tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357191432024-02-19T04:54:17.192-05:00KSA DailyKSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.comBlogger500125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-89180833247849929592012-11-12T10:53:00.002-05:002012-11-12T21:39:30.509-05:00HAPPY 500th POST<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRJmgFQybVPdoZJ2LipoLp5RU0UiwIp7aHes5LLJMlWaDVoU2mFDYT-uoZy5Vf-AGUkcviYLb2MaSNRJqMj-4a2bKebaIEusqc2VEzGe5pwOUoXnwTJ2JJ7Caem9fBX99FoT8/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRJmgFQybVPdoZJ2LipoLp5RU0UiwIp7aHes5LLJMlWaDVoU2mFDYT-uoZy5Vf-AGUkcviYLb2MaSNRJqMj-4a2bKebaIEusqc2VEzGe5pwOUoXnwTJ2JJ7Caem9fBX99FoT8/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Yes, you
read that right this is my <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>500<sup>th</sup>
blogging birthday. Bring out the cake, light the candles, hang the banners and
celebrate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The KSA Daily officially has
500 posts !!! A collection of 500 stories recounting my cross-cultural mishaps
and funny moments, stories of language learning and opening a business, tales
of my travels and tour groups, 500 posts with pictures of Uyghur life and
beautiful settings I get to call home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When I
started this project a little over six years ago I never thought I would make
it to 500 posts ( I didn’t think my life had that many interesting moments).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all of the 500 posts have come from my
own hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact at least seven others
have participated in authoring some of those posts, my <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/11/guest-blogger-my-roommate-and.html" target="_blank">former roommate</a>, a
<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/11/that-guy.html" target="_blank">classmate</a>, my <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/05/where-in-world-is-ksa.html" target="_blank">mom</a>, my <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2012/09/give-me-my-pants-back.html" target="_blank">friend’s mom</a>, <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2009/06/40-days-and-40-nights.html" target="_blank">expat friends</a>, local<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-friends-blog-i-was-reading-one-of-my.html" target="_blank"> friends</a> and a <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2009/04/stop-me.html" target="_blank">completestranger</a>.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also surprised with the number of people
I have met via the blogging world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
able to go for coffee in Thailand with a blogging friend from Mongolia, I catch
up on news from college dorm mates who now live in Siberia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently met another expat, we spent 20
minutes trying to figure out how she knew me or where we might have met in the
past before she finally asked “Do you have a blog?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are your initials KSA?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I often
feel as if it is unfair, when I go home to Canada friends and family know small
details about my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have a
collection of 500 insights into what my daily life looks like. I, however, don’t
know anything about what they have been up to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I feel like a dud having to ask questions like “You had a second child
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Girl or a Boy?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only to find out that baby is already over
three years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those same people know
details about the color of my winter coat and my favorite breakfast food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I feel like an uncaring friend. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The blogger
stats say that on a daily basis more than 50 people check out the KSA Daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have had guests from all
over the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People from over forty
countries have stopped by to read some of what is happening at the KSA Daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The map on the side shows that Tunisia, Venezuela
, Egypt, Singapore and Azerbaijan. If you look up almost anything about Uyghur culture Google will pull up a link to this blog.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On the KSA
Daily’s 100<sup>th</sup> birthday I asked people to leave comments indicating
whether or not it was still worth my time and energy to record my experiences
in this fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After such a blatant
plea for feedback and encouragement, only 4 people left comments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only four people took the time to
respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only four people asked that I
continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my 200<sup>th</sup>
birthday my request for affirmation was even stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked people to be completely honest and
let me know if what I wrote was boring or if they just had nothing to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the 11 people who took the time to comment
I kept writing for another three years.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Part of me
loves this whole idea of on-line journaling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The thought that others may read what I am writing, that you as a guest
to this sight might check on a weekly basis to see if I have updated it, helped me to be more disciplined in the act of journaling than I
ever was when it was just a personal book stuffed in my sock drawer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But truth
be told I am tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need a break from
constantly thinking of my life as one big blog post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to stop sitting down ever few nights
and figuring out how I could write each life situation up as a funny
entry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And so on
my 500<sup>th</sup> birthday I want to thank you all for joining me in this
adventure and I want to say goodbye for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t know if I am permanently done with blogging, or if I just need a
break for a few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been
fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll see if in a few weeks I miss
the habit of recording, or if enough people respond asking me to continue. But
for now we say adieu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for sharing in all the humors moments
in my life, KSA.</span></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-87683219457251884582012-11-07T10:37:00.001-05:002012-11-07T10:37:48.216-05:00Getting Paid<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had just
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I still had
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teacher for this family… I had only said ‘yes’ as a favor to another
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</span>teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Don’t
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Oh let me
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once and never hear from again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I had
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she insisted, “It was like 250 ($40)”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As she
handed me the ‘outstanding debt’ we chatted a little more and realized that we
were practically neighbors living only a couple of blocks away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting paid lead to making plans to be in touch and hang out
some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-41154724689399025202012-10-26T23:25:00.004-04:002012-11-07T10:39:15.225-05:00I'm not Tajik<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuke4vQfLrUJTIvXvCRQ2_7786OrGtMtcYWvNoZ5WknBeVxAcFGKAQIz2Jx3fbBo08onDssgDF2QAbzp2RQecCowsBEZDNWlDkrE5iF5yyTBczVBMLdfFexwM8LhdrdspL2jX/s1600/IMG_3909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuke4vQfLrUJTIvXvCRQ2_7786OrGtMtcYWvNoZ5WknBeVxAcFGKAQIz2Jx3fbBo08onDssgDF2QAbzp2RQecCowsBEZDNWlDkrE5iF5yyTBczVBMLdfFexwM8LhdrdspL2jX/s320/IMG_3909.JPG" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I decided
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it up with them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was very
glad for my decision when the engine sound of two large buses meet our
ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These buses were filled with
tourist from the eastern part of the country seeking adventure in the ‘wild
west’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This adventure for them included,
matching hats, a tour guide with a flag and megaphone to instruct their every
step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they waited for their tour
guide to buy the tickets two of them spotted me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Look at
that one” she said pointing directly at me (not so rude in their culture, but
very rude to the Uyghur side of me).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
have never seen a Tajik girl wearing glasses”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She lifted her million dollar camera with the three meter long fancy lens
on it and started to gesture at me for permission to take my photo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but sigh a little as I nodded
my ascent and sat up a little straighter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As she fettled
with her camera, focusing the lens and attempting to capture my big nose in all
its glory ( a physical trait I do happen to have in common with <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-got-kissed.html" target="_blank">Tajik people</a>) I
could help but ask:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You do
know I am not Tajik right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Her friend
recovered first from the shock of the fact I spoke their language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What minority are you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’m not, I’m
a foreigner from Canada.” I answered, wishing I had kept my mouth shut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Soon she
was motioning for five of her other friends to come and jump in the picture
with me, and the poor Tajik girl I had been sitting talking too, whose culture
they had travelled al this way to learn about, sat ignored on a bench in the
back.</span></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-15140216477764472452012-10-22T13:47:00.000-04:002012-10-26T23:16:37.140-04:00Buying Jade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdme5VwOauE8lC_D67Yve-UhRpQmKhjyVxDCKYhAyhbUk0BxnQMbAlDTQartfdR-_Q-x4Bh9fYfjfzCUYrDYK7ht-oNh7jZb7v9Nv5_d87XMFg0Z_iWqguU96tck3qblh-B8b/s1600/IMG_4128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdme5VwOauE8lC_D67Yve-UhRpQmKhjyVxDCKYhAyhbUk0BxnQMbAlDTQartfdR-_Q-x4Bh9fYfjfzCUYrDYK7ht-oNh7jZb7v9Nv5_d87XMFg0Z_iWqguU96tck3qblh-B8b/s320/IMG_4128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is rive famous
for its jade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyday people wade
out knee deep in the water searching the stony riverbed for jade and other precious
stones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The men then set up stalls after
stall along the road bartering with tourists and selling their most recent
find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These men are known for working
together day in and day out standing shoulder to shoulder arguing on each other’s
behalf about how authentic the necklaces are with the untrained eye of the
shopper.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My latest
tour group and I stopped to admire the stones, without any real intention of
buying anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact some of the
group hadn’t even brought their money with them since shopping wasn’t on our
agenda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the women picked up a
dark emerald green bracelet and with ease slipped it on her wrist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After admiring it for a time she was disturbed
to discover it took a little more work to get it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled and tugged and twisted before
their piece of jewelry finally popped off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, it did so with such force that it slipped through her fingers,
bounced off the table and went crashing to the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He husband retrieved it quickly, but there
was a small scratch on the surface.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Seeing the
damage done the husband bravely admitted that now they had to buy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked if they had found out the price
before trying it one, which sadly they hadn’t… I don’t really know the price of
Jade nor how to judge its quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since
the damage was already done the seller could name any price and I would have no
idea how exaggerated it really was. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He seemed
to know it too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I would never sell that
bracelet for less than $500 USD,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no way we were paying that
price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked the cope how much money
they had on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When all pockets were
turned inside out the totally only added up to about 7 bucks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that was way too little to come with
as a counter offer, so I checked my own wallet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had about $75.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(While to be
honest I had a lot more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the front
part of my wallet I had $75, hidden in the zippered pocket behind I had another
couple of hundred that was already ear marked to buy our bus tickets home that
night). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I showed him the seventy five in my hand “This
