Independence Day
on Elaine McGauran (Tajikistan), 17/Sep/2011 19:49, 34 days ago
Independence Day:Yes last week Tajikistan celebrated 20 years of independence from Russia. My god it was such a big deal everyone was talking about it and best of all 3 days holiday.Parade:All the locals were talking about this so with great curiosity I strolled into town to check it out. So well first impressions were that it was very Russian like– which was somewhat ironic given the nature of the celebration. Also there wasn’t as many people actually watching the parade as I expected (reasons for this became apparent later).As a foreigner I managed to get right up to the front opposite the viewing stand.So picture the scene a very very hot day and hundreds and hundreds of soldiers marching. We had loud booming pre– recorded music and hundreds of local people walking in front of the viewing stand. (This was why there were so few watching most of the town were walking in the parade).But to be fair there were some diversions:1)We had balloons in the national colours2)What I thought were doves initially then fake birds as they didn’t seem to fly very well. But well when one literally fell from the sky close to me I realised they were horrible pigeons. The poor things must have been suffering heat exhaustion stuck in cages all morning.3)Every so often there was the excitement of a float. For example a truck with a teacher, two desks, pupils and two cardboard computers4) Occasionally groups would stop in front of the viewing stand and sing a song in praise of the President5)Numerous huge pictures of the President all in the same pose mind youSo yep so the theme was all about the President. It was one huge love fest about him and well frankly incredibly boring. So I sneaked off after 1 hour– the parade lasted 3 hours. From one college alone 1,000 students marched. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.Concert:That night there was a big concert in the local stadium with 25,000 people. So there was no actual system for getting in but as usual as a foreigner I was allowed up the front and managed to make it in.I was meeting friends but had lost them. My friends found me and when I asked how they managed that– they told me they had asked the Police did they see a foreign girl!! I guess been the only foreigner at the concert was a good thing.So again we had loud booming pre-recorded music and the whole thing was another fawning homage to the President. Another theme here folks– it’s all about the President here. Actually what struck me was when all the Government people took their seats was that they were all men and hugely overweight compared to locals. (read into that what you may)!!But it was great fun– a really colourful spectacle of dance and music from the Sughd regions. Of course I couldn’t sit down and stood up to dance (love the music here) much to the amusement of the crowd around me and the numerous police in front of me. I couldn’t understand why no one was dancing. Eventually a few people towards the end started dancing. I’m afraid I have no pictures just videos and internet not good enough to upload one.Lenin Statue:So I had heard about this Lenin statue which was removed from a prime location before I arrived. It is the largest in Central Asia. So off I went Saturday to try and find it. Had to laugh folks– the poor fella is now located well in what I would call wasteland. Had to laugh a pretty miserable place for it – but guess Tajikistan is trying to remove the more obvious reminders of its Russian history. It is just unfortunate that the more subtle ones are still alive + kicking.School/College time again:Yep the kids are all back in school. So, on a daily basis Khujand look like its hosting a convention for waiters/waitresses. All the school girls wear black skirts with a white shirt and a massive white fluffy bow. The boys well from a distance it looks like there are wearing leather trousers but it’s a throwback to the early ‘80/s folk’s just shiny trousers with white shirt and tie.Its gas the college kids look nothing like home. The guy’s wears black trousers and white shirt + tie. The girls all dress very formally, black skirt and white shirt…………yes another theme here they luv their black/white.Labour has my vote.The US sponsor an‘American Corner’’ here in Khujand. It is for the students to give them an understand of American culture via books dvd’s etc.So………I emailed Eamonn Gilmore asking would the Irish government be interested in providing books. My point was that while Ireland has no direct relationship with this country, Tajikistan has very powerful allies – China, Russia and America all of whom we have national relationships with.So fair play they agreed to donate 50 books. It’s a fantastic collection of books – popular, contemporary, poetry, history, and culture. I am so proud to think that in this little part of the world there will now exist an ‘Irish Corner’ and Tajik students will learn about Irish culture.Tennis:I am playing tennis here now on courts about a 15 min walk from the flat. It’s great really enjoying it – I haven’t played in so long and struggling with fitness. But have to laugh here have absolutely no sense of tennis ‘etiquette’ here. They stroll around on court, use their mobiles and have wonderful loud conversations.Earlier today I actually had to say sssh to someone– she was wrecking my head. Then the guy I was playing with kept on saying ‘good’ whenever I hit the damn ball. So very politely asked him to stop!! The locals are like camels – playing on Sunday I drank 2.5 litres of water – the guy I was playing with didn’t touch a drop!!Hope all is well.As always from me to y’all good night!!!Lainey xxxPS:I copped this ages ago but forgot to mention but I appear to be the only person in Khujand who actually dries their underwear outside. Fortunately I am at the back so only a few of my neighbours are exposed to my high quality d/s underwear ha ha!!PPS:Have a new translator– driving me nuts. Not sure how long he will last but am desperate so may just be stuck with him – bad BO and all!!School/College is out:Yep the kids are all back in school. So, on a daily basis Khujand look like its hosting a convention for waiters/waitresses. All the school girls wear black skirts with a white shirt and a massive white fluffy bow. The boys well from a distance it looks like there are wearing leather trousers but it’s a throwback to the early ‘80/s folk’s just shiny trousers with white shirt and tie.Its gas the college kids look nothing like home. The guy’s wears black trousers and white shirt + tie. The girls all dress very formally, black skirt and white shirt…………yes another theme here they luv their black/white.Labour has my vote.The US sponsor an‘American Corner’’ here in Khujand. It is for the students to give them an understand of American culture via books dvd’s etc.So………I emailed Eamonn Gilmore asking would the Irish government be interested in providing books. My point was that while Ireland has no direct relationship with this country, Tajikistan has very powerful allies – China, Russia and America all of whom we have national relationships with.So fair play they agreed to donate 50 books. It’s a fantastic collection of books – popular, contemporary, poetry, history, and culture. I am so proud to think that in this little part of the world there will now exist an ‘Irish Corner’ and Tajik students will learn about Irish culture.Tennis:I am playing tennis here now on courts about a 15 min walk from the flat. It’s great really enjoying it – I haven’t played in so long and struggling with fitness. But have to laugh here have absolutely no sense of tennis ‘etiquette’ here. They stroll around on court, use their mobiles and have wonderful loud conversations.Earlier today I actually had to say sssh to someone– she was wrecking my head. Then the guy I was playing with kept on saying ‘good’ whenever I hit the damn ball. So very politely asked him to stop!! The locals are like camels – playing on Sunday I drank 2.5 litres of water – the guy I was playing with didn’t touch a drop!!Hope all is well.As always from me to y’all good night!!!Lainey xxxPS:I copped this ages ago but forgot to mention but I appear to be the only person in Khujand who actually dries their underwear outside. Fortunately I am at the back so only a few of my neighbours are exposed to my high quality d/s underwear ha ha!!PPS:Have a new translator– driving me nuts. Not sure how long he will last but am desperate so may just be stuck with him – bad BO and all!!