Sick

Ugh, I'm sick.

So last night I went to a wedding. When I arrived at the wedding hall, or cafe rather, my friend was outside talking to a young Korean man and his baby. The baby was beautiful, half Uzbek half Korean. But oddly, he kept hitting and pinching. A lot of babies do this, but this one was different. He didn't smile once. There was something really angry and unsettled about him, the way he would just look straight into your eyes, and then pinch or hit. I realized later I think babies absorb their home environment. My bosses kids are adorable. But you can also tell they are so well loved. They've been given love and know how to receive love. But this one. His father was talking to my friend. Turns out he's been unemployed for a while, and been having a hard time. We didn't ask where the wife was, but it seemed odd that in the early evening he would be by himself carrying this baby around. My aunt and I have had this conversation, but I think it applies to babies and animals/pets too.

In any case, at the wedding the couple seemed really happy and something seemed to match well actually. The bride's family seemed very loving and caring, and the groom and bride looked happy together. The feeling was much nicer compared to the first wedding I went to. The groom at this one even tried to do some Uzbek dancing. My friend said he found him very immature and someone who just likes to play. I argued that I thought it was beautiful. He was making an effort to dance the Uzbek way, to assimilate and understand his wife's culture, and that if each just made some considerate effort that way, could be very happy together in my opinion. There was one more tiff about leaving me alone in the room for so long, but I still had a great time.

Afterwards, I went to Jumanji with my friend. Jumanji's this upscale foreigner type restaurant here that has a mix of Asian, European and Uzbek food. The setting is beautiful as we sat outside. The trees had lights on them, and they strung lights on top of the outdoor setting.

And somehow, in the midst of a heavy conversation, I got really sick and had to run to the bathroom. At that moment it was probably a good thing, but wow, I can't believe this is probably the 4th time I've gotten sick now.

After walking in the night breeze, we finally hailed a cab and I headed back.

Last Saturday I went to "Gulyuk Bazaar", an outdoor bazaar with many Go-ryo-ins. I've wanted to go here for a while, and decided to finally just find my way. I chatted with some Go-ryo-ins there as I realized the older generation still speaks some Korean. I guess it's the same with us in the US. I can still speak some because I've learned from my parents, but there's a much smaller liklihood my children will speak.

There was the cutest grandmother there who still spoke old Chosun Korean, just like my grandmother. She told me to watch my bag because the bazaar was "gga-deuk-ha-da" of pickpocketers. She was so adorable. I gave her my number and said we should have dinner. But she lives in the countryside and goes home after work with all the stuff she sells. I will try to visit her again next week if I can.

And after some bargaining and finger pointing, I managed to buy some fruit.

Afterwards, I met my co-worker and friend, Farkhad, and we went to the painter's son's place. The paintings were amazing. Each one conveyed a different emotion and feeling. Also, the color sense was amazing. He told us that he is going to open an exhibition this fall, and will then sell his paintings afterwards. I am so dying to go, but school will be in session. We're thinking of having my mom go, but there's some controversy at home about the paintings. I may come back in the winter time then if I can.

After we saw the paintings, we went for ice cream. It was so funny because Farkhad said I remember getting this ice cream with my mom during Soviet times. It amazes me how this generation here has witnessed and experienced the change of times. We went grocery shopping and I asked what this and that was. I wanted to try a lot of local snacks and stuff. He would point to one and say that this was common during Soviet times, it was eaten for breakfast, etc. And afterwards, we took our food, got some beer, and sat on top of the rim of the fountain.

I just realized I had already written about this, but there is no harm in keeping memories alive by writing things again.

on Sunday after church, I decided to check out the Muqimi theater. Ironically, it was closed, but right across from a park I had been wanting to check out but couldn't figure out where it was. The Alisher Navoi park is gorgeous with this huge awning at the entry way, and pools of water. There is also a small type of Disneyland attached to the park where the locals go. But even more adorably, you see kids "swimming" and splashing around in the water and fountains. I took a walk and I saw some fruit trees on my way. I also came upon a gorgeous statue. I am still amazed by the statues and architecture here. On the ceilings of the domes are the most intricate designs. I walked a little further and came across what to me looked like a small temple. Even this temple, every panel of wood had an intricate carving. And once again, I saw the flower design that must've come down the silk road, as I've seen this flower design on a lot of columns in Korea as well.

There was a guy sleeping without his shirt on in a chair. Apparently it was an art gallery and it was closed. I don't know if it was my broken Russian, his sincere kindness, or my eager desire to see inside, but he let me in even though it was closed.

The gallery was breathtaking. The paintings were gorgeous. There were rugs, some ceramics, a wide array of paintings, but best of all, a tap chang.

I want to buy a tap chang so badly. This is the one limitation of my moving around and living on the east coast. Even if I got one I'd have no place to put one. I was thinking of getting one for my parents house, but I don't even know how those things get shipped. Maybe one day later if I have my own home I would get such a thing. I was telling a friend how I'd love to build one room like a yurt and put a tap chang in there.

In any case, a person who I think may have been a guide or somehow associated with the gallery came in and we walked around the park. He took some pictures of me at the statue, and picked some thing off a tree which I still don't know what it is. Tomatoes? Little fruits? I've been letting them ripen in my hotel room before I try them.

I then went to the cafe in the park and sat on a tap chang and had a cool iced tea. It was so HOT that day when I walked in the park.

Today for some reason things have cooled off. It almost looks like it's going to rain?

"If I see you I miss you, if I don't see you I miss you."