Intermediate Uzbek Weeks 4 & 5 In Review: Academic Life & Student Activities Plus Tempe Fireworks, Scottsdale Shopping & More

Assalomu alaykum!

Hi everyone! I'm back... Sorry I haven't posted at Uzbek Brian in a bit, it's been quite busy but a great two weeks here in Arizona at CLI. This post will cover a "week in review" for both weeks 4 and 5, which in some ways felt like one giant week (no excuses, though...!). Here we go:

The sunset from A mountain is always more beautiful each time! 

Outlook: Past two weeks have been great. I continue to love being here and at this point feel like I am in the normal life here as if I've lived here for years and do not want to leave!

The weather has been extremely hot (I think it's a record for June/July in Phoenix), usually over 115 each day, and with way more cloud coverage than last year—but still nothing near the miserable humidity I'm hearing about in many places over the East coast.

I've been feeling very productive and on track most of the time here and going through a lot of new ideas about how I want my life to unfold, whether it just be for the rest of the day or the week or summer for over the course of the next five years.

This week's workstation! Lots of computer stuff done

Class: This week was the turning point of our halfway mark so we have gotten through a lot of material as we finished our first "semester" (3.5 week) section and are now in our next semester.  Our focus of topic has been on student life, education systems (comparing UZ to US), and general university and academic vocabulary, which is quite relevant to us here.

I've been happy with results on the past three tests, all A+s, and know that what I'm learning is stuff I can actually apply and use especially if I do a study abroad in the region when in college. We did have a 6-day week due to our Friday postponed for Fourth of July weekend, but now having had the four days off, I'm grateful we got the work in early and were able to enjoy the holiday!

Enjoyed seeing the fireworks with the Uzbek crew at Tempe Town Lake!

Sat right by the water -- great view of the show

Free time: The first half of these two weeks was quite packed with homework, client work (launched a new website!), Uzbek Night (see presentations below), and even some other events like a luncheon with Uzbek classmates, but I was very excited to enjoy a luxurious 4 days off to myself for Independence Day.

The main highlight of free time these past weeks besides the fireworks and general hangout/time to get my thoughts and items together was making a trip to the Scottsdale Fashion Plaza, which is a destination mall with really excellent store selection reminiscent, if not better, than KOP.

Took a trip up there on Friday for the day and was thrilled to see what was there and always enjoy visiting my favorite luxury brands and chatting with sales associates to learn about the company and products. I visited Louis Vuitton, Prada (first standalone Prada visit), Bottega Veneta (same thing), Cartier, Barney's New York, Neiman's, Michael Kors, David Yurman, Tourneau and some others.

Visited the Scottsdale Vuitton store! 2 down, like 700+ to go! This was one was 2x the size of KOP

Trying on a watch at Cartier — this is the entry-level Tank I think I want to save up for  

Beautiful wallets and organizers with the classic woven style of Bottega Veneta

This week: This week I'd like to keep up with a good pace of learning and finishing work for class and really take in the last normal-schedule week I have here at CLI. Don't want the program to pass too fast without having really soaked it all in!

Also I want to keep up with fitness (have barely missed a day, very happy), and work on building up some business plans and finding some new clients for when I get home, particularly targeting local businesses in my area.

My three favorite foods... good avocados, mango kombucha and Evian! 

Resources:

Here are resources for this week, quite a few!

Uy Ishi June 27: "-ish" "-la" va "-lik"li Gaplar
Homework June 27: Sentences with "-ish", "-la", and "-lik"


Uy Ishi June 28: O’zbekistondagi 3ta Asosiy Universitet Haqida
Homework June 28: About 3 Prominent Universities in Uzbekistan


Uy Ishi June 29: Akademik Yili Vaqtidagi Jadvalim
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B50OtgK4oOsgcFd0TWRSNVhwRjg/preview

Uy Ishi June 29: Uzoq O'tgan Zamon Felili Gaplar
Homework June 29: Sentences with the Distant Past Verb Form


Konestoga Gimnaziyasi Prezentatsiya
Conestoga High School Presentation


Welcome to Uzbek Night Presentation


Thanks for reading, everyone! Be sure to subscribe at your right for email updates if you aren't already. Also, exciting news... Uzbek Brian has reached over 10,000 visitors! Check out this graph in my stats control panel for the distribution of visitors:

Hi if you're reading from Russia, UK, Latvia, Uzbekistan or wherever you are! :)

Xayr,
Brian

Intermediate Uzbek Week 3 In Review: Uzbek Cities & Transportation, Homework Practice, & Figs!

