1997

This picture was one that surprised me when I saw it in the US.  It nearly brought tears to my eyes. If you look at the photo below, look at the girl to the farthest right.  Her name is Riskul, she was my 6th Former , Class 6B, student at the Karatau Lyceum when I took this photo in 1997.  Riskul never smiles well at least when I am around.  She seemed like a serious student … [Read more...] about Riskul

Winter, 1997, in Karatau, Kazakhstan, was the coldest I ever experienced in my life.  I was at my Peace Corps site for just a little over two months when winter struck with a fury.  Even the local Kazakhs and Russians were surprised at the harsh winter.  It got down to -40 C which was not normal for my southern Kazakhstan town.  Around Christmas I remember that the walk to take … [Read more...] about A Cold Christmas (1997)