Tag Archives: marshrutkas
Learning Like a Child: Host Family Flashback Part 2

Learning Like a Child: Host Family Flashback Part 2

By on April 24, 2010 in Kyrgyzstan, Language Learning, Soviet Travel

For seven long weeks I lasted as a regular in the Kyrgyz family… Read more. Somehow, now when I think back, I don’t know how I did it.
Some days were more trying than others. As a complete newbie to Russian, I quickly realized just how much brain power I expended at my lessons constantly thinking, translating and deciphering all day

April 24, 2010 · Read full story · Comments { 12 }

What has been the best year of your life?

By on January 15, 2009 in Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Soviet Travel, Ukraine

In one of my conversation clubs in school here in Ukraine, I asked my students what the best year of their life has been. Questions like these, followed with a simple, “Why?”, are a great way to get them all to talk (my main goal for my classes), while also killing a ton of class time. However, a lot of… Read more

January 15, 2009 · Read full story · Comments { 5 }

The hardest part about coming home…

By on August 11, 2008 in Post-Travel

Was not leaving 110 degree weather
Was not leaving dust storms
Was not leaving behind a crazy landlady
Was not having to take another marshrutka ride
Was not packing up the apartment
Was not saying goodbye to the language school… Read more
Was not getting reacquainted with my comfortable, big bed
Was not eating delicious home cooked food
Was not having unlimited

August 11, 2008 · Read full story · Comments { 3 }
Marshrutka Mayhem

Marshrutka Mayhem

By on May 7, 2008 in Kyrgyzstan, Soviet Travel

The marshrutka is the main mode of public transport here in Bishkek, and like a bad metal concert in Peoria, it’s cheap, hot, overcrowded, and sometimes filled with drunk people. Mentioned in earlier Bishkek posts, I despise these little beasts, and yet often find myself stamping my foot for the next one to come. In that sense, I guess they… Read more

May 7, 2008 · Read full story · Comments { 9 }
Feeling great in Bishkek.

Feeling great in Bishkek.

By on April 25, 2008 in Kyrgyzstan, Soviet Travel

Bishkek is a happy, happy place. It is the perfect combination of big and small city – much like Peoria on a much more interesting level. After living here for almost 3 weeks, it still almost seems like a dream. When am I going to get bored? When am I going to be ready to move on? Now, I have… Read more

April 25, 2008 · Read full story · Comments { 5 }