Assalomu alaykum!

Hey everyone! Here with my Week 3 review, not to fret! Sorry I didn't post yesterday, wasn't really in a writing mood. Doing well now and off to the start of Week 4 -- I canNOT believe it's gone by so quickly, even though I will say that every time I look back.

We have just about reached the half-way mark as of tomorrow and Wednesday and I can say that it's been a great experience thus far! I am reminded of last year when at about this time I felt like I really was living here and that life was normal in the context of Arizona and Uzbek and all the great stuff here. Not bad! So here we go:

Outlook: As of right now my outlook is pretty good for this program and in general for the summer. I am happy to be busy, even though the work can be tiring at times, especially with a language that I really do enjoy. I have gotten some great feedback on my language learning here through homework, tests, and a presentation (will describe below) and I feel like this is something worthwhile to be doing.

Other life-wise, I feel good because I've been almost 100% consistent with my daily exercise, at the very least walking extensively around campus and usually 20-35 minutes cardio with some strength. Aiming to keep up! Can't let oneself go in this world or else things get really bleak!

FIGS!!! Happy Brian

Class: Class has been good. I continue to enjoy the variation with formal learning in the morning and more dialogue and exercises in the afternoon. I have really gotten into the timing swing of things with the 10:30 start and usually do my larger meal and daily Ugly Betty episode viewing to unwind during the midday break (almost done season 4 -- what will I do when it's done?!). Homework has continued to be interesting, with lots of writing exercises (posted below).

As for Friday's test, it was a pretty tough one, but I am happy with how I did. Basically the test was a full presentation that we had an hour to prepare, including the speech, slides, photos, and a small written text. Mine was about the small Uzbek city of Navoiy, going along with our theme of cities and transport. Aaand--I am excited to say I got an A+ on the test, my first yet here. Seeing as I did put a lot of work into the assignment, I am proud of this score.

Beautiful Arizona sunset seen from top of A mountain

Free time: Free time has been relatively small in quantity but I've been enjoying walking around the campus, exercising, listening to music, getting my items organized both online and in real life as far as what I want to finish as well as keeping things neat and orderly. I am continuing to work on sites for clients and am looking forward to launching towards the end of the month for one client. Lastly, I have been enjoying shopping at the local markets with friends (thanks to those of you guys who have cars!) and the fruit has been GREAT!

What more does one need?

This week: This week I have two exams actually, my final tomorrow, and my regular weekly test on Friday. My goal is to really stay on track with preparing for these and continue to get as much as I can out of class. I also want to crack down on organizing some of my online files for ebooks I want to put out soon, and help get some more tasks done for clients. Lastly, I want to keep exercising, and maybe even get around to posting up those vocab flashcards. :)

Staples! 

Resources:

Quite a few resources today! Here they are:

Uy Ishi June 17: Transport Turlari Haqida
"Homework June 17: About Transport Methods"


Uy Ishi June 18: Men Qalamman
"Homework June 18: I Am a Pencil (Spoof Monologue)"


Uy Ishi June 19: “-gi + Kel(ma)”li Gaplar
"Homework June 19: Sentences with "-gi + Kel(ma)"


Uy Ishi June 19: Sevimli Shahar Haqida
"Homework June 19: About a Favorite City"


Thanks for reading! Be in touch soon. Be sure to subscribe by email if you're enjoying the blog! We have almost reached the 10,000 visitors mark... Shh, it'll be a celebration!

Xayr,
Brian

Intermediate Uzbek Week 2 in Review: Uzbek Dialects, Household Descriptions, Video Update & More

Assalomu alaykum!

