Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Apartment Tour

Hello students!

Thank you for your messages! My apartment is has bedroom and one bathroom. My rent is $400 for one month. I like my new city. There are mountains around the city and trees next to the streets. Many people have gardens in their yards. I see many houses with grapes and other fruits growing outside. I don't have a car here, but there are many buses and small van taxis on my street. I can walk to the university and the market. So it is easy for me to go places. Sometimes it's difficult if I buy a lot of fruits and vegetables at the market, though! They are heavy to carry home.

Thank you for your ideas for washing clothes! Yolanda, I tried putting my clothes in water overnight, and it worked very well. They were easier to wash. You can watch this video and see my bathroom and the red tub I use to wash my clothes.

What are you studying in class now? I hope to see you all next year too!

Love,
Teacher Bethany

Thursday, September 3, 2009

My Apartment


Dear Students,

Thank you so much for writing! I was very happy to read your letters. You asked very good questions! I think about you every day and remember all of you. Sometimes I feel lonely, but I am meeting new people and I am happy. I will come back to Minnesota at the end of June next year. After that, I may come back to Tajikistan for another year. I don’t know yet.


You asked why I came to Tajikistan. Tajikistan is a very poor country and some students don’t have a good education. I wanted to come help teachers learn more English so the education can be better. I also like to see new places and learn languages. Russian is very difficult, so I think I will try to learn Tajik this year. There is a Tajik woman who may be my teacher.


You asked about my students. I will start teaching next Monday. Today I had a meeting at the university and they told me which class I will teach. I will teach grammar and practice to students in their 3rd year. I will have 15 students in my class. I saw the students today, but didn’t have time to talk to them. Yes, most people in Tajikistan are Muslim. They don’t eat pork because the Koran, their book, says it’s not OK to eat pork. I will write more about Muslim culture later. Teacher Jonna: the white stuff on the food in Turkey was sour cream on a veggie patty.


Here are some pictures of my apartment and of my street. It is very nice, and I am happy here. My neighbors are very friendly. Some of them speak a little English. I do not have a washing machine, so I will wash clothes by hand. I have washed clothes by hand only a few times, when I was on traveling. Can you give me some good ideas for washing clothes by hand? Will you go to the State Fair this year?

I miss you a lot!