If anyone from Habitat for Humanity wants to get in contact with me just e-mail me at
holzmed2@hotmail.com
it was nice meeting everyone
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Shakhriston
Last weekend I took A.C. students on a 2 1/2 hour road trip to Shakhriston. It is up in the mtns. kinda near Istarafshan. We took 16 students in a van and then we had myself and three other counselors in a car. We got past serveral police check points and finally made it to this old Soviet era camp area. They told us we could stay there until the authorities came to kick us out. But no one ever came to kick us out.
We started by eating around another old carpet. Then we played some games and we were having a good time but then the rain started. It was probably like 45 degress F there and it was probably about 80 deg. in Khujand this day. So I guess we must have been high up but it didn't seem like we gained that much elevation in the drive.
We were lucky though because when it started to rain we all went in a cabin and stayed dry. We tried to play some more games inside.Then when it let up a little we went for a hike/walk in the woods. Kids were woefully undersressed and under prepared. I was ok with my REI hiking boots and waterproof/windpoof jacket and my layers of synthetic clothing but kids had all cotton on with thin socks flimsy sneakers etc etc. So we went up in the hills a ways but then it started raining again.
In fact just when we got to the top of a little bluff and decided to stop because the weather was bad and kids were tired it started to rain very hard and hail. So everyone ran under and got "into" trees seeking protection from the downpour. It was cold and wet and the kids were just getting drenched. But I knew we couldn't be pinned down on the mtn. cowering in the trees so after a few minutes when it let up a little we headed down the mtn.
We all got back to camp safely but we were all wet. I let others wear my coat, my two pairs of gloves, my stocking cap from Ireland, and my WWU sweatshirt. Soon after getting back to camp the rain stopped and it got a little sunny. It gave us just enough time to start a fire and begin to carry out our plan to prepare osh. Many of the kids went in the warm van which the driver was nice enough to start. Soon it started raining again and Madina, Mahfuza, Lola and I were cooking osh under umbrellas in the rain trying to keep the fire going. It usually takes 1 hour to cook osh but it took us 3 because of the elevation and the fire. Finally we had it prepared and it was delicious and we had far more than 19 hungry people plus the drivers could eat. When it wasn't raining we played volleyball but the rain really did limit our activities. But no one ever complained. Kids were cold and wet but they kept their spirts up and as far as I know no one got sick. At one point Madina took off her shoes and went bare foot in the cold wet mud because her little sneakers were so soaked and everyone was just soaked. But most of the kids had never been here even though it isn't that far away. People here rarely travel and don't really see much of their own country. This may sound like a disasterous trip to you but I had students telling me it was the best time in their lives. They said they just didn't tell their parents about all the challenging parts because then they wouldn't let them go again. I know that every student had a good time in the end and was glad they went.
I always ask myself, "was it better than staying home?" the answer is always yes and therefore I'm happy.
This week was even more crazy though but you'll have to wait till next weekend to learn more.
We started by eating around another old carpet. Then we played some games and we were having a good time but then the rain started. It was probably like 45 degress F there and it was probably about 80 deg. in Khujand this day. So I guess we must have been high up but it didn't seem like we gained that much elevation in the drive.
We were lucky though because when it started to rain we all went in a cabin and stayed dry. We tried to play some more games inside.Then when it let up a little we went for a hike/walk in the woods. Kids were woefully undersressed and under prepared. I was ok with my REI hiking boots and waterproof/windpoof jacket and my layers of synthetic clothing but kids had all cotton on with thin socks flimsy sneakers etc etc. So we went up in the hills a ways but then it started raining again.
In fact just when we got to the top of a little bluff and decided to stop because the weather was bad and kids were tired it started to rain very hard and hail. So everyone ran under and got "into" trees seeking protection from the downpour. It was cold and wet and the kids were just getting drenched. But I knew we couldn't be pinned down on the mtn. cowering in the trees so after a few minutes when it let up a little we headed down the mtn.
