Unusual Experiences in Khujand..................

Hi Folks, 

Earthquake in Khujand:

Well lads experienced my first ever earth quake tremor last night. I am located 170km from the epicentre. Have been told it was 6.3 on the Richter scale.

Omg such a scary experience. Woke up didn’t know what was happening – stupid bed moving and shaking really badly. I jumped out of bed shouting (naturally). I thought there was some type of animal under bed. Then the lights and windows started rattling and shaking and it dawned on me – Earthquake!!! Actually it was a bit like trying to walk on plane with v. bad turbulence it was difficult to get balance.

Ran out onto landing – and thankfully had the wits about me to stay under the door frame as I figured it was the best place. However have since googled and the bath is safest place!!!

It must have lasted for maybe 30 seconds but I tell you the scariest of my life. This beats by a mile my current No. 1 scariest moment – Sky jumping @ 20,000 feet from a plane over Queensland!!

Communication: 

Well I do try but sometimes if irritated with crappy service or annoying people I will just give up and revert to English. An example in my local supermarket there is a particularly rude server. Now I have observed her over the last few weeks and thankfully it’s not just me because I am a foreigner she is in fact rude to everyone!! So this is an example of the conversation I had with her yesterday. I was after buying bread and veg in separate small bags and other items.

Me: Indicating I wanted a big plastic bag

Rude Lady: - No no no

Me: Are you having a laugh I just want a bag

Rude Lady: In v. animated Tajik dunno what exactly but blah blah blah

Me: For god sake I just want a bag, so I reached over and took one. (There is no tax here on bags, so not sure what the problem was)

Rude Lady: Even more animated Tajik blah blah blah

Me: Oh Christ almighty I just want a bloody bag (muttering under breathe you silly cow)

*END OF CONVERSATION*

Farmers Tan:

Yep am getting one here. Nice colour on feet, arms and face!!

Local Neighbourhood:

So thought I would post some pictures of my neighbourhood to give you an idea of what it looks like.

Apartment Block:

Now it doesn’t look like much, but it would probably put most of the apartment blocks in Dublin to shame. You don’t hear your neighbours in these Soviet built apartments!! On the outside they all look pretty run down but when you see inside some of them they are great. God the Tajiks love their interiors personally not my taste. In fact some might call it really gaudy but each to their own. They like their light fittings, big furniture, plastic flowers, curved ceilings, patterned everything!!! Actually that what was so scary about the tremor the fact that we could feel it in this building as they are so well constructed.

Local Bakery:

This is where it all happens and they make the local bread. They must start awful early cos I have walked by around 6am and all finished for the day. The great thing about this bakery is that it operates using wood only so during the winter when electricity is so sparse the locals can get bread. This type of bakery is in every neighbourhood and bread is amazing!! (The best thing in T).

Local local shops:

So I just love the little local shops. They tend to have very erratic opening times – I haven’t quite figured out when/why they open. But they all seem to do business – and the locals do shop in them a bit. They have all the basics which is handy and saves a trek to the supermarket. I luv this one below (hidden by bushes) – but it only ever seems to open for 1hr in evening.

Movies:

Felt I needed a laugh the other night and watched ‘Ferris Beuller’s Day Off’. Ah lads you can’t beat the classics. Brilliant was roaring laughing!!

Tajik Lessons:

Well gave up on the damn alphabet. Oh was wrecking my head – decided to just go for ‘conversational’ lessons instead. Makes more sense not here for long enough to be learning alphabet!!

Music:

Yes I am a huge fan of: Tajik, Iranian, Arabic, Russian music. Some of the Arabic music is amazing it’s a fusion (oh sorry bad choice of word??) between traditional Arabic music and really cool western beat music. Deadly have one/two favourites that whenever I hear I’m singing along to. Yes don’t have a clue of the words/meaning of them but its music feck it, who needs to know the words!!

So settling back in after my lovely break – and work is going grand. Heat is killing me here – but what can you do??

Hope all is well.

As always from me to y’all good night!!!

Lainey xxx

Its all about the pictures folks............

Sorry folks my camera does not do the Pamirs justice but to give you a flavour!!

This is the 'car' I travelled in for 3 hrs, two of which were on 'roads' like this. Actually this photo was where we got stuck the rocks are so big it was difficult to get traction. At this stage we hadn't seen a car for 1hr and were stuck for 45mins. Between the two of us we got big flat rocks to try and get past. Thank god we did no phones etc in this area. The poor fella was looking at me as I had to stop to put sun cream on - its so strong up high in the mountains.

This is my guides family - they kindly invited me in for a cup of 'choi'. Folks I have never seen such poverty in my life. In this area they are lucky to survive on approx $50 a month. They are so poor and yet so incredibly kind and generous. They produced bread and biscuits and sweets for me - I only ate a small amount cos I could see the younger children (not in photo) staring at the food. The smell is overwhelming washing/showering etc is not high on their agenda. Surviving daily is the main aim particularly in winter when they are completely isolated.

This is the eldest child of the family I stayed with - cooking dinner on the 'outdoor oven'. They survive on bread and potato's. As I was a guest I got a special potato soup with onion and carrots.

Rush hour in Khugor - luv this photo cows wandering around the streets!!

Well this is the toilet of the family I stayed with. No paper/water and any other sanitation e.g. showers etc. Not exactly sure of the significance of the two toilets - is one male/female or for number 1/2??. To be honest didn't care just wanted to get it over - not exactly private.

This is what happens when you meet trucks bringing food/goods to Khugor. This photo doesn't do the road justice. This was actually a 'good section' of it.

So back to work tomorrow after a brillant week off. I will be busy but hoping to take some more time of in September depending on work load.

It was so good to get back to Khujand - I honestly felt like I was coming home. To give you a sense of how great the locals are: I got chatting to a fella waiting for my bag at the airport and he kindly offered me a lift home. Turns out he lives around the corner from me!! So have an invite to 'choi' during the week.

Take care everyone.

From me to y'all goodnite!!

Lainey xx