Between February and March 2011, children attending Kyrgyz, Russian, and Uzbek schools in Osh City participated in the art contest “The World through Children Eyes” organized by the Aga Khan Foundation through its partner the Aga Khan School. This activity, implemented under the project Supporting Communities in Infrastructure Repair and Building Tolerance: Osh sponsored by USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), allowed children from different ethnic groups and religions to depict their vision of peace, tolerance, and inter-ethnic friendship through paintings and drawings.

More than 300 students of grades 1-5 representing 29 schools submitted their pieces of arts that were exposed in Aravan Square (Osh City) on 26-27 March 2011. This two-day public event, organized in collaboration with the city administration and the Department of Education, was attended by people from the different ethnic groups. While this initiative gave a unique opportunity to children express their vision of tolerance, it also contributed to open the eyes of the adults on the hopes of the young children for the future. One visitor mentioned: “These draws really represent our wish to live and harmony with each other”. After the exposition, a selection committee composed of staff from the Aga Khan School identified the best 89 illustrations, based on their originality, artistic merit and expression on the theme of tolerance. These selected pictures

Later in the project, the Aga Khan School will go through an additional round of selection in order to identify the 10 most powerful pictures that will be published in a book. 79 copies this book, which will also include a Teacher and Parents’ Guide to help teachers and parents facilitate discussion with students and children about their experience of the conflict, will be disseminated to 20 libraries located in multi-ethnic neighborhoods in Osh city and 59 school libraries.

Timeline November-May, 2010-2011
Finance support: Director of association of Agro- businessman in Kyrgyzstan (November-February) , US Embassy(February-June)
Coordinator and trainer: Deryabkina N.A.

The Project directed on peace building, as well as development of presentation skills, was planned and realized by trainers of Professional Development of the Aga Khan School. According to the project activities City Discussion Club has been organized. Participants were involved in the project from November to May of this academic year. Participants of the club were students and teachers from the schools: Aga Khan School (41 participants), School №3 (9 participants), №20 (10 participants), №7 (5 participants), №17 (4 participants), №39 (6 participants) , №51 (18 participants) , №10 (3 participants), № 4 (1 participants) , № 9 (13 participants), №8 (4 participants) , №42 (4 participants), №46
(7 participants). Totally numbers were: 125.
Participants of the club have learned at educational seminars how to discuss and debate through topics “Conflict resolution”, “Tolerance”, “Children rights”, “Negotiation”, “The rules in argumentation”, “Stereotypes”, “Success and its factors”, “Leadership and the role of the leader” in the society. The seminars were conducted on 13 November, 27 November, 11 December, 18 December, 15 January, 29 January, 12 February, 26 February, 12 March, 2 April, 16 April, 7 May, and 3 June.
Students mentioned that they want to have changes in yourself and in the society: “I want to travel freely in Kyrgyzstan and in the world”, “I wish that people in my country will not distinguish people with different nationalities”, “I wish all people in Kyrgyzstan live peacefully”, “I want to be successful, make inputs in society, and to be a good speaker”, etc.
The seminars were conducted by the strategies of critical thinking, because we want our pupils to learn how to analyze, discuss, and participate in arguable questions by arguments based on support and evidence. The teachers have studied the strategies that they will be able to use in their pedagogical practice at the lessons and in extracurricular activities. The seminars provided for teachers the tools in facilitation of activities, development the abilities to conduct the text with proper argumentation, formulate the thesis statement, take into consideration alternative standpoint and evaluate effects of the prejudices and stereotypes. Own position will help participants to defend themselves, come out of conflict situation peacefully, and realize their own daydreams and purposes in life.

The pupils have shown their initiative in organizations of project activities in order to support children in orphanage and to help veterans of World War II. This activity has provided the new experience with analyzing the situations that were raised from impact of different point of views, readiness to accept new ideas, active demonstration of creative qualities such as flexibility of thinking, resourcefulness, observation skills and imagination. Not all of children could realize project ideas; however, the analysis of problems helped them to understand the value of the goals and objectives, their actuality and necessity to work in a group.

At the conference, participants pointed out that they gained the leadership skills, learned how to communicate and work in a group, effectively suggested the strategies for conflict resolution, and developed the logic, analytical skills and presentation with argumentation. One of the main objectives that trainers identified was: to conduct the positive atmosphere in the group and to work in non- violence way based on the principals of cooperation, understanding and tolerance. This objective was accomplished in the project work of City Discussion Club.

Share a book review on Shelfari, where this reader meets fellow readers.