We all got back to camp safely but we were all wet. I let others wear my coat, my two pairs of gloves, my stocking cap from Ireland, and my WWU sweatshirt. Soon after getting back to camp the rain stopped and it got a little sunny. It gave us just enough time to start a fire and begin to carry out our plan to prepare osh. Many of the kids went in the warm van which the driver was nice enough to start. Soon it started raining again and Madina, Mahfuza, Lola and I were cooking osh under umbrellas in the rain trying to keep the fire going. It usually takes 1 hour to cook osh but it took us 3 because of the elevation and the fire. Finally we had it prepared and it was delicious and we had far more than 19 hungry people plus the drivers could eat. When it wasn't raining we played volleyball but the rain really did limit our activities. But no one ever complained. Kids were cold and wet but they kept their spirts up and as far as I know no one got sick. At one point Madina took off her shoes and went bare foot in the cold wet mud because her little sneakers were so soaked and everyone was just soaked. But most of the kids had never been here even though it isn't that far away. People here rarely travel and don't really see much of their own country. This may sound like a disasterous trip to you but I had students telling me it was the best time in their lives. They said they just didn't tell their parents about all the challenging parts because then they wouldn't let them go again. I know that every student had a good time in the end and was glad they went.
I always ask myself, "was it better than staying home?" the answer is always yes and therefore I'm happy.
This week was even more crazy though but you'll have to wait till next weekend to learn more.
Mtn. Environment
People were really impressed by these mtns. or simply the one you see with snow on it. I just wish they could see what I've seen in my life in Washington State. I'm hard to impress.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Everybody
In my opinion Americans live in fear too much. Actually I believe most people live in fear too much. I remember before I came here people were advising me to be careful because I was going to a Muslim country. If people knew about Islam they would know that 99% of muslims are peace loving people who by and large have the same beliefs as Christians. I've never had any problems here, I know I'm safter here than in a lot of big cities in the U.S. including Tacoma. As Americans we need to do a better job of learning about and understanding other people instead of expecting others to learn about us. Turn off Chenney and the fear and turn on hope and understanding. Besides the U.S. has done much more in the past to harm its reputation than any terrorist ever could.
Now enough of that. Last week was American week in Khujand so I was super busy the whole week. On Monday the Ambassador came and we went out to Kanibodam to visit the Micro-Access scholarship site. The first thing the Ambassador said to me was something like, oh you must be David you are famous. That made me feel pretty good that the U.S. Ambassador called me famous and I in turn said she was famous. The welcome by the students was wonderful they asked the Ambassador many wonderful questions in English. There were about 40 students and 10-12 teachers that came. We stayed for about an hour and then went back in our armoured Toyota Landcruisers to Khujand. The Ambassador is 44 years old and a very intelligent, wonderful woman who acts like a normal woman she strikes you as ordinary and normal, no flash no ego just a regular person. Four years ago when she became ambassador she was the first woman diplomat to serve in this country period from any country. She played cards with former president Bill Clinton and beat him and before this she was in Turkmenistan and Latvia.
So back in Khujand Monday night. David Korevaar came from Boulder to play the piano. The theater was jam packed 30 minutes before the concert was to begin. Unfortunately a lot of these early arrivals were people who didn't care about listening to piano music and only came because it was free. So David had some problems with the noisy audience throughout the first half of the concert. He asked for quiet but it didn't really work. So he came out before the second half and with a translator asked for people to be respectful or leave and this was all translated into Tajiki. As a result during the second half the people that didn't want to be there left and so it was much quieter and enjoyable. People really applauded and were very appreciative of his playing it was beautiful music.
Then we had a reception at a restaurant with David and the Ambassador etc. It was a lot of fun a lot of my friends were invited so I had a lot of people to talk to.
Next day Anne from the embassy spoke at my university about U.S. government funded exchange programs this was also well attended by teachers. A big part of studying in the U.S. is proving you know English well by doing good on the TOEFL test. This subject came up and people said we should make a U.S. funded TOEFL class at the university. The embassy can't do this. But I was proud to say that I've run a free TOEFL class everyday for the last 8 months. It's all up to the individual and their thinking processes. America is a popular destinaton. Then that afternoon the Ambassador came to the American Corner and again called me famous and talked to as many students as could fit in the A.C. for about an hour. Most of the questions centered around "how can I get to the U.S.?" She loved all the projects I started and especially the garden.