is all I have, big brother” I said with a pitifully forced quiver in my voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He scoffed
and complained that he could have sold it to some unsuspecting tourist for $700
dollars and that I was just out to cause troubles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At this
point I had a decision to make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could
match him angry word for angry word, letting my voice join his in rising to an
emotional frenzy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often call this getting
my fight face on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arguing with vengeance
for what I see as my right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had one
this all his buddies would have taken his side and it would have escalated into
an intense me verses them situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or,
I realized, I could become vulnerable and try to win him over.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Those of
you who know me well know I am not much of a crier, I also don’t often resort
to tears as a means to get my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
desperate times call for desperate measures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I held out the $75 dollars a little further in my shaky hands and with a
weak voice I entreated him again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This
is as much as I can give you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know what else to do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Other men
started gathering around us to see what all the fuss was about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They looked from my pale face and moist eyes
to his stone cold stance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lying between
us was the offending bracelet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of
them picked it up to examine the damage… I heard them muster under their breath
that it was a good quality one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh
dear,” I thought “now comes the time when they all gang up on me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My tears were getting to be a little more
real by the minuet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The seller
nodded that the damage and reported for all his friends in disgust that I was trying
to pay $75 dollars for something he could easily sell for almost $1 000.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There is
nothing I can do”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stated again weakly “I
have no solution.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To my surprise many
of the on looking Uyghur men sided with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of them even put their fight faces on and jumped over the table so
they could stare down the seller more intently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since I now knew that it was high quality jade I asked some of the
others how in our group how much money they had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between all of us we collected $160USD, way
more than I would ever spend on jewelry from a road side stand, but by this
time I looked at it more as stopping a riot and avoiding being dragged to the
police station. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crowed had grown to over 50 men by this
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were taking sides against
each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully the majority of
them seemed sympathetic to my plight. They yelled at the seller:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Look at
her, you are making her cry”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“She is a
good girl; she wears a head scarf and everything”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“She’s
learned out language”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“She says
that is more money that she makes at her job in a month”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Have pity”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And you
call yourself a good Muslim; you ought to be ashamed of yourself”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They grabbed
the money out of my hand and started forcing it into his.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,” he
said, weakening slightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I would have
tried to sell it for $1 500.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The next
thing I knew men all around the circle started digging into their own wallets and
pockets and adding money to the pile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The hard
hearted seller lost face in light of his coworker’s generosity to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no idea how large the total pay off
sum was, but the seller was forced to accept the offering and reluctantly shake
hands with my biggest advocate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One of the
men laid the slightly damaged bracelet in the palm of my hand with a brotherly “Don’t
cry, it’s all okay now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You guys can go” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As I backed away I put my hand over my heart and repeated again and agian " Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you big brother. Thank you God. Thank you. Thank you."</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Uighur"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-53937192437821067792012-10-19T05:32:00.000-04:002012-11-09T10:40:29.224-05:00If Allah Wills...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Where you
from?” the bus driver asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
almost midnight and our bus was stopped at some obscure spot along the desert
highway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I gave a
curt reply as I continued to exercise the pent up kinks and knots out of my
weary arms and legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Canada, huh…Do you
have <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2006/10/ode-to-sleeper-bus-i-remember-back.html" target="_blank">buses like this with beds</a> on them?” He asked as he almost lovingly patted
the beast of a vehicle in his care.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Not that I
know of” I said “I’ve certainly never been on a sleeper bus in Canada”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At this
point you could almost see the wheels in his head spinning and turning and
contriving a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Are there
roads longer than 500km in Canada?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Of course,
land wise it is the second largest country in the world”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second I said it I regretted my hasty
words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could tell they had only fueled
his wild dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was in full on scheming
mode, making plans faster than the old plodding bus he drove could every dream
of travelling.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Someday,
if Allah wills, I will open my own <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/07/ode-to-sleeper-bus-continuing-story.html" target="_blank">sleeper bus</a> company in Canada and be rich”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This village man declared with resolve.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I translated
from my travel companions as we climbed on the bus. “Ugh” we all struggled to
keep a straight face and not scrunch up our noses in distant at the strong stench
that greeted us upon embarking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
smell came from to many people, stuffed in too small of a space, for way too
many hours. “There is a few things he should improve before introducing this
transportation to the west, like ventelation”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The group
had been joking for the last few hours that the only thing worse than B.O is
ten people’s B.O. and the only thing worse than ten peoples B.O. was the twenty
smelling feet that came with them.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGNnC2uUu7kdtWYYCLF_u6_B-OmrrpAzonpPkaAmY3JVR9l7x6HYDqBMbapREXxdTLWJLVuyVuE_xOHZ8Erbpytg7I0W0Ezr5VsNXT7J54Spz8ylRxgoQgHgigBD1xJle_Gvq/s1600/IMG_3231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGNnC2uUu7kdtWYYCLF_u6_B-OmrrpAzonpPkaAmY3JVR9l7x6HYDqBMbapREXxdTLWJLVuyVuE_xOHZ8Erbpytg7I0W0Ezr5VsNXT7J54Spz8ylRxgoQgHgigBD1xJle_Gvq/s320/IMG_3231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We ran into
our next forward thinker a few days later at the museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older security guard guy who was
responsible for unlocking the doors and turning on and off the lights quickly
learned I could speak his language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He followed
me around from one display to another peppering me with questions and
distracting me form admiring the old coins, cloth and tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His line of questioning felt very familiar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where are you from?” Is that a rich country?
Is it easy to get there? Are there lots of jobs” He started pointing to traditional
Uyghur elements around the museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you
have this or that in Canada?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He was literally
taken aback when he learned that we didn’t have<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2009/03/bread-of-life.html" target="_blank"> nan</a> in Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed impossible for him to believe that
a society could survive much less advance without a nan stand on every second
street corner selling hot fresh bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s when he made his declaration “If Allah wills, I will open a nan
stand in Canada and become rich!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb5hy1ZfNiVeudSCAqmRkgtckAYwegLk3S-Pxbxx40_4tnWYWzrOvMRI8OrQjzdxDMCbFmTimOwL-ypDBf0x5Qptj0mnxDAjoy76fHCGnMUzt_KmeHKGzSj3QRJml9CVbeDG8/s1600/IMG_2754.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb5hy1ZfNiVeudSCAqmRkgtckAYwegLk3S-Pxbxx40_4tnWYWzrOvMRI8OrQjzdxDMCbFmTimOwL-ypDBf0x5Qptj0mnxDAjoy76fHCGnMUzt_KmeHKGzSj3QRJml9CVbeDG8/s320/IMG_2754.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Later that
day we stopped outside the bazaar for a refreshing cup of freshly squeezed <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2006/10/game-adventure-and-snack-my-daily.html" target="_blank">pomegranate juice</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man operating the booth stood
proudly beside his juicer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drops of the
bright red liquid liberally sprinkled all over his face and clothes, the whole
effect made him look like he had been in a fight with blood stains on his
clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all picked up our sticky
glasses to toast our great day, when the mad started the <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2012/05/type-of-question-were-asked.html" target="_blank">familiar line of questioning</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seemed pleased to learn
that his particular line of work was unique in the west.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before he could declare his intention of
moving and getting rich I slammed the empty cup on the table and motioned for
my guest to keep moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning around
slightly I watched hi straighten up our used cups on the table and pour fresh juice
into them, never even pausing to wash or rinse them between uses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No wonder they were so sticky” I thought to
myself trying hard not to guess how many people had likely drank out of it
before me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead I laughed to
myself<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If Allah wills he should move to
Canada and learn how to <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/01/men-dont-wash-dishes.html" target="_blank">wash dishes</a>.” </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHW-5C5QQ7LpnMVgmjodbbdzcGoytPXb6SAVYHSwXoi6ZPqT8inVBQxuzojnAIeXVvK_J6dePJ0US6RaQp3OJHQze2NMahLmKMpk_zTBAnkX0XhC9VmuZNArLbOhPNngYFvjX/s1600/IMG_3582.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHW-5C5QQ7LpnMVgmjodbbdzcGoytPXb6SAVYHSwXoi6ZPqT8inVBQxuzojnAIeXVvK_J6dePJ0US6RaQp3OJHQze2NMahLmKMpk_zTBAnkX0XhC9VmuZNArLbOhPNngYFvjX/s320/IMG_3582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-20126159085117130552012-10-07T05:20:00.000-04:002012-10-07T05:25:55.813-04:00Shoes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When winter
comes and I am <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2008/09/forced-into-footwear.html" target="_blank">forced out</a> of my comfortable sandals, I most often go reaching
for a pair of traditional cloth shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These old school craft of shoe making now come in tons of fun and Asian trendy sort
of styles (Yes, I have seen<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/10/wedding-crashers.html" target="_blank"> leopard print </a>ones).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think similar to modern day <a href="http://www.toms.com/womens?view=all" target="_blank">Toms</a>, but the art of cloth shoe making has
been around for centuries and is perfected on this side of the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can still see old ladies sitting on the
squat stools by the side of the road, hand stitching the materials together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the prefect, lightweight, fall
footwear for all the walking I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact last year while we were opening our business we learned that there is one of
these shoes stores located within a block of all of the government offices
we had to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shoes shopping became
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you
haven’t guessed by now I am constantly singing the praises of these shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Comfortable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Durable. Affordable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will brag about them as long as the sun shines in the desert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even here in our dry climate we do get
