAZaUIzrH7U&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAZaUIzrH7U&feature=player_embedded</a><br><br>Last week, we had our COS conference in Almaty. (My second and I'm still not leaving until December!) I took part in the talent show as an honorary member of SKO (South Kazakhstan Oblast). We mashed-up Barbara Streisand and Kara Zhorga. I'm the guy in the hat who is having lots of trouble staying in time. <br> <br><br clear="all"><br><br> Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-77246904359866045012011-05-11T08:24:00.001-07:002011-05-11T08:24:26.435-07:00Quick UpdatesLately I've been focusing on finishing up a career test for students<br>here in K-stan. It's been frustrating because I rely so much on my<br>co-workers. If this was in America, I could write it all myself, but<br>here my Russian is just awful. At least my Russian writing. So<br>EVERYTHING I do has to be proofread by my co-workers who are busy with<br>other projects. I think once we get it done though, it will be very<br>cool though. We almost have the Russian translation down. Next comes a<br>Kazakh translation and a web site.<p>Outside of that, I've been having a great few weeks. The holidays here<br>were awesome. On Sunday, we played frisbee in pouring rain then<br>banyaed. Then on Victory Day we watched the parade like last year, but<br>this year I was a little less cramped. I also had a couple trips to<br>Shymkent that were tons of fun.<p>In other news, you should check out this blog post by a fellow PCV<br><a href="http://katharinedoeskazakhstan.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/miss-post-teen-momushylu/">http://katharinedoeskazakhstan.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/miss-post-teen-momushylu/</a>.<br>She not only entered a local beauty pageant with a salad making<br>contest, she WON it. I'm jealous, since in all my contest entries so<br>far here I've placed third, tied for first, and second. But she<br>outright won. Molodets, Katharine!Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-13489569990089258882011-05-03T19:35:00.001-07:002011-05-03T19:35:28.784-07:00Camp GLOWA couple years ago, I posted about an opportunity to help fund my friend's project that wanted to teach Kazakh lanaguage to people in his town. That project was funded, implemented, and the town government saw the response and continued to fund it. I don't know if any of my readers contributed, but it's awesome if you did. <br> <br>Now another one of my friends' projects needs just a little bit more funding. Camp GLOW is an awesome experience for young women in Kazakhstan. They learn leadership, empowerment, and life skills that will help them lead healthier, happier lives. If you could give just $5 or $10, then that would make a difference in funding this camp, and the lives of these girls. <br> <br><div> <a href="http://campglowkaz.tumblr.com/#4391322848" target="_blank">Girls Leading Our World</a> <br><br>My friend started a challenge among her friends and family to get this funded in 48 hours. I said I'd post the link to try and help with the effort. <br> </div><div><br><a href="https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=306-072" target="_blank">Please donate</a> by 12:30 AM Thursday May 05, 2011</div><br> Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-91981056511577753332011-04-19T19:19:00.001-07:002011-04-19T19:19:17.976-07:00FashionThe other day I had on some brown pants that my parents sent me for<br>Christmas. Asela saw them and commented that they'd look really good<br>with her new brown top that I got her from America. Brown on brown,<br>that matches right? I said that it matched in a Kazakhstan kind of<br>way. Is it fashionable to wear a whole outfit of just one color in<br>America? Here, it's not uncommon to see full-color outfits. Like<br>purple. Girls will have on purple boots, a purple dress, purple<br>earrings, and purple eye shadow. I've seen the same for yellow, blue,<br>and green. It certainly stands out, but it leaves me feeling there may<br>be a little too much of one color going on. However it definitely<br>draws attention in the crowd of black that people often wear in<br>Kazakhstan.Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-76757813752854690182011-04-09T12:18:00.001-07:002011-04-09T12:18:03.877-07:00Taraz TennisSo I just found out that my city is hosting a tennis tournament at the<br>end of April. At first, I thought this was almost as shocking as<br>December's dolphin show, but considering Kstan's recent success in the<br>Davis Cup (<a href="http://www.astanatimes.kz/index.php?uin=1290953792&pg=1301719563">http://www.astanatimes.kz/index.php?uin=1290953792&pg=1301719563</a>)<br>and the new tennis courts in my city (which do not rent<br>equipment.....ahh!!! so aggravating), maybe it's not that big of a<br>surprise. Still, pro tennis in Taraz seems almost as strange as pro<br>boxing in Shymkent (<a href="http://www.boxingletstalk.com/?p=7434">http://www.boxingletstalk.com/?p=7434</a>).