expat blog
The longer I’m in Bishkek, the less I write about it. It’s not that I no longer have things to say, but there’s a specific concern that takes over when it comes time to hit “publish”. People in Bishkek will read this. People in Bishkek will have opinions on it. Will I get a snide …
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I’m thankful… …for many things. …for being done with that gigantic market research project that took over my life for 2+ months. …for the new and exciting projects I’m planning. …for the new friends I met during a proper Thursday Thanksgiving dinner. …for the leftover apple pie I ate for breakfast. …for how wonderful the …
I will always be an outsider in Kyrgyzstan. I will always have to justify, even defend, my presence here. But for now, despite the occasional unwelcome feelings, Bishkek is my home. I’m immediately recognized as an outsider; I don’t speak the languages (yet) and I don’t dress myself as impeccably as the average Kyrgyz girl. …
Time for me to get profound, I guess? Had we stuck to the original plan of 1) move to foreign country, 2) learn language, 3) become expert, 4) move back to DC for cushy consultancy job, then I’d be boarding a plane today feeling profoundly disappointed. The move happened, so snaps to me for completing …
A list of random things about life in the U.S. that struck me as a bit odd after 10ish months living in Bishkek. – I’m much more self-conscious of pulling out my camera in public. At times it felt too touristy, and other times too familiar. This shot of Philadelphia is one of the only …
I really dislike the concept that traveling is equated to running. Like there’s this after-school teen drama moment in the lives of all us “travelers” when the atmosphere gets moody and someone turns to you and says: “So, what are you running from?” Suddenly it makes the whole concept of traveling seem so dramatic. Happy …
Or: how we spent the night almost driving off a cliff and plunging out of the sky to get a new Kyrgyz visa. “The road between Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, is especially unsafe at night or during poor weather. U.S. Embassy personnel are restricted from driving this route after dark.” – U.S. Embassy …
Exactly three months ago today, Farrell and I arrived in Kyrgyzstan. It was early in the morning, when most flights arrive at Manas Airport, and we had just spent over two days making the journey, including a 10 hour layover at a Moscow airport with no air conditioning during the height of the city’s bog …
There’s a big difference between: “I can’t believe we’re living in Kyrgyzstan!” and “I can’t believe we’re living in Kyrgyzstan!” The first one is what I thought as we finally finished transferring all of our stuff from the shabby apartment to the nicer, cheaper one. Farrell and I sat on a couch that wasn’t broken …