Archive sections: ‘From an Expat’
It’s nice to know that I am not the only one to get dates wrong. Yesterday I received a couple of “Birthday Greetings” … a day early, but it’s also nice to know that people are thinking about me. Last year I did the same … and sent my nephew a congratulatory message on Facebook. [...]
Last week was a week of pancakes … It started on Monday when I had lunch with Tim from the UK and Marat from Uzbekistan in a café not far from the office. We ordered from the menu and then the waiter suggested, that we might like to order some pancakes, (bliniy), as it was [...]
Back in Britain, the phrase “Flag Day” has a particular meaning. It refers to a charity fund raising activity. Volunteers stand at strategic points or going from door to door with collecting tins, soliciting donations from members of the public who are given in return a small badge, (or “flag”), to wear as a symbol [...]
This week has been a busy one with lots of distractions, hence I am a little late with the postcard this week. Next week, however, should be quite quiet as Tuesday is a holiday, (International Women’s Day), and they have moved Monday to Saturday … that is most offices are open today but will take [...]
Svetlana came to see me in my office yesterday. Half way through the conversation, I stopped talking, shocked by what I saw. I’m sorry you don’t like working for me I said.” That stunned her for a second, but as it’s not the first time we’ve had this conversation she quickly realized what I was [...]
Tuesday, (March 1st), was Saint David’s Day. It went, more or less unnoticed here in Kyrgyzstan … but then, there isn’t a large Welsh community here. If I am asked about my nationality, then I usually say that I am pure English, but that it is hard to justify saying that with any confidence as [...]
Welcome to the first day of Spring. Here, March 1st is reckoned to be the first day of Spring. If that surprises or confuses you, then, don’t worry … you are not alone! For a start, it’s all relative. If you happen to be in the Southern Hemisphere, then Summer is coming to an end, [...]
The other day I was showing the kids the photos of our trip to Ala Archa and Alamedin, and the video that Alicia, Philippa and Sebastian shot and they asked me if it was possible to create a website for them so that they could upload posts about things that interest them. I know from [...]
The postcard is shorter this week and a little late because I have been up to Naryn to deal with the end of year routines, (tax returns and so on). Surprisingly, it wasn’t as cold up there as I had anticipated, indeed Bishkek is colder. The prospect of a “third revolution” has taken on mammoth [...]
One of the books on my bookshelf which gets taken down every now and again in order for me to dip into and read a short section. It’s a 2004 reprint, of an 1829 translation from the original Arabic, of a fourteenth century account of his journeys around the then known world, written by Ibn [...]
