Women and vodka.

For reasons unknown to me I have been unable to access the blog for the last few days. Google have not bothered to tell me that they have sorted it, but it would seem  that they have.

The last few days have been days of women and vodka, which as per usual has quite surprised me

Actually the first day was champagne rather than vodka, which I managed to avoid. My head and in I caught the 8 o clock bus to Kant, which means sugar, near Bishkek, where one of our main schools. The plan was  get there to discuss some issues about what has been happening in the school, book my flight home, which for some reason they wanted to do with a travel agent, rather than online, which would be cheaper and then head of to do presentations in a new school in Bishkek. I spent the evening before sorting out realia to take with me and a handout. I figured that the person we were due to met for discussions would be late and that I could hone the hand out at the school, which is exactly what happened. She arrived at 11 in time to head for the travel agent, and suggested we discuss things in the car, so I said that it was not the appropriate place for such an important discussion. She then asked if I wanted to fly out later as we were having a summer school. Rumours about a summer school started circulating after I had already arranged for work in June.  They were sort of confirmed by the architect coming round to the school and apparently checking something for the summer school but nothing formal has been said or discussed, so now to ask me when sort of mentally going home on the 26th or 28th well I just said no. No you have to inform people so that they can make decisions.  So they went and booked my ticket and we headed to the new school Once we got there things began to make a bit more sense. At the opening of the school in Talas there was a woman who runs her own school in Bishkek, she reminded me of an Irish friend of mine, so when I saw her standing outside the new school I realised this is her school and the plan is that she will com ein with us. It was a nice school, all the people listening except one man, were women, they asked nice questions. We had a brilliant meal after, who knew that mashed potatoes and meat balls could just be so heavenly, but the potatoes here can be fabuous, and I was chatting to two of the women, both of whom said I need to find a man, (for some reason people are always saying this to me, I usually point out given that men die here so early, and show no interest in me that is highly unlikely.) They were very nice though and it was fun to be with me them so it is nice to think that they will be joining the Foundation. I just hope that the Foundation will deliver So that was day one.

Day two my head said as it was international women's day we were having a party. Normal stuff, nice salads, something hot, and everyone giving speeches, that is everyone but the women, which kind of pissed me off. We women had done the toasts on veterans day, but I wanted to give a toast to my fellow women.  Friday night I headed back to the Ashu and saw the son, who is getting married up in the restaurant. My understanding was that he was having another party on Saturday so I only went to the restaurant to say hello To my surprise the room was full, the party was in fact on Friday.  So far this is definitely the best party I have been to, as everyone really seemed to be enjoying themselves, this is partly the vodka and everyone specifying, but they seemed more relaxed and in the break between courses the women and a few men went down tot he disco and we all had a competitive dance. I have danced a polka with a woman who looked a tad older than me, she looked wonderful, like my mother did in the 50's or that sort of feel and she was much more sprightly on her feet than I am.  I just wished we could have danced for longer But it made for a real change and made me feel I had bonded more.  There was an accordion player to accompany the women who sang.

Saturday was a day of rest, I got to show the family who stayed over night, family who have two young boys 5 and about 2, both of whom speak some English, The Snowman, and it was really lovely seeing how capitavated they were by it.  To my surprise next morning by the day I emerged for lunch at one they had already left for Bishkj and rather than finding tourists tucking in to dinner, I found a whole bunch of village women, mostly I guess about my age and above all having beshbarkmak and vodka.One of their number was my head. I declined at first to join them, just asking for bread and jam as there did not seem to be any tourists after all, then I joined the women for a glass or two. And because my head was there it was very nice, maybe vodka fueled and I only stayed till just after two when the tourists turned up, but it did feel nice.  I had a brief walk and to my suprise my head was wondering around with one of the woman and both of them were humorously drunk so they came back in for a while.  My head exxplained that as she had had guests the day before she then had to ask all her neighbours to celebrate, it seemed unlikely and she then said that they would meet insomeone ='s house on Monday our day off for IWD. I wondered if as a result I would be dragged somewhere Monday instea I had a tedious day just doing some online training for one of the people I hope to work for on my return.

Today however, I felt quite jaundiced by the end of the day, year 2b's teacher is a way and they have been almost uncontrollable as a result for the last week so noisy it is like being assaulted. Anyway luckily year one were lovely, they are defnitely beginning to read things like, big, dig, fig.  And I gave each of htem a balloon, (thank you departing colleague for bequeathing them) to help with their colours and because we are doing something called The Balloon Song (thank you remaining colleague for suggesting it) for Norooz the spring festival which will take place on the21st.  Understanably they were excited but not impossibly so.  I was then trying but failing to do some printing in the computer room, when my head, who did not seem to have any hangover, deposited me in her room to print, when I came out who was there but the bunch of women I had met on Sunday, yes this time they were having the party at the school. Actually again it was really nice to have them come round and take an interest, it also meant I had one of our cooks lovely cakes and meals tonight so feeling better after a rather meat filled weekend and I stuck to just half a glass of vodka tonight, so that was a relief too. For some reason theheating is off so I have come to bed with a nice hot water bottle and will just relax now having written this.