• E-Portfolio(MSU) (My Master’s Degree Program)
• “The school of intellectual communication” (1997-2010): Debate program, Debate program +Critical thinking (two year’s program for teachers in the Kyrgyz Republic); Toastmaster Club (Public Speaking skills). Main information about the projects and resources to learn
• To look and learn again from the web-sites of my colleagues and classmates

Strategic Plan for the future projects

(as a result or work in CEP 952 Course):

(Short -term)

• To complete the work with E-Portfolio (MSU)

*(Peer-review forms from my colleagues, students, and professors)

*To post awards and certificates in E-Portfolio

(Long -term)

• To continue the work with the project “The school of intellectual communication” (analysis and synthesis, reflection from my students and colleagues)

Open a new “Public speaking skills” club for youth in my country and post the results of the work there.

• Teaching portfolio.(Vision; teaching philosophy; school curriculum for 5-11 grades students; Unit Plans; Lessons plans; Assignments for students; Comments and feedback; “Top ten scholars in Education”; Formative and summative assessment and their results; Evaluation of the work/awards and certificate

Other Future projects

As a member of Team Leader Group to implement the project

research_question: How can management and leadership influence on success at school?

AREA OF focus:

1. Management and leadership style at school. To analyze the role of management and leadership in following the school vision and consider the best way(s) to realize it. Identify leadership and management styles that staff and administration use at school and how it influences on the school effectiveness. Identify how management influences on Team building process at school. Management and leadership: responsibilities, functions, and activities at school. To analyze the role of teachers, students, parents, and community in management and decision-making processes at school. Evaluate the outcomes that school has with their management and leadership styles.

Project that I would like to implement in pilot schools of   Osh region

Action_project_research_”Community and School”

Research question: How to involve community into the school work?

The goal is: To identify factors that motivates parents, and other representatives of community to be active and be involved in school life.

In Research are six types of involvement: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, collaborating with the community (http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/sixtypes.htm).

In my project, I want to analyze these six types of community involvement and together with participants create the action plan for involvement of community in school work. At the next stage to analyze how this plan works after consideration of factors of community involvement.

Ingredients:

1-2 lbs of lamb; 2 large onions;2 garlics  4 or more tomatoes; 2 large carrots; 2 red bell pepper; 3 green paper;1 head of cabbage (remove core); 4-5 potatoes; Spices (salt, cumin, freshly ground black pepper)

Steps:
1. Cut all vegetables into rounds about 1/4 inch thick, cut on two pieces  each potato.
2. Cut the meat into 1 inch pieces. Salt & pepper the meat. Sear it over high heat, especially if the lamb has fat, put the fat side down so it can melt  and brown-up what’s left. Cook around of 40 minutes. If the lamb doens’t have enough fat, add some oil while browning.
3. Layer the ingredients as follows:

• Lamb
• Onion
• Carrots
• Green Paper
• Potato
• Red Paper
• Garlic
• Cabbage
• Tomato

The main thing here is that the meat is on the bottom and that the cabbage covers everything. Cover with a heavy lid and cook on a low heat for about 1 and a half to 2 hours. If you like your veggies crisper, cook less, but make sure the meat is cooked.

Good appetite!

Before looking to a “Dream job”, I have to think about the quality of my educational background. Many vacancies required experienced person with completed MA and PHD program, and with several years of experience in the practice area. Scholarship is a great opportunity to study at the University in PHD level. My research in this area helped me to find some information on “SCHOLARSHIP AND OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY“

The process of searching job vacancies was very exciting for me, notwithstanding I have a job as a teacher in Aga Khan School (when I come back home). Before my educational opportunity in USA to study at MA program, I have signed the contract to come back to my school in the city. This obligation is in my memory and in my responsibilities.

However, “job searching assignment” encouraged me to look seriously on such opportunities and to apply to several organizations (with losing memory about my obligations…).

What are my skills and qualifications that can I offer for employers?  This question allow me to think deeply about my philosophy, and skills that I have in education and in leadership. To tell truth, I have probably to design “rubric” for myself and to check my level, in order to know what I have to improve in future. According to different standard in one country the best job (from the point of view of experience and from another point is from salary opportunities) can be a Dean of Department or a specialist in International Relations, but in another country is a dancer in night club (where they do not have as requirements to have a MA or PHD…and have the highest rank of salary)….. Thus, I have to think what is valuable for me in this case….

