Wheel of Fortune
Updated: Feb 13, 2024
Asia >> Central Asia >> Kyrgyzstan
Hello All,
I am sorry it has been so long since my last exciting instalment, and I think it is about time for another one. Alas the wheel of fortune has been turning and hasn't landed on exciting adventure.
Not to say that life isn't great, only that I'm still in the same place.
My day is work daily 9ish to 6ish, normalna - that's Russian for normal!
Go to Russian lessons or the pub in the evening, normalna.
On odd days I go climbing at the gym or skiing in the mountains pop off for a day in the countryside.
Same as in England really.
The party of five is now three, Emrys has pootled off on his bike, braving blizzards, avalanche, wolves and the like, whilst Dan has gone seeking warmer climes in Iran. Margreet is soon to start judge school back in Holland. Leaving Laura (the language toting Hungarian) and myself to keep ourselves entertained.
Anyway for you this is a big yawn...
So I thought I could run a little commentary on a couple of the different sides to things here.
1. Climate: Right now the temperature goes 21 23 21 -5(+blizzard) 21 23 21 etc. very odd but spring feels truly on the way and the blizzards keep the slopes white and good for skiing.
2. Demographic: A growing problem in these Central Asian republic is that if you can you get out! Prospects are low for the entrepreneur and the educated unless your family happens to know the Prezident. Because of the 'men go out to work - women stay in to work' culture, males dwindle as more move to Russian and elsewhere. And after a rather classy SMS divorce they have separated from wife and children never to be seen again. On the flip side to this depressing statistic is of course that clubs are choca-block with ladies and it's often cheaper for guys than girls to get into clubs. And if you are an expat, yet more privilege (or maybe we are bait) ... they are free!
3. Non-extremist Islam: it really does exist. it's all about the general gist, not about the details or the rules, similar to Christianity in the UK. Vodka is served in every home, pre-marital sex is frowned upon by elder generations but of course is quite common but not talked about. Mosque is for special occasions, every day/every week is a little excessive.
4. Architecture: If I was to say soviet bloc construction, it conjures images of a cube of concrete with windows cut in squares, that remind one of a grey looking council estates. This however is a misnomer.
There are two classic eras of soviet architecture
Stalinist - Neo-Classical buildings with intricate stonework and carved columns. He may have sacrificed a whole lot of minorities and dissidents for it, but he sure knew how to choose an architect.
Krushchevist - (OK so I made the word up) This is one that is grey and repetitive. However, not in the British council estate way. There are 4 or 5 different floor plan designs of Modular construction.
This may sound dull but it meant in 5-10 years all the homeless and post war red army had houses to sleep in. Even on the 5th and 6th floor they have 24hr hot water* with high pressure, bath, functional kitchen, balcony, central central* heating and when you go round your mate's you already know where the toilet is!
The façades however are quite intricate, art deco (or at least that's what I think art deco is). I would rather live in a Krushchevka than a 80s council estate building any day of the week, having lived in both.
*central central as the heating is heated in your estate/city not your house- no boiler leaks or noises all night, quite nice actually.
Well anyway, I'm sure you have had enough of my rant now, enjoy the pics.
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