Activism is a large part of American culture; it is the people’s way of showing the government that they don’t agree with something they’re doing, or people want to bring attention to…
Category: Blog Posts
Posts written as Blog Posts
Towers, Empires, and Historical Tourism: Our Trip to Uzbekistan
If you’re an army looking to get through Central Asia, and don’t feel like crossing a mountain range or two, where do you go? Through Uzbekistan. It falls at the end of…
An Interview with a Poet
As twilight was drawing to a close, I sat on the floor of the living room with a poet, a professor and eleven students. The poet talked in the gathering dark. His…
Nine Days That Shook Kazakhstan
When I first heard the news about political unrest in Kazakhstan in early January of 2022, I didn’t give it much attention. After all, I had no expectation that I would end…
Goooooooaaaaallllllll!!!!!!: Soccer in Almaty
Зелёное поле Поём о футболе, О редкостном поле Мечтает фанат, Когда атакует, когда атакует, когда атакует команда Кайрат! Когда атакует, когда атакует, когда атакует команда Кайрат! A green field We sing about…
Uncovering the Beauty of Kazakhstan
As an avid traveler, I get immense joy from exploring the wonders of our world. It’s not just about admiring shiny buildings; it’s about the valuable lessons I learn from every corner…
Stories and Memories: Three Poems from Kazakhstan
When I’m alone at 5pm on a Wednesday or have a thought that I can’t get out of my head, I write a poem. Most of them never get finished, because the…
Astana la vista, baby! A look at the capital of Kazakhstan
Behold the capital of Kazakhstan! This is Astana; a city as flat as can be, fierce winds blowing across the steppe and the wide, orderly roads. Wherever you look is a new…
Where Did All the Water Go?: The Aral Sea
We are in Qazaqstan for ten weeks, and we spent ten days of those ten weeks driving around Uzbekistan! On this blog there are many posts about our time in Uzbekistan from…
The Qazaq Environment: A Delicate Balance Between Conservation and Progress
Qazaqstan is caught between rapid development and preservation in more than just the culture war. Though those on the political left have vehemently advocated cultural progress — to leave behind the patriarchal,…
