I have just returned from my trip to KG and found again some interesting matters I would like to have a second opinion on.
I believe it has something to do with the mentality of the Kyrgys people but maybe I am wrong.

First of all the prices of apartments. It struck me that simple apartments already costs more then $200 per month while the
average wages are around $45. How is it possible? Is it because I was living with Russian people who are discriminated and
therefore has to pay more then average, or is it something else? Even a ‘contract’ does not say anything because after only
one month, the owner start already asking for more money.

Furthermore I found it very interesting to see that a lot of people in all kind of trades only looking at the short term profit. I have 4 examples to tell and maybe it is a coincidence that it happens to me or one of my friends.

Example 1: A dentist is asked to fix some holes in two teeth. He did both teeth indeed but (deliberately?) forget about one
hole in one tooth. Maybe to make sure that this person will come back to him?? He charged of course the whole sum as agreed.
Only two days later this person got a toothache again and needed to go to the dentist again.

Example 2: A shoemaker fixed a heal of a shoe for me. It was not visible at first sight but after only one day the repaired shoe was falling apart again on the same spot. Of course this shoemaker was not to blaim (according to him).

Example 3: Safety in some apartments. When I was in this apartment the electrical wiring was pretty bad. Because it was cold
in the evening I switched on an electrical heater like many people do as I have been told. After only half an hour the wall socket
was burned completely and failed. After fixing it, it burned again after some time. The owner tells me that he will not change the wiring because he does not have the money. How about $200 per month?? It is very likely that some day there will be a power shortage in this apartment and then this apartment (and many more in this building) will be in flames because also the fuse box is not working and the wiring will act like a match in the wall. Insurance? I do not believe so.

Example 4: Documents are asked for in an office. I have checked the right spelling of my name and paid the bill. After some weeks I returned and the documents were ready, only the name was spelled wrong. It was definitely a mistake of this office but the documents have to be made again and I have to pay again because this office does not feel responsible.

In all four cases I cannot imagine that these people do not know what the consequences will be for their acts and thus their trades.
In example 1 and 2 I would never return to these people, in 3 and 4 it will be more difficult because of lack of other means to go to.
When asking people about this matters they tell me that each and everyone is acting like that.
Is this true, or is it merely Russians and other foreign people who are being ripped off like that??
If have only seen some companies with their employees who try to do there utmost for a customer but in general, if I must believe my host, is it deceive and is the customer definitely NO king like in other countries. I know for sure that a company who is honost and try to really do their best, I would go there again.

About the diffence in poverty in KG I have seen again an example. During my stay I went to a bank for exchange dollars into local currency. I saw people getting money from the bank and really, I never have seen this amount in cash all my life.
Maybe we are not used to it because we only use ‘plastic’ money these days. Outside beggars sitting who (I believe) do not
even have money for buying bread.

Also happened to me is that a member of the militia on the Osh bazar was pretty agressive when stopping me when I passed him.
He could clearly see that I was a tourist (at least I look very different then all other people their as a tall European).
I tried to be friendly and answered his questions the best I could but this was not enough for him. My guide missed me and found me behind the stalls speaking with two of this men. I believe that thanks to my guide the questioning ended and was probably saving me also from paying a large sum of money.

Despite of all things happened to me during my time in KG I still like the country and also a lot of people are nice and understanding too.
I would like to know if this is happens all the time and if this is the case, how people in KG feel about it.
Would it be possible to change this mentality or is it too long already like this and will it be too difficult to change.
I made a comparisation between KG and my country and it looks that KG is about 50-55 years back in time. If it will not get any help from other countries I believe this difference remains despite of the communcation means at hand.

As told before, I do not live in KG but find it very intriging how people from KG feel about this. Is it really commom and is everybody already so used to this phenomenon that nobody cares anymore? On this site I read a lot of interesting comments and some people want to change it. Are these the calling few in the middle of a desert?

Johan.