Project 365 Day 16: Cultural Values

Russian Customs Form

Look at item 3.4 in the customs form. Not sure what the Russians were getting at. Maybe that people visiting their country must leave their cultural values at the border? LOL. Not a bad description of what it's like to make one's home in a foreign culture.

According to Wikipedia, "Values are an integral part of every culture. Along with worldview and personality, they generate behavior. Being part of a culture that shares a common core set of values creates expectations and predictability without which a culture would disintegrate and its members would lose their personal identity and sense of worth. Values tell people what is good, beneficial, important, useful, beautiful, desirable, constructive...etc. They answer the question of why people do what they do. Values help people solve common human problems for survival. Over time, they become the roots of traditions that groups of people find important in their day-to-day lives."

Living in a foreign culture exposes cultural values. Mysterious behaviors, unpredictability, and conflicting expectations abound. It's good for me to examine my cultural values, to ask why I do what I do, and to put myself in the shoes of someone different than me to examine why he acts the way he does. It's a strange and wonderful journey.

Project 365 Day 15: Bread Shop

Bread is served at literally every meal here. Along with rice. Both of these foods have historically symbolized life. That is why in Kdish culture it is considered sinful to waste even one scrap of bread. Every neighborhood has several bakeries so it is easy to find all sorts of freshly baked breads for very little money. I can get at least 8 of the loaves in the picture below for about $1.

Project 365 Day 14: Women's Basketball in Kstan?!?

BOX-OUT!

Project 365 Day 11, 12, 13 Busy Week

Day 11: On the walk to work

Day 12: Unwanted house-guest

Day 13: A trip to a "REAL" grocery store  :-)

Project 365 Day 10: Fish Sticks Take 2

Ah, I forgot to post yesterday! So here's a series of 2 related photos - one for today (day 10) and one for yesterday (day 9). The way these fish were cooked was really fascinating (see photo on the day 9 post below), and they were really tasty. In a place where there isn't much to do, let me tell ya this is pretty exciting.

365 Project Day 9: Fish Sticks

During the summer and early autumn months, these fish are caught in a nearby ancient river, then skewered and roasted around open flames. Restaurants have outdoor seating on the mountainside nearby underneath grape vines and apple trees. My roomies and I had a lovely evening here with some beautiful Kdish friends.

365 Project Day 8: George Clooney

We have a celebrity in our midst. He keeps such a low profile that the first time I saw him I had only a small twinge of recognition. But now after seeing him several times, my roomies and I are sure…it's George Clooney. Yep, George Clooney's hidey hole from the paparazzi is right here in Kstan. He spends his days running a local grocery store and carrying my roomie's flat of Pepsi Max and carton of eggs to the car for her. What a gentleman. It's true that the camera adds ten pounds because he sure is shorter and thinner in person. I don't have a current picture because I'm too shy to ask for one and I hate to blow his cover so you're just going to have to trust me on this one. Or even better, you can come see for yourself!