Hey guys! Hope everyone's doing well. Continuing my journey here at ASU with week 2 of CLI Intermediate Uzbek. To go along with last week's pattern, this post includes a brief "week in review" overview of my last 7 days here in Tempe. Here's a little video blog I recorded this afternoon talking about this week's class and activities:



And now for the remainder of the week in review post :)

I love Arizona at sunset! A view from the bridge near my dorm

Outlook: Feeling great this week, really gotten in the swing of things schedule-wise and life-wise here and very much grateful to be here. I've been aiming to keep busy with schoolwork and client work, as well as to take a little bit of time out each day if I can to work on fitness and enjoy the surroundings. I'm enjoying living on my own (but miss you guys back home!) and want to relish as much as I can from the Arizona desert sun before this summer is over--something I was thinking about a lot this week. Also, in general just feel healthier and happier this week.

Giving my little presentation (with a festive Uzbek-style hat, haha)

Class: Class has been productive and interesting! I feel like I am learning a ton this year and we are covering some interesting cultural, linguistic, and educational topics ranging from familial relations, household dynamics and common items, airport travel, and just in general getting better at giving in-depth descriptions and asking questions/giving answers in a more sophisticated way. It's been fun talking with Elementary students (on Fridays we do a Q&A to practice), as well as doing Uzbek club (see my presentation below), watching some Uzbek news and movies (starting to really follow the audio!) and much more.

Bridge overlooking A mountain area and stadium on way to dorm

Free time: This week during free time I was really looking to get back on my fitness kick and I've been enjoying using the Sun Devil Fitness Complex facility here, it's really a great place to get inspired to workout. Enjoyed the pool with friends a bit yesterday, as well as doing regular cardio on the machines, and a little bit of rowing and weights as well. Also enjoyed as always visiting the local markets--Mekong, Whole Foods, Safeway, Tempe Farmer's Market, and Sprout's--to load up on some goodies. Good eats lately! In addition, I've been working on compiling ideas for my web design business and getting documents and finances in order--nice to feel the productivity rush!

Enjoyed some durian and papaya with a friend for lunch

This week: This week I'd like to focus a lot on reading ahead before class in order to be better able to follow along, specifically with vocab and some phrasing constructions. I'm hoping to find time to make Quizlet vocab cards of all major words from the chapters thus far, even if a few, just to keep fresh. Also, I am looking forward to hopefully finish a website for a client, getting a bunch of product entries in for another client, and starting to put together a concept for a personal Brian Greco site.

Alive and well!

Resources:

A bunch of homework texts this week, in addition to my dialects presentation! Check them out at the embedded boxes below or at the linked English names. Enjoy! :)

O'zbek Tilining Dialektlari Prezentatsiya
Uzbek Language Dialects Presentation


Uy Ishi June 11: Yoshligim Haqida
Homework June 11: About My Childhood


Uy Ishi June 12: Xonalarim Haqida
Homework June 12: About My Rooms


Uy Ishi June 13: O'zbek Uy-Joy Haqida Tasvirlar
Homework June 13: Descriptions of Uzbek Home Settings


That's it for this week! Thanks so much for reading, feel free to leave a comment or subscribe with the form on the right. For anyone who sent me letters, I am hoping to get them this week -- sadly haven't received yet, maybe just a delay! Will keep you posted. Talk soon!

Xayr,
Brian

Day 47: Awesome Views, Friends & Food Finds Around Phoenix! Ranch Market & More

Assalomu alaykum!

Awesome awesome day today! Last Monday here in Arizona and wanted to continue my quest to make the best of my time here while it lasts and hang out with friends, check out the area, etc. Had regular class in the morning, working on finishing up key lesson items so we can review for the final on Friday. Busy busy with computer work, emails, tying up loose ends, etc.

Hung out with my friends David and Nadia in the afternoon who are studying Russian. Did a fun spontaneous interview (my favorite thing to do) here if you want to check it out. Photos below too. You guys are awesome, thank you so much for your fun company!

