It’s necessary to set the scene with this music, a clip from the movie “From Dusk til Dawn.” The details of my night are a bit different from the movie. I walked into the Russian Drama Theater with my husband and members of his band. We’re late, having not known this event existed until it …
Category Archives: unique occurrences
Diversity Festival
On December 16, a friend and I went “on assignment” to an annual festival that celebrates the diverse group of ethnicities that call Kyrgyzstan home. It was hosted in the Kyrgyz Drama Theater and included an open house of foods, crafts and souvenirs from each group, as well as a performance of songs and dances.
Kyrgyzstan vs Uzbekistan
Wooo! Football! (Oh. I’m not actually a fan of sports. Nevermind.) A friend invited me and Farrell to a World Cup qualifying game between the Kyrgyz and Uzbek national teams. I considered that there was at least a moderate potential for rioting, so I grabbed my camera and went along. The attitude of the group …
one year ago
I really enjoy the fact that I’m young. I’m in my early 20s and doing some freaking amazing things, if I do say so myself. I worked in Iraq when I was 21, moved to Kyrgyzstan when I was 22, started teaching a university course, and now at 23, I’m jet-setting around Dubai and learning …
Glamour photography workshop
It just seemed so very Bishkek, that I had to take part. Such a typical thing for the chic, stiletto-ed girls of AUCA to get involved in. Also, because I’m a photography teacher and should never pass up a learning experience (even if it’s mostly in Russian) and I needed an excuse to get out …
on chasing a headless goat
On Nooruz (March 21), I had the opportunity to tag along with a group of friends to the Bishkek Hippodrome to watch a game of kokboru. (Quick playing instructions: two teams try to snatch a dead goat from the ground and transport it on horseback to their respective goal.) It was a complete assault on …
Combat paintball
In case you’ve ever considered making the arduous move out to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, but hesitated because you didn’t want your paintballing skills to fall out of practice, then fear no longer. There is a paintball club in Bishkek. It makes sense, right? Bishkek can be dangerous and citizens should be able to hone their skills …
Ak-Maral dancers
Teaching photography has turned up the pressure on my photography skills. Just like when I first upgraded to a DSLR (my precious Rebel XS) and then really took a leap up to the Canon 7D, I feel like I’m forcing myself to just be better. So, with this mind-set of constant improvement, I went to …
Seriozna: Explosion in Bishkek
I got an email from Farrell this morning; he was at AUCA for an early statistics class: “I think a bomb just went off near the school. It sounded just like Baghdad. I’m ok. I’ll see you soon.” Oh shit.
Thanksgiving in Bishkek
2007: Kirstin hosts Thanksgiving in Amman for about 20 fellow study abroad students. Other than providing the space, I made cookies. The night was pretty hassle-free. 2009: Thanksgiving in Iraq, U.S. Embassy style. Think of the most elaborate selection of Thanksgiving food that is cooked to a perfectly mediocre level. Never trust a Bangladeshi to …