Comments on: A Tighter Notch

By: Shelly

Shelly — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:54:24 +0000

Johan,
Thank you for your kind advice.

By: Johan

Johan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:21:57 +0000

Dear Shelly,

Before I forget, European men act differently then Kyrgyz or Russian concerning their wifes! They are more kind (as I have been told). So maybe it is a good idea to invite him to you first. He can take a hotel if he cannot to live with you for 2 (or 3) weeks. It is not too expensive for us European.

Johan

By: Johan

Johan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:18:16 +0000

Dear Shelly,
Not all is gold and glitter but sometimes it is. I am married now to a Kyrgyz (Russian) woman but not before I wrote to her more then 6 months and was in Kyrgyzstan 4 times to meet her first. Going to Europe before meeting someone before CAN be dangerous! You do not know the culture, customes and the language.
Johan

By: Shelly

Shelly — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:55:29 +0000

I feel awfully sympathetic with some of the stories presented here. When I read of the woman who rejected the offer of marriage from a Norwegian man, I shudder. Why? Well, I’ve been corresponding with a Norwegian man for about six months. He has told me that he loves me and wants me to come to his country for a visit. I feel that I love him, but I’m a little afraid. I’ve never been to Europe. What do I do? One part of me wants to purchase that plane ticket right away; while, another part of me wants to stay put. I love him and I want to be with him. No man has ever said the things that he has said to me. Sometimes he makes me feel as though I’m in a fairytale—like a princess.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:06:12 +0000

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article , but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

By: Johan

Johan — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 17:25:04 +0000

Hallo Ivar,
Maybe you did not understand me, but I said that Bishkek is not too bad. But I disagree with you about Osh. Because the people are poor there, they will take any opportunity to nail you with bad deals. Of course there are exeptions but generally speaking you should take care in Osh. I am agree that the city is beautiful in summer and you do not look at the dirt on the side of the roads :-).

By: Mark Hamm

Mark Hamm — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:34:34 +0000

Wonderful story. Your description of the cheap hotel remined me of my stay in Guatemala. While I was in Biskek for only a few days I liked it. Maybe if I was there through a year it would be different. A little more wealth poured into the civic structure would go a long way to making it one of the better cities in the region.

By: Ataman Rakin

Ataman Rakin — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:02:47 +0000

Regarding Bishkek, like most ex-Soviet cities, it has absolutely no character and personality. But in terms of sheer dreadryness and ugliness (often an art by itself), there’s worse indeed.

By: Ataman Rakin

Ataman Rakin — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 08:59:48 +0000

“Eleven years ago, a Norwegian man came here. He was building houses for poor people.”

That part could be from a Konsalik novel. :)lol Probably he was on a UN rehab project after the Naryn eartquake of January 1997. The bloke’s first name wasn’t Finn by any chance?

“I think maybe he was a millionaire. (…) that perhaps the man would have turned out to be different than she had hoped.”

Yes that’s the thing. Many Westreners who work in countries like this lead comparatively lavish and decadent lives whereas at home they have not the same lifestyle by far and by large (or are often nobodies).

By: Ivar Dale

Ivar Dale — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 16:49:15 +0000

Sorry, Johan, can’t agree - Bishkek is excellent, and I really like Osh too - people are nice in the South, the atmosphere is good…perhaps it’s time for us Westerners to either lighten up a bit, or just stay at home.