![\"bare,](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20250802-120926-m.jpg\")
@z428eu Yes
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/77139490","date_published":"2025-11-03T01:17:12+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-11-03 01:17","date_timestamp":1762132632,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"77121581","content_html":"\n","summary":"","url":"https://val.micro.blog/2025/11/03/find-me-here-or-here.html","date_published":"2025-11-02T18:28:38+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-11-02 18:28","date_timestamp":1762108118,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"77052500","content_html":"October 31, 2025 - took this picture at the beginning of August at the abandoned Kochkor Bazaar location. I was with a fellow volunteer when I took this picture, and he commented that he would caption it, āme at the end of volunteer serviceā š
\n\n
October 30, 2025 - inside a yurt at Song-Kul where my friend and I ate lunch, along with a group of tourists. This was at the beginning of August
\n\n![\"inside](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20250807-140348-m.jpg\")
October 29, 2025 - Ala Archa Park at the end of August
\n\n![\"Rocky](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20250830-112407-m.jpg\")
October 28, 2025 - kumis (fermented horse milk) and honey (Š¼ŃŠ“ in Russian). Actually, itās not that weird, because when I lived in a village, sometimes people drank kumis with honey. And I know that late season kumis can be very sour. But it still sounds weird to me š
\n\n![\"bottles](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251031-144757-m.jpg\")
October 27, 2025 - you can buy Lucky Charms in Bishkek (and Fruity Pebbles, on the right). One box is very expensive, though
\n\n![\"Lucky](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251031-131541-m.jpg\")
October 26, 2025 - my fiancĆ© took a kidās menu at Dodo Pizza, and we (mostly he) created our own imaginary pizzas on paper. Thereās pizza with pizza (or as I called it, pizza-ception), pizza with banana, and pizza with Mandarin (Chineseā¦of course that was my idea and execution)
\n\n![\"two](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251026-154903-m.jpg\")
October 25, 2025 - SpontiGirl, clothes with free (as in not busy, freedom) vibes
\n\n![Golden sign on a light gray door that says \"SpontiGirl, clothes with free vibes\" (the last part in Russian), an Instagram QR code, hours, and a phone number](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20250927-171405-m.jpg\")
@crossingthethreshold Cool! Nice that there are such talented people in your area who keep The Bunker vibrant š
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76646134","date_published":"2025-10-26T02:27:07+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-26 02:27","date_timestamp":1761445627,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76597377","content_html":"October 24, 2025 - checked English notebooks today and found a few interesting things in Friday Freewriting. This particular student has been writing a love story for the past three weeks that she has been expanding upon š
\n\n![\"Love](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251024-180013-m.jpg\")
October 23, 2025 - Bishkek morning
\n\n![\"blue](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251025-065557-m.jpg\")
@ericmwalk Pretty colors, especially with the blue water to contrast!
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76595115","date_published":"2025-10-25T08:40:58+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-25 08:40","date_timestamp":1761381658,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76447298","content_html":"@danielpunkass Oh dang, hope your toe ends up okay
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76447298","date_published":"2025-10-23T12:46:34+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-23 12:46","date_timestamp":1761223594,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76446887","content_html":"@Miraz Beautiful strawberry! And that magpie looks different from the ones here, like an inverted color version
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76446887","date_published":"2025-10-23T12:43:57+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-23 12:43","date_timestamp":1761223437,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76446850","content_html":"@jayeless Did Indie move or steal the remote? š
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76446850","date_published":"2025-10-23T12:43:19+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-23 12:43","date_timestamp":1761223399,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76446799","content_html":"@KimberlyHirsh I also liked this, thanks for sharing. I like the idea of switching from a top-down to a bottom-up approach in developing a rhythm/structure. I also like the comparison of a trellis versus a cage. I will keep thinking about this..
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76446799","date_published":"2025-10-23T12:42:24+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-23 12:42","date_timestamp":1761223344,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76445402","content_html":"@SinclairTrails I like those orange flowers! Any idea what they are?
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76445402","date_published":"2025-10-23T12:19:20+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-23 12:19","date_timestamp":1761221960,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76363271","content_html":"October 22, 2025 - honey shop called ŠŠ¾ŠŗŃŠ¾Ń Š¼ŃŠ“ (āDoctor Honeyā in Russian). Took this picture while I was waiting for the shop assistant to return from their smoke break (they were standing next to the left side of the building, not pictured)
\n\n![\"Small](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251018-180203-m.jpg\")
October 21, 2025 - passed by a Big Man shop with a ābig manā mannequin. (the shop is Biggman, but the light of the second G being out makes it look like two words)
\n\n![\"BIGGMAN](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251019-202813-m.jpg\")
@KyleEssary I think yes, but by exactly who in Kyrgyzstan, I have no idea
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76362247","date_published":"2025-10-22T12:39:31+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-22 12:39","date_timestamp":1761136771,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76204948","content_html":"October 20, 2025 - Taiwan is so controversial that this boba shop removed āTaiwanā from their decor. (To be fair, itās not uncommon for Chinese people to come to Kyrgyzstan for work, and I assume most of those people are from the mainland, where Taiwan is known as āTaiwan provinceā)
\n\n![\"White](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251019-201707-m.jpg\")
October 19, 2025 - our first strudel attempt. The dough was too thick, but oh well. Weāll try again another time
\n\n![\"One](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251018-232238-m.jpg\")
@Mikehendley I especially love the eyes! Great work!
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76149089","date_published":"2025-10-19T18:01:18+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-19 18:01","date_timestamp":1760896878,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76115423","content_html":"@hollie Had no idea you were working on a degree! Congrats on the achievement! Celebrate well, you deserve it!
