Yes I make it home

I felt very anxious when I woke this morning. Ever since I got here I have found sleeping difficult I keep thinking about the kids, but this week off I have switched off, but I guess last night the fact that I was coming back to work got to me again. But the good news is that despite that I have come back to the Ashu had a very easy journey in fact and got stuck into preparing for tomorrow so hopefully it will be okay.

Although the credit should go to the Kyrgyzstan transport system I feel very proud of myself for getting back from Karakol. I got up early enough to dip into the animal bazaar this morning. At first I could not get a taxi there as everyone else was trying to get there and even when I finally got a taxi it stopped for a couple with a sheep, I had visions of it sitting in the back with them. The unfortunate creature however was booted and every time we went over a bump there was a thud reminiscent of mafia movies.    I had assumed that the sales would be like in the north of England,with an auctioneer and ring,  but it seemed much less formal than that just lots of people standing around with their animals and making deals on them. It reminded me once more of Senegal but there were a greater variety of animals today and it was scarily slippery. I really like the variety of sheep, but I was told that in soviet days the Kyrgs were forced to bred only white sheep, which is pretty stupid if you think how much snow there is in the country - you would never find them.   Anyway with the end of the Soviet error a greater variety of sheep are bred again. Apparently black sheep are considered tastier here so they were pleased to go back to their old ways. Given the number of notes changing hands some animals are quite expensive.  I saw a cow with blood streaming from its broken horn, but the animals only seemed distressed when forced into their home going vehicles.

I did not stay long though as I was keen to get my bus home.  I am pleased to say there was no snow on the road, it was impossible to get a good picture of the lake, but it is very beautiful and very long, the colours, rustic autumn colours, the sky blue and the lake, capturing all these colours,. We even had a video on board, a spy type thriller set in Russia and Kazakhstan.And although I had had a huge breakfast and just sat on a bus for almost 4 hours, but by the time we stopped for coffee the mashed potato fritter I sunk my teeth into immediately was delicious.   With luck I will get back to Issyk Kul next year so perhaps that is an incentive to try and shake my negativity and look forward.  Then the minute we arrived at Kemin where I was getting off, there was my bus to the Ashu.  Some of the people on the bus even recognised me and there was one of my students and it was so hot and sunny it felt nice to be back.  Our mountains look tiny compared to those at Karakol and I was tempted to go for a walk then realised I have to be sensible so  I have been working every since (whilst skyping or listening to radio 2)  I got here but now it is time for bed.  Term two tomorrow!.