Then wednesday Dr. Brenda Flanagan took Khujand by storm. She came to the Philology Faculty and read from her stories. She is a professor at Davidson College in N.C. She is 61 and a novelist and poet and an African American. She came to the U.S. in 1967 when she was 19. But she just didn't read the poetry she acted the stories and poetry. She used her whole body to tell the stories. She sang for awhile, she chanted, she cried she got all the women to stand-up and say "phenominal womannnnnn" and the men to say "yaaaa." She was quoting Maya Angelou. People here had never seen a black woman before in real life let alone one with dreadlocks. People had never heard someone speak like her before full of emotion and life. People here are reserved proper etc. the contrast between Brenda and the dean of the faculty who was also a woman was very stark. I loved it Brenda was like a breath of fresh air. Afterwards she was just mobbed by autograph seekers, people wanting her picture, and people videoing her wherever she went. She could have stayed there all day and taken questions.
Next it was lunch with Brenda and embassy people. Then they went up to Kanibodam to the same place but I didn't go because I had been there on Monday plus I had lessons to teach.
In the evening another nice sit-down meal at the fanciest restaurant in town with Brenda and others. I didn't get home till 11. By the way the best restaurant in town is still really cheap 3 people can eat well for $10.
Next day Brenda came to my faculty and went to the biggest lecture hall in the Bld. but it wasn't close to big enough. I think more than 300 people crammed in it was standing room only. And Brenda again put on a show but this time she was talking about civil rights. She talked for almost 2 hours and no on breathed loudly during those two hours. No one had ever heard a woman like her or seen a woman like her. She spoke from her heart about her experiences being a black woman in the U.S. She recounted a lot of difficult times in her life when either her or her family were treated poorly because of their skin color. Most of her examples were from 30-40 years ago but she had some more recent examples of racism too. She cried when she told about how her son couldn't go to the pre-school in the town because he was black. She told the real truth from her life no gloss no holding back. Again her oratory style was most impressive. She read a poem that she wrote to President Obama and it wowed people. At the end it was the same reaction a ton of questions, a ton of photos and autographs she was just mobbed and couldn't move. She just yelled her e-mail adress to me and I wrote it up on the blackboard for her. The embassy people finally got her out of the lecture hall.
Then off to lunch by the river. Then to the market where I felt like we were a traveling circus, embassy women, our driver looking out for us and Brenda and me.
Then to the A.C. where she was very generous with her time and took questions for more than 2 hours from students. There were so many people that people couldn't even come inside anymore through the door. We had to take the group picture standing on the steps and the photographer standing above us so we could all get in the picture. The photos and the autographs were endless. But she really gave the kids a great message about being creative and free with their minds. She didn't shy away from taboo subjects like going to the bathroom or pre-maritial sex it was shocking for the people here but that was ok. I give the embassy credit for organizing this week and paying for these Americans to visit Khujand. I just wish these Americans could stay. I am who I am and that is great but I'm not and never could be Brenda or David K. Different perspectives are vital.
A lot of what Brenda said was less than flattering about the U.S. but it is important to let people see that the U.S. really does have freedom of speach and that black people have different experiences.
Now enough of that. Last week was American week in Khujand so I was super busy the whole week. On Monday the Ambassador came and we went out to Kanibodam to visit the Micro-Access scholarship site. The first thing the Ambassador said to me was something like, oh you must be David you are famous. That made me feel pretty good that the U.S. Ambassador called me famous and I in turn said she was famous. The welcome by the students was wonderful they asked the Ambassador many wonderful questions in English. There were about 40 students and 10-12 teachers that came. We stayed for about an hour and then went back in our armoured Toyota Landcruisers to Khujand. The Ambassador is 44 years old and a very intelligent, wonderful woman who acts like a normal woman she strikes you as ordinary and normal, no flash no ego just a regular person. Four years ago when she became ambassador she was the first woman diplomat to serve in this country period from any country. She played cards with former president Bill Clinton and beat him and before this she was in Turkmenistan and Latvia.
