To eat these samsas, you have to cut open the top and scoop out the insides. That part reminded me of a bread bowl! Locals often add raw onion and vinegar.
This week, I've been listening to Russian songs that are popular in Kyrgyzstan. They have either been introduced to me through my host family, my teachers, or from the radio in taxis. My favorite songs are "Я твой номер один" by Dima Bilan and "Танец под дождем" by Ерлан Кокеев. The titles translate to "I'm your number one fan" and "Dance in the rain," respectively.
The most fun activity this week was exploring all the caves at Sulaiman-Too! I went into four different caves, which varied widely in size. After climbing through one of the caves, you come out onto a vista where there is a beautiful view of the city.
This week, I am reading Jamilia, a novel written by the beloved Kyrgyz author Chingiz Aitmatov. This book is practically required reading for all Kyrgyz school children. It is a coming-of-age love story set in a small, remote village in Soviet Kyrgyzstan during World War II. Many Kyrgyz people consider it to be an important symbol of their cultural resilience.
This week, I had the final match for my amateur women's soccer league! I play on the U.S. Embassy's team, and we played against the United Nations team. It was the hardest competition we had by far, but I managed to score a goal and we won! There was a long ceremony at the end, which featured a famous Kyrgyz singer.