rain occasionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rain here tends to
result in swimming pool size puddles on the roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rains and cloth shoes do not mix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can ask my cold, damp soggy feet from
last night, how much they enjoy squishing and sloshing around for hours in
freezing water holes with zero protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe what I need to do next time is tie bag on my feet to protect my
shoes they same way <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-favorite-phenomenon.html" target="_blank">guys take care of their doppas</a>. </span></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-24939026076692278082012-10-02T01:41:00.002-04:002012-10-02T10:06:47.457-04:00She is No Beauty School Drop Out<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our third
roommate left last week to head back to <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2012/05/right-dirt-road.html" target="_blank">her hometown</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a Uyghur girl who had come up to the
big city to study Uyghur wedding hair and makeup with the hope of opening he
own beauty shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She ended up finding a school close to our home that specialized in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>hair and makeup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day the
students would stand outside the school and try to entice women to come in and
let them practice on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both my
roommate and I grab a friend and went on separate occasions to have our makeup
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow, just getting done up gave me
a lot of insight on what a Uyghur bride goes through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Traditionally
at a wedding <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/09/wedding-princess.html" target="_blank">the bride</a> is suppose to keep her eyes down and look a little sad
at the thought of leaving her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
always marveled at the demure look of the girls here,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>their shy upwards glances, and their straight
faces .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At home the bride is normally
smiling from ear to ear, greeting all of their guests in the eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I know it is not just culture that keep a
Uyghur girl form acting this way… it is the ton of makeup that weighs he eye
lids down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When I went
in I told them I was going to a theater performance that night, they all agreed
that meant I didn’t need the full out wedding look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead I only got one set of extra long fake
eyelashes with several coatings of mascara on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also
had scotch tape on my eye lids to help achieve the double eye lid fold – which is
crazy since I am westerner and I naturally look like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe some of you don’t know the Asian obsession
with having a double eye lid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
people have surgery done to create this effect of having a small crease above
their eyes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who don’t want to
go to such drastic measures a small piece of tape can be placed on you upper
lid which causes the skin to fold over on itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People with my culture background are born
with this added skin above the eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
even though I have a double lid, my beauty consultant student felt it necessary
to accentuate it by sticking two pieces of tape on. The tape had to be covered
over with several layers of foundation, eye shadow and glitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time all the eye makeup had been
applied I could bear look up if I wanted to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My eyes felt so caked and heavy that I had trouble fully enjoying the theater
show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder brides look down, their
eyes hurt too much to do anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEzmOdS3lRHYn6hZcVXGGy5_wh9rfKejHEcSDJ43d_7T8_5V9CSuFRnj1gm23W6NE0Spj6QCuxxaqVr2UGGifJfQGeqSFCmDT5C1xxxJp0dZKTgMZDXtsYsFyKL8R7ypiE6aX/s1600/DSCF4045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEzmOdS3lRHYn6hZcVXGGy5_wh9rfKejHEcSDJ43d_7T8_5V9CSuFRnj1gm23W6NE0Spj6QCuxxaqVr2UGGifJfQGeqSFCmDT5C1xxxJp0dZKTgMZDXtsYsFyKL8R7ypiE6aX/s320/DSCF4045.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaygGbeMdtZpg-Ytv4mJ469JbmJeSYrVLlOoIoVvPk1vGfuZgMA_-9Q6NqSYwDd7lS-wEWlG4NXjIY8jrTlOxI8ngI6PU35aOkJDiMUsKwj_Oyo9sLSnZ87HNSLgEa7-RKlKGD/s1600/DSCF4065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaygGbeMdtZpg-Ytv4mJ469JbmJeSYrVLlOoIoVvPk1vGfuZgMA_-9Q6NqSYwDd7lS-wEWlG4NXjIY8jrTlOxI8ngI6PU35aOkJDiMUsKwj_Oyo9sLSnZ87HNSLgEa7-RKlKGD/s320/DSCF4065.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogA3NSnofAvylmnlwkkASl-XZH9hxJiIvVK3oW629DExrevQLGTHZHvqscXEoAY_av2DNzbah32mKmpH9pwmF7iG93HODGFdlnSLlWud5VQYU7xB7lKvTuWx5O5cy-2osdBDs/s1600/DSCF4072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogA3NSnofAvylmnlwkkASl-XZH9hxJiIvVK3oW629DExrevQLGTHZHvqscXEoAY_av2DNzbah32mKmpH9pwmF7iG93HODGFdlnSLlWud5VQYU7xB7lKvTuWx5O5cy-2osdBDs/s320/DSCF4072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSOZS9C_qy93_7gjlEfgo42EqG5Z_Phr898htLiumOqUY15QeC4QzmI1yprZVsY6YXp91NQJEEtTKZ_JjT1Tr8sk4hvXCb3qGZXozHP_aMAskPFHaPnMd9l1X6FaOAKRC4KKd/s1600/DSCF4069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSOZS9C_qy93_7gjlEfgo42EqG5Z_Phr898htLiumOqUY15QeC4QzmI1yprZVsY6YXp91NQJEEtTKZ_JjT1Tr8sk4hvXCb3qGZXozHP_aMAskPFHaPnMd9l1X6FaOAKRC4KKd/s320/DSCF4069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In one
afternoon I was wearing more makeup that I have cumulatively in my whole life,
and they had gone easy on me since I was just to a performance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder when my roommate look at pictures
from my <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/06/main-event.html" target="_blank">brother’s wedding</a> she asked me if the brides in my country don’t wear
makeup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea of a simple, natural
look that still even vaguely resembles your original state is unheard of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBYpArRdt5Up3qP4LvwXXJCA9D4u8HrjCri8YfnhVkmoRwFamm6Jo2VuDeaz56iUp3Xh1sddqijVqcl8FLAEox2CG1O4GkJfof_b3inhpW1vncqTfFDIsRRpMUSwYr_0WhoKJ/s1600/005B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After her
classes finished our house began to take on the feel of bridal Barbie’s’
glittering paradise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was out daily
shopping for wedding dresses (she bought eight or nine of them to rent out), <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2012/01/bridesmaid-dress-nightmares.html" target="_blank">bridesmaid's</a> dresses, tiaras, necklaces, veils, fake flower bouquets, wedding car decoration,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and anything else that sparkled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The office in our apartment became over run
with supper huge hoop skirts- the type that doesn’t even fit through the door
way and hair products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally all of it got stuffed into several
large bags and dragged to the bus station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I miss having my roommate around, I have to admit it is nice not
to be finding glitter in sticking to every fiber of the carpets, or bobby pins
and fake eye lashes lying abandoned on the coffee table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-58631475632428118142012-09-28T03:14:00.001-04:002012-09-28T03:18:29.611-04:00Give Me My Pants Back<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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My friend’s parents came for a visit a few weeks ago and he
took them traveling all around the southern part of the province.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I have written several times in the past,<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/09/just-take-it-and-lets-get-out-of-here.html" target="_blank"> traveling in this province</a> always leads to some sort of <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/09/just-getting-on-long-distant-bus-is.html" target="_blank">adventure</a> or
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit my friend’s mom went
through more than most and she kindly offered to write up the story and let me
post it. </div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i>Recently I had the opportunity to travel through one of this
province’s smaller airports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is my
hope that the treatment I received leaned heavily on events (a small squermish
in a nearby town) that transpired shortly before my visit there, rather than my
threatening appearance (I am under 5 feet tall). We were greeted by
security at the entrance of the airport parking lot with the question
"Where are you from?" </i></div>
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<i>After answering that to their satisfaction, we were allowed
to pass through, park and enter the airport. We secured our boarding
passes and entered the security check line (<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/07/line-ups.html" target="_blank">line is used loosely</a> in this
country-it usually involves people pushing, shoving, stepping in front of you,
at any point in the line). I placed my backpack, watch, shoes, etc. on
the conveyor belt and proceeded to the "pat-down" area. I
stepped onto the platform where I was groped, not once, not twice, but three
times. My companions passed the pat-down and "wand" test and
were on their way to the end of the line. At this point, I failed the
wand test because something in the waistband of my jeans was causing the wand
to beep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through gestures (none of the
airport employees spoke English), they wanted to know what was in the
waistband. I gesture "don't know" and am instructed to follow the
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enter a room where
the wand procedure is applied over and over with the same question and
answer. Then I am instructed to remove my pants. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I am wondering how long it will be before
this goes viral. There are two female employees in the room and the
question now is "Where you from?" I answer "United States",
she shrugs. I say "America", and she shrugs again, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as if to say she doesn't understand my
answer. I desperately want to be released, with my pants, so I gesture a
cutting motion on the waistband. They shake their heads. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they see me actively looking for a pair
of scissors in the room, more discussion, and I get my pants back. Back
to security where I am re-groped. </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>My two companions are still at the end of the line having a
discussion about the flammability of their liquids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also want to know where I've been.
I probably shouldn't have answered that question until we landed because that
only exacerbated the frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their liquids
are determined to be flammable, and confiscated. We discussed amongst ourselves
that our clothes were also flammable, but we were permitted to keep them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were then released to walk to the runway
where another "line" is formed for another security check to get on
the plane. We finally board, are trying to de-stress, when a flight
attendant appears before us, holding some of our bag of liquids, and asks
"Are these yours?" I was relieved to get some of our belongings
returned to us and counted that as a win. I really wanted to put the
whole experience behind me. The place definitely have a way of making
travel exciting!</i></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-13536228232854435072012-09-24T06:02:00.001-04:002012-09-24T06:05:39.269-04:00Autograph and a Picture... Sort of<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->My friend recently posted the following on his blog and I thought it was best to capture the evening in his words.<br />
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<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The seats were low, hard, and
uncomfortable. I had long lost feeling in my buttocks. My knees
were squished into what was supposed to be leg-room. The lights were low
and the speakers were pumping out music at a level several hundred decibels too
loud. When the soprano singer in an elegant up-do and floor-length gown
hit her climatic high-note, I literally plugged my ears. She was
talented; there just seemed little reason to put the volume up that high.
"Listening to music at this level is bad for your health", I
thought to myself. Before us now was a group of dancers in gaudy costumes
with exaggerated smiles plastered on their faces. Admittedly they were
very good. However, it seems little to separate one minority dance
performance from another. Though I did enjoy some of the numbers my mind
was going through a list of things I could have done rather than come to this
performance. <br />
<br />
Reappearing on stage the emcee began his introduction of the next performance.
Looking at my watch I wondered just how many more performances there
were before I could get out of this seat and let the feeling return to
derrière. "Next is one of our own. Please welcome
Arken!" Arken? Did he say Arken? I looked at the lady
next to me. She had an equally surprised expression. "Woah.
Arken is here?", I inquired. "Apparently so", came
the reply. In the next instant, there he was on stage. Now.
Most of you reading this are asking, "Who is Arken?"
<br />
<br />
When I first came to here <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in 2004, Arken
was one of the first artists my friends introduced me to. He's a Uyghur
singer that sings a stylistic blend of pop with flamenco guitar and a more
traditional Uyghur style. He's famous for such tunes as Where is
my girl?, Balangzi, and a cover of Why is the rose so
red?. If honest I'd have to say I haven't enjoyed what has come
out in his later albums, but much of his earlier music is still well known.