So back in Khujand Monday night. David Korevaar came from Boulder to play the piano. The theater was jam packed 30 minutes before the concert was to begin. Unfortunately a lot of these early arrivals were people who didn't care about listening to piano music and only came because it was free. So David had some problems with the noisy audience throughout the first half of the concert. He asked for quiet but it didn't really work. So he came out before the second half and with a translator asked for people to be respectful or leave and this was all translated into Tajiki. As a result during the second half the people that didn't want to be there left and so it was much quieter and enjoyable. People really applauded and were very appreciative of his playing it was beautiful music.
Then we had a reception at a restaurant with David and the Ambassador etc. It was a lot of fun a lot of my friends were invited so I had a lot of people to talk to.
Next day Anne from the embassy spoke at my university about U.S. government funded exchange programs this was also well attended by teachers. A big part of studying in the U.S. is proving you know English well by doing good on the TOEFL test. This subject came up and people said we should make a U.S. funded TOEFL class at the university. The embassy can't do this. But I was proud to say that I've run a free TOEFL class everyday for the last 8 months. It's all up to the individual and their thinking processes. America is a popular destinaton. Then that afternoon the Ambassador came to the American Corner and again called me famous and talked to as many students as could fit in the A.C. for about an hour. Most of the questions centered around "how can I get to the U.S.?" She loved all the projects I started and especially the garden.
Then wednesday Dr. Brenda Flanagan took Khujand by storm. She came to the Philology Faculty and read from her stories. She is a professor at Davidson College in N.C. She is 61 and a novelist and poet and an African American. She came to the U.S. in 1967 when she was 19. But she just didn't read the poetry she acted the stories and poetry. She used her whole body to tell the stories. She sang for awhile, she chanted, she cried she got all the women to stand-up and say "phenominal womannnnnn" and the men to say "yaaaa." She was quoting Maya Angelou. People here had never seen a black woman before in real life let alone one with dreadlocks. People had never heard someone speak like her before full of emotion and life. People here are reserved proper etc. the contrast between Brenda and the dean of the faculty who was also a woman was very stark. I loved it Brenda was like a breath of fresh air. Afterwards she was just mobbed by autograph seekers, people wanting her picture, and people videoing her wherever she went. She could have stayed there all day and taken questions.
Next it was lunch with Brenda and embassy people. Then they went up to Kanibodam to the same place but I didn't go because I had been there on Monday plus I had lessons to teach.
In the evening another nice sit-down meal at the fanciest restaurant in town with Brenda and others. I didn't get home till 11. By the way the best restaurant in town is still really cheap 3 people can eat well for $10.
Next day Brenda came to my faculty and went to the biggest lecture hall in the Bld. but it wasn't close to big enough. I think more than 300 people crammed in it was standing room only. And Brenda again put on a show but this time she was talking about civil rights. She talked for almost 2 hours and no on breathed loudly during those two hours. No one had ever heard a woman like her or seen a woman like her. She spoke from her heart about her experiences being a black woman in the U.S. She recounted a lot of difficult times in her life when either her or her family were treated poorly because of their skin color. Most of her examples were from 30-40 years ago but she had some more recent examples of racism too. She cried when she told about how her son couldn't go to the pre-school in the town because he was black. She told the real truth from her life no gloss no holding back. Again her oratory style was most impressive. She read a poem that she wrote to President Obama and it wowed people. At the end it was the same reaction a ton of questions, a ton of photos and autographs she was just mobbed and couldn't move. She just yelled her e-mail adress to me and I wrote it up on the blackboard for her. The embassy people finally got her out of the lecture hall.
Then off to lunch by the river. Then to the market where I felt like we were a traveling circus, embassy women, our driver looking out for us and Brenda and me.
Then to the A.C. where she was very generous with her time and took questions for more than 2 hours from students. There were so many people that people couldn't even come inside anymore through the door. We had to take the group picture standing on the steps and the photographer standing above us so we could all get in the picture. The photos and the autographs were endless. But she really gave the kids a great message about being creative and free with their minds. She didn't shy away from taboo subjects like going to the bathroom or pre-maritial sex it was shocking for the people here but that was ok. I give the embassy credit for organizing this week and paying for these Americans to visit Khujand. I just wish these Americans could stay. I am who I am and that is great but I'm not and never could be Brenda or David K. Different perspectives are vital.
