Right now I am typing this in my bedroom and eating day-old caramel popcorn from a vendor on the street. They have great popcorn here and it’s even better when you can get it fresh and warm on the street!
This past week has been filled with many memories. In the last week, I have had my normal schedule of classes, added many new students, gone to two ballets, golfed, gone to the foothills with students, learned how to eat pancakes New Zealand style, and been invited to sit in on classes and even teach a few Bible lessons at a local seminary next semester. It has been a might fully week, but a grand one nonetheless.
First about the ballets… Last weekend my team and I went to Cholpon, a ballet based on a Kyrgyz legend of sorts. It was a great ballet and cost only $2.50! Yesterday, a group of people from the church and I all went to Swan Lake, a famous Russian ballet. This one was great as well. In fact, I think I enjoyed this one more, but mainly because the trumpet played a significant role in the pit orchestra! I love the trumpet! Swan Lake put me back about $3!
Yesterday was a gorgeous day, so after church, Tracy, Carla, a local teacher, and I all went out to the golf course! That’s right… there is a golf course in Kyrgyzstan! I couldn’t believe it. But it is absolutely gorgeous, nestled just below the foothills of the mountains. So, I learned how to use irons and woods, how to swing properly, etc. By the end I was hitting balls down the center. My longest drive was only about 100 yards, but hey… ya gotta start someplace, right?
On Friday, the students who are majoring in tourism took Cat and I to the foothills. It was a place called Panoramia, which is obviously much like our panoramic. You could see the entire city. I can’t say it was beautiful by any means, but it sure was neat to see the whole city. The students had all prepared short speeches on something important in the city and shared them with us. This was great fun!
Wednesday and Thursday mornings I ate pancakes at two people’s homes; one from Scotland and the other from New Zealand. Thursday morning was with Zena, a girl about 28 years old from New Zealand, who has been here for almost three years. She invited me over and taught me how to eat them New Zealand style! Pancakes, fruit, yogurt, sugar, coffee… mmm mm.
And finally, seminary classes… There are seminary classes that meet during the week on the grounds of the International Church I attend. Teaching overseas for a few years after seminary is a very viable option for me, so I thought I would check out the program that they have set up here. So, this past week I asked the director of the programs if I could sit in on a few of the classes just to see how they are run. He said “kanyeshna,” which is “of course!” in Russian. He said I could join whenever I wish and as often as I wish. Not only this, but he also offered to me the opportunity to teach a few lessons in the spring semester! There’s no better way to test a gift than to try it, right?! I look forward to this opportunity very much!
So, that is my week in a nutshell. Enjoy the pictures. Sorry the ballet pictures are not very good. It’s the best I could do without using a flash.
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