Needless to say, it was exciting to see Arken live. Joining
the rest of the crowd, I belted out "Heeeey giiiiiiiir. I love you
to death!" It was a little disappointing that he was singing to a
canned backup track and not live music. But taking it for what it was
worth, I thoroughly enjoyed his 3 songs. I would have been happy if he'd
kept going, but alas, others were waiting to blow out my eardrums with their
soprano wailings.<br />
<br />
"Thank you for coming!", the emcee shouted, marking the end of the
show. Extracting myself from the contraption they called a seat, I
chatted with my friend. "Let's get a picture with Arken", one
of them blurted out. "Why not?", I said. Heading
backstage we found Arken surrounded by a group of university students.
They were fairly orderly as they pressed in to get pictures and autographs.
Intimidated by the crowd we stood off the to the side waiting for these young
enthusiasts to have their fill. Looking over, Arken noticed us and
smiled. It seemed he was making his way over to greet us. Then.
Things got ugly. <br />
<br />
"He's over here!" came a high-pitched shriek of an unidentified
teenage girl. Suddenly the room erupted in giggles, gasps, and shrill
exclamations of Arken's name. "Arken! Arken! Oh God!
ARKEN!!!!!!!" Through the door and down the stairs came a
seemingly unending stream of star-struck, adolescent female, Arken-mania.
I remember growing up, seeing videos of Elvis concerts and girls
literally fainting at the sight of him. This was by far the closest I
have ever seen to that kind of behavior. The room had been active before
but it suddenly erupted into mass chaos; pushing, shoving, grabbing, and
shrieking. I enjoy Arken's music but I was definitely not THAT committed
to my picture and autograph. Seeing our annoyance, Arken intentionally
pushed past of few of his withering fans and made his way over to us. <br />
<br />
We shook hands and exchanged greetings. Next came the fatal mistake.
My friend handed the camera to one of the shriekers. She was
literally shaking with star-struck hysteria as she snapped a picture of the 5
of us. Turning to Arken, I thrust my homework notebook into his hand.
I had casually opened to a page with a few common get-to-know-you
phrases with a large blank space on the bottom. This is where it got
awkward. Looking down to sign Arken paused as his eyes grew wide?
"Huh?", he puzzled as he looked up at me and then at the
notebook again. Glancing down I realized his confusion. The first
sentence written across the top of the page was "Are you married?"
Well crap. "No, no no. Don't pay attention to
that", I blurted out as I covered up my sloppy scribbles.
"Just sign here!" By this time the teenage angst had reached
deadly levels as they squealed out Arken's name and pushed their pen/paper at
him. My friend who speaks more Uyghur assured Arken that he was
just signing my homework notebook and that I wasn't actually interested in his
marital status. In the struggle for autographs one especially brazen girl
tried to grab my pen. She managed to get away with the cap.
"Ha! What are you gonna do with THAT?!" I thought to
myself. Realizing death was imminent if we didn't escape, we began
pushing our way through the coterie of girlish madness. I was both
annoyed at these obnoxious females and laughing about the awkward moment.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Setting my sites on the door, I elbowed and shoved my way
through the throng of teenagers. These girls were obnoxious but at least
I had a picture with Arken and could show off my autograph. From behind I
heard one of my companions shout over the crowd. "Oh no! Jesse!!!"
Turning around I saw my wide-eyed school mate holding up her camera.
"You're not in the picture!" "WHAT?!" I
stood there for a second, shook my head, and motioned toward the door. It
wasn't worth the hassle. Having finally made my way out of the madness I
turned and waited for my friends. Reaching for the camera I glanced at
the screen. Sure enough, there was Arken, the three girls, my shoulder
and my ear. Unbelievable. "Stupid teenage girl", I
thought as I headed for the door. The older lady that took us to the
concert asked how it went. When we explained both the notebook debacle
and the picture fiasco she literally had to stop, doubled over in laughter,
right there on the sidewalk. I couldn't help but laugh with her.
</i><br />
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KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-81035788676807637422012-09-16T11:23:00.001-04:002012-09-16T23:03:36.114-04:00Humbly Accepting<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He really just came by to pick
up a pair of shoes for his wife, it should have only been a two minuet trip to
our house, but hours later as we all walked out he was hopefully filled with
much more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">9 am
Saturday morning a knock came at our door; I opened it cautiously to find a
strange man standing in the hallway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’ve come to pick stuff up,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I looked at him rather blankly and holding the door only slightly
ajar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Your friend Hannah has stuff for
my wife,” he tried again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still didn’t
budge or open the door any wider. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” I
said apologetically as I did a very <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2008/10/police-in-wrong-place.html" target="_blank">uncultured thing</a> and closed the door on his
face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">An hour
later while I was out at the store buying milk the same guy came up to me “have
you heard from Hannah yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really need
to get that stuff before I leave this afternoon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Hannah is
at school taking her final exam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
need to talk to her first,” I said firmly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What’s
your home phone number?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I don’t
know” I shrugged as I marched past him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before I
made it back home he had once again accosted me on the street, entreating me
with basically the same plea to get stuff from my house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before leaving for school in the morning my
roommate had not mentioned that a man might come by to pick something up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t about to just let him go through her
stuff and take whatever he wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
tried once or twice more that afternoon to come by and knock on our door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a while we just started to ignore his
knocking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the
evening my roommate Hannah returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
asked her if she knew who this guy was or what he was looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh yeah” she said almost as an afterthought
“I left some stuff here for his wife… You know the women I introduced you to
the other day whose baby was in the hospital.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The sentence was barely out of her mouth when once again the now
familiar knock sounded on the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“That’s likely him,” I said getting up from the chair and this time
going to open the door wide.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Hannah is
home” I said ushering him into our living room and encouraging him to sit
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She just told me to expect you,
sorry about the confusion earlier”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started
to rush about and get tea on the table for our guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before he had time to drink half of his first
bowel of tea my roommate had returned with our ‘take-out’ food (sounds fancier
than what the <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2006/12/doggie-bags-when-we-get-left-overs-at.html" target="_blank">plastic bag</a> filled with a <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/08/hello-big-plate-of-chicken.html" target="_blank">big plate of chicken</a> really is).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Please stay for dinner, there is enough for
everyone” we encouraged him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We asked
politely after his wife and how their son’s doctor’s appointment had gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned that the doctor had given them
very little hope that their son would ever be able to function normally… the
baby is already a year old but can’t really support his own head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could hear the sadness and hopelessness
in this father’s voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and his wife
had made the more than twenty four hour journey<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>from their small farming village up to the big city so that their son
could get some of the best medical care this province has to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had pinned all their hopes on the fact
that the medical university hospital would have some treatment… and now they
were heading back deflated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
heading back having spend a lot of the families money on tickets to get here,
hotel and food for two week while they were here and of course hospital bills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He felt like he had nothing to show for it,
their baby was equally sick as when they arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We didn’t
have much to offer, but tried to encourage him as best as we could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men in this culture don’t often sit and
patiently listen to unmarried women like myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But his heart was so empty, so broken and he
so needed to hear someone cheer him up that he sat there eating and listening
for a long time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a while he said
“please let’s all go out and get something to drink”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were unsure if he just wanted an excuse to
leave or if he really did want us all to go with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before leaving he picked up a pair of shoes
from Hannah for his wife and we all headed out the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kept thanking us for our encouragement and
even told us that if we were ever in his small town we had to come to their
house for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We exchanged numbers
and promised to call if we were ever in his area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we walked by a convenient store he asked us
all to wait just a second as he ran inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Five minutes later he came out proudly carrying an armful of supper
sweet “Redbull” energy knock off drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“This is a very good beverage” he says graciously as he handed each one
of us a bottle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As he
extended it towards me I had two simultaneous reaction; the first being “Oh, I
hate this stuff,” followed quickly by “This stuff is pretty expensive, a guy
from a poor farming village like his doesn’t have enough money to be wasting it
all on buying us drinks.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to
refuse, but he pushes it back in our hand and used the traditional “It might be
small, but this gift is from my heart” line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those words have become so common place here that sometimes they start
to sound empty to me… but I could tell this man really meant it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had nothing to give, his family’s home was
far away, they were leaving the next day, but he wanted to say thank you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought about telling him to keep the energy
drink and enjoy it on the bus ride home. I realized had a choice, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could continue to refuse his offer, knowing
