September 30, 2009
I was correcting one of my student’s notebook’s yesterday during my break and I came across this:
“My an Engish woman teacher Angela
I wanted to describe my an Engish teacher. Her is name Angela. Her is name was named her exactly because she looks like a angel.”
Oh these kids.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Boys Boys Boys
September 17, 2009
“So what’s up with your boyfriend?” I asked my dressmaker tonight.
“He’s dead,” she said.
“WHAT? HE’S DEAD? ARE YOU SERIOUS?”
Everyone in the room started laughing.
“No, he’s probably not really dead,” she said. “He just hasn’t called for three months, which means he’s dead to me.”
“That’s horrible! Well, don’t worry you can do better. In fact I’ll help you!” I said, and started going through all the names of boys I knew in Yoloten.
“What about Ahmed? He has a car and he’s not bad looking,” I asked her.
“Ahmed is MARRIED, Angela!” she said.
“Oh that liar! He told me he was single!” I said angrily.
“Yeah, don’t they all? Eh, I wouldn’t want to marry him anyway, he’s my cousin.”
“Alright I’m going find you an American boyfriend then, okay?”
“Perfect!” She laughed.
Any takers? She’s pretty awesome…
“So what’s up with your boyfriend?” I asked my dressmaker tonight.
“He’s dead,” she said.
“WHAT? HE’S DEAD? ARE YOU SERIOUS?”
Everyone in the room started laughing.
“No, he’s probably not really dead,” she said. “He just hasn’t called for three months, which means he’s dead to me.”
“That’s horrible! Well, don’t worry you can do better. In fact I’ll help you!” I said, and started going through all the names of boys I knew in Yoloten.
“What about Ahmed? He has a car and he’s not bad looking,” I asked her.
“Ahmed is MARRIED, Angela!” she said.
“Oh that liar! He told me he was single!” I said angrily.
“Yeah, don’t they all? Eh, I wouldn’t want to marry him anyway, he’s my cousin.”
“Alright I’m going find you an American boyfriend then, okay?”
“Perfect!” She laughed.
Any takers? She’s pretty awesome…
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Journey to the Caspian Sea
After almost two years of living in this country I finally made it out to the Caspian Sea...Turkmenistan's proud vacation destination.
Yet, being a tourist town in a country that has virtually no tourists can cause a bit of problems...especially if you LIVE here and know that pretty much no citizen of this country can pay these outragous prices.
Example:
"Excuse me," I said politely in Russian to the DJ at the disco on Tuesday night.
"Yes?" he asked.
I smiled sweetly and asked if he had a couple of songs. Naturally "Single Ladies" by Beyonce and "Poker Face" by the one and only Lady Gaga.
We looked through his computer database and found "Poker Face".
"YESSS!" I exclaimed. "Can you please play it for us?"
Keep in mind that this disco is pack full of the following people: Peace Corps volunteers, two Russian prostitutes, and a fat old Russian dude who probably works at the hotel.
"That'll be 50,000 manat," the DJ said. About $3.50.
"Are you freaking out of your mind?" I asked in Russian, again. "You have GOT to be kidding me!"
"That's the price, girl," he said. Literally.
"But that's crazy! This dance floor is only full of Americans! If we leave you'll be playing music for nobody! Why the hell would you charge that much for ONE SONG?"
"It's our rule. That's how it is here," he said rudely.
So of course I decided to boycott the disco after that, but when all my friends were dancing to crappy techno and I was pouting outside, complaining about the dj I realized that I was not making things better.
"THIS IS RIDICULOUS!" I yelled to a random guy outside. I didn't know if he worked there or not, but he looked shady enough so I figured what the hell.
"Talk to that guy then," he said, pointing to another guy with a bad mullet.
I explained my problem, that it was ONE SONG, and he walked with me back to the DJ booth.
"Just play the damn song," he told him.
What I didn't like about Turkmenbashy:
Everything is more expensive
There are absolutely no trees or grass anywhere
Not one single person had change for large bills
Instead of looking for change for large bills, sellers just scoffed in my face and refused transactions
What I loved about Turkmenbashy:
The Caspian Sea is absolutely gorgeous
I could wear a mini skirt and it was no problem
The airport consisted of one x-ray machine, a table, and a couple dudes in uniform.
I'm glad I went though...it was an amazing vacation.
COUNTDOWN: However days from now until December 23-ish. See you soon!
Yet, being a tourist town in a country that has virtually no tourists can cause a bit of problems...especially if you LIVE here and know that pretty much no citizen of this country can pay these outragous prices.
Example:
"Excuse me," I said politely in Russian to the DJ at the disco on Tuesday night.
"Yes?" he asked.
I smiled sweetly and asked if he had a couple of songs. Naturally "Single Ladies" by Beyonce and "Poker Face" by the one and only Lady Gaga.
We looked through his computer database and found "Poker Face".
"YESSS!" I exclaimed. "Can you please play it for us?"
Keep in mind that this disco is pack full of the following people: Peace Corps volunteers, two Russian prostitutes, and a fat old Russian dude who probably works at the hotel.
"That'll be 50,000 manat," the DJ said. About $3.50.
"Are you freaking out of your mind?" I asked in Russian, again. "You have GOT to be kidding me!"
"That's the price, girl," he said. Literally.
"But that's crazy! This dance floor is only full of Americans! If we leave you'll be playing music for nobody! Why the hell would you charge that much for ONE SONG?"
"It's our rule. That's how it is here," he said rudely.
So of course I decided to boycott the disco after that, but when all my friends were dancing to crappy techno and I was pouting outside, complaining about the dj I realized that I was not making things better.
"THIS IS RIDICULOUS!" I yelled to a random guy outside. I didn't know if he worked there or not, but he looked shady enough so I figured what the hell.
"Talk to that guy then," he said, pointing to another guy with a bad mullet.
I explained my problem, that it was ONE SONG, and he walked with me back to the DJ booth.
"Just play the damn song," he told him.
What I didn't like about Turkmenbashy:
Everything is more expensive
There are absolutely no trees or grass anywhere
Not one single person had change for large bills
Instead of looking for change for large bills, sellers just scoffed in my face and refused transactions
What I loved about Turkmenbashy:
The Caspian Sea is absolutely gorgeous
I could wear a mini skirt and it was no problem
The airport consisted of one x-ray machine, a table, and a couple dudes in uniform.
I'm glad I went though...it was an amazing vacation.
COUNTDOWN: However days from now until December 23-ish. See you soon!
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