A lot of what Brenda said was less than flattering about the U.S. but it is important to let people see that the U.S. really does have freedom of speach and that black people have different experiences.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
fruits
I've been enjoying all the fresh fruits here. Mulberries are 50 cents a kilo. Cherries are $1.25 a kilo. It's really starting to heat up here but that is ok the wind keeps it pretty cool and tolerable. On the 18th I'm traveling with the Ambassador to Kanibodam to visit the Access Microscholarship site it might be exciting. The whole week promises to be a very very busy one.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Beauty
It's interesting here young women don't want to be dark skinned whereas in America some women pay money to tan. The people here generally have a little more pigment in their skin than white Europeans or Russians etc. Therefore if they get out in the sun their skin becomes dark. One girl I know won't even go on a field trip because she is afraid her skin will become too dark and she won't be pretty any more. Crazy how people invent these artificial ideas about what is beautiful. Girls here when they pick cotton wrap their faces in a cloth so that the sun won't make their faces dark. The most widely read magazine in our faculty room is the Oriflame catalogue full of beauty products.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Aga Khan
Earlier this past week I participated in an Aga Khan workshop in English. It was 5 days and I missed the majority of it I was just too busy but I really tried to come a lot on Monday and Tuesday because I loved it so much. Unfortunately Tuesday was the last day. It was held at my university with other teachers from my university and teachers from other branches. Most of the 12 or so participants were women. There was two other active men.
One day we talked about women's role in society it was very interesting. Our reading the night before was by Simone de Beauvoir "The Second Sex." It was very difficult for the teachers to read but it was great for me and I helped others understand. Beauvoir concludes many things one of which is true here. That is that women accept their "other" status and don't often work collectively to change their status. I had a young women telling me that "statistics show that men are more clever than women." I said what statistics? No response on her part. Most women submit and accept because they consider it normal and the only way. The question is what is best? What is right? Maybe it isn't the American way many don't think it is.
I had one incredibly bright young woman tell me that "people here are not used to critical thinking." That really lights my fire when I here that. I had a hard time not taking over the whole workshop and allowing the trainer to do her job. I still get rilled up just thinking about it. Because that is exactly what people need they need to become critical questioning people that aren't afraid of the big tough questions.
I thought it was interesting that while the Tuesday workshop was happening a singing competition was also going on simultaneously at the university. Everyone asked why I didn't come and watch. I said I was busy with more important things but people were really excited about bad lip syncing. Imagine if people were that excited about debating if modernization means westernization or the role of women in society. I hate glossing over things all the time and pretending like nothing is wrong. I think lip syncing is a pretty good analogy here.
Anyway I also presented my syllabus from WHS. The other teachers' assignment was to make one. One or two did. We also talked about tollerance and technology in society. I explained why Truman decided to use the atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. Most still thought it was a mistake.
later in the week I also gave an impromptu short history lesson on the Vietnam War at the American Corner. I get into everything here.
Aga Khan's goal is not to change ideas but to get people to think for themselves which is my goal too. The workshop was presented in a very western way that's probably why I liked it.
Things like a syllabus or a concept map graphic organizer are new things for the teachers here. They are bread and butter things in the U.S. but people here are slowly very slowly coming to these new ideas. And these new ideas I believe are better ideas.
One day we talked about women's role in society it was very interesting. Our reading the night before was by Simone de Beauvoir "The Second Sex." It was very difficult for the teachers to read but it was great for me and I helped others understand. Beauvoir concludes many things one of which is true here. That is that women accept their "other" status and don't often work collectively to change their status. I had a young women telling me that "statistics show that men are more clever than women." I said what statistics? No response on her part. Most women submit and accept because they consider it normal and the only way. The question is what is best? What is right? Maybe it isn't the American way many don't think it is.