it was more than he could really afford to give, or I could humbly accept that
this man was just trying to find a way to say “thank you”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it is hard to be humble enough to
let someone else show you love and care.</span></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-78401916931725695082012-09-12T04:47:00.000-04:002012-09-13T20:32:26.122-04:00Hiking in a Dress<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The yurt we
were staying in was located in the valley at the bottom of a beautiful mountain
rang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Sleeping three nights in a row in a yurt may not be the best for me (I am too much of the 'princess and the pea' to be sleeping on cold hard uneven ground), but i</span>t was so peaceful to just get
away and rest with good friends for a few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So many of my trips are hectic tours with visitors jumping on bus after
bus trying to see all that this province has to offer in one short week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my end of the summer opportunity to
say goodbye to the crowded city, goodbye to the car horns blearing in my ear,
goodbye to the push of people on the bus, good bye to the squishing to find a
place in the nonexistent lines, and instead say hello to the peaceful valley,
hello the tall snow capped mountains, the goats running on the hill side, hello
to the simple life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had time to hike
or just sit back and read a good book.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iQh9NnV76sIKcxqaHFAv3um1e-BpMpj5AUsZcPiF9NwUN67UsMPqJmz9YSCl6RHHaDZSQHKGQs0A3CAl-th61l9bGI26uYxQcKcqs64kxKfnnA1BJlTr6bwB3pZa13ni_qIq/s1600/DSCF7055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iQh9NnV76sIKcxqaHFAv3um1e-BpMpj5AUsZcPiF9NwUN67UsMPqJmz9YSCl6RHHaDZSQHKGQs0A3CAl-th61l9bGI26uYxQcKcqs64kxKfnnA1BJlTr6bwB3pZa13ni_qIq/s320/DSCF7055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9H18UknVIG290YyFA51Cj5IZ-YFGmMy0d4DBDt1AVKFCtHrr7tj6hY4dbDAuV27niO84sh8_nL-tMb4O0vCmoCrwO4BTP49skJ__0LKHGvb7IkuSJraaMdGCVccUK0bJqAyF/s1600/DSCF7085.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9H18UknVIG290YyFA51Cj5IZ-YFGmMy0d4DBDt1AVKFCtHrr7tj6hY4dbDAuV27niO84sh8_nL-tMb4O0vCmoCrwO4BTP49skJ__0LKHGvb7IkuSJraaMdGCVccUK0bJqAyF/s320/DSCF7085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
sounds were peaceful… the baaaing of sheep as the shepherd herded his <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>goats through an old grave yard, the sound of
waterfalls splashing down from high mountain peaks, a Kirgiz famer still using
the old ways of swinging his sickles through the air by hand and cutting the
long field grass, the techno sound of a loud ringing cell phone going off in
the middle of nowhere( hey wait... that doesn't fit in the peaceful picture).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This same Kirgiz famer,
who relies of the traditional means of harvesting the field, reached into his
pocket and pulled out a fancy app phone with all the latest gadgets ( My eight
year old cell phone just couldn’t compare).</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34fdmw9tls7VRHULzuOqv7EIWSDg22UBgMT5zcz9jAvUphWCQYCacMWyif_SV_ClK8Nd5wHOFRWnFtxV9KL3LiztGG2gwYI0zld6zFFtawiklTxKY3Y8rhKksLbbh7cw7nwX7/s1600/DSCF7191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34fdmw9tls7VRHULzuOqv7EIWSDg22UBgMT5zcz9jAvUphWCQYCacMWyif_SV_ClK8Nd5wHOFRWnFtxV9KL3LiztGG2gwYI0zld6zFFtawiklTxKY3Y8rhKksLbbh7cw7nwX7/s320/DSCF7191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I really
didn’t know what to make of this guy,and he certainly didn't know what to make of me. He was the same Kirgiz man who had
greeted our gang as we got off the van with “Look, she is a foreign
women and she is wearing a skirt”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
man lives at the foot the “the Father of Ice Mountians”, he is use to seeing
adventure seeking man and women come from all over the world with all their
fancy hiking gear and take on the over 7500 meter trek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not use to white women who study local
culture, speak and local language and have time to stand around and chat with
him and his wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True my outfit choice
wasn’t the best for hiking, but it did leave a lasting impression on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia__QoKqYroec9KA5lLq9fOPVRRd8F3VaPvJJGu67O8CtVVKGfDCUUQF4TtH-4178A4oOEzu8DngS1ExPetNLQSDqlDAiUF1m4dL6GfFMoXDrEbtmsI_kGDjHT_R-fEA8bjN-o/s1600/DSCF7082.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia__QoKqYroec9KA5lLq9fOPVRRd8F3VaPvJJGu67O8CtVVKGfDCUUQF4TtH-4178A4oOEzu8DngS1ExPetNLQSDqlDAiUF1m4dL6GfFMoXDrEbtmsI_kGDjHT_R-fEA8bjN-o/s320/DSCF7082.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2oEGrwqx1EnkkEpCHwr_C9EU1vOJfp20JR2YrG_VZgx99Y5pX_nrhbSa7F4ECqclVuioeBqZZmYgrE27HEITrKjv6nDGWOaSTaLT0OZS5sBsxyObTlxg8TSdADV_7WH3ed2T/s1600/DSCF7203.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2oEGrwqx1EnkkEpCHwr_C9EU1vOJfp20JR2YrG_VZgx99Y5pX_nrhbSa7F4ECqclVuioeBqZZmYgrE27HEITrKjv6nDGWOaSTaLT0OZS5sBsxyObTlxg8TSdADV_7WH3ed2T/s320/DSCF7203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Strollers
are a rare sight out here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most women
carry their babies around in their arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are just so many stairs and curbs that pushing a buggy around is
difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But come late summer/early fall baby carriages can be seen on every street corner, most of them being guided by men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first few times I saw a man pushing a
carriage I tried to hasten my step so I could get in front of him and <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2007/10/simple-mathematics-this-morning-while.html" target="_blank">look at the cute little kid</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But none of these
men are pushing children around in the stroller; they are all taking their
<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/08/flattened-figs.html" target="_blank">flattened figs</a> out for a walk. I especially love the baby buggies that still
have the stripped awnings or the fancy plastic toys and bells for the figs to
play with when they get bored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These guys
walk up and down the streets, from the back they look like <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/09/fathers-love.html" target="_blank">proud parents</a>, from
the front they are entrepreneurial business men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPol2yW9gPG5vT9pJDIIwSKf72QcVv2EVX3k3Z8AYxBRdaxFYP7MnAyFllJFLKETjmrkWsn67Yc3ucKqtuKGDpjA1CGcbTupqYDdzynAUAzUJfWDaWIUfGbYpgWyL1YYSiN79V/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPol2yW9gPG5vT9pJDIIwSKf72QcVv2EVX3k3Z8AYxBRdaxFYP7MnAyFllJFLKETjmrkWsn67Yc3ucKqtuKGDpjA1CGcbTupqYDdzynAUAzUJfWDaWIUfGbYpgWyL1YYSiN79V/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" width="236" /></a></div>
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KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-37501974341341200802012-09-03T02:53:00.000-04:002012-09-03T23:02:10.682-04:00Taxi Clues<br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When jumping
in a taxi you have less than ten seconds to correctly identify what language
you need to address the driver in and give directions. One must become astute in quickly noticing
the clues in the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First check the
review mirror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What sort of dangling
thing is hanging down?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it green with
Arabic writing or a red Buddha statue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes
it is cute and fluffy and sometimes it has a picture of the Turkish flag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Green, Arabic or Turkish is a sure sign to
speak Uyghur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Red, fluffy or Buddha
means you should start with the national language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is nothing hanging from the mirror
it is time to move on to clue number two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the driver listening to on the radio?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be hard to hear with the door open
and the sound of traffic whizzing by, trying to make out the language the lyrics are
being sung in over the sound of honking horns can be hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If for some reason the radio is not on, or
you can’t hear it clearly… try clue number three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Check the hair. </span>If the driver is male and has facial hair he
is likely Uyghur. For females check out the length of their hair and if it is
being worn up or down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Short hair or
hair that is worn loose normally indicates you are not talking
to a Uyghur women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After gathering all
this information in just a few seconds glace you can hopefully greet the driver
correctly and state where you want to go in his mother language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missing these clues could lead to insult… so
watch out.</span></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-12530594780629051702012-08-30T00:07:00.004-04:002012-09-10T00:58:17.382-04:00Living in the Rubble<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The old
city streets are filled with quaint allies, stone walkways and beautiful
old wooden doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always loved
strolling through these pathways and greeting the people who call them home,
watching the women sit and chat and the children skip and hop down the lanes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEq7Nvi5wt2QpKah_G8gbbaGXuBfsCNWU-L1IOiDy2e3SY_rJgd40p1whpvICmWqBlUCZTNWT9OHQst-TBEKMan6yx28In9F9nb_4UcEF7nryrU24Aj5X6gq7Yj9l-2HePQF8a/s1600/P6171825.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEq7Nvi5wt2QpKah_G8gbbaGXuBfsCNWU-L1IOiDy2e3SY_rJgd40p1whpvICmWqBlUCZTNWT9OHQst-TBEKMan6yx28In9F9nb_4UcEF7nryrU24Aj5X6gq7Yj9l-2HePQF8a/s320/P6171825.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodkljqlCGOATHQfim41cKBqIcBfEHVYuDMmbukPz4T3gQaOxYAfTfQg8is7Iv-ylq17SVFP3ig3yMy_3X0jph-PQiE9E6BFZjKAZhlcRV-vI5MUXPkufP5ueF2qIFii3GPVql/s1600/DSC_0181.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodkljqlCGOATHQfim41cKBqIcBfEHVYuDMmbukPz4T3gQaOxYAfTfQg8is7Iv-ylq17SVFP3ig3yMy_3X0jph-PQiE9E6BFZjKAZhlcRV-vI5MUXPkufP5ueF2qIFii3GPVql/s320/DSC_0181.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi981lvn1eJySfMtACHiuu_RBHSexOjKKoELJF-grBcaDCSErDz9fyg_mISWrUNuItqU7vVM8DA6fWSEDjB6EiqXiR3_o4hsYSw8odGWAdXhrcyTskXfvkYrTiYKyF2KFL4HRiD/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi981lvn1eJySfMtACHiuu_RBHSexOjKKoELJF-grBcaDCSErDz9fyg_mISWrUNuItqU7vVM8DA6fWSEDjB6EiqXiR3_o4hsYSw8odGWAdXhrcyTskXfvkYrTiYKyF2KFL4HRiD/s320/DSC_0223.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the name
of progress and advancement this country is busy tearing down over 250 year old
traditional country homes and ‘improving’ the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This progress means that the streets are now
reduced to piles of rubble and old discarded bricks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time in between the distruction and
re-building leave this particular town in a rather sorry state.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The group I
travelled with most recently was really struggling with the loss of the history
represented by each pile of stones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
mourned the ‘impoverished’ people who were having their family homes literally
torn out from under them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsci7bi07zzzYOU3MY2SJUN0sxDX60O23qKjeuolU1TddAz8zYgFwuD5xHXjSOz_5eWmu_8ccEsKc_AZFvVcPaM4QG__RVXs56G6Ovj38QBD35lqOnGJdzHSD9ETncEnTHsxri/s1600/DSC_0183.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsci7bi07zzzYOU3MY2SJUN0sxDX60O23qKjeuolU1TddAz8zYgFwuD5xHXjSOz_5eWmu_8ccEsKc_AZFvVcPaM4QG__RVXs56G6Ovj38QBD35lqOnGJdzHSD9ETncEnTHsxri/s320/DSC_0183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NywkUCHKZgyaYCvzMGRsDbchyyWw4-Uf75AuoB7FyI6zQc9eeOGzCFk9NeLsMWCrAkgWSrGpv-H65bMFRns8jUam9WfZdVeE1jA5btoHYZdrJ6D2ReJL2mEbqlNo_6Gl7tqc/s1600/P6171821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NywkUCHKZgyaYCvzMGRsDbchyyWw4-Uf75AuoB7FyI6zQc9eeOGzCFk9NeLsMWCrAkgWSrGpv-H65bMFRns8jUam9WfZdVeE1jA5btoHYZdrJ6D2ReJL2mEbqlNo_6Gl7tqc/s320/P6171821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> One man
