** Impt Note – Here in Uz, they do not enjoy the freedoms we have grown accustomed to as Americans. Therefore, I must warn you that it is possible that any communications you have with me will be read by government officials here. Please don’t stop writing (both here and reg mail) but just be aware of and sensitive to this fact. **
So last week at out hub, our PST director announced a suprise… we’d all be going on trips this weekend. We chose randomly who would go where, and I am now in Shakrisabz. We left Tashkent early Saturday and headed to the railroad station (a depressing and cold Soviet affair.) However, we were in for a great surprise when the train rolled in. As we found out, the train, called The Registan, is Uzbekistan’s crown jewl of the rails. It was sweet – very modern and sleek. It is up there with the ICE trains in Europe. So we had a beautiful train ride to Samarkand. Although some of us wanted to, we could not explore that city… it’ll have to wait for another day. So we then chartered a van and took a two hour ride here.
About the town. There are two stunning ruins, one of Amir Timur’s summer palace, and some ruins of a crypt where he was to be buried. We also have seen two Madrassas. I do have pictures, but this connection is so slow that I think its best to wait till the next time to upload them.
Some tidbits in no particular order:
– On Thursday I taught my first three English classes. My resource teacher, a great guy named Odil, had us go up and do our thing. One of the other volunteers, Mary, told me the day before that although I was nervous, when I got up there, things would click into place. Well, I didn’t totaly beleive her, but she was right. I had a great two first lessons. For the third lesson, it was the oldest boys in the school, about 17 or 18. They all hang around trying to look tough, so I figured the hello – how are you – my name is – this is a horse – would not work with them. So I opened up the floor for questions and got some good ones; they all really like American rap, and one kid even had D-12 shaved into his head.
– I’m liking the food here a lot. The three main things I have are: a soup dish with potatoes, noodles, carrots and chunks of meat; lamb and beef shashlik, which is shish kabob; and osh, a dish consisting of rice with meat. It keeps me full and there is plenty of it.
– Today at the Bazzar here in Shakrisabz, I purchaced 4 pommegrannites (annor in Uzbek.) I’m semi-proud of myself from bringing down the price 200 soum, but I probably still paid too much!
– It’s strange walking down a street here, where nearly everything is different, then hear, blaring from a cafe or a stand with boys selling tapes, Eminem, 50 cent and J. Lo. The American influence here is sporadic and truly odd.
– I can’t write individual emails b/c my fingers are freezing (heat in public spaces and businesses is rare here.) But I have a ton to say, and please funnel your questions via comments or email. I’m phasing out the Trincoll email address – so write me here.
Hayr!
HI Matt,
What a wonderful trip!!!! Sounds like so much fun and so interesting as well. I am glad to hear that you are eating well and that the food agrees with you :).
The lessons must be as interesting for you as they are for your students! How old is the teacher Odil? Where did he study his english? Can you have a conversation with him? You can help each other with your respective native tongue 🙂
How long was the trip to Samarkand/Shakrisabz? What was the countryside like on the way? Was it mostly deseart? How did the pommagranits taste?
XXXOOOGQ
ps I need the password for the Windows XP program – please list it somewhere here or in an email or call.
Matt argues down the price of pomegranates with a rap-fan street vendor: “Shee, yo, what you tryin’ to pull, homie? Ain’t no one go’ pay 400 soum fo’ that shizzle, yo!”
It’s weird how American culture finds its way into the public consciousness of some of these countries, even fairly anti-American ones – they may hate our government but they love our soft drinks. When I was in Paris about ten years ago, several of the bars near our apartment were decked to the hilt with American cowboy stuff: posters, hats, horns and neon, accompanied by blaring American country music. It was so weird to have elite Europe on one side of the street and West Texas on the other.
Anyway, good thing you brought your MP3 player – maybe you could wind up your English classes with a karaoke night, where the students get to test their English by singing Hoobastank’s “The Reason” 🙂
Is it true that $1.00 equals over 1,000 sum? If so that pomergranit was really cheap!!!! We pay about a dollar per. So you got a good deal by US standards anyway!!:)
it’s so interesting to hear about all the new things you get to see! too bad there are no pictures. i miss you a lot, wish you were here, i’m having all my hip students over for a party this weekend, and i bet you’d fit in perfectly.
i think you must be a natural born teacher; you have such wonderful mannerisms. i may or may not get a crack at teaching myself (an intro level/first year seminar course), so i’d love to hear your stories about how the teaching goes for you.
hugs!
Greetings from Chitown!
Glad to hear that all is going well on your end. Teaching a class can certainly be a nerve racking expierence, but I am confident you will do fine with it. How are you teaching the classes? Are you teaching through the use of literature or are you using a more socratic method? Also do you use a powerpoint type of presentation? Also do you prepare your teaching plan a week or a day ahead of time?
I would be curious to know.
Have a great teching semester and update when you get a chance, and I will as well.
BT
wow, what a wonderful experience—wish i was in your backpack. sounds as though you are eating very well, did you put on any weight?? Have you come across any movie houses as yet, and if so are there any western films showing in them??
How long is the school day, are classes all held in one room and are the classes mixed male, female??? Questions, questions, but remember this is just as exciting for us on this end hearing these things from you. Take care of yourself, be well—-Love, G&G
Assuming the FBI has its way, American presence in Uzbekistan might go beyond bootleg Eminem tapes…
“The FBI’s proposed 2006 budget asks for $11.4 million to hire 60 new employees, including seven agents, to open a legal attache’s office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The budget also calls for the expansion of eight existing legal attache offices around the world.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6973534/
Sad that we can’t even get along with each other, much less the rest of the world.
Hi Matt:
Thanks for the email. I am so pleased to read your well-written descriptions. And it seems that your tactic of openign up the floor to the older kids is a great idea. Older kids are tough because they think they’ve already learned everything (you should try teaching adults…) Anyway, you have to be a lot more subtle and your tactics are good.
Things are progressing here: I had my first presentation last week and it went fairly smoothly, although I have to say I am pretty exhausted. But I really liked New Mexico. Seems like another country.
Stay positive!
MK
well, i finally did it. i sent you a long email, go ahead, kick me in the pants for waiting so long.
hugs,
kellen