Musings on the wonderful world of Xanga:

1. As far as I can tell, if you have a Xanga site, you are either, a) Asian or b)18 years old.

2. Posting is like Russian roulette. You never know what will elicit 10 comments or 1 comment.

3. The worst feeling is when you open your Xanga site and you have NO comments.

4. I have found many of my old college friends and even a family member through Xanga.

5. I get jealous when I see that someone has 20 comments on their site. I have seen sites that have 30, 40, or even 50 comments!

6.  If you understand how I’m feeling, you’re probably a) Asian or b) 18 years old.

7. Sometimes, I start listening to music when I’m posting so that I’ll have something to show on the “currently” part.  Just did it.

8. Xanga is great because I live abroad and I can keep up with people’s lives.  

9. It’s weird to think that ANYONE can read about what I’m doing.  ANYONE.

10. If you’re reading this, you’re probably: a) Asian or b) living in Uzland. (but hopefully not 18 years old)

Our pre-goodbye to SPUNKETTE!

Our dearest dearest friend Mother Lisa will soon be leaving Uzbekistan. 
So she arranged a fabulous weekend for us at the Chorvak Reservoir for some “last of summer” fun. 

The last time we went, for Roar and Helena’s birthdays, it was DANG HOT and there were a million thousand people.
But this time, it was cooler and practically empty. The day was still GORGEOUS.

“Where are all of the people? I can’t see them!” – Roar

“Roar, talk to us!” – Jan (pronounced “Yan”). 

“Yeah, stop looking for people.  We’re people. Look at us.  Talk to us.” – Helena

Crazy as we are, we decided to swim anyway.  I think the water was 50 degrees F. 
This time, Helena could not have swam (swum?) to Kazakstan, even if she wanted to, though she was ready.

There was also a pool. It was like 49 degrees F in there.  But a few of us swam in it. You can’t tell but my teeth are ch-ch-chattering.. 

Lounge Lizards

Swapping shades…

Roar found some interesting uses for his KRAPI T-shirt.  It was… incredible… awesome…

Then Roar, being the sporty nature-lovin’ Norwegian that he is, made us take a hike.  It was actually nice.
The pyramids are the hotels that we stayed in.   
They’re owned by the Turkish, who have done an incredible job of running large, succesful businesses in a very anti-business climate.

Helena, learning from Roar, was in nature… alone.

Introducing: Jan “Danie” O., Mr. August, Cover Model Uzbekistan 2005. 
Sorry, ladies, he’s taken! (Apologies to Danie’s girlfriend, if she’s reading this, for, uhm, exhibiting your boyfriend)

After the party.. the … hotel….lobby…..

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We watched the movie at night in our hotel room, using one of the best inventions and gifts from my Poppa:

The movie was good.  All of us women were just entranced with Scarlett Johansson, who has one of the prettiest faces and most beautiful skin EVER.

Cassandra has an amazing voice.  I saw her live when Wynton Marsalis did his slavery musical, “Blood on the Fields” at Hill Auditorium, back when I was at U of M.  Who else went with me to that?  Koreanhalfing? jinheeleedc?

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I’ve been sleeping VERY badly lately.  Of course, I’ve been going to bed late (1am), BUT, I also sleep until the last possible minute… like 8:45 or so to get to work by 9:00. 

I know my actual sleep hasn’t been very restful at all. I’ve been having WEIRD dreams.  Since I’ve been watching a lot of Soviet movies, I’ve had dreams about being in Soviet cities. I even had one dream that I was a tram driver. Can you imagine me driving one of these?  Actually, I can.

Last night, I dreamt I was shopping in a Japanese store with this guy I know (don’t ask me who it is – I won’t tell you) and we were clearly… together.  We were just shopping around… but acting all.. couple-y.      Strange. 

Now, presenting… the famous… “only in Uzbekistan” restaurant…

Okay, so a lot of times, I don’t “get” Woody Allen like others do.. but I found this movie.. amusing.  I really liked Diane Keaton in it, but who would want to kiss WOODY ALLEN!!!  He reminds me of a marionette.  The movie is set in the time that  Napoleon is invading Russia.   Diane Keaton  (Sonja) and Woody Allen’s character (Boris) decide to assassinate Napoleon to save Mother Russia.   Here are some funny quotes from the movie:

Sonja: Judgment of any system, or a priori relationship or phenomenon exists in an irrational, or metaphysical, or at least epistemological contradiction to an abstract empirical concept such as being, or to be, or to occur in the thing itself, or of the thing itself.
Boris: Yes, I’ve said that many times

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Napoleon: This is an honor for me.
Boris: No, it’s a greater honor for me.
Napoleon: No, a greater honor for me.
Boris: No, it’s a greater honor for me.
Napoleon: No, a greater honor for ME.
Boris: Well, perhaps you’re right. Perhaps it IS a greater honor for you.
Napoleon: And you must be Don Francisco’s sister.
Sonja: No, you must be Don Francisco’s sister.
Napoleon: No, you must be Don Francisco’s sister.
Sonja: No, you must be Don Francisco’s sister.
Boris: No, it’s a greater honor for me.
Napoleon: I see our Spanish guests have a sense of humor.
Boris: She’s a great kidder.
Sonja: No, you’re a great kidder.
Boris: No, you’re Don Francisco’s sister.