strolled ahead of the group to get a picture and came back visibly shaken, “Karen,
I heard voices back there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think some
poor family is still being forced to live amidst the rubble”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I rounded
the corner he pointed at and followed the sound of a child’s chatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure enough a few walls were still standing
and the front door of the house was slightly a jar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The women
heard us approached and stepped out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Happy
Holiday,” I greeted her since the end of Ramadan had just been a few days
before and most families were still in the midst of celebrating.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She invited
us all to come in, and on her third earnest issuing of the invitation I told
the group that we were going in for tea. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My fellow travelers
were awed by the elegance that awaited them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After passing through the brightly light courtyard we were lead into the
living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coffee table, or
dustahan as it is called here, was lavishly spread with bowls of dried fruit and
nuts, candies and cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sat on
plush thick cushions and admired the interact woodwork on the walls that shelved
expensive looking china tea sets. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhor118ic7mRu38R_JWbOZ2xXOs4gUK2habrj-Sh7WPgXkIQ1JQ1-bwHgNhOxxFkmT_YWWo2th0vv_tK0F5iPpM-hXeFzDAtd3_3Zw0jT0-StS-kmJI2nQXzqJOZj4rpu-Wkgj/s1600/DSC_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The group's
ideas of poor and impoverished minority people forced to live in desolated
homes came crashing down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact our
hosts seemed to have a better overall attitude towards the change coming to her
city than any of us did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The visit in
her home ended up being a highlight for many on the trip.</span></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-16328737406237674512012-08-16T05:15:00.002-04:002012-08-16T05:31:35.042-04:00Not Moving - Again<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Last week I
started to hear rumors of a English teaching job in a city called Pure Water,
which is about a 16 hour bus ride from where I currently live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With all the recent frustration at work,
between my American work mate not getting his visa and having to let my Uyghur
work mate go, I was ready to throw in the towel and give up on the whole idea
of being a business women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept joking
“Maybe I should just move down there and teach English instead, it would be a
lot less of a headache”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually some of my friends suggested I at
least talk to the school and find out a few more particulars of the job.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I called
the head of the school’s English department a guy named Allan and was pleasantly
surprised to hear that he was up in the capital city, but just for another day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried suggesting several times and
location, but he was very busy while in town and we were unable to work out an
opportunity to chat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me on the
phone they were very excited to have English teacher and if I would send him my
résumé they would start to draw up the contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whoa- that was moving too fast for me, I hadn’t
agree to anything yet, I still had a lot of question and wanted to meet them
and see the school first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suggested my
making a trip there in hopes of talking to him and the school’s leaders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One of my
Uyghur friends heard talking to the guy on the phone and got rather mad, “You
shouldn’t have to pay for your bus ticket to go down there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2007/11/wanted-i-almost-got-job-this-week-at.html" target="_blank">really need an English teacher</a> the
school should be offering to fly you down for an interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a government school after all and they
have money”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“While I still haven’t
actually promised to take the job, so I will buy my own ticket, that way I don’t
feel any obligation toward them”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">16 hours on
the bus… and no one to meet me at the station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went to my friend’s house who lives in that town – they were the ones
who had told me about the job in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mid Monday afternoon my friend took me over
and introduced me to the staff of the English department and Allan in
particular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The head teacher was quick
to say they could process my paperwork and have me ready to start class by the beginning
of September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I have a few questions
first” I said. They all seemed pretty simple, like how will the classes be scheduled,
<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2007/02/when-does-school-start-i-was-talking-to.html" target="_blank">when is winter vacation starts</a>, and what is the salary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For each question Allan simply replied “you
will have to ask my leader that”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
unproductive conversation went on for over 20min before I was being ushered
upstairs to meet the leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lights
were all off in the hallway as we approached the office door, and sure enough
our knock went unanswered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It appears
the leader is not here right now , so I will show you the apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a local teacher living there right
now, but we will make him leave before you come.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The apartment
was fully furnished with table chairs, bed, coach, hot water heater, fridge,
washing machine and tv.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I walked
around and mentally checked things off my “must- have- list” Allan continued to
dial the Leader’s number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You will have
to meet the leader tomorrow,” he finally admitted rather dejectedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I leave tomorrow afternoon, so can I make an
appointment to see him in the morning?”I asked hopefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes, I will call you in the morning when he
gets in” Allan promised.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The next
morning it was ten a.m. and I still hadn’t heard from the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to head over there anyway and try
to remind them of my presence in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
gate guard stopped me in front of the school demanding to know who I was going
to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave her Allan’s name and
his position in the English department only to be informed that he was
currently not at the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried
calling him, the gate guard rang his number… a teacher who overheard our dilemma
also gave him a call, but all with the same result – his phone was power
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat at the gate of the school for
half an hour chatting and waiting for him to come back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually I gave up and told the guard lady
to have Allan give me a call the second he returned to the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hours went
by and still there was no phone call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually
my friend called the English teacher one more time before I left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time his phone was on, and he had a hundred
and one excuses explaining how the leader had been called away to an important
meeting and his phone was out of money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
of it seemed like the Asian backhanded indirect communication style that never
says ‘no’ outright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said they
wanted and needed a teacher but their actions were communicating anything
but.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed that maybe they didn’t
need a teacher that badly after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
some reason after making a 32 hour round trip tour to see his school I left without
even know what the job’s salary was per month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I really do <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2009/07/waiting-game.html" target="_blank">want to move down south</a>... but this didn't seem like the best situation, so I will keep plugging away and trying to get my business off the ground. </span></span></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-1295357016918269142012-08-10T04:52:00.003-04:002012-08-10T06:57:15.292-04:00Laghmen<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In case you
want to try making some good Uyghur food tonight at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got this receipt off a friend who spent
hours watching her Uyghur friends cook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most locals don’t measure ingredients; it is all done by a general
feeling of “that’s enough”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would
then ask to take their handful or pinch of whatever and try to measure it
according to our system of teaspoons and cups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hope you enjoy! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzxA_7w4ON-K4AlVTER8EkWHnbcZtdHetA-wfMSv3T-A4mQ_RgAu8sFM4tygu172OoDiXJdVbpZneqnn0Oiu4Lg7qfZyiDCBt3XBImb_ea9HM9XuF1YiZVp5yBmkzOnRQ1xjB/s1600/lagman-or-banmian-300x200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzxA_7w4ON-K4AlVTER8EkWHnbcZtdHetA-wfMSv3T-A4mQ_RgAu8sFM4tygu172OoDiXJdVbpZneqnn0Oiu4Lg7qfZyiDCBt3XBImb_ea9HM9XuF1YiZVp5yBmkzOnRQ1xjB/s1600/lagman-or-banmian-300x200.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Toppings:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3T. – ½ Cup of oil<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1 potato cut in thin
cubes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">150-300g. mutton cut in strips<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2 leaves of cabbage, cut in
narrow strips</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ginger, diced or 1/8t. ginger powder<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">½ large (very red) tomato, diced thinkly</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1 small onion, cut thinkly <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3 hot gree peppers,
seeds removed, cut in chunks</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2t. salt<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1
dried hot red pepper, soaked 10min, sliced finely</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2T. soy sauce*<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3-5
garlic cloves peeled and diced finely</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Green beans, cut in 2 cm. pieces**<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Black or white pepper, optional</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dough:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1 heaping C. flour</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1t.salt ( or a little less)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">½ C. water</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">* Can substitute a combination of 1t. soy sauce
and 1 T. black vinegar if desired</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">** Can substitute and/or add other vegetables
