My 10 Favourites Here

Well it has still been mostly quiet around here for the last couple of weeks.  I did get to 2 birthday parties this week.  One was provided by the folks at Lamb International at Beikut Orphanage and the other was for a friend of Sergey and Anya’s.  We surprised him with a flash mob and fireworks.  Well…it was more flash than a mob lol.  It was sooo hilarious and a lot of fun.  Other than that I haven’t gone far except to the bazaar, the grocery store and weekly club meeting. 

So in the spirit of fun I thought I’d do a list of the ten things I like most about Kyrgyzstan and the ten things I miss most from Ukraine.  You may have to refer to my blog entry for January 26, 2012 http://blairs-page.blogspot.com/2012/01/month-already.html to see what I’m talking about for some things.  Again, forgive me if these are mostly food related - I’m a guy.

First the ten things I like most about Kyrgyzstan - in no particular order.

1. The mountains – As gorgeous as the Canadian Rockies are (and yes I’ve seen them) the mountains here are more picturesque.  They are part of the same chain that Mt. Everest is in and are about 10,000 feet higher than the Rockies.  That makes for a more spectacular snow capped peak.   Then there is the green as Ireland foothills at the base of them (and yes Ireland actually is VERY green).  Some of you may remember the desktop photo of green hills from the Windows 98 program – nicer than that photo.
2. Lipioshki – this is Uzbek bread that’s cooked in a tandoor oven.  We foreigners call it Frisbee bread because of the shape – sooo tasty.  The regular bread here is also bigger loaves than in Ukraine.
3. I found cheese here that I like.  If you remember I don’t like the cheese in Ukraine.
4. The beautiful mountain view from my apartment.  So nice to wake up to. 
5. Shashleek – this is shish kebab that’s cooked over an open fire, which adds to the taste.  They also have shashleek flavoured potato chips here – yum.
6. Speaking of chips, I also found the regular flavour here.
7. They also sell a German brand chocolate muesli cereal here.  It has bits of dark chocolate in it as well as chocolate rice crispies and chocolate coated corn flakes.  The label says the cereal is 17% chocolate.  Then they spoil it with 67% oat flakes, but other than that it’s tasty.
8. Everywhere you drive is another postcard view of the mountains.
9. I also found canned tuna that I like.  It’s imported from China and is packed in sunflower oil.
10. Did I mention the beautiful mountains???  I just don’t get tired of looking at them.  For some reason it is just sooo comforting to see them there.

Here are the ten things I miss most from Ukraine - again in no particular order.

1. Milka bars are more readily available in Ukraine.  When I do find some here I usually clean the shelf at the store to the astonishment of the sales lady.  But on the up side Roshen candies are everywhere in Kyrgyzstan.
2. A washing machine.  There isn’t one here at the apartment and I’ve been doing the laundry by hand in the tub – not good for the tennis elbow.  That’ll teach me for growling about the tiny washer in Krivoy Rog.  Better than a rock in the river I guess.  (They do have washers here – I just don’t have one and I haven’t seen a Laundromat.)
3. Cheaper prices - most grocery items in Kyrgyzstan are the same or higher priced than in Canada and 1000 soms (about $21.75) is considered a good daily wage here.
4. Decent water pressure.  It takes a while to get a shower (ahhh…memories of Kabwe) and even if I did have a washer I think it would take all day to fill it.  (Other places in town have good pressure – it’s not everywhere that doesn’t.)
5. Pechena Kartoplya – the baked potato fast food chain.  (Again, see my blog for January 26th).
6. All of my friends and especially my “Mothers” in Ukraine.
7. McDonald’s – but not the North American McDonald’s – Yuk.  There are really no fast food places in Tokmok.  I could STILL murder a Papa burger with cheese, onion rings and a frosty A&W root beer…sorry…I digress…we’re talking about Ukraine.
8. Ashawn store – there’s just nothing like it in Tokmok.  The closest is the Beta store in Bishkek – about 60 KM away.  This would be like a Wal-mart Superstore in North America.
9. ATB grocery stores – the local Norodny (a German chain) just doesn’t match up and I have a hard time navigating the bazaar.
10. No visas are needed for Canadian citizens for a 3 month visit to Ukraine.  Don’t get me started on THAT one…..but a visa free regime has been approved for here hopefully starting at the end of this year.

Thank you for your kind thoughts, your continued support and for seeing my heart.  Till next time…Я люблю тебя!

This is just down the street from my apartment.  The photo doesn't do the mountains any justice.

A view from my apartment with the zoom lens.  Again the photo doesn't do it any justice.

This is actually in the foothills.  There's a snow capped peak hidden by the clouds.

A lipioshki bakery.  The tandoor oven is behind the man in the picture.

Lamb International provided a birthday party at Beikut Orphanage.  There's more pictures at the Act of Kindness blog.  The link is on the right side of this blog.

A birthday surprise for Mischa.

I’m Still Here

As I haven’t had a blog entry for 3 weeks I just wanted you to know that I’m still around.  It’s been very quiet for me these past few weeks.  I didn’t see Sergey for a few days as he was sick, then he was busy with a conference in Bishkek and the folks at Lamb International were busy with a team visiting from Barrie, Ont.  I’ve also been trying to conserve my internet use.  The only internet option that works for me here in the apartment is a pay as you go USB stick that is almost as expensive as Canadian internet – Yuk!  I still haven’t found any of the internet cafes in town. 

Having the down time was good though.  The apartment is REALLY clean and I kept up with the laundry.  (I have to do laundry by hand.)  I was also able to get some more review done with my Russian.  I can actually say a couple more phrases now.  It still hits me funny that when I say the words or phrases that I do know, people often remark that I speak without an accent.  I wonder what Russian sounds like with an accent.  I guess that’s a good testament to my Ukrainian teacher Anya.  And now as more people are finding out that I’m single the conversations tend to go like:  “You’re single?!?!  You live alone?!?!  But who cooks for you?!?!?”  Ah…memories of Ukraine lol…but I digress.

I also managed to keep busy by helping the Lamb folks with a project by painting at Beikut Orphanage here in Tokmok for a few days.  I also tagged along with them on a trip to the mountains when they took some men from the Iskra Disabled Men’s Home for a shashleek (shish kebab) picnic.  You can see more of the picnic and other activities at the Lamb International and the Act of Kindness blogs with the links to the right of this blog.  Then once Sergey was available we went around making some more deliveries of donations and managed to have some fun time with the kids at Orlovka Orphanage. 

So that’s what I’ve been up to lately.  Thank you for your continued support and for your kind thoughts.  If you wish to help with my ongoing support or any of our programmes just click the donation link for LinK 127 at the right side of this blog.  You can donate on line or find the mailing address under the “Details and Contact info” tab to send a cheque.  When sending a donation please include a note to specify where you may like your gift to be directed to.

Thank you for seeing my heart.  Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Mom’s in North America!!  Till next time…Я люблю тебя!

Some of the painting I did at Beikut Orphanage. 

Those of you on Go Team 2007 may recognize our driver Isar (on the right) and of course Sergey.

Some of the kids at Orlovka Orphanage

This is my new favourite photo.  Sergey has caught some great moments with his camera.