tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74231522024-03-07T00:16:19.333-06:00Peace Corps Kyrgyzstanletweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.comBlogger299125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1160922934952740562006-10-15T09:31:00.000-05:002006-12-12T03:28:50.453-06:00Home Again.On Friday the 13th of October 2006 I returned safely to the Twin Cities. I hope to post some last photos, a couple of audio tracks and to write a final entry or two wrapping up my Peace Corps experience in Kyrgyzstan. But for now, I am going to order a pizza and watch Sunday NFL football. <br /><br />signing off,<br /><br />Larryletweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1155800144723227102006-08-17T01:12:00.000-05:002006-08-17T02:35:44.723-05:00Suleyman Mountain Sunrise<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4212/456/1600/Kicking.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4212/456/320/Kicking.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Young Man training atop Mount Suleyman before a rising sun. Osh, Kyrgyzstan: Aug.13th, 2006.letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1155459804883908392006-08-13T04:03:00.000-05:002006-08-13T04:03:25.036-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/boxing.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/boxing.jpg'></a><br />Battling the Sun: August 13th, 2006--Mount Suleyman: Osh, Kyrgyzstanletweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1155363145008546442006-08-12T01:12:00.000-05:002006-08-12T01:12:25.016-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/Dawn%20of%20Osh.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/Dawn%20of%20Osh.jpg'></a><br />Dawn of Osh: (taken August 10, 2006) People always ask me why i get up so early in the morning. This is my answer. Note: the photo of the moon below was taken just a few minutes before this one. letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1155362990339443222006-08-12T01:09:00.000-05:002007-03-28T07:20:33.743-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/moonover.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/moonover.jpg'></a><br />As the rising August sun burns from the east, the evening's cooler counterpoint seeks shelter behind Mount Suleyman. letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1155362705439023182006-08-12T01:05:00.000-05:002006-08-12T01:05:06.043-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/monolith.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/monolith.jpg'></a><br />Mount Suleyman, Osh: this monolith sits prominently at the peak of Suleyman Too (Too means mountain). I climb up here a few times each week in the early morning and read. When the sun rises the heat kicks up to about 105 degrees fahrenheit... letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1154929434934089982006-08-07T00:32:00.000-05:002006-08-11T05:48:42.873-05:00The Weeping ManThe man was half-naked, his bronze chest streaked with drying mud, “Ayeeeeeeeeeeeee!” he screamed, throwing his arms in the air, “I don’t want this! I don’t want it.” He collapsed in a heap, folding awkwardly upon himself like some abandoned puppet. <br /><br />I watched him from my balcony, as a theatre-goer might watch a thespian. Then, the reality of it—of him—needled its way into my emotional fabric. I looked east, down the long front side of my apartment building, and saw heads emerging from windows and other beings stepping onto terraces to stare at this man wrapped in terror and pain and sadness. <br /><br />His crumpled form sat below me, perhaps ten feet away and I could see his back swell and deflate under his breath. <br /><br />A stillness invaded the courtyard and a silence crept out of the madness of the world and appeared to be moving toward him, hunting for him. He wailed and the guttural, inchoate sounds that came out of him seemed dredged up from some darker, primordial day. <br /><br />I shuddered but continued watching. <br /><br />He breathed, sucking air over his teeth and again let out that aborted, primeval noise… he drew in another breath and again returned his torment to the world… <br /><br />Slowly, out of this repetition a rhythm was born and these methodic sobs crashed forth like great waves tugged from the sea by the moon.<br /><br />It seemed he cried for all of us and tethered his tears to our souls through the enchanting sound of that sad mantra. <br /><br />I sighed deeply and withdrew, but I will never forget the weeping man.letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1154133220032202292006-07-28T19:30:00.000-05:002006-07-30T04:01:18.206-05:00Lessons Learned in Kyrgyzstan“Come with me.” He said and put his arm around my shoulder. We walked outside onto the porch and into the fresh air, then down the stairs and into the flower garden. In the distance I saw a group of children playing soccer and others completing their yard work. The grounds of the orphanage included stables, a few acres of farmland, a pig pen and dozens of caged bunnies. <br /><br />“You see,” he said, “I used to get drunk every night and chase women. I lived most of my life like that. One day I asked myself, <em>Stephan, what have you done with your life—what do you have to show for yourself?—</em>and the answer was <strong><em>nothing</em></strong>.” <br /><br />He leaned over and stuck his nose in the white blossoms of a rose and inhaled. <br /><br />He raised his head and we continued strolling, “At that point in my life I already had a fairly successful business, but I realized that didn’t matter. I looked around and saw all of these children on the streets, abandoned and begging. And I said, there’s something I can do.”<br /><br />Several of the children spotted Stephan outside and began shouting, “Pappa! Pappa!” A little, sandy-haired girl with wide eyes glowing above her smile sprinted into Stephan’s arms. He lifted her up and looked at me, “now I have twenty-one children that all call me pappa and everything I do, I do for them.” <br /><br />I took another look around the orphanage and felt as though I was in the center of big family. Stephan knelt and set the little girl back down and looked up into my eyes, “Life should be about love.”letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1153995668029230742006-07-27T05:21:00.000-05:002006-07-27T05:21:08.173-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/Aksakal.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/Aksakal.jpg'></a><br />Veteran Aksakal (respectful term for elderly Kyrgyz men). Photo taken in Osh by Larry Tweed Jr. (aka my father). letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1153823145519975572006-07-25T05:25:00.000-05:002006-07-25T05:25:45.686-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1013398.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1013398.jpg'></a><br />Petraglyph on Lake Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan.letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1153357928244977472006-07-19T20:12:00.000-05:002006-07-19T20:12:08.423-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/IMG_2739.