How do you organize your bookshelf?
Once upon a time, I had 3,000 books. They filled a wall twenty-four feet long, by fourteen feet high. I even had a library ladder so I could reach the ones on the top few shelves. My books were … Read More
Kazakh Proverb: “If a man insults you, serve him a meal”
Like any culture, the Kazakh people have many sayings. One I heard often was If a man insults you, serve him a meal. I thought I knew what this meant when I first heard it, but as the years … Read More
More Deleted Scenes
And So It Goes I’m particularly interested in those cultural differences that make me shudder, make me yell out , “Oh, no.” The multi-colored costumes and exotic dances, music, and food of foreign lands is entertaining, of course. But … Read More
Conquering Homophobia Through Vegetarianism
This deleted scene is one of my favorites. It highlights the lighthearted relationship I had with my four closest colleagues and friends: Gulzhahan, Assem, Gulzhan, and Tolganay. Here we are at Tolganay’s apartment for dinner in early June. … Read More
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller (1880-1968)
How do you live your life? Do you see signs of danger all around? Or, do you perch on the precipice, enjoying the spectacular view? How much control do you have over your life? … Read More