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Sonja: What are you suggesting, passive resistance?
Boris: No, I’m suggesting active fleeing.

This is one of my favorite Russian movies so far (I’ve only seen a few).  Again, Russian humor is hard to describe – you just gotta watch it.  This is set in the Caucauses, the region of the former Soviet Union that includes George, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. I find it funny that what we call Caucasian people in the States, i.e. white, is actually wrong, since Caucasian people are actually people from the Caucauses, who don’t look “white”, but look more Middle Eastern.  Got that?

An Old Soviet movie which has lots of scenes from Central Asia.  Soviet humor is very unique – hard to describe unless you watch it.  This movie is about a gang of thieves who steal an archaeological artifact.  The police try to get it back by hiring a kindergarten teacher who looks like the gang leader to trick the thieves into leading them to the artifact.  I watched it the first time in Russian with Russian subtitles; then again with English subtitles.  Still have a long way to go in my language learning! 

Expat Saturday Movie night, again.  I liked Napoleon more than this movie. Of course, we watched certain parts of Napoleon again, including the dance.  And we all kept saying “LUCKY” and “GOSH”.  Obsessed, much?

Anyway, Natalie Portman was good in it, but in general, I didn’t think this movie was that.. unusual.  There were lots of cliches, I thought.

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Okay, so nobody seems to care about music here, so I’m going to write about something else!

A new guy from the States arrived this past weekend.  He got a FULL taste of life here in the first 24 hours.

Since Independence Day is quickly approaching (Sept 1st), aka :potentail terrorist threat day, there are tons of police around.  So on the way from the airport, our taxi was stopped and the cops asked to see his passport.  Then the taxi driver TOTALLY swindled us, despite some arguing from my side.  I should have been more aggressive, but we were in front of a hotel and I would not have been able to storm into my apartment and lock the door.

Then as were riding the metro, he got stopped AGAIN.  I have been here for 1.5 years and have NEVER been stopped, being Korean.  They looked at his passport in an amused way – “from America?  from New York?” and then sent us off. 

 

A new series on this site: MUSIC in the former Soviet Union

Part I: Russian Music

Most Russian pop is like American pop – catchy, insipid, and fun.

There is one band that is actually pretty decent, musically.. and has a total tongue-in-cheek attitude that Americans love. 
And they’re called Uma Thurman (or Turman, in Russian).  I bought their CD in NYC, actually, in Russia-ville, Brighton Beach.  By the way, NYers, you should go there and check out their Asian wholesale goods store.. There’s also a nice boardwalk.  And several Uzbek restaurants. 

“This Russian band called Uma Thurman does know how to define charisma.
In this song an ordinary Russian bloke, Vova, fantasises about flying to Hollywood and becoming an instant hit with Uma,
the sultry star of Tarantino’s movies. “

“We in Russia are simple people/I will tell you right away ‘hello’/You will smile and tell me/I have waited for you so long, Vova.”

Don’t they look kinda cool?  I don’t know who they sound like… kind of like.. Violent Femmes mixed with… New Kids on the Block… with some just unique Russian sounds… and Green Day, but softer.. I don’t know. 

Okay, so Jay-Z is my favorite rapper. His Unplugged album is great.  I love the beat of this tune… it has “neptunes” written all over it…

“And I wish I never met her *at all*” (love the way *at all* is said/sung/whined)

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Props to drtaekim who brought me into the 21st century and told me that I could listen to NPR over the internet.  DUH. 

So, I have been.  The only frustrating thing is that I am now hearing about things that I want to do that I CAN’T!!!  Like seeing Tim Hawkinson’s art exhibit:

A bunch of us ex-pats watched this movie on Saturday night and we all LOVED it!!!!  It was… it was… as if we were weightless, in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by tiny little seahorses…

And yes, of course, we just HAD to try to learn his special dance.  It was soo, soo… awesome. 

Just kidding. Not this one… but the “vote for pedro” one… incredible.

We have our OWN Napoleon Dynamite, actually:

I know…  LUCKY!