I made a brief visit back in Karatau, Kazakhstan, in October, 1999, passing from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, heading to Talas, Kyrgyzstan. I was allowed to spend a night in Karatau to visit my Kazakh host family. It would be the last time I would see them. Volodya, my Russian driver, and I dropped my Kyrgyz assistant, Aelita, off at the bus station in Taraz. We both then headed to … [Read more...] about I am Kazakh
Archives for Tuesday, December 6, 2011
My Kazakh Host Brother and Sisters
For two years they kept me company during my Peace Corps service in Karatau, Kazakhstan. We even had sibling fights and arguments, especially Gulzhan (in the tanktop) and I. It was an enjoyable two years. Ulzhan (holding Diana in her arms, a little baby who chatted with me in English last year.) was a great cook but she left after the first year to study medicine in Almaty. … [Read more...] about My Kazakh Host Brother and Sisters
Mosque in Chau Doc
A surprise trip during the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) in 2007. Originally a friend and I wanted to visit Nui Ba Den in Tay Ninh but due to a mispronunciation, we found ourselves in Chau Doc. It was a fun filled day trip visiting pagodas, and to my surprise, some mosques. One of the largest community of Cham Muslims in Vietnam reside in Chau Doc. A small community lives … [Read more...] about Mosque in Chau Doc