<p>More on the Taraz tennis tournament at<br><a href="http://www.itftennis.com/mens/tournaments/tournamentfactsheet.asp?tournament=1100023971">http://www.itftennis.com/mens/tournaments/tournamentfactsheet.asp?tournament=1100023971</a>.<p>Unrelated to Kazakhstan, but highly related to tennis<br><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK42LZqO0wA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK42LZqO0wA</a> (click link to hear really<br>catchy song and entertaining music video)Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-16800227847110181182011-04-07T20:39:00.001-07:002011-04-07T20:39:19.270-07:00Re-adjusting to KazakhstanLooking back at my six week vacation in America, I definitely did not<br>enjoy it enough. I mean, I enjoyed it. I loved seeing everyone that I<br>got to see. I loved talking to everyone on the phone instead of over<br>skype, and when the time difference was at most three hours. I loved<br>all of it. But I took it for granted. Sure, the first week there, I<br>was amazed by America, but then it all felt normal. Now I'm back in<br>Kazakhstan, and I realize I should have eaten way more deli meat.<br>Drank way more root beer. Eaten more steak and more bacon and more of<br>everything. I also should have brought back more candy to give away<br>when I got back. And I should have taken more pictures.<p>So my advice for anyone who goes home to America, make a list of<br>things you want in America and get it when you first get there. Write<br>yourself a letter reminding yourself of all the things you can't have<br>in Kazakhstan. Then when you get saturated in America, read that<br>letter and try to remind yourself.<p>When I first came to Kazakshtan, I was all pumped about the Peace<br>Corps. I was ready for not having the finer things in life. I didn't<br>know if I'd have to pump my own water or eat strange food. I think<br>fresh PCVs get excited about having an inconvenient life. I know I<br>was. But now, the novelty of inconvenience has definitely worn off.<br>America life is so much easier and more comfortable than life here.<br>Maybe to excess. No, definitely to the excess. The level of<br>consumption in America was ridiculous. Just the sheer number of<br>"things" one could buy was crazy. But at the same time, I like having<br>a big choice of deli meats. I like paying my bills online or even with<br>checks. I like having a shower head that hangs on the wall. I like<br>having bitter beers and dark beers (do any of these exist anywhere in<br>Kazakhstan?) I wish people in America would choose to lead a simpler<br>life than they do, but I wish people here had more of a chance to make<br>that choice.Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-64436519295727343512011-04-04T06:05:00.001-07:002011-04-04T06:05:54.111-07:00SurprisesKazakhstan is full of surprises. That's one reason why I love it so<br>much here. The first surprise when I came back was a small one. My<br>luggage actually made it with me! Despite only having an hour in the<br>Frankfurt airport (called ), Lufthansa managed to get it onto my plane<br>to Almaty.<p>The next was a huge surprise. After picking up my luggage, my thoughts<br>turned to finding a taxi. It was 12:30 at night and I was at the<br>airport. Now normally, taxis are dirt cheap in Almaty. You can get<br>them for like three or four bucks. However, taxi drivers are notorious<br>sharks at Almaty airport. They love to prey on unknowing tourists both<br>foreign and local. I think a normal, yet still overly priced based on<br>the distance, may be ten dollars. However, taxi drivers will start<br>quoting prices as high as sixty or seventy dollars. People may cut<br>that in half and they are still getting ripped off. And even when you<br>agree on a price at the airport, they might start negotiating again<br>while driving. And when it's dark, you're alone with the driver, and<br>all your stuff is in the back of his trunk, he has a lot of leverage<br>on you. In short, I was not excited to have to deal with taxi drivers.<p>I walked through customs and out into the airport. My plan was to make<br>it outside and find a cab when I heard my name being called. Michael,<br>Michael. I looked up and saw Andrey, one of the Peace Corps drivers<br>waiting for me. There he was his bushy mustache and large smile. I<br>don't know if I was ever happier to see anyone in my whole life. "What<br>are you doing here? I didn't know Peace Corps picked us up from the<br>airport," I said comfortably in Russian, surprised at how smoothly it<br>came out. "Of course. Now give me one of your bags." Andrey took my<br>wheeling bag and I walked out of the airport with a huge grin on my<br>face. (Since then, I've asked a few volunteers and no one knew that<br>Peace Corps does this. Is this a new service? It's a great idea for<br>comfort and for safety.)