Saturday, January 15, 2022
New Blogs
I left Central Asia in 2020 and moved to Indonesia. If you are interested in my life there, you can check out two blogs. The Periscope