What I found is that all of the organizations ask to submit the cover letter, CV form, and letters of recommendations (which is hard for me to look for as an International student at MSU). Moreover, some of the organizations ask to fill a personal information sheet on five pages and so on…. Thus, to apply for the job position, I have to be prepared and to have  all of these documents. Another issue is that many vacancies require to complete PHD degree Program and to have a Teaching Experience in the Higher education as minimum for 3 years. It leads me to think more carefully about the level of education that I have now, and it motivates me to study at PHD program in the future ) (If I want to have a good job position), but in some requirements the age of people who apply there can be till 35. So I am late for PHD and for good job position!!! (

Then I looked on some internship programs and opportunities to work abroad where they do not require to have PHD, but to have an experience in work not less than 10 years. Great! I have success in this area! As the result of my applying I have many responses, and probably sometimes will find a better job )

In sum, the sites that were useful for me in this “exercise” are sites with a ” DREAM JOB”

In Kyrgyzstan is only one position in the site for Independent Sales Representative (Sell Avon Products)

ATTENTION !

How to choose book on-line?

Advices for myself:

• 1. Use   http://www.shelfari.com  I can find book and add it to my shelf according to the category, if I read it , I am reading,or I am going to read. Immediately I can find some of the  related books to look through. In this site, I can find some comments on the book and add notes about the book with my point of view.

Click here and you can see what is going on with the books that I used for my readings during these two years.

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

• 2. Excellent resource on the website: http://books.google.com/

I can find book by search, add some related books to my search, add them to my shelf in this site, and what is the best(!): I can read the book on-line! Wow!

• 3. Web-site: http://www.alibris.com/

is useful to find  useful and new  books with options to buy for expensive and   cheap price!

• 4. www.amazon.com

A great resource to buy books and search books. Many related books   suggested to buy with the book that I am interested. I can create a wish list  and search the books that I want to buy.

• 5. www.shopping.com

Before buy  the book, I have to make comparison of the prices on this book through different options and market places. This web-site will help me to see the prices that different companies offer on this book.

In the list item, there are some books that I chose during my “quick search”:(Click to open)

list items

• 6. Use the site of “National Academies Press”: http://books.nap.edu/

Science and Math books are there that I can read on-line , download some of them, and buy if I need to.

• 7. To read e-books and to have some ideas on introduction and the content of the book can be useful through looking  on web-site  http://www.ebooks.com/

For instance, take a look at this books:

“Three cups of Tea” by Mortenson Greg;

“Stones into school” by Mortenson Greg

“Evolution for Dummies” by Krukonis,Greg; Barr, Tracy

Good luck in Searching!

Filed under: B. Education ]]> http://netkinat.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/723/feed/ 0 netkinat images http://netkinat.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/re-imagining-tesol-boston-2010/ http://netkinat.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/re-imagining-tesol-boston-2010/#comments Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:27:48 +0000 netkinat http://netkinat.wordpress.com/?p=635 ]]> 

What I have taken from the conference:

Challenges

Handouts that will help me to work in my school:

Web-sites  with opportunities to learn more!

http://research-skills.wikispaces.com/

http://www.thecenterweb.org/alrc/reading-pub.html

http://www.elihinkel.org/default.htm

http://www.elihinkel.org/TESOL2010/

http://teachingwithoutborders.blogspot.com/2007/12/its-wonderful-life.html

http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/convention2010/

“Unconditional Surrender”

Kiss on A Times Sguare

The statue is an image of a famous photograph of people in Times Square in New York after the end of World War II.  One jubilant sailor just grabbed a girl who was also celebrating in Times Square and planted a big kiss on her.  It is a world-famous photo from 1945.  So the statue was made after that photo.

“Unconditional Surrender,” a 25-foot, 6,000 pound statue by world-renowned artist J. Seward Johnson commemorating a famous World War II photo was unveiled Feb. 10 at Mole Park in San Diego.

The end of the War, the freedom, and hope…

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer.

• I am not a teacher; only a fellow traveler of whom you asked the way. I pointed ahead–ahead of myself as well as of you.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) British dramatist, critic, writer.

• The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without a teacher.

Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) American author, editor and printer.

• The result of the educative process is capacity for further education.

John Dewey (1859-1952) U.S. philosopher and educator.

• Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.

Robert Lee Frost (1874–1963) American poet.

• In education, nothing works if the students don’t.

Donald E. Simanek (1936-) American physicist, educator, humorist.

• Education is the movement from darkness to light.

Allan Bloom

• Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.

John Dewey

• Children need models rather than critics.

