If you just want to see my walking progress, scroll down to the bottom for a video I just uploaded to YouTube. There are some other videos on my page if you're interested.
Quick Acupuncture Update- I have been 6-7 times (the acupuncturist and I disagree) now and it is hard to say whether or not it is helping. What I can say is that is less painful every time. Dr. Lang says this is because at first my body basically thought it was being attacked and now it is better at accepting it. It seems that there is a possibility that it is improving the feeling (sensation) in my legs and also helping with some bladder stuff as going to the bathroom is less urgent. It also seems like I spasm less and have less tone in my legs. But I am not being too scientific about it all so I don't know if I'm experiencing placebo effect or not. I'm on break now while traveling.
I decided to use the free time I have to visit Rebecca's brother Stephen and his wife Leah in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. I'm currently here in Bishkek. I figured it would achieve a few things:
Reason 1) To see Stephen and Leah, who were my friends in Chicago well before I knew Rebecca and the reason I met Rebecca (by singing at their wedding). Stephen and I met in our church small group there and found out we had a decent amount in common.
The three of us on top of a lookout point overlooking the city. Unfortunately it was extremely windy and Bishkek was cloudy. Still fun, regardless.
Reason 2) To see if my desire to travel to exotic places in the world is unrealistic given my condition, making being in unaccessible places depressing and not worth it - OR - if I would be able to manage it well enough to enjoy it.
Reason 3) To learn about a new and interesting culture, see the sites, and typical other things tourists do. (see exotic places referenced in #2)
This is Kyrgyzstan in relation to China and other 'stans:
It used to be part of the USSR. It's one of the 'stans, which you probably already realized. There are about 5.5 million people in the country, which is about the size of Nebraska in terms of land area. Most of it is mountainous, with some as high as 26,000 feet. Major horse country. Horses are everywhere, with more when you leave the city. The people here are REALLY nice, and look somewhat Mongolian (hopefully that is not a bad thing to say). The accessibility is atrocious. I would say that if you are confined to the wheelchair to not come here. I am lucky that a) I can walk (slowly) with crutches, b) I have great friends in Stephen and Leah that help me get around and act as my chauffeurs, and c) I am not shy about telling people to, "Help, please?" or, "Get out of the way, please!" or anything else where shy people might have issues like trying to talk to a taxi driver that doesn't speak English. I can say these things in Russian, now, which helps a lot.
In the first week here I took 10 hours of Russian. I can now say the basics, understand their completely confusing alphabet, and some other basic things like somewhat understanding a menu (not really) and ordering food. Helpful. For taxis I just get in and hand the guy an address and say, "Cto com?" (pronounced "shtow sohm," and meaning 100 of their currency) which is right now equal to about $1.43. That gets me most places. Well, Stephen and Leah get me most places. It's very cheap here. Most meals are about $2-3. Pretty good food, too. Imagine what you'd get mixing Chinese, Turkish, and Russian foods together, then throw in the occasional horse meat, and you can almost taste the food here.
Russian teacher #1: Tatiana
Russian teacher #2: Lojamal (or something)
Stephen and Leah have moved here to join up with an agricultural business focused on chickens, chicken feed, and eggs. Leah also works at a medical clinic here. A huge reason they chose this area is because after the Soviet Union fell, most of the educated Russians left the city (brain drain), leaving the Kyrgyz to fend for themselves. This is similar to what I saw in Maputo, Mozambique after the Portuguese left and, to a lesser extent, what is happening in post-Apartheid South Africa. There is a huge lack of know-how here, especially in business, government, and health care. In other words, everything.
Here are some pics I've taken so far here:
This is a monument to honor the revolution(s) here. They have had some serious political issues, including a revolution in 2005 and another in 2010, with the latter climaxing when the corrupt President holed up in the government building with snipers on the roof shooting at protestors below while he escaped out the back. Sounds like something out of a movie and it's surreal to see where it all transpired, just 5 years ago.
There are two of these making up two sides of "The Square," which is the center of the touristy part of the city. Behind me in this picture is the museum, giant flag, and statue I will show below.
They have a changing of the guard every hour, all day, similar to England. They are guarding the flag. I haven't caught them changing, yet, and don't care enough to sit around and wait for it. Maybe I'll get lucky soon.
Most cars here are pretty... economical. But then there is a huge disparity in wealth with essentially no middle class. There are Range Rovers, BMW and Lexus SUVs, and then the occasional collectors' car like this one. The owner claimed it was from 1921. I didn't have the heart to tell him he was a few decades off.
This used to be a statue of Lenin, but after the Soviet Union fell they replaced it with a warrior from their culture from many centuries ago.
Lenin, demoted to the rear of the museum instead of the front. They gave him some flowers to ease the blow.
To me it's really interesting that they didn't tear down the statue of Lenin like many other countries did at the end of the Cold War. Because of the previously mentioned "brain drain," and the fact that the cold war was their most prosperous time, they have a certain nostalgia associated with the Soviet era. Pretty interesting.
Russian beer at an Indian restaurant. Sorry I clipped your face, Leah.
Here I asked for whatever was the popular local dish. It turned out to have horse meat in it. It wasn't bad. Just kind of chewy, similar to venison, so I was already suspecting. I was giving the thumbs up for another reason. Not for horse meat. Beef is better. Lazy animals taste better.
Leah filmed me walking around and going down some stairs so I could meet a goal issued to me by Tom Trimmer. I am definitely still improving, thank God. Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W9umqQw1Ek
Dear Lord, thanks for the continued progress in my spinal cord recovery. Help me to stay motivated and to not take too many "easy" days. Thanks for strengthening me through this experience in Bishkek. Thanks for always being there. Please guide me in all I do. My life is Yours to do with whatever You wish. Help me to understand what is for You and what is selfish. Keep me humble. Fill us all with the Holy Spirit. Calm our hearts and our minds so that we don't continue to make the same old mistakes. We are human and therefore broken. Help us. Continue to heal me. Thanks for everything. In Jesus' name, Amen.Challenge: Every day for the next week, when you wake up or while you are in the shower, tell God three things that you are thankful/grateful for. If you are not into God for the moment, then just tell somebody. At minimum tell yourself. Why wait for Thanksgiving? It's been proven to improve your level of happiness to do this. Plus it's just a good idea. If you are married or whatever, say it to each other, or go around the table at dinner with your family. I have been trying to do this and it typically puts me in a good mood.
Chip
Have you want flowers ? flowers area is like a beautiful area.
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