such as 8-10 leaves of spinach or ½ an eggplant cut in chunks</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u>Make the
Dough:</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly mix water into flour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you push finger inot the dough and it
leaves a small imprint it is ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Knead dough really well ( until it slowly rises back up when you push on
it with your finger).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let sit
10-15minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More time makes it
softer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you notice bubbles in the
dough, it is ready ( but holes in the dough aren’t good and means it needs more
time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flatten dough about 1 ½ inches
think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put oil on each side and cut into
strips 1 inch think. Stretch each trip a little by squeezing it in your
hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With one hand holding the strip,
rub your other hand back and forth across the other end of the strip moving
down the strip, unitl it is long and approximately 1cm in diameter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oil the plate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before setting it aside coil each strip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coiling from the middle of the plate
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rub oil on each layer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cover and set while preparing vegetables. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u>Prepare the
Topping:</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put 3 T oil in the pot and
heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fry meat and then add chopped
ginger and onions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cook briefly and add
salt and soy sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add green beans,
potatoes, eggplant if using, red pepper, cabbage, and tomatoes ( stirring a
minute between each).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When potatoes are
almost cooked, add green peppers, garlic, pepper, and black vinegar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add spinach , if using and water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring to boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Take out and cover while preparing the noddles.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc8SudZ-CyRBFmVbGAcza23kITQG7_KZyuu393_SRtM5HA7vHwHtgDl76kqIfUgn119vPIUplm-qtmn6eq7gnrTXAgUVymqIxoSEDiu6nU-P_alwFwHt0gAAhkvI4wBp6-d7v/s1600/DSCN1242.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc8SudZ-CyRBFmVbGAcza23kITQG7_KZyuu393_SRtM5HA7vHwHtgDl76kqIfUgn119vPIUplm-qtmn6eq7gnrTXAgUVymqIxoSEDiu6nU-P_alwFwHt0gAAhkvI4wBp6-d7v/s320/DSCN1242.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u>Make and
cook the Noodles:</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boil water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stretch the noodles ( run through one hand
and the other, roll to keep it round as also stretch).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For stiff dough do this 2 times; do only once
if soft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrap around hands ( one under,
one over until hands are covered and dough is used up).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stretch and slap several times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boil 2-3 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lift the noodles form the pot and dip first
into a basin of cold water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your
guests want their noodles hot, dip them back into the hot water before serving.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQcUFKloVnQYf1-PPdmgHTIpFheyggA8LiUhlg2OzN876qMskA2yPKp70q_C6Mf8siUbI1n1oZJDXibtQ3FbjhL7Xaq3EDwOl2Z7zGtofsXpQ3reAuNgApAxE8J4bwwhDxjwL/s1600/DSC_5595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQcUFKloVnQYf1-PPdmgHTIpFheyggA8LiUhlg2OzN876qMskA2yPKp70q_C6Mf8siUbI1n1oZJDXibtQ3FbjhL7Xaq3EDwOl2Z7zGtofsXpQ3reAuNgApAxE8J4bwwhDxjwL/s320/DSC_5595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e506tVFQWaquF4tZTY4OV7XrNm-szzCOZYLE_QB9iTLaHyG4vYotm-d3vzQbwRE8wOMwGU8Is4pJ4oUPUGGIDqRMKFuMarx3FRNcRZrtornOpUZCKpebP6N_MrX3RepUKOo5/s1600/DSC_0621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e506tVFQWaquF4tZTY4OV7XrNm-szzCOZYLE_QB9iTLaHyG4vYotm-d3vzQbwRE8wOMwGU8Is4pJ4oUPUGGIDqRMKFuMarx3FRNcRZrtornOpUZCKpebP6N_MrX3RepUKOo5/s320/DSC_0621.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u>To
Serve:</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put noodles on a plate and then
pour topping over the noodles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure
there are at least a couple of pieces of meat in each dish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WnGTtUHrKxLZatZLq8w2INZC0-yKhbJEr3VNK6HqyQ6ctYmf84_zUQzbLgzjubMatqIq_BdXD2hajQXXDLWsrdliXwwdwWMn-WSPUsC7K8a3xfg48Lcup5VAWKO2TZd7NUgs/s1600/DSC_0620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WnGTtUHrKxLZatZLq8w2INZC0-yKhbJEr3VNK6HqyQ6ctYmf84_zUQzbLgzjubMatqIq_BdXD2hajQXXDLWsrdliXwwdwWMn-WSPUsC7K8a3xfg48Lcup5VAWKO2TZd7NUgs/s320/DSC_0620.jpg" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WnGTtUHrKxLZatZLq8w2INZC0-yKhbJEr3VNK6HqyQ6ctYmf84_zUQzbLgzjubMatqIq_BdXD2hajQXXDLWsrdliXwwdwWMn-WSPUsC7K8a3xfg48Lcup5VAWKO2TZd7NUgs/s1600/DSC_0620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-22852867829257317862012-08-08T00:35:00.001-04:002012-08-08T00:35:39.991-04:00A Good Thwacking<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Uyghur
girl who is staying with us for a few weeks cooked dinner the other night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we praised her skilled hand in the kitchen
she started to open up and tell us a bit more about her past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For the first two years after I got married
my husband and I ran our own restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I spent all day I the kitchen cooking.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That explained how she had in recorded time cut and fried up all the
toppings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had been the one cooking,
I would have still been standing at the counter trying to peel the potato.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Truth be
told I am not that great in the kitchen when preparing common north American
food, I am even worse when it comes to making Uyghur food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had the knife taken out of my hand by
an old women, who when she saw how slowly I was working, kicked me out of her
work space with the lame excuse of “Your wrists are too weak for this, go rest”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having
skilled hands for cooking is an important trait for a good wife in Uyghur
culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One more than one occasion when
a person finds out if that I am over thirty and still single I get asked if I
can cook Uyghur food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try hard to turn
the question into a light hearted joke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In traditional
Uyghur cuisine <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>80% of the diet is made
up of just two main dishes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/06/since-coming-home-few-months-ago.html" target="_blank">Polu</a> and Laghmen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to make Laghman properly there is a
complex process of stretching, wrapping and <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/09/230-is-great-time-for-noodles.html" target="_blank">thwacking</a> the noodles to make them
thin and long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My noodles inevitably break
on the first pull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when asked how I
fair in the kitchen I explain my noodle pulling frustration and then with a
light Scarlet O’Hare shrug to my should and a chuckle in my voice I say “I end
up just giving up and making saomian instead” .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Saomian has all the same ingredients as laghmen, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but it is just refried with small square noodles).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older Uyghur ladies laugh at my light
hearted joke, but behind their eyes I see a sadness reflecting displeasure at
my incompetence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The real
reason behind my <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/08/youre-too-old-to-not-be-married_29.html" target="_blank">singleness</a> is finally out, if only I could learn to give the noodles
a good thwacking I might have a chance of getting married.</span></div>KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-44783940264320799302012-08-02T22:43:00.002-04:002012-08-02T22:47:43.098-04:00All Wet<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In dryness
of the dessert shop keepers will often save the extra water from cleaning their
shops and use it to keep the dust down out front their store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At different intervals throughout the day you
might see them toss a whole bucket of water out the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not all that interesting or
really even worth blogging about except for the fact that yesterday….</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I happened
to walk by at the exact second the guy sent the water sailing through the air
in front of his small electronic store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
bulk of the water fell on my head and started dripping down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The poor shop owner looked horrified to
realize he had caught a passerby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others
stopped mid stride watching and waiting for my response, expecting me to lose
my calm and yell at the guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was slightly
grossed out, not knowing what else this potentially dirty, gross water had been
used for, but I was also kind of refreshed by its cool wet relief in the middle
of a stifling hot summer’s day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-56829732518604571502012-07-28T23:18:00.001-04:002012-07-29T06:20:46.167-04:00Night Market<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Having
guest come through does a lot to help me
remember what is unusual and different about where I live. After almost eight years here I no longer
blink an eye at many of the sights and sounds around me. But going through the photos visitors leave me
with after their trips stirs my memory for interesting blog post. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Right next
to my house is a great food night market.
Starting at about four in the afternoon all the sellers wheel their
carts into one big open area, they lay down cheap plastic flooring, assemble tables
and places stools beside them. Next they
start to prepare their food. Each cart
has something different there are guys selling the standard bbq kabobs, women
with piles of cold starch noodles that they drench in hot sauce and top with a
few veggies. There is the booth with “everything
on a stick”, from tofu to mushrooms or fried eggs to leafy greens; they all get
a stick pocked through them. The person ordering
chooses what they want on a stick and then can watch them get deep fried in the
hot vat of spicy oil sitting right next to the cart. After a few hours the oil starts to take on a
mixed flavor of all the ingredients that have been soaking in it. Further down you can find another guy selling
full roasted lambs, but if you are not up for that much meat you can stop by
and just grab food from the person selling lamb heads and hooves, or there is
stuffed lung and intestine. All of these
food can be toped off with a glass of honey beer (Uyghur still argue
whether or not it is actually alcoholic) and some freshly cut melon that
has just been shipped in from the country side. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I end up
strolling through this bustling markets several nights a week, but very rarely
to I stop to enjoy its fine cuisine… I guess I have got over the joy of
nibbling on sheep cheek and calling it dinner.
