(Click on the photo above for more pics.)
In June 2010 we landed in Bishkek for the first time amid a recent revolution and unrest in the south. Coming from rural Afghanistan, Bishkek in June seemed like Paris—parks, trees, and cafes. Two years later, Bishkek seems a little less like Paris-- a little grubbier around the edges and with a lot more shashlik and vodka. Still, the parks are green, ping pong tables are up everywhere, fountains are spraying, and the Bishkekans love of fireworks light up the sky regularly. Back in March we celebrated Nau Roz (spring equinox/new year) with our last ski trip of the season and since then the temps have been rising up to the 90s last week. Zoe’s been keeping us on our toes with her first solids (endlessly entertaining), first family vacation (Cyprus), and first backpacking trip (she thought the mountains and rivers were okay but preferred the pot grips and whiskey). She’s not crawling yet but loves help standing up and is constantly pulling herself up and going into plank position to avoid being sat down. Chad is always reminding her that it’s a high chair and car seat not a high stand or car stand. Chad has delved into the Bishkek sport scene and came out refereeing an American football game and taking 2nd place in a local mountain bike race. We’ve relocated the ultimate frisbee scene, still run by the Turkmans, and have been making frequent trips to our local foothill (Turtle Mountain) for bikes and runs. MSRC, the Mountain Societies Research Center, which Chad has devoted himself to since we arrived, continues to grow and develop, http://msrc.ucentralasia.org/. (I contributed by taking the photo for the homepage.) I’m continuing to work on climate change adaptation and natural resource programming in rural communities with the Aga Khan Foundation. The Ski Afghanistan book is now available for download, www.akdn.org/Content/1122, although the hard copies are still mainly only available in Kabul. We’d like to think it’s an interesting book even if you never plan to ski Afghanistan so check it out if you have a chance. On the home front, we’re still on the 7th floor of our old Soviet era apartment building where views of the 15,000 ft peaks of the Ala Too range from our balcony are regularly awesome (and the floor regularly covered with baby paraphernalia).
In June 2010 we landed in Bishkek for the first time amid a recent revolution and unrest in the south. Coming from rural Afghanistan, Bishkek in June seemed like Paris—parks, trees, and cafes. Two years later, Bishkek seems a little less like Paris-- a little grubbier around the edges and with a lot more shashlik and vodka. Still, the parks are green, ping pong tables are up everywhere, fountains are spraying, and the Bishkekans love of fireworks light up the sky regularly. Back in March we celebrated Nau Roz (spring equinox/new year) with our last ski trip of the season and since then the temps have been rising up to the 90s last week. Zoe’s been keeping us on our toes with her first solids (endlessly entertaining), first family vacation (Cyprus), and first backpacking trip (she thought the mountains and rivers were okay but preferred the pot grips and whiskey). She’s not crawling yet but loves help standing up and is constantly pulling herself up and going into plank position to avoid being sat down. Chad is always reminding her that it’s a high chair and car seat not a high stand or car stand. Chad has delved into the Bishkek sport scene and came out refereeing an American football game and taking 2nd place in a local mountain bike race. We’ve relocated the ultimate frisbee scene, still run by the Turkmans, and have been making frequent trips to our local foothill (Turtle Mountain) for bikes and runs. MSRC, the Mountain Societies Research Center, which Chad has devoted himself to since we arrived, continues to grow and develop, http://msrc.ucentralasia.org/. (I contributed by taking the photo for the homepage.) I’m continuing to work on climate change adaptation and natural resource programming in rural communities with the Aga Khan Foundation. The Ski Afghanistan book is now available for download, www.akdn.org/Content/1122, although the hard copies are still mainly only available in Kabul. We’d like to think it’s an interesting book even if you never plan to ski Afghanistan so check it out if you have a chance. On the home front, we’re still on the 7th floor of our old Soviet era apartment building where views of the 15,000 ft peaks of the Ala Too range from our balcony are regularly awesome (and the floor regularly covered with baby paraphernalia).
We’re very much looking forward to a trip
to Montana and the east coast in August and hope to see you then.
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