Joseph Joubert

• The highest result of education is tolerance.
  Helen Keller
• The important thing is not to stop questioning.
  Albert Einstein

• Lobster can change their skeleton when they are old enough and build a new one during one week.
• The octopus in Birch Aquarium  was so huge!  and I didn’t pay attention before that they are highly intelligent.
• The  delicious food from COSTCO!
• The mountains are  in the desert!
• The corridors  in the submarine USS Midway are very narrow and tiny.
• Gorilla in the San Diego Zoo was observing me while I was observing them.
• Lion-fish stings can cause nausea, breathing difficulties, paralysis, convulsions and collapse.
• Cabrillo discovered the west coast area of US .
• Meditation Garden where people come for the meditation.
• Seals are the mammals that can be a long time under the water.
• Koala sleep 22 hours in a day and night time, because eats the eucalyptus leaves.
• The name of the flowers “Birds of Paradise” comes from the spectacular flower shape, which resembles a birds beak and head plumage.
• The Torrey pine is the rarest native pine tree in the US, growing naturally only in the area of Torrey pines State Reserve and on the island of Santa Rosa.

Anza Borrego Deset State Park

USS Midway Museum

Lion fish in Birch Aquarium

Pine tree

Sleeping koala at the tree

The birds of paradise

Gorilla in San Diego Zoo

skeleton without the lobster inside

Here we are

Coronado Island is a wonderful experience to take a look around.  Pacific Ocean with exciting waves, romantic architecture,Palm Trees looks like a fairytale in real world.

Anza- Borrego Desert is a largest State park that attracted me by the wonderful  and unique nature  for desert that contains  mountains, Palm Trees, cactus, and small rivers.

Palm Tree

San Diego Bay is a place where I  saw the huge ships for cruises and had an unforgettable experience with  USS Midway Museum at  the ship! I could never imagined that I will be at the ship with the  planes that landed to the ship. Many volunteers who served at the ship  help to introduce the historical events and tell the stories about the pilots who worked at that time.

San Diego Bay

Old Town of San Diego has  beautiful Mexican shopping centers with souvenirs from Mexico and  Russia. They are  attractive for tourists who want to buy some things for the memory about this place. Restaurants and cafes are  colorful.Musicians  play and sing  for people who seat and eat outside.

Old Town

USS Midway Muesum

San Diego Zoo is one of the famous and biggest Zoo in USA (and I think in the world), a place where thousands of animals live in beautiful and comfortable environmental conditions. This is a place where education take place.Many tourists come each day to see, observe, and enjoy the life of animals who “are in collection” at this place. Condors, gorillas, lions, giraffes, tigers, lamas,wolfs, saber cat, elephants are in the list of animals that located  in the Zoo. I could walk around, take a bus trip, and an aerial tram in order to have better view on the animals.

Panda

Balboa Park  in San Diego has  gorgeous architecture style of  museums and other buildings. I love the nature with  beautiful  botanical gardens and pools.

Balboa Park

You probably want to look through http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638

http://www.midway.org/Aircraft-Museum

http://www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com/

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/videos/

One more lovely day and we are in the city of Encinitas and La Jolla. La Jolla in Spanish means “The Jewel”. It is the Jewel of America’s finest city, San Diego. It has a beautiful cafes, restaurants, shops, and wonderful beaches where  the seals are located. ” Judge Yuri Hoffman said in San Diego Superior Court that the law as it stands, requires the removal of the seals. For tourists and residents, this remains a heated topic as it has been for years.”We’re no supposed to break a contract. Children are just as important as seals,” said La Jolla resident Harlow Hunter(http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-seals,0,2234486.story). People talk about it in our days and observe the beauty of the seals on the beach.

Seals on the beach

http://www.ci.encinitas.ca.us/

Birch Aquarium  at Scripps is a wonderful experience to see and observe  the life of living organisms who live in Pacific Ocean. Seahorses, seadragon, octopus, sharks and more exotic kinds of  fishes are in this building!

Aquarium

Torrey Pines State Reserve was a beautiful place for hiking at the variety of trails to explore and enjoy the view of the beach and pines trees.

Torrey pines State reserve

One stop at the Cabrillo National Monument.

“Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States”(http://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm).This historical place attract many tourists and citizens to climb the hills. I enjoyed the beauty of the nature and the brilliant view of San Diego.

My Spring Break is at the end … but I spend it excellent, for learning the new parts of the world that I have never heard about.