I had one incredibly bright young woman tell me that "people here are not used to critical thinking." That really lights my fire when I here that. I had a hard time not taking over the whole workshop and allowing the trainer to do her job. I still get rilled up just thinking about it. Because that is exactly what people need they need to become critical questioning people that aren't afraid of the big tough questions.
I thought it was interesting that while the Tuesday workshop was happening a singing competition was also going on simultaneously at the university. Everyone asked why I didn't come and watch. I said I was busy with more important things but people were really excited about bad lip syncing. Imagine if people were that excited about debating if modernization means westernization or the role of women in society. I hate glossing over things all the time and pretending like nothing is wrong. I think lip syncing is a pretty good analogy here.
Anyway I also presented my syllabus from WHS. The other teachers' assignment was to make one. One or two did. We also talked about tollerance and technology in society. I explained why Truman decided to use the atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. Most still thought it was a mistake.
later in the week I also gave an impromptu short history lesson on the Vietnam War at the American Corner. I get into everything here.
Aga Khan's goal is not to change ideas but to get people to think for themselves which is my goal too. The workshop was presented in a very western way that's probably why I liked it.
Things like a syllabus or a concept map graphic organizer are new things for the teachers here. They are bread and butter things in the U.S. but people here are slowly very slowly coming to these new ideas. And these new ideas I believe are better ideas.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
A.C.
The American Corner in Khujand has had to become a seperate registered NGO due to issues of corruption unrelated to any of the A.C.'s staff, members, or the U.S. Embassy. In this process the A.C.'s initial application to become an officially registered NGO was denied by the local government. In order to become an official NGO the A.C. feels like it is necessay to change it's name to "Our World" and to remove many of the references to the U.S. in its own description. The local government apparently feels like the A.C. is a place for pro-western/U.S. propaganda. They are afraid that we could start a revolution like the "orange" one in the Ukraine or the "rose" one in Georgia, or the "tulip" one in Kyrgyzstan. It's too bad they think this because it couldn't be farther from the truth. A revolution wouldn't be a bad idea but we aren't trying to start one; we are just trying to educate.
The people here are afraid of the government and the government is slighty afraid of the people.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Events
I'm not sure where to start so I just will. Last Friday April 24th we did a clean-up event along the river in town. We did it for earth day. We also plantend two mulberry trees nearby. We picked up 29 bags of garbage everything from plastic bottles to animal bones. We got two big truck tires out of the river and did a lot of good. We went with 9 students from the American Corner and we just walked down to the river from the American Corner it was only like a 10 minute walk. We picked up trash for about 1 1/2 hours and planned trees for a 1/2 hour. Youths even said that it was "fun" and wanted to go back and do it again. We could have picked up 60-70 bags of garbage there was a lot. Then we took the garbage to a dump adjacent to where we picked up the garbage so at least all the garbage was in one place. We all felt good about helping out. If we have time we'll do it again. By that I mean if I have time to organize it again- which is very questionable. By the way each tree cost 5 somoni or about $1.25.
Then on Sunday the 26th Bakhtiyor from IREX organized a big trip to the orphanage near Khujand. 28 kids came out for this all day event. We went around and picked up garbage. Then we talked to people and gave them sweet rolls. There were adults, elderly, teenages and babies all living in this orphanage. Us men passed out sweet rolls to the men and the girls visited the women and the children. I tried to go into where the children were but the smell made me gag and I felt like I was going to vomit so I couldn't go in. Later for lunch we all gave them juice with their lunch. Then we designed posters for their orphange just wishing them the best and trying to brighten the place up. We then presented the posters it was inspiring. We also had time to just hang out with some of the people and with each other.
Then this Friday May 1, I went with my univ. class to a theater/museum on the outskirts of Khujand called Arbob. It was built during Soviet times. We went on a tour of the place and saw the little museum it was a lot of fun. Many kids had never been there before even though it's not far away. Then we had a picnic lunch and played some games. Most notably baseball. The kids just love playing baseball. Now they want to start a league. We were able to take local vans both to and from this Arbob so it was quick and easy. We were home by 1 pm. About 13 students came.