<p>I stayed over night at the Peace Corps office, and woke up early to<br>get to the bus station Sayaran. I was surprised to see a bus listed<br>for 830. I thought the earliest ones left at nine. I was getting<br>settled in my seat (8 dollars for a 600km trip) when I heard English<br>behind me. I looked around and didn't see any obvious foreigners.<br>Strange to hear English on a bus to Taraz. I then heard it again and<br>decided to ask what was up. It seemed to be coming from four girls and<br>a guy a few rows behind me. "Excuse me, I said. But can I ask why you<br>guys are speaking English." "Are you an American?" one of them asked<br>excitedly. "Yes. I am a Peace Corps volunteer." "Wow. We are going to<br>Shymkent to meet all of the Peace Corps volunteers in Kazakhstan. This<br>is our friend, Michael," one of them said pointing to a guy in the<br>second-to-last row. He was Asian-American volunteer living in<br>Taldykorgan, so he did a lot better job blending in on the bus. "Why<br>are you guys on the Taraz bus if you are going to Shymkent?" I asked<br>(since Taraz is about 150 km before Shymkent). "We just figured we'd<br>head that way." Maybe I should have said that they could find a<br>Shymkent bus, but by that time our bus was beginning to get on its<br>way. They'd find a way somehow.<p>The bus ride was a real welcome back to Kazakhstan. I have taken that<br>bus ride probably about thirty times either going to Almaty or coming<br>back from Almaty. It was the third worse one ever. I think it was the<br>combination of being used to American roads, the construction being<br>done on the road, and the fact that all the potholes from winter icing<br>hadn't been filled in yet. We also took an hour detour through Shy<br>which meant we had to spend even longer on the stuffy, hot bus.<p>Finally, after ten hours I arrived in Taraz. The PCV from Taldy and<br>his friends had to find a taxi to Shymkent because all the marshrutkas<br>had left for the day. Asela met me at the bus stop to tell me yet<br>another surprise. My landlady who usually lives in Almaty was in Taraz<br>because it was Nauryz. She was staying at my apartment with her two<br>sons for the whole week. I just wanted to relax a couple days without<br>all the fuss of a semi-host family, and Mark was gracious enough to<br>let me crash at his place while he was in Shymkent.<p>Less than 24 hours back in country and I'd had a great surprise at the<br>airport, an interesting surprise on the bus, a really uncomfortable 10<br>hour bus ride, and another surprise upon arriving in my city. I felt<br>like I was definitely back in Kazakhstan.Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-64625402003780493842011-04-01T07:30:00.001-07:002011-04-01T07:30:46.618-07:00Peace Corps Uniforms? <p class="MsoNormal">Did anyone else see this today? This is the first I'm hearing about it. In Kazakhstan, they'll probably have to issue the men suits and crazy boots for the women. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Peace Corps to Issue Uniforms to New Volunteers</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">A representative from Peace Corps announced that beginning this summer new volunteers would be issued official Peace Corps clothing to wear during their 27-month service. Volunteers will be expected to wear the special clothing with the Peace Corps insignia during their first two to three months of training and also while they were working at their primary site. This change comes as Peace Corps staff around the world faced troubles getting volunteers to dress professionally in their work environment. Because the climate and culture can vary drastically in the 77 countries currently hosting Peace Corps Volunteers, each country's director will be able to set the specific uniform standard. However, all uniforms will have a patch with the Peace Corps emblem sewn onto it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">"In addition to ensuring a more professional appearance from our volunteers, this will also be a great opportunity to support the Peace Corps brand. Our volunteers are out there doing great work, all over the world, everyday, and we want people to realize this," a Peace Corps representative said. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Based on blogs of Peace Corps volunteers, most of them seemed shocked by this news and have reacted negatively. One volunteer blogger responded with, "If it wasn't Peace Corps, I probably wouldn't believe this. But if there's anything I've learned is that never know what to expect as a PCV. I think we're responsible enough to dress ourselves though." Another posted, "I always wished Peace Corps had given me a free shirt or something, but this seems a little ridiculous."