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/IMG_2739.jpg'></a><br />Day trip to Kurshab in June. Dan and Vanessa showed us a great time!letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1152850382024747632006-07-13T23:13:00.000-05:002006-07-13T23:13:02.036-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1013173.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1013173.jpg'></a><br />Kids at the orphanage on Lake Issyk Kul. They were great!letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1152850209707144922006-07-13T23:10:00.000-05:002006-07-13T23:10:09.720-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1013167.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1013167.jpg'></a><br />These orphaned children had a blast! letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1152849697988906052006-07-13T23:01:00.000-05:002006-07-24T18:54:51.120-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1013156.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1013156.jpg'></a><br />Glenn & Linda Brown (AKA "The Buddhists") at Lake Issyk Kul. letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1152849530225503942006-07-13T22:58:00.000-05:002006-07-13T22:58:50.233-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1013142.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1013142.jpg'></a><br />Glenn Brown and kids work with puppets behind the scenes. Light cast from a lamp behind them creates the effects you see in the photo below. letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1152849362307592332006-07-13T22:56:00.000-05:002006-07-13T22:56:02.403-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1013104.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1013104.jpg'></a><br />Shadow Puppets at an orphanage on Lake Issyk Kul. The story is about a grandfather who grows a giant turnip but can't pull it from the ground. It takes his whole family to free the stubborn turnip and a dog, cat and mouse help out too. letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1152640661148744602006-07-11T12:57:00.000-05:002006-07-11T12:57:41.156-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1013098.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1013098.jpg'></a><br />Notice the cuts in the puppets which allows lights to shine through when they cast shadows on the sheet.letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1152640485548280032006-07-11T12:54:00.000-05:002006-07-11T12:54:45.643-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1013073.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1013073.jpg'></a><br />Dima loved helping out and asked me when I would be back. I told him I didn't know. letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1151492349403532072006-06-28T05:41:00.000-05:002006-06-28T05:59:09.423-05:00New Technology at our Center!A couple of weeks ago we purchased our Television, Satellite dish, DVD player and few other odds and ends for the Center for American Studies. Now students have access to 3 english language news stations (BBC, EuroNews and CNNi) to improve their listening comprehension, pronunciation, vocabulary and knowledge of world events. The news channels are turned on (according to our posted schedule) 2 hours each day and we have two movie clubs as well. <br /><br />I'll have to post some new photos of our center soon. Gotta run!<br /><br />Larryletweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1150878698870711562006-06-21T03:15:00.000-05:002006-06-21T03:31:38.893-05:00FIRST ANNUAL OSH STATE UNIVERSITY FILM FESTIVAL!!!Please see the advertisement below regarding the First Annual Osh State University Film Festival. Entries will be accepted from around the world. <br /><br /><strong>CALL FOR ENTRIES<br />FIRST ANNUAL <br />OSH STATE UNIVERSITY <br />FILM FESTIVAL<br />OSH, KYRGYZSTAN<br />SEPTEMBER 5TH AND 6TH 2006</strong><br /><br />(Please include the following information along with your entry)<br />Title:<br />Date Completed:<br />Director Producer Name/Organization (if any):<br />Address:<br />City:<br />State:<br />Zip:<br /><br />DVD Format Only (Sorry Compatibility Issues)<br /><br />Synopsis:<br /><br /><br />Running time:<br /><br />History : Festivals, TV, awards, etc. (will be used for programming notes) <br /><br />(By submitting your film, you agree to the following)<br /> LEGAL STUFF: I understand that submission of my work authorizes the Osh State Film Fest to use the work for exhibition, education and/or publicity purposes related to the festival; that the Festival will handle DVDs with a maximum of care but cannot be held liable for any damage or loss during shipping, preview, or screening; and that the Festival is also not responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, or royalty infringement related to the work. Work will not be returned !! But it will become part of a really cool permanent collection on Indie Film in Kyrgyzstan (that will be used for educational purposes only).<br /><br /><br />Signature_________________________________________________________ <br /><br />Send Entries (and a copy of this completed form) to:<br />Glenn Brown <br />Osh State University<br />Faculty of World Languages<br />250 Kurmanjan-Datka St.<br />Kyrgyzstan, Osh <br />714000 <br /><br />***BECAUSE OF SHIPPING COSTS FROM THE U.S. WE WILL WAIVE ALL ENTRY FEES***letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1149728758719902332006-06-07T20:05:00.000-05:002006-06-07T20:05:58.726-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1012734.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1012734.jpg'></a><br />My Dad (wearing Uzbek Doppi), Tolkun and me in my apartment in Osh.letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1149728681219203472006-06-07T20:04:00.000-05:002006-06-07T20:04:41.226-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1012713.0.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1012713.0.jpg'></a><br />My friend (Zahid's) little sister in their tomato fields.letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1149728308268469872006-06-07T19:58:00.000-05:002006-06-07T19:58:28.283-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1012691.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1012691.jpg'></a><br />Portal into my world: View from a Yak-40.letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1149728148748077632006-06-07T19:55:00.000-05:002006-06-07T19:55:48.760-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1012683.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1012683.jpg'></a><br />The tiny Russian Yak-40 jet that I fly in each time I go to Bishkek. The plane ride takes 50 minutes; by car it's 12-14 hours. letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423152.post-1149727826966636812006-06-07T19:50:00.000-05:002006-06-07T19:50:27.350-05:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/640/P1012666.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000066; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/240/1200/320/P1012666.0.jpg'></a><br />Bishkek Sunset.letweedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956376177812789973noreply@blogger.com0