</span></div>KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-86296977954624689092012-07-24T11:10:00.002-04:002012-07-24T11:12:22.159-04:00Saving Face<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2008/09/rules-for-ramadan.html" target="_blank">Ramadan </a>is
here again and like <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-cant-tell-lie.html" target="_blank">every year</a> it means the rules for <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-job-just-got-lot-harder.html" target="_blank">eating</a> around town have
totally changed. Kabob guys no longer
stand in the middle of the street during the day wafting the smell of barbequed
meat at passerbyers, noodle carts are tucked into the corner allies out of the
main line of vision. Since fasting is suppose
to last from sun up to sun down, the middle of the summer is the hardest time
of the year to properly abide by the call to abstain from water or food. Right now our sun is rising before 4am and setting after 7:30.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I have a
few neighbors who are trying to be faithful in the fast, but the longer I am
here the more I see the smoke and mirrors which is many peoples dedication to
Ramadan. Tonight my friends and I went
to a nice Uyghur restaurant by her house… we wanted to sit outside on the patio
under the bright stripped canopies. The
waitress’ first question was: “Are you wanting to eat right now?” When we said “Yes”- and answer that indicated
we were not participating in the fast, she motioned us to move indoors. “These seats are only for those eating after
iptar a word used to describe the
evening breaking of the fast).” We
stepped into the restaurant only to be met by a wave of hot sticky air. The
cool almost night air seemed much preferable to the stuffiness of indoors. I checked my watch, iptar was only 20mins
away. “If we promised not to eat until
afterwards can we sit out there?” I asked hopefully. “Sure, no problem if you are willing to wait
you can sit there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We sat
outside enjoying the cool breeze, even though they knew none of us were fasting
they still brought out the required nan and melon to eat first to help us
digest our food. The whole thing was
just an act to save face. Our waiting
until the sky was dark, and starting with a piece of watermelon made the restaurant
look like it only catered to the most devote. </span></div>KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-74032870077359255272012-07-21T05:59:00.001-04:002012-07-21T05:59:15.966-04:00No New Business Partner<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Several
times last year while we were opening our business I used this blog to vent my frustration
over the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I’m sure it
often felt like <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/10/business-scavenger-hunt.html" target="_blank">post</a> after<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/10/persnickety-lee.html" target="_blank"> post</a> was nothing but a retelling of our <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/11/guest-blogger-my-roommate-and.html" target="_blank">company woes</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly a<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/12/business-license.html" target="_blank"> year and a half </a>later the
story hasn’t changed and the sage continues.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Last October
the friend who had run the gauntlet of opening the company with me decided to
move back to the states indefinitely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
was a bit of a blow as I struggled with how I would be able to run the company
on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankful another good friend
in town stepped up and said that after he and his wife returned from having
their baby that they would love to buy out her half of the shares and join me
in running the business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was thrilled
with the offer… it was like a light at the end of the tunnel, if I could just
hold down the fort for a few month I wouldn’t have to do this alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sure enough
in March this couple came back and jumped right into the processes of formerly
changing the paperwork to remove my original business pattern’s name and show
that he was an investor in the company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had originally planned to bring in more money from the states and
increase our companies overall invested capital… right now Fusion is only worth
$5000 USD. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was advised by one branch
of the government, in an early step, not to bother investing more money, but to
just buy my friends original half of the shares out from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was told it would mean a lot less
paperwork and hassle for everyone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
this short of case it is always wise to trust the guy behind the desk, and so
we started signing and<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/01/remedial-stamping-classes.html" target="_blank"> stamping</a> multiple copies of paperwork that allowed for
the transfer of ownership.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After three
months of his own running around from office to office adventure my new business
partner was waiting outside of the country for us to send him a corrected visa
invitation letter ( the first one had his middle name spelled wrong).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The invitation letter allowed him to go to a consulate
and get a work visa to enter the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After obtaining the work visa there are still <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2010/04/visa-saga-part-one-rules-of-game.html" target="_blank">five office</a> visits needed
to switch it to a residence permit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
flew through the first four offices with record speed, indicated that there
seemed to be no complication with the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ever sheet of paper was in order and handed in at the final location…
they printed him off a slip and said “come back in two week to get your visa”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he left the office he breathed a huge
sigh of relief, the effort, struggle and running of the last few months was
soon going to be totally worth it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Less then a
week later they called him in and said “our company did have enough invested
capital to host four expat visas”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
workmate tried to argue that there weren’t four of us, only three they one girl
had gone home to get married and never planned to work here again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also reminded them of his original
intention to invest more money, but that a different level of government had
advised against it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The officer offered
to consider his case a little longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
Monday he sent someone to stop by our office to make sure we were working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was leading a group on a culture walk about
town, one of the services our company offers, and he was doing in person
negoistating translation work between an American and their landlord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were both busy out making money, but in
this country it is only appearances that matter and since no one was in the
office it did not look like we were doing anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They<a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2011/03/governments-got-my-number.html#uds-search-results" target="_blank"> called my work mate</a> and demanded that he
come back to their office the next day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The next
morning my business partner wasn’t alone as we traipsed into the office ready
with our <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2008/08/get-your-fight-face-on-some-days-it.html" target="_blank">fight faces </a>on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been a
stressful night worrying about what they would say, practicing our
answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had enlisted the help of two
local friends to come with us… one of them even had good connection with
officers who worked at their level of the police station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The women behind the desk looked at us blankly,
“we didn’t call you to come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
you should try this other office”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
we were sure the phone call had come from them, if they didn’t have our
application red flagged for some reason we didn’t want to be the ones to draw
unnecessary attention to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead we
all jumped on the bus, hurried across to town to the office she had
mentioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seemed equally as
surprised by our visit and insisted they didn’t have a problem either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact they tried to send us back to the
first place again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were ready to give
up for the day, while our friend kept making phone calls on our behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Day two saw
us bright and early once again up at the office ready to plead our case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The top officer called us into his
office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t seem interested in
talking to my business partner… instead he began to focus his questioning on
me. When he found I wasn’t great at speaking the national language, he quickly
sent for a Uyghur translator and continued to question me on the company’s
activities and why we weren’t making loads of money (Which was rather unnecessary
considering I could understand what he was saying in the first place).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After ten minutes we were told rather briskly
that we could leave, our questioning was over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">We exited
the police station and found a patch of shade to stand and debate how the mini interrogation
had gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t have to wait long
before the police guy called us back and confirmed they were going to turn down
his application.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend was not being
given permission to work for his own company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The labor department agreed, the foreign investment bureau had given
their stamp of approval, the local police station for both his home and our
office building seemed fine with him coming on staff. All along right up to the
very last step the answer had been a resounding ‘yes’… and suddenly he was
saying “NO” load and clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A merida of
emotions swept over all of us, anger, frustration, resentment, sadness,
disappointment and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It have been an indescribably long week and </span>I am still not sure
what sort of effect this visa rejection will have on me or my company long term…
but we will continue to work hard and do our best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-71256388460177780412012-07-15T11:38:00.001-04:002012-07-15T11:38:24.214-04:00Cutie!!!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US">You take
one look at this adorable face and you can’t help but want to hold this little
girl and kiss those cheeks.<span> </span>I was so
excited last week when I got to to travel with one of my good friends and her precious
daughter.<span> </span>Two days hanging out with them
gave me quite a window into the reality of life for expat families with small
children.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US">I couldn’t
count the number of people that came up to my friend just to comment on the
baby.<span> </span>They would tug on my friends arm
to get her to stop so they could pull out their cell phones and try to snap a
picture.<span> </span>Other people would outright
grab the child out of her arms so they could not only hold her, but carry her
back to where their family was sitting to show off the little ‘doll’.<span> </span>My friend lives in another part of the
country and she says this happens all the time.<span>
</span>Everyone wants to stroke her kids blond hair, they want pictures of the
bright blue eyes.<span> </span>People are always
tugging on her kids arms, pointing, giggling,<span>
</span>giving them food and candy and even making suggestions on how my friend should
raise her children differently.<span> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">All this stopping,
touching, grabbing, nagging and picture taking wears on my friend’s nerves.<span> </span>After only two days of watching all this 24/7
attention I wanted to yell, “STOP IT, all of you… she is not an animal at the
zoo or a circus freak… she is a little girl. Leave her alone”.<span> </span></span></div>KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-34094715710230437102012-07-12T22:04:00.000-04:002012-07-12T22:04:34.880-04:00Romeo and Juliet<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This past
week I went to the eastern part of our province ( new territory for me- I
normally travel south).<span> </span>One day our
hosts drove us to their home town in the mountains.<span> </span>After two hours of driving through stony
peaks with little to no vegetation, the road opened into a beautiful lush green
valley.<span> </span>The town itself was small, but famous
for the graves of the Uyghur Romeo and Juliet – better known around here as
Merdan and Jin Moden .<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This couple
is said to have lived in the 1700 hundreds and they were in love.<span> </span>He was a poor farmer boy and she was a beautiful
young women.<span> </span>The King of the area took
notice of her beauty and sought her hand in marriage.<span> </span>Now like any good legend, this is the place where facts get a little mixed up based on who the story teller is. <span> </span>One person told me they ran away together, and
when the king found them he had them put to death or maybe they committed suicide
before the king could find them.<span> </span>Another
friend explained that the king had the young farm boy killed and took the
young girl as his wife.<span> </span>She was so
miserable in her marriage and wanted to be with her true love so much that she
threw herself off the tallest mountain.<span> </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I don’t
know which one is true… but I guess every culture has their tragic love stories ( I know Uyhgurs has more then just this one)
that endure through the generations as an example.<span> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span></span></div>KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-28222361029356909882012-07-08T12:22:00.000-04:002012-07-08T22:41:01.950-04:00Watch What You Say<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My roommate
and I were walking home the other day when we took notice of the cute outfit the women
in front of us was wearing. We started
walking faster in hopes of over taking her.
Soon we were casting a causal glace over our shoulder looking to see
what the front of her dress looked like.
“Oh,” my roommate said “not nearly as cute from the front.” “Yeah,” I agreed, “the sash of lace down the
front really ruins the look”.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">That’s when
it hit us… we were having this less than complementary conversation about her outfit
right in front of her. I am so use to
the fact that most people around here don’t speak English, it’s like our own
secrete language, that I have gotten in
to the habit of not biting tongue or holding in the unneeded commentary on
those around me. Even though we spent
the rest of our walk home not only acknowledging and scolding ourselves for this
problem, I found myself falling back
into the same unhealthy pattern again today.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There I was
on the bus talking to another expat friend about how painful one woman’s feet
looked squished into her high heeled shoes.
We couldn’t help but feel sorry for her poor toes that had to be
screaming regret over her footwear choice.
In the real world you can’t have open conversations like this about
people right in front of them. It’s rude
and I totally realize that because Uyghur people do it to me all the time. They figure I’m the <a href="http://ksadaily.blogspot.com/2008/09/used-furniture-market.html" target="_blank">dumb foreigner </a>and can’t
understand a word of what they are saying.
I never appreciate overhearing these have inappropriate comments
directed towards me and some day if I can't learn to hold my tongue I am going to
equally hurt one exceptional English student by speaking so freely. </span></div>
KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35719143.post-235118995369633652012-07-04T04:08:00.000-04:002012-07-08T12:30:02.710-04:00Enjoy the View<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">The village
itself has been called the called the Roof of the World, located high in the
Pamir mountains, surrounded by snow capped peaks and brilliant landscapes The view may be spectacular, but the road
getting there can be a little hairy.
Depending on the state of the highway it can take anywhere from 5 to 12
hours. Bumping over the road and
twisting with every mountain curve, I have witnessed the dangers of the
journey… buses that rolled off the mountain edge, boulders falling down and
causing an avalanche, glacier freezing ice water rushing down the slopes and
washing out whole section of the road, transport trucks overturned and smashed
in the side of the rocky ledge. As I
said it is a dangerous stretch of highway, but the views along the way are
magnificent. People behold sights of
wild camels, the black lake, the father of all Ice Mountains, grasslands, and
small Tajik villages. The group I went
with a few weeks ago were gracious enough to leave me copies of the pictures
they took as they leaned far out the window of our van with the shutting of
their cameras snapping in every direction.
So without further ado, you can enjoy the extravagant beauty without the
taxing expedition.</span></div>
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<br /></div>KSAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858473259222718754noreply@blogger.com1