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was not clear if these changes would affect current volunteers or only be implemented for volunteers who begin their service starting this summer.</p><br> Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-23640571875422143312011-03-15T15:07:00.000-07:002011-03-15T15:18:48.831-07:00Holidays!My holidays are almost over (that's right, in British English vacations are called holidays), and I'm just about ready to go back to Kazakhstan. My time at home has been awesome. I got to see so many people and places and spend a lot of time with my family. I caught up on some new American trends (e.g. fro-yo, gourmet cupcakes, craft beers in cans, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Millennium</span> trilogy). I got to eat a lot of good food. And I will get to participate in St. Patrick's Day! Also related to holidays, Kazakhstan will have three days off this year for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Naryz</span> (Central Asian New Years). That's the 21st, 22<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span>, and 23rd.<br /><br />Maybe this is just from the people I know, but in general, most of my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">colleagues</span> and friends never know when the holidays are in Kazakhstan. I remember working in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zhualy</span> and I told my boss in two days we had some holiday. He had no idea. This year my co-workers and friends seemed to have no idea that Wednesday (the day after <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Naryz</span>) was also going to be a holiday. It's been on the calendar for months as a "red day." (Holidays and Sundays are marked in red on Kazakhstan calendars. Although, I think for the calendar I made for my work, I didn't make the 23rd red. This could have led to the confusion.) This just seems so different compared to America. We plan ahead for months. One of the first things we did as students was to map out when our holidays would be so we could plan to go on trips or things. In Kazakhstan, based on my anecdotal experiences, this does not seem to be the case.<br /><br />Also, I missed International Women's Day. I didn't celebrate it this year, but I thought about all my wonderful women friends in Kazakhstan. I should be back to celebrate the New Year, but hopefully I won't be too tired to try some scrumptious <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Naryz</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kozhe</span>.Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-44500977287380021542011-02-17T21:51:00.000-08:002011-02-17T21:54:07.895-08:00Culture shockThese were all going to be expanded, but I got lazy. Maybe I'll revisit to explain what they mean, but I think most people who have lived abroad will understand.<br /><br />College logos<br />Understanding everything<br />SO MANY THINGS<br />Drivers are not crazy<br />Shoes in the house<br />Clean outside<br />Everything is paved over<br />street lights<br />no idea how to use smart phones<br />not washing dishes by hand<br />Newspapers delivered<br />my family does not own a tea pot and had to borrow a kettle<br />no tea time<br />ceiling fans<br />our table is a mess and stays that way<br />soda, lots of soda<br />beer. tasty beer.<br />dilemma over where the toilet paper goes<br />light switches look funny but are well-placed<br />people are friendly. airport stewardesses, waffle house people, everyone<br />american barbershops<br />no gates around houses<br />round the clock news<br />rocking chairs<br />remembering what it's like, and not really wanting it. but maybe that will change<br />exercise equipment in our houseMichael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-62115191214792278012011-02-05T06:33:00.000-08:002011-02-05T06:56:33.788-08:00America!!!So I'm home. Finally. It was a long trip made even longer by a delay in DC. I was supposed to go Almaty-Frankfurt-DC-Savannah. But instead we went Almaty - Astana (but we didn't get off the plane) - Frankfurt (6 hours) - Washington... So in Washington we got in 15 minutes late which made my hour and half scheduled flight very unlikely. Compounded by the fact that the woman in Almaty only checked my baggage through to DC instead of to Jacksonville (meaning I had to go recheck my bags and go back through security) and it was likely that I would not be making my flight.<br /><br />Despite this, I was giddy when I landed. I saw the flag as I was landing and tears almost came to my eyes. Two years and five months. I swear the ground just felt sturdier walking on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ameican</span> soil. I was home.