San Diego

I have learned as a volunteer at the conference how to communicate with adults and work in a Team;
As a participant I have the chance to  analyze the presentation of different  studies  such as  School Improvement plan; School governance; Civic Education; Development in the post-Soviet countries; The role of ICT at the classroom; Effectiveness of the school and the role of Education; Activism of woman; The role of community for school; The quality of school; Access to the school and equity; Time and opportunities at school; School reform and innovations at school; Access to Higher Education.

I can use this knowledge in my future research and analysis of situation in my country.

If You want to see my Power Point Presentation, it’s here… the conference…..

• Anyway, to attend the conferences /the places that I was not going to attend, according to my assignment “Top Professional Organizations”

1. 29 February-5 March. CIES conference, 2010. “54^th Annual Conference of the Comparative and International Educational Society”. The conference would be organized in Chicago, Illinois The College of Education, MSU is responsible for the conference. Te main purpose of the conference is to re-think and re-evaluate the educational system, according to the global issues. What will I do there?  I will be volunteering at the registration and participating at the sessions of the conference. How much will it cost for me? Maybe around of 50 dollars, because I will have a reimbursement (I hope!) )
2. March 24-27, 2010. “TESOL’s 44th Annual Convention & Exhibit Practical Workshops for English Language Teaching Professionals” Boston, MA. At the conference I can choose from 1000 sessions those that interesting for me, and improve my knowledge in language teaching and classroom learning. How much will it cost? I have a link in my budget for the professional development. Why not to spend this money for this conference? (I think!) )
3. March 29 – April 2. The 21st Annual SITE (Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education) International Conference, 2010, San Diego, California, USA. Oh no, I am late with my proposal! I can’t be at the conference, but as minimum I can visit the place! (So will think about it!) J)) However, there are the series of the conferences that would be held in Malaysia, in Canada and in USA. Probably, I will think seriously about the proposal to submit to the conference. What’s about the financing? Are there any conferences that can support me for traveling, accommodation, registration, and other services? I want to write the proposal and apply in the case if I know that it can happen )

So, how this assignment influenced on me? Tremendously!

• Project that I want to do…. There are several option and ideas that I have.  I have to choose one of them:

“School and lesson observations in East Lansing”

“My favorable places at MSU”

“The courses at MSU that students like and why…”

“One week with American family”

“Instruction” for Youth who wants to study abroad in USA”

“The school of thoughts” (with proposal about the project to implement in my country, according to my experience in USA)

I expect that other ideas can come to my head….

What can I choose?

• To complete my educational program and graduate in May, 2010 (wow!)

I have to work with my e-portfolio, synthesize paper, and action plan, in order to reflect and think about the knowledge and experience that I gain at MSU during my studying and how can I use it my country.

Workplace at the library

Is it a place where I can study well?  Is it really a magic place that makes me comfortable and what is a comfortable place?  I love to have a space and have all the readings at the table (Not at my knees…); I need a computer (because of all work that I have is on-line, even though, this is a face-to-face class); printer (to make the work comfortable and not to run to the library to print two pages); Internet-this is the most valuable condition for my workplace!; comfortable furniture ( a chair, a round table, a place for books, a place for nice photos, a place for notes for the day). This is a minimum that I  have to have.

Workplace at my appartment

What do I wish to have at my workplace? In addition to what I have,  I want to have two computers-one especially for photos, Skype, videos, and other one for my work; not just a chair, but a comfortable one;  phone and I can answer or make  calls; lamps with nice light; and a beautiful design of the place-space that makes me comfortable.

Why do I want such place? It makes me good! In a comfortable and positive environment, I have a motive to spend more time, and enjoy with my assignments!  I want to be creative and use equipment that supports me in my learning style.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/3816063533_381fce9d84.jpg )

I want to have a workplace like that!

What I don’t want to have at my workplace? Plates, cups, spoons, and coffeepot; papers and books that are not useful for my work; and other garbage.

(http://www.electrical-res.com/EX/10-18-05/stress-in-workplace.jpg )

20of February, 2010 I could go to one day trip to Dearborn that included visit to :

Islamic Center of America (http://www.icofa.com/),

I could ask questions about the religion, culture, and traditions of people who come to the center. I was surprised that  woman also pray together with man in one big hall. The volunteer who met us there answered that in their culture they consider woman equal for man, and they value intelligence of woman.

Arab-American National Museum (http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org/),

where woman have a vital role as  guides in the museum. Positive and negative personages of woman from Arab world represented in the Museum, and the role of woman demonstrates as active leader in the world and in the country, or in the region.

