valerie
November 24, 2023 - my local colleagues got together for a “Thanksgiving” lunch 🥺 we had a rotisserie chicken instead of turkey, they bought a cake, and gave me three chocolate bars. after we had eaten from the food on the table, my coworkers said, “now let’s order two plates of plov!” 😶🙃😨
November 23, 2023 - happy Thanksgiving and happy first real snow from my village! (which is funny to say because all of the snow on the ground melted by 2 pm)
November 21, 2023 - my host mom came to my room today and said, “витамины тебе” (Vitamins for you, in Russian) as she handed me this plate. I think my host mom’s native language is Kyrgyz, but she did go to a Russian school growing up, so her Russian is pretty good
November 20, 2023 - taken during fall break. my family made a kind of salsa that they called приправа (priprava), which is strange because as I understand it, this doesn’t fit the Russian use of the word приправа. I wonder how universal this use is in Kyrgyzstan
November 19, 2023 - lahmacun that we ate in Kochkor yesterday. I have doubts about its authenticity since it is designated as a Turkish or Armenian dish (and I live in Naryn region, which I’ve read is 99% Kyrgyz), but the most important part, in my opinion, is that it was good
November 17, 2023 - I like to think my grammar is pretty good, but I was stumped on why we use the form “pulled” in this sentence. Any ideas?
November 16, 2023 - this plant was in my room when I first moved in, but I should not be trusted to take care of it. Recently, it grew a few flowers though, so maybe that’s a good sign?
November 12, 2023 - been slacking on taking pictures lately, so here’s another picture I took on my way to Naryn city last week
November 11, 2023 - sunrise during the morning jog. thought I would upload this photo to make it worth the pain my right hand went through to snap the pic (my weather app said “21°F/-6°C but feels like 12°F/-11°C 🙂”). I had gloves, but guess I’m finding out the hard way that they are dog poopoo
November 10, 2023 - my school recently painted the words ‘entrance’ and ‘exit’ in some places in the hallways. in some places, it’s obvious what kind of threshhold is in that direction, so it’s a little comical. чыгуу is ‘exit’. ‘Entrance’ is кирүү
November 8, 2023 - a travel day usually means posting a nature picture.
Just before crossing the Naryn River and entering Naryn City (taken yesterday)
November 6, 2023 - went for my first jog with my Kyrgyz teacher this morning! went to the sign of a neighboring village, and then turned back home
November 4, 2023 - my first Kyrgyz той (pronounced ‘toy’, basically a big Kyrgyz party for any number of things but usually weddings) as a volunteer
November 3, 2023 - the most social/friendliest of the sheep friends. but when I try to give her food from my hands, she always tries to nibble my fingers. I have no nickname for her. open to suggestions 😁😜
