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

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 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 37: Uzbek Program Week 5 Reflection

Assalomu alaykum!

5 weeks down! Good day today, was wiped from studying and chatting late last night but made it through and finished the quiz successfully this morning. Had some activities and presentations in the afternoon and then relaxed and walked around town this evening. Not bad!

Here is my Week 5 reflection video:

And some photos from today:

Keri from Advanced Uzbek teaching us an Uzbek tongue twister

Another fun tongue twister. It literally means "White teapot, white top, blue teapot, blue top" :P

BEAUTIFUL stonefruit display at Safeway! Really impressed! Great ripeness too!

Some of the deliciousness. Organic yellow nectarines, white Saturn donut peaches, strawberry peaches, and purple plumcots

See you tomorrow!

Xayr,
Brian

Day 31: More Fun Food Shopping Excursions & Reflection Videos

Assalomu alaykum!

Awesome Saturday today! Had a great sleep and woke up late and then headed off with my friend Eddie who's studying Tajik/Persian here down to the Sunflower Market on the free Orbit bus. Got an awesome box of nectarines and some grapes, papayas, and other items, and then went back to the dorm for some laundry, relaxing, and chatting with friends and family (shout out to my grandma!).

In the afternoon went down to Yoga Nirvana for my Saturday 4pm class which I've really really been enjoying and am definitely going to miss when I head back to PA. The teacher Daniella is super knowledgeable and the class is strengthening and restorative at the same time. Always feel like a million bucks when I walk out of there!

Then met up with my friend Ana (from the Saturday before last) for another fun trip to the Asian market to pick up some goodies there and head back to the dorm for a nice meal. Great to socialize and see friends and enjoy some delicious food as well, pics are below. What a great start to the weekend! Tomorrow is some homework of course as well as other productivity items. Talk soon!

Also wanted to include 2 videos I made today on various topics to think about:





And of course, pictures!

Durian time :) Me in my element

Awesome whole and pieced jackfruit at the Asian market

Yay, actually edibly ripe Kent mangos are popping up in the markets!

I FOUND FIGS AT WHOLE FOODS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me and Ana

Jackfruits just chillin in the corner of the Asian market, nbd

Xayr,
Brian

Day 24: Fun Active Saturday, Fruit Shop, Workout, Yoga, etc

Assalomu alaykum!

Awesome Saturday! Woke up this morning and headed off with my dad from the hotel to do some food shopping and say goodbye until I get back. Had a great time seeing him and it worked out well with his business trip schedule to visit here in Phoenix. Got some awesome fruit at the Asian market and regular market, and then headed back to the dorm.

Was pretty active today: carrying heavy boxes in the fruit morning (kinda like weight training, with a purpose!), did 3 miles in the treadmill at the SRC, and then walked to and from the yoga studio and did an hour and a half very intense but very good practice there. Great post workout dinner of durian! :)

Tomorrow is "get things done" day so I will be posting more here in terms of resources and studying stuff. Enjoy having the Saturday to relax etc. I really love it here in Arizona, and besides missing parents/friends back home and a couple little home-ish things, I'm quite happy to stay here! I'd consider living here.

Some photos from today and yesterday:

(From the other day) got a quick easy haircut here on campus!

Cool shot of clouds and the fountain outside the Hilton this morning

Me next to Buddha outside the Asian market :P

Restocking durian at Mekong

Found Synergy kombucha at Sunflower! Didn't think they had it

Beautiful 60+ lb jackfruits at Mekong

I've had donut peaches, but donut white nectarines?! Awesome!

Clipping from the weekly flyer at Sunflower. Now you see why I like it so much!

Xayr,
Brian

Day 17: Food, Friends and Fun: Yoga and Fruit Get-Together with Ana

Assalomu alaykum!

Cool day today! Morning started off a bit rough with an early wakeup on a Saturday but we were out of class before long and got to see an Uzbek movie which was a cool experience. Wrote some letters to friends in the afternoon (on their way!) and then headed down to the 4pm Saturday yoga class that I enjoyed from last week at Yoga Nirvana to meet up with a friend.

Whenever I go somewhere around the US or really anywhere I like to connect online to see who's in the area who I might know from Facebook or just a common interest in health or fresh food. I have had some great experiences thus far just attracting interesting people into my life through putting out good vibes and standing in my truth and interests and today was another great reinforcement of that idea!

Met up with Ana Avila from Healthy Blossom, she's a health coach and raw food enthusiast from here in the Phoenix area and we had met through Nathaniel James on Facebook. Figured it would be fun to head to the market or meet up for a yoga practice and a picnic so that's what we did and it was a really fun time! Glad to meet up and talk to anyone and Ana is a really positive and friendly person.

Here are some videos from today:

And some photos:

Cool colored lights at the Memorial Union from the other night

Got a conjoined peach, lol! Local organic peaches from Tempe Marketplace

Cool flyer for CLI. Really great opportunities here

Back at Yoga Nirvana for the 4pm Saturday class. Really awesome practice today

Fruit feast for dinner with perfect ripeness and prices from Mekong Supermarket

Me and Ana at the market, heading back for a picnic 

Woohoo! Heaven on earth

Eerie Phoenix desert dust storm in the distance 

Beautiful shot of the library this morning

Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world. So juicy, sweet and just fun to look at

Are those clouds I see? In Arizona? :)

So there we have it! Talk more soon. Thanks for reading the blog.

Xayr,
Brian