Archives for December 2006

One of my Kazakh students back when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Karatau, Kazakhstan (1997-1999).  He and Zhandos were my biggest nightmares :) Alpamys surprised me by being the first of my Kazakh students to contact me in 2004.  I had predicted my first Kazakh student would contact me within 5 years of my leaving Kazakhstan.  Alpamys made that prediction come … [Read more...] about Alpamys Bakytuly

I met Sevara nearly 7 years ago in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, when I interviewed her for the American Councils.  I recently got back into contact with her a week ago.  She spent a year in the US in 2000, returned back to Osh, completed her university, and somehow ended up in Afghanistan.  She has a very interesting life for a 23 year old.  You can view her profile at … [Read more...] about Sevara Ismailova

Here is a Central Asian website put together by my friend, Janyl, from Radio Free Europe: http://kultur-multur.org/  … [Read more...] about Kultur-Multur – Central Asian Website

I met Fetullah Gulen in Pennsylvania in late December, 2001, before my trip to Istanbul, Turkey, with a Turkish friend, Cuneyt. The first time I saw him was when everyone was performing the morning prayers.  I remember him quite well for when I was introduced to him, he gave me a really tight hug and picked me off the ground.  I was shocked since everyone told me he was not … [Read more...] about Fetullah Gulen and Said Nursi