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76115423","date_published":"2025-10-19T05:50:01+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-19 05:50","date_timestamp":1760853001,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76109149","content_html":"@hollyhoneychurch Happy for your new neighbor!
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76109149","date_published":"2025-10-19T02:18:23+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-19 02:18","date_timestamp":1760840303,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76083762","content_html":"@mike3k Aw, beautiful friend
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/76083762","date_published":"2025-10-18T17:14:58+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-18 17:14","date_timestamp":1760807698,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"76083636","content_html":"October 18, 2025 - a street of houses on the way from our apartment building to a supermarket nearby
\n\n![\"green](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251018-172306-m.jpg\")
October 17, 2025 - intricate picture drawn by one of my students, but apparently not important enough to take home from school
\n\n![\"picture](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251017-155208-m.jpg\")
October 16, 2025 - someone brought a shopping cart into our apartment building. I assume they were moving something, but it was kind of strange to see, considering there are very few supermarkets with shopping carts this big in Bishkek
\n\n![\"Shopping](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251015-190931-m.jpg\")
@markstoneman š
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75835734","date_published":"2025-10-15T14:16:44+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-15 14:16","date_timestamp":1760537804,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"75835610","content_html":"October 15, 2025 - fall
\n\n![\"tree](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251013-125946-m.jpg\")
@val ā¦and our fake plastic cockroach, courtesy of one of my cool aunts
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75835411","date_published":"2025-10-15T14:11:56+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-15 14:11","date_timestamp":1760537516,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"75835299","content_html":"October 14, 2025 - simple, satisfying meal for our Sunday night family dinner. My lovely fiancĆ© did all of the hard work š\n
(a cafe near us offers discounted Sunday meals for āfamiliesā. We were told that day that we donāt qualify as a family bc we donāt have kidsā¦hence my salty stress on family)
![\"Two](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251012-190159-m.jpg\")
October 13, 2025 - even my Russian fiancĆ© has no idea what these Snickers bars are referring toā¦must be about an event or group or joke that we are just out of the loop on?
\n\n![\"Display](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251012-175005-m.jpg\")
October 12, 2025 - last of the Teachersā Day gifts that I received
\n\n![\"Ala-Too](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251012-070902-m.jpg\")
@hollyhoneychurch Congratulations! I love the tree in the second picture
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75833348","date_published":"2025-10-15T13:48:34+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-15 13:48","date_timestamp":1760536114,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"75833330","content_html":"@jayeless Oh no š¬ will it be easy to fix?
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75833330","date_published":"2025-10-15T13:47:55+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-15 13:47","date_timestamp":1760536075,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"75833297","content_html":"@KimberlyHirsh Sad to hear. That ISD is not too far from where I went to school
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75833297","date_published":"2025-10-15T13:47:11+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-15 13:47","date_timestamp":1760536031,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"75671529","content_html":"@jemostrom but in general, I donāt think winter is THAT cold in Bishkek. Again, itās been a while, but I remember a particularly ācoldā spell that was around -15 or so
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75671529","date_published":"2025-10-13T12:33:19+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-13 12:33","date_timestamp":1760358799,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"75671212","content_html":"@jemostrom thatās a good question. Itās been a while since I lived here in Bishkek for the winter, so Iām not sure. When I lived in a village, I basically remember not seeing any cats for the whole winter. I guess they find somewhere to hide and try to stay there, but not sure what they eat. Cats in Bishkek might be the same, except that people are more likely to feed or help them. I do know that since Iāve been here, Iāve gone to a restaurant and a coffee shop where a cat entered multiple times š I donāt remember the weather being particularly cold then, so maybe it was just for food
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75671212","date_published":"2025-10-13T12:28:08+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-13 12:28","date_timestamp":1760358488,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"75576837","content_html":"October 11, 2025 - small stream of water near an end of the line bus stop, where we were waiting for a bus after eating Georgian food (which I didnāt take a picture of š but it was so good)
\n\n![\"Small](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251011-153446-m.jpg\")
October 10, 2025 - 4th grade life š
\n\n![\"small](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20250909-105209-m.jpg\")
October 9, 2025 - same cat I posted a picture of at the beginning of September, this time sleeping next to food that someone left it š
\n\n![\"Orange](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20251009-170453-m.jpg\")
October 8, 2025 - across the street from Ala-Too Square on the 14k race day in late September
\n\n![\"square-like](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/43961/2025/20250921-092046-m.jpg\")
@Omrrc It is lovely, but I definitely relate to your sentiment of teaching children. My school year so far has just felt like a battle to survive rather than anything noble or humanitarian
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75374977","date_published":"2025-10-09T12:16:02+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-09 12:16","date_timestamp":1760012162,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"75133163","content_html":"@lukemperez Best wishes for time and space for your family to continue processing the grief. Honoring Pacoās birthday with things he liked sounds like a wonderful idea
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75133163","date_published":"2025-10-06T13:53:27+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-06 13:53","date_timestamp":1759758807,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"75132145","content_html":"@hollyhoneychurch Looks ominous, but love the contrast of color
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75132145","date_published":"2025-10-06T13:38:25+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-06 13:38","date_timestamp":1759757905,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"75132127","content_html":"@hollyhoneychurch Such beautiful light and cloud coverage
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/75132127","date_published":"2025-10-06T13:38:13+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-06 13:38","date_timestamp":1759757893,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"74972002","content_html":"@markstoneman Pretty flowers š
\n","url":"https://micro.blog/val/74972002","date_published":"2025-10-04T00:59:50+00:00","author":{"name":"valerie","url":"https://val.micro.blog/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2024%2F42%2F81101.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"val"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2025-10-04 00:59","date_timestamp":1759539590,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}}]}