<br /><br />I cleared immigration really quickly, but I was flagged for customs because I was bringing in horse meat. At customs, they just asked me what I was bringing in. I said horse meat in cans. They check the computer. Nope, no current regulations due to equine flu. Horse meat allowed! I only have two cans though, so I don't know whom to share it with.<br /><br />Now I have to recheck my bag, and my flight boards in about five minutes. The woman at that desk is honest with me. It looks like they've <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">rebooked</span> me and I have to get tickets for tomorrow morning. I go up to the ticketing booth considering how I'll contact Brian to see if I can crash at his place for the night, when I meet an angel at the ticket counter. She looks at my trip and says maybe, maybe she can get me home tonight if I'm ready to travel. DC - <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cincinnati</span> - Charlotte - Savannah. I'll be home at 11:30. If there's one thing I'm bad at doing, it's not doing anything. If given the chance of just sitting and waiting or doing something, I'm always doing something. Plus, I wanted to get home. She booked me tickets and I was off on my way.<br /><br />Once I got to the gate, I borrowed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">someone's</span> phone to call my family. I had asked a couple earlier just when we got off the Frankfurt flight, but they also didn't have a local phone. They recommended I just dial the country code or something on my phone. Right, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">that'd</span> be great if I get Beeline signal here. So I called the house. Or tried to. The phone the guy handed me was an Android touch phone thing. I had no idea how to turn it on. Wouldn't just touching the screen make sense? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Nooo</span>, you had to press some switch on top. So he turned it on for me and I called home. No answer. Did they already leave? Call the cell phone. No answer. I leave a voice mail. And then continue on my journey.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Cincinnati</span> (where I eat a sandwich, first meal in America Roast Beef vegetable sandwich (DELICIOUS. Sandwiches are amazing.)), then Charlotte (with rocking chairs. As I was racing through the airport, I had to sit down in one for just a few seconds. WHY are these not in Kazakhstan. People there would love them, I'm pretty sure.) In Charlotte, I call home and talk to my mom. I find out she didn't get my voice mail until after my first flight landed. So they were waiting there and really sad when I didn't get off the plane. She still didn't call the voice mail, but she did notice a missed call from a random number. So she called the guy whose phone I used and he told her that her son was flying around the country trying to get home tonight.<br /><br />Then finally, the final flight. 32 hours later I was home. Home! My mom was holding a sign and I almost cried. Home! Home! Home! And even one of my bags made it on time (but not the one with the horse meat). The steak dinner I requested was not fulfilled (yet), so I was given to choices: Waffle House or Krystal. Since my family admitted to eating Krystal on the way back from the airport the first time (without me?! what?), we went to Waffle House. Sweet tea, waffle, and hash browns (smothered, covered, diced, and peppered).<br /><br />Tomorrow I'll blog about reverse culture shock. It's so happening to me.Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-52366733467211623362011-02-02T19:58:00.001-08:002011-02-02T19:58:17.885-08:00America!<div>So I'm going back to America in a day. For a six week vacation. I haven't been home in two years, five months, and maybe 2 weeks. It's been a long time. For the past two weeks (maybe longer), this is pretty much all I could think about. Well this, and a ton of projects at work that I just finished. Or mostly finished. </div> <div> </div> <div>I'm excited. I'm nervous. I can't wait to be home and see family and friends. I've also picked the Packers for the Super Bowl. I hope to see everyone back home if I can. I'll probably catch up on my blog while I'm at home, but who knows? </div> Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-40459481338698203792011-01-18T03:17:00.000-08:002011-01-18T03:32:13.408-08:00Save the SaigaSo I'll post much awaited New Year's posts later, including ones about the French Couchsurfers who are walking around the world and the Asian Games Torch passing through Taraz. But today, I have an important message. We need to save the <a href="http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox&rls=org.mozilla:ru:official&biw=928&bih=536&tbs=isch:1&q=saiga+antelope&revid=1929789638&sa=X&ei=aXk1TbvvI4SeOqnc3LYC&ved=0CDIQ1QIoAA">Saiga</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrvzJKRVJHZJrnREbwowfh8N4SsiMAwa1o3suaPFYEZkz1AnAWr5kJ9tTkez-F0_L484zanaJm25OSP_1wMe_YhDNg_wy9IaVTrTPuD9fTT_Hb-R61_l9AnnaH2msRz4JhEhqWc-OmvY/s1600/Saiga.