The other night I met a man at this internnet cafe who was an Afghan. He spoke good English and knew a lot of American slang because he worked as an interpreter for NATO troops in his country. He's going back to continue his work in June. He was the second interpreter I've ran into here from Afghanistan. He was very friendly and interesting to talk to. He said the Afghans say that NATO stands for "No action only talk." But he was hoping for the best for his country. He knew how much money you can get from killing a coalition soldier and all sorts of information about different guns. He thought people just needed jobs so they wouldn't turn to violence and extremism. I agree. He had no illusion about how long it will take to bring peace and stability and prosperity to Afghanistan. he knew it would be a long time.
Then I went outside to a sidewalk beer place and had a 35 cent mug of beer and an man that is moving to Denver started talking to me in very broken English. Where ever I go I attract attention.
Then on Sunday the 26th Bakhtiyor from IREX organized a big trip to the orphanage near Khujand. 28 kids came out for this all day event. We went around and picked up garbage. Then we talked to people and gave them sweet rolls. There were adults, elderly, teenages and babies all living in this orphanage. Us men passed out sweet rolls to the men and the girls visited the women and the children. I tried to go into where the children were but the smell made me gag and I felt like I was going to vomit so I couldn't go in. Later for lunch we all gave them juice with their lunch. Then we designed posters for their orphange just wishing them the best and trying to brighten the place up. We then presented the posters it was inspiring. We also had time to just hang out with some of the people and with each other.
Then this Friday May 1, I went with my univ. class to a theater/museum on the outskirts of Khujand called Arbob. It was built during Soviet times. We went on a tour of the place and saw the little museum it was a lot of fun. Many kids had never been there before even though it's not far away. Then we had a picnic lunch and played some games. Most notably baseball. The kids just love playing baseball. Now they want to start a league. We were able to take local vans both to and from this Arbob so it was quick and easy. We were home by 1 pm. About 13 students came.
The other night I met a man at this internnet cafe who was an Afghan. He spoke good English and knew a lot of American slang because he worked as an interpreter for NATO troops in his country. He's going back to continue his work in June. He was the second interpreter I've ran into here from Afghanistan. He was very friendly and interesting to talk to. He said the Afghans say that NATO stands for "No action only talk." But he was hoping for the best for his country. He knew how much money you can get from killing a coalition soldier and all sorts of information about different guns. He thought people just needed jobs so they wouldn't turn to violence and extremism. I agree. He had no illusion about how long it will take to bring peace and stability and prosperity to Afghanistan. he knew it would be a long time.
Then I went outside to a sidewalk beer place and had a 35 cent mug of beer and an man that is moving to Denver started talking to me in very broken English. Where ever I go I attract attention.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Right Back
It's nice when I can feel like I really changed people's lives. This definately occured in the Peace Corps when I helped my teaching counterpart travel to the U.S. for 3 months and now it has happened again. Three of the students I've been teaching and mentoring have now been accepted as U-Grad finalists which will allow them to study as undergraduates in the U.S. for one year. This will totally change their lives for the better and they deserve it. The two young women and one young man are simply just outstanding young people. There are not enough positive adjectives to describe them. Their thoughts are big and innovative, their work ethic is determined, and their minds are limitless. They deserve a high quality education that will introduce them to a world of new ideas and possibilities. I especially helped one young woman because I wrote her reference letter, looked at her essays, and prepared her for the interview at the U.S. Embassy. She just found out yesterday that she is going to the U.S. They notified her 3 days after the other finalists- why I don't know. I helped all of these young people with free, three times weekly, TOEFL classes since October. I poured a lot of effort into them and it paid off and they are worth it.
One young man is from a small Uzbek village near here in Tajikistan. His family's business in selling gas in front of their house along the side the road out of a 5 gallon jar with a funnel on top. It doesn't get much more remote or needy than that. I consider this week's news somewhat of a miracle for him and the young women too.
One young man is from a small Uzbek village near here in Tajikistan. His family's business in selling gas in front of their house along the side the road out of a 5 gallon jar with a funnel on top. It doesn't get much more remote or needy than that. I consider this week's news somewhat of a miracle for him and the young women too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
