Monday, April 9, 2012

The Kyrgyz Chronicles - Obama in Kyrgyzstan!


In case President Obama doesn't know it, he's a rock star in Bishkek. They have an entire cafe dedicated to him. No idea what's going to happen if he doesn't get elected this year!


They love him so much, they made a life-size cut-out. You ever want to shake hands with the President, come down to Bishkek!



Need a reservation? Just call and they'll have Obama waiting at the table for you!





The restaurant comes complete with a wall montage frame.





And let's not miss out on the All American, club sandwich with a ton of fries. Portion sizes may not be as big as Texas, but then people aren't either!


Topped with a perfect little cosmo!

So come down to Bishkek. You're not a true American until you've been to Obama in Bishkek!

Caveat: If you're trying to organize a business lunch meeting with the ambassador from EU, Obama cafe probably WOULD NOT qualify as a neutral zone.

*This post is dedicated to cheesiness, because really what would you do without some of it in life!:-D


Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Kyrgyz Chronicles - Meeting Cotton Eye Joe in Kyrgyzstan!

The Opera House in Bishkek
You know the Cotton Eye Joe song, come on now! I never thought that I would hear that kind of music in concert... Anywhere! But lo and behold, thanks to the US Airbase in Kyrgyzstan, we were exposed to the inner workings of a Kentucky-based band called the Red State Ramblers, all the way here in Bishkek!

Fortunately though, the show stoppers were students from the Aga Khan Music Initiative's "Ustatshakirt" - meaning teacher-student - exactly as it sounds! I suggest you hit play and hear the music for yourself, instead of me trying to explain it.



As for the Ramblers... well the name does say it all now doesn't it?



Ustatshakirt was where it was at though. They were true entertainers! I have no idea what this instrument was, but it's something tiny with a string attached. But transforming the robotic sounds into beautiful melody -- that's all by the players!



So, not surprisingly, the ramblings of the red state were quite tiresome, but the refreshing sounds of Ustatshakirt playing local Kyrgyz music just blew the audience away. The Ramblers did resurrect themselves a little by managing a decent collaboration. I have to admit, I had NEVER imagined I would hear the Kyrgyz musical instrument, kunz, played along with the southern banjo/guitar thing. Collectively, it was quite memorable. And really goes to show that at the bottom of it all, there are always cultural connections. You just have to look a little deeper. Maybe we can all learn to go beyond our biases... (Afshan!)



So I suppose in the end, my second trip out of "hermitude" was also successful! It really is fun being a hermit in a place where you go watch concerts and operas when you're bored!:) Kudos to Bishkek for that!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

The Making of Bridezilla

Artistic rendition of myself... by me.
In case I forgot to mention, I'm getting married in June... 2012... like literally in less than 6 months.

I spent the entire month of December wedding shopping and the fancy jodas with the bombardment of sequins and zari or the sole job description of buying shoes, purses, and random little things for the entire month didn't throw me off. What did was the wedding card.

When I saw our names carved artistically in Times New Roman italicized font in matte gold paint on maroon ribbon... the "Afshan's Pithi" and "Nikkah" and "Reception, and "RSVP"... the "Insha Allah on June 23, 2012"...that's when it hit me.

Holy shit... I'm getting married.

So now every time I think about the wedding, which is really 15 times a minute, the thought process kinda goes like this:

Afshan, it's going to be ok, you can start breathing again... no really breathe... ok now you're turning blue so if you don't breathe, really that's kinda it...POOF... ok, good, breathing is back. It's ok... it's going to be ok... Mortgage... Sharing a Bathroom....Sharing a Room... Sharing SPACE... Real Life Decisions.... Having to KEEP a Job... Life for Two... Dinner for Two... Movies for two... having taxes done (SCORE!)... sharing dessert... holding hands... being able to order the large menu at a fast food restaurant and sharing the calories with less guilt... being taken care of... being loved... having companionship...... HIM.

:) I'm getting married.


Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Kyrgyz Chronicles - Carmeeeeennnnnnnn!

You may be wondering why there's been such a long break - or not, because you're probably not even aware about the existence of this blog. Either way, I blame it entirely on the winter. I thought Boston was cold... I didn't know that -18C was even possible. Brrr! So I have succumbed to become a hermit in Bishkek - at least until the sun shines again!

On the one occasion I did get out, it was to see the French opera, Carmen - performed in Russian. Naturally, I didn't understand any of it, except the one part where the lead sings, "CARMEEEEEENNNNNNN" with a whole lot of passion. That was about all the passion there was in the show actually. This is the second opera I've been to here (the first was The Magic Flute - which was fantastic). Unfortunately this one wasn't as good, primarily because the actress playing Carmen seemed so bored of life most of the time. But on the other hand, the opera house, although super cold, is gorgeous. And just for kicks, here's a clip from the end of the Second Act (it may have been the First??). We left after the Second of Four Acts. No really the opera was good... it was Carmen. She just was unforgiveable. But oh well, enjoy the clip and hopefully once the snow melts, I'll come out of my "hermitude".