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrvzJKRVJHZJrnREbwowfh8N4SsiMAwa1o3suaPFYEZkz1AnAWr5kJ9tTkez-F0_L484zanaJm25OSP_1wMe_YhDNg_wy9IaVTrTPuD9fTT_Hb-R61_l9AnnaH2msRz4JhEhqWc-OmvY/s200/Saiga.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563485951438769554" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was inspired to post this by a new story I saw that said the ban on Saiga hunting is being <a href="http://www.u-ex.kz/index.php/kaznews/5814-----------2020-.html">extended until 2020</a> (apparently this doesn't need 200,000 signatures). This is necessary because the Saiga is critcally endangered, but extremely cute. There are only about 90,000 of them left in the wild. They are often hunted by poachers who want to sell their horns to people who make folk medicine from them.<br /><br />I support the saiga, and I hope you do too.Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-9069782992965810312011-01-13T19:05:00.001-08:002011-01-13T19:05:04.944-08:00AMERICASo after two years and five months, I am finally going back to<br>America! For six whole weeks! This is super exciting for me because I<br>haven't even left Kazakhstan in over a year now. I was supposed to go<br>home in November, but then I signed on for another year, and I decided<br>to take my home leave later. I'll be home for the Super Bowl, Brad and<br>Karen's wedding, and St. Patrick's Day. That's a pretty good slate of<br>events.<p>This is my tentative schedule:<br>4 - 18 Savannah<br>19 - 28 Atlanta/Athens<br>1-6 Nashville<br>7-19 ???/Savannah<p>I'd love to see family, old friends, and maybe even meet new friends<br>during these six weeks at home. And I'm looking to play in some<br>ultimate frisbee pickup/games/anything resembling a structured game<br>(bonus points if cleats are worn). Unfortunately, I've lost touch with<br>a lot of people while I've been in Kazakhstan, so I really don't know<br>where anyone is anymore. Let me know where you are so we can meet up.<p>Oh, and Happy Old New Years (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_New_Year">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_New_Year</a>).Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348627156080454660.post-45190834888335388712011-01-02T22:06:00.001-08:002011-01-02T22:06:54.710-08:00Holiday Celebrations<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CMICHAE%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:SimSun; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-alt:宋体; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 680460288 22 0 262145 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@SimSun"; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 680460288 22 0 262145 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:.5in .5in .5in .5in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal">(This is the full story from Kurban Ait this year. The first part was already posted a few days ago. If you already read that part, then you can skip down to that section. Ait occurred in mid-November.)<br> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">I killed a sheep. Well, sort of. Actually, I paid to have a sheep sacrificed at the local mosque in order to give the meat away to the poor. Here's the story.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Kurbain Ait is a big holiday for Muslims. It celebrates the day that Abraham was going to sacrifice his son, but at the last minute, God told him to stop. Abraham had shown his faith in God, and he was rewarded for it. In his son's place, he sacrificed a sheep instead. Muslims all around the world still continue this tradition by sacrificing sheep on this day. From my understanding, any Muslim who can financially afford it should sacrifice a sheep on this day. This meat should then be used for a feast and given away to poor families. While we don't make a lot in Peace Corps, I figured that if we all pooled our money together we could afford to buy a sheep, have it butchered, and then donate the meat to the poor.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Two years ago, Kurban Ait was pretty traditional. At the time, I was living in the village of Dihan that had about 1000 people. I didn't actually see my host family kill a sheep, but we did go gosti a lot to other people's houses. Last year, I did nothing at all related to Ait, and it felt pretty sad. I did see some people slaughtering sheep around my apartment complex (a practice which was outlawed this year in Astana), but I didn't do anything. No gosting, no sheep. Nothing. Living in the city is a lot different than living in the village. Culture and tradition are around you, but they aren't always as apparent and easily accessible. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This year, I have decided to throw myself into all celebrations with gung ho enthusiasm. This is my last year (finally) in Kazakhstan; I have to live it as well as I can. So my first idea for Kurban Ait was to kill a sheep and donate the meat to the poor. The obvious question is, how? First, how do we find a sheep and have it butchered, and second, how do we find the poor to give the meat to. I asked a lot of people, and no one seemed to have a solid answer. It didn't help that the weekend before Ait (it was on a Tuesday), I was traveling and couldn't visit the bazaar to ask around for sheep. Monday the bazaar is closed (like a barbershop), so we (by then Mark was in on this idea as well) had no real places to seek advice. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The second question, assuming we were able to slaugher a sheep, was to whom do we give the meat. We had heard you should give the meat away, but we didn't know where to find suitable families. I've read that many Muslims in America donate some of the meat to food pantries, but there are no food pantries here. In Taraz at least, there is no one that is dedicated to working with poor families. Everyone I asked didn't really give the meat away to the poor. They just cooked a lot of it for a celebration and invited all of their friends and neighbors. Some of these people were likely to be less well-off financially, and therefore they are giving away the meat as charity. That didn't seem to be in the spirit of what I read on wikipedia (a great source, right?) that 1/3 of the meat should be for your family, 1/3 for your relatives and friends, and 1/3 for the poor. We wanted to give our meat away to people who could really benefit from it.<span style=""> </span>Our best solution was to give the meat to the mosque, thinking they would know whom to give it to. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, it was the day before Ait, and we still had no clear idea of what we should do. Then my co-worker Akmaral, had a great idea. We should go to the mosque and talk to an imam about it. If anyone knows, they should know. Mark and I met up that evening and went to the mosque near his house. It seemed busy with activity, as people were preparing for Ait the next day. One young man saw us, and asked if we needed any help. I told him that we heard tomorrow was a holiday and that we wanted to "rezat" (cut, but also means sacrifice) a sheep. He told us that we should come back the next day after 9:00. He didn't fully explain what we should be expecting or planning on doing at 9:00 the next day, but Mark and I were happy. Even if our plan was now show up at the mosque at 9:00 and see what happens, we at least had a plan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">PART TWO PART TWO PART TWO PART TWO<br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Being Americans, we decided to actually show up at 8:45 in case we were supposed to get there right at 9:00. We showed up early, but it was well worth it to see the site. The courtyard of the mosque was PACKED with men praying together. And if the courtyard was that full, we knew inside was just as full. [Side note. In America, there is a public debate about the secularization of holidays (Santa versus Jesus, the Easter Bunny versus Jesus, etc.). And even though the locals don't seem to care if many holidays have lost touch with their religious roots, it bothers me to see. Therefore, I was really excited to see so many people actually gathering for prayer on the religious holiday. ] Prayer ended at about 9:00 and people filed out of the gates for 10 minutes. There were that many people. More and more people just kept leaving the mosque. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Finally, the crowd of people had dissipated, and Mark and I cautiously entered the courtyard. Most importantly, I didn't want to insult anyone or show disrespect for their holiday. We aren't Muslims, but we were interested in learning more and participating to the degree possible for non-Muslims. Muslim faith around the world varies a lot on its acceptance of non-believers, and I wasn't sure where the followers in Kazakhstan fall on that spectrum. I felt a little nervous walking into the courtyard. Remember, we had no plan. Just show up and see what happened. We were standing there, probably looking lost and awkward when a man started yelling at us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It took a second for us to realize what he was saying, or maybe he started off barking orders at us in Kazakh. However, we noticed he was saying, Go help. Go help. He was pointing a finger at a pile of carpets rolled up against the wall. One other young guy was gathering up the carpets and carrying them to a different part of the courtyard. Okay, so we'll go help move some carpets. Mark and I went over to the pile and picked up some rugs. It only took about five minutes to move all the carpets to their new spot, but it felt good to help out. Assisting at the local mosque on Kurban Ait, that's something I never expected to do in my lifetime. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Once we were done with that though, we were once again lost for what we should do next. By now the hundreds of people that had been there were thoroughly gone. In the center of the courtyard, there wans't anyone around. However, off to the left side there was a stable. And in the stable there were about two dozen sheep. And next to the stable with the two dozen sheep, there was an imam blessing sheep before they were butchered. Jackpot. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So Mark and I go from awkwardly standing around the courtyard to awkwardly standing around the stable area. We were so close, but I still felt nervous. Were the sheep for sale, or were they already donated to the mosque? How much did they cost? If we walked up and naively asked, would we get ripped off by the people there? We did watch a couple sheep get blessed and then sacrificed. And then… we left.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Too nervous. Too scared. We came close. We did a lot. Visited a mosque, saw a sheep sacrifice. That was good enough, right? Man up. Man up. Do it. We went back in. Luckily, this time someone started talking to us. What do you guys want. We then explained, we want to buy a sheep, have it killed, then give its meat away to the poor. The guy said that we could do all that there if we wanted. We could buy some sheep. We could have it butchered, but the meat giving away we'd have to do on our own. He suggested we find some beggars in the bazaar and give the meat to them. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So we picked our sheep. A fairly thin-sized guy that we most definitely overpaid for. Then they tied him up, and brought him out of the stable. They killed it as humanely as they could (the sheep don't struggle much). While we were waiting for it to be butchered, they told me I should go get some plastic bags for all the meat. Then they skinned it, and divided the meat into pieces. While all this was happening, we began talking with some of the other guys that were there. Overall, they were pretty receptive to what our idea was. No one seemed to take offense that we were there. It seemed pretty novel that Americans had shown up to do this. Once all the meat was divided up in five plastic bags, they asked if we wanted the coat. I did, but I had no idea if it needed to be treated so as not to smell. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So we left the mosque with our five bags wondering how we would give out the meat. We had decided that we'd give most of it away, but we wanted to save some to give to friends here. That didn't quite work out though, because we were bombarded by people as soon as we left the courtyard. To women there who had been begging asked for some meat, as well as two guys. One of the guys we had talked to for a while inside the mosque; the other guy we had never seen before. Before we knew it, Mark and I had given away all of the meat except for the head and the four hooves. The one mystery guy ended up putting the meat on a cart full of food, so I wasn't sure if he really needed it. But how can a person really know? And the idea is about giving and charity. If he thought he needed it, then I don't mind giving it away.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We threw the hooves to some dogs on the way home, and we saved the head for a while. We even decided to name our belated sheep, Kizbolson, which means wish for a girl in Kazakh. (It's a play on the actual Kazakh name of Ulbolson, which some girls are called. Ulbolson means wish you were a boy. Yes, some girls must live their entire lives with the name, we wish you were a boy. We think this was the first time the name Kizbolson was ever even thought of in Kazakhstan's history.) </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Overall, our goal was successful. We felt very integrated, going to the mosque and having a sheep sacrificed. Later, we gostied three houses to continue in the holiday spirit. Although, I didn't host anyone, so that was one part of the holiday I missed. I have more commentary on how those gostings went, but I may write about those later. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next major holiday I plan on throwing myself into with full enthusiasm as New Year's. This year I'm going to be buying some fireworks. (Where some = lots!)</p> Michael Hotardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573781030125922378noreply@blogger.com2