Archive sections: ‘Life In Kyrgyzstan’
The term, “Aksakal Courts” literally translates as “White Beard Courts”, and is used for a court, or council, of elders which is authorized to consider certain types of legal cases. Traditionally, these local community “courts” consisted of the oldest men in the village, who make decisions as if an elected town council. Today, they are [...]
When, many years ago, I was teaching Religious Education, some of the most successful lessons we had revolved around a book: Northbourne Tales. Published in 1976, by McGraw Hill, (no I am not being paid for the advert – I don’t even think that it is still in print), was written by Graham Cleverley and [...]
Sunday, (October 3rd), is Teachers’ Day here in Kyrgyzstan, another of our unofficial Professional holidays. It seems that the idea for Teachers’ Day, a day commemorating the work of those in education, began in India. Different countries mark the occasion on different days of the year. In India it is celebrated on September 5th, (the [...]
It’s certainly been a busy week. I have been running around far more than usual, as well as trying to keep up with all the routine work. I had so inundated with work that I almost missed the fact that I was supposed to be meeting a film crew from New Zealand. I had intended [...]
There is a saying that “Everyday is a special day for someone, somewhere”. In Kyrgyzstan this seems to be true as there are a number of what are termed “professional holidays”, such as: Teacher’s day, Policeman’s Day, Day of workers in the Television industry … and so on.
I have just got back from my monthly trip to Naryn. These trips are so much a part of my routine that I don’t normally write a postcard about them, but this one was slightly different, so I thought I would this time.
I expected to spend most of my time this week writing about the election campaign which has now been underway for a week. I am not sure, however, what I can actually write. There are a number of posters and banners lining the streets for this party or that. The loudspeaker vans have been going [...]
There’s a fascination with statistics here. I know that in the West we also have a fascination with numbers, but it seems to be taken to extreme here. I suppose it is a consequence of the culture of “the plan” which was so prevalent in Soviet times. Everything was done to make sure that you [...]
I wrote last week that we had received a new strategy for the development of tourism in the Kyrgyz Republic until 2015. I know that it is important to plan ahead and it is refreshing to see people thinking on a scale greater than “today … and perhaps tomorrow” and there seems to be something about [...]
“Who drinks Kumys will live a century” “Kumys is man’s blood, air is his mind” To some people it is just fermented mare’s milk, but to the Kyrgyz it is a symbol of their nationhood – a gift from god from which they derive energy and inner strength. Today, variations are also made from camel’s [...]