Then after class headed out on an excursion with Skaidra from class to check out two local markets as well as some other sights around the Phoenix area. I'm telling you, I love this place! Not only is the food and weather good, I just love the feel of it. The views from the roads of mountains and endless skies with pretty good air quality and sunshine is just so empowering and beautiful. And this is totally sunset country. Really great time, thank you so much for your friendship Skaidra.

Check out all the photos and videos below. Enjoy!

David and Nadia outside the library. Great photo!

Us three

Visiting some beautiful Black Sphinx date palms in Arcadia. Check out the video (turn up the volume, sorry for the blurry sound. Great story behind these though!):

Beautiful palms! Dates not ripe yet, but would be so delicious for this variety

Would be so cool to have these as the neighborhood trees :)

Me and Skaidra 

The destination Asian market in the Phoenix area (besides Mekong!)

MAMEY!!!

Ranch Market #2... too funny they both have that in their name

AMAZING price on limes. Shout out to my dad who loves limes. You can't get them cheaper unless you basically have a lime tree in your yard!

Delicious fruit for my last week in Phoenix.

Thanks for reading. Talk soon.

Xayr,
Brian

Day 46: Happy Sunday & Shout Out to Readers!

Assalomu alaykum!

Happy Sunday everyone! Had a great day today too. Really fun weekend in general. Another active day with 5 miles on one of those gazelle elliptical-ish machines at the ASU gym. Burned 750 calories and was less tired and sore than the treadmill, awesome! Other than that, some puttering around and random emails and work today.

Wanted to pass on some flashcards from the other day for today's post:

Choose a Study ModeScatterLearnFlashcards

Study these flash cards

This one's my favorite, Uzbek fruits and vegetables!

Choose a Study ModeScatterLearnFlashcards

Study these flash cards

And one quick photo:

My famous beanie baby monkey who guards the fruit stash! :)

Special shout out to all the lovely people who have been reading UzbekBrian! We officially have 3500+ visits! Very excited and honored. Thank you for all who have sent in lovely comments and emails, your support means a lot to me.

See you soon!

Xayr,
Brian

Day 45: Busy Saturday - Great Yoga Practice & More Fruit Finds

Assalomu alaykum!

Great Saturday! Had a nice sleep, the weekend was much welcome. Busy morning with some computer work and catching up on random tasks, then some cleaning and scurrying around the dorm, preparing food, etc. Usual weekend items, feels good just to putter! Then headed off to yoga and got caught in a flash flood! But made it nonetheless and it was fun to witness. Couldn't miss my last weekend class here!

After a great practice felt like a million bucks and am overall very grateful for having been able to attend yoga while here and find a ever renewed interest in continuing. Feels so strengthening and relaxing at the same time. Stopped at the Safeway for some nectarines and mangos and melons and then walked back to the dorm for a quick dip in the pool before heading in for the night. Great day!

Tomorrow, some more studying items, flashcards, blog info, etc. See you soon!

Pics from today:

Random but delicious lunch to use up leftover lettuce leaves and melons

Flash flood in Tempe!

Me and Danielle, my yoga teacher, outside the studio. Thank you for your tips and support and for such great classes here!

Couldn't pass up these giant delicious good-ripeness 2/$5 honeydew melons!

Awesome pool & cool weather

Delicious stonefruit in the house! :)

Ertagacha xayr,
Brian

Day 41: Trip to Golden Valley Uzbek Restaurant in Phoenix! Photos & Videos from Uzbek Club Outing

Assalomu alaykum!

Fun day today! Regular class in the morning continuing our unit on food and restaurant etiquette, which came in handy this afternoon on our trip to Golden Valley Uzbek Restaurant! For Uzbek Club this week our teachers and administration treated us tonight at an unassuming yet cool-to-visit center of Uzbek culture and cuisine right here in Phoenix. Good times had by all. And an awesome dinner! Feasted on delicious melon (a variety from the Ferghana Valley in Uzbekistan) grown locally. What a treat, thank you so much!

Here is a video with fun clips and pictures from tonight:



And another one, speaking Uzbek featuring the local melons:



And of course pictures for sharing and viewing:

With the Uzbek teachers

Har kishiga katta rahmat! Thank you everyone! See you tomorrow.

Xayr,
Brian