Margilan Day Trip: Silk, Worms, and Dresses

Khushnud and I were chatting at the pottery wheel, as always.  For two people from different cultures, different generations, different religions, and opposite sexes, we found no shortage of things to talk about. At first, all we shared was a common language, Russian, and a love of pottery. Within a […]

The Student Becomes the Teacher

But by the third day, I had settled into the rhythm of life in the studio. We ate breakfast of bread, cheese, and tea and then Khushnud and I spent the morning at the pottery wheels, throwing new pieces, decorating, and trimming whatever had dried enough to handle. Before long, it […]

Detained at the Uzbek-Kyrgyz Border

While Julia was busy taking pottery classes, I got my ass in trouble. Funny story. When we arrived in Rishton, it was already dark outside, and we barely saw the surroundings.  But as we settled for the night at the pottery studio, I looked at Google Maps on my phone […]

Pottery for Pets

I woke up the next morning with my heart fluttering. It was the first day of my pottery retreat. I threw on older clothes I didn’t mind getting dirty with clay and hurried outside. I hadn’t really seen the courtyard the night before. We arrived after dark, when little was […]

First Lesson. Rishton.

It was late evening, and we had just arrived at the pottery studio of one of the most famous ceramic artists in Uzbekistan. We were exhausted and sweaty and weren’t sure if our long day of travel was over or if we would now need to look for alternative accommodation. […]

In The Skies Above Medellin

By Julia / August 18, 2022

On our final full day in Medellín, we met the car and the driver at the trendy El Poblado neighborhood, as scheduled.  We got there early enough to eat breakfast and for Victor to buy a few bags of coffee beans at Pergamino Coffee Shop.  As we climbed into the […]

Un Poquito De Español

By Victor / August 11, 2022

Start with Part I: Why I Decided To Learn Spanish. While in Guatemala, we came across numerous schools where visitors can stay with a local family and take Spanish classes for 4-5 hours a day. These immersion programs are popular with foreigners, allowing people to learn or improve their Spanish. […]

No Hablo Español

By Victor / August 4, 2022

When I was 22 years old, I made an unusual promise to myself. I decided that by the time I turned 40, I would speak Spanish.  I don’t know why I made this promise. At that time, Spanish was irrelevant in my life. I had no exposure to the language […]

Fake Estonian in a Fake Village

By Julia / July 28, 2022

We were sitting on the rocks by the Baltic Sea, laughing hysterically. “It was like a scene out of a sitcom!” I gasped between laughing fits, “Who does something like this in real life?” Victor buried his head in his hands, “I don’t know! I don’t know what I was […]

Soaking in Estonia           

By Julia / July 21, 2022

On the fourth day in Tallinn, we were in the back seat of a taxi, chatting with our Russian-speaking driver about the intricacies of the daily life of ethnic Russians in Estonia. “I’ve never been to this one,” he said as he pulled the car over. “Enjoy!” I peeked out […]

Santa Ana: Visiting the Coffee-Boom Capital of El Salvador

By Victor / July 14, 2022

After spending a few days at a coffee finca on Ruta de Las Flores, we made it to Santa Ana.  The city was once an important center during the coffee boom of the early 20th century. The central square with its imposing neo-Gothic cathedral, theatre, and city hall looked very […]

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