Dinner at the Al-Ameer Lebanese restaurant (http://www.alameerrestaurant.com/).

I was looking for this kind of food during two years (because we have such food in my country and I love to eat it) and I found it in this restaurant!!!

I was observing if only woman serve people in the restaurant and my observation show for me that there are woman and man who serve for the clients.

The trip  also includeD stops at an Arab-American food store and a sweets shop.

So cheap vegetables! I could buy some….and cook them at home. Yamy!!!

I like this trip, because I could learn more about the Arab world, culture, religion, and traditions.

I love traveling!

How many of you like to travel?

Have you always had good experiences?

I do!

Contest master, fellow toastmasters, and special guests–I love travelling!

Especially, if it’s a conference or a program that allows me to travel abroad and without spending too much money!

I remember my last trip to Kenya and Tanzania.  I spent a few days on Zanzibar Island in the one of the most expensive hotels in Zanzibar. The place was magic. The ocean and the fantastic nature were exciting.

I went outside to look around. People on the streets were so friendly. They wanted to show for me brochures, pictures, and the way to the historical monuments and buildings.

Later, I asked them how to get back to my hotel. Then they asked me to pay money for their service. I was shocked! I have never had such an experience before, and I began to refuse payment. There were almost thirty people around me demanding money. I was afraid of them, and I ran. But I l love traveling.

That evening, I went with two friends for dinner outside of the Hotel.  I love sea food and it was a great opportunity to try octopuses, shrimps, fish, and crabs. The smell of fried sea food was wafting around of the Island.

I was enjoying my dinner, but suddenly, I felt that the place wasn’t so safe. When we started to eat, I saw eyes of hungry and homeless people from one side and eyes of hungry cats from the other side that were meowing and looking at my food! Oh, I was afraid. I thought that if I gave even a small piece to some of them, they would jump on my back and will eat me and my food.

But I love traveling!

My plane from Tanzania to Moscow was to leave soon, and I was in the airport. Oh, no, I expected that it would be soon, but there were still 12 hours before the flight! The temperature was hot , more than 120 degrees . It was difficult to find a place to sit except the floor.  After an hour, I felt that I would die, so I started to think about surviving. Suddenly, my eyes found a big fan on the wall on the fourth floor. The remaining eleven hours I was spending close to the big fan in my ARMS. I kept that fan in my arms for 11 hours .  I felt better! I survived! and I still love traveling!

i had a 3-hour layover in Istanbul before my next flight. The smell of Cappuccino was so strong that I told myself that I want to buy it. Can you smell it? I drank it small portions, and I was enjoying my travels.  Then they brought me the bill –for 20 dollars. “Oh, how much?”, I repeated my question, because I couldn’t believe it. It’s half of my monthly school salary!  What could I do? Just pay and forget that I made a huge mistake …. But, I still love traveling.

The flight for eight hours wasn’t so good. The plane was shaking and jumping  and it was unforgettable. I thought that I would have a heart attack. Finally, I was on the ground in Moscow. But they made us sit inside the plane during one hour. When we asked the steward “what’s happening?”, “when can we get out?” He told us to keep silent and we did.

Freedom! I am finally in the airport, but it’s not the right airport!, and I have the next flight in three hours. The temperature was below 10 degree of Fahrenheit. I was freezing—especially after the 120 degree weather in Tanzania! I took a taxi for 100 dollars and went to my airport. And now, What’s happening with me? I had a toothache. I was wearing my scarf and it was so painful!  But I am finally in the plane! I love traveling!

My next stop was (Tajikistan). I am on the way to pass the customs area but they told that there is no empty place to sit in the plane.  “How can that be? I bought my ticket one month ago, and I have an exact seat assignment in the airplane”.  As the result of my shouting and arguing, the captain was kept from taking off for two hours, but then they left without me.  Even though I had an assigned seat in the plane, they gave the seat to somebody else. So, I had to spend a week in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. I found the cheapest hotel in the city for 2 dollars in a nice place with a lamp, table, and bed in the room. I left my luggage at the hotel room, and I went to downtown to look around. When I came back the luggage was gone. I was robbed!

But tomorrow I would fly to my home, Kyrgyzstan, where I was born.

The smell of grass, the view of clouds, and noise of people in the airport are special in my city. I have had unforgettable and interesting experience that I can use in my country! I visited Kenya, Tanzania, Turkey, Russia, Tajikistan, and I came back to my country. I missed it a lot! I could relax and write the next proposal to submit for the next conference to travel abroad, because I love traveling!