The worst part of being a group leader is medical issues. Here you are with a group of twenty-somethings, and when something goes wrong, the sensible ones ask the advice of the group leader. But of course people in my position are not supposed to give… more »

Learning new names is always interesting. I'm currently in the Sierra Coffee shop; the barista's name is Lurlán. Among our teachers, all female, are the following names: Kenzhé, Altynái, Saikál, Saníra, Zakhída and Asél. Those are all… more »

While I was in the Sierra coffee shop this late afternoon working on e-mail, in walked a little Kyrgyz girl who was simply a ball of fire and personality. I'm guessing she was about 12, and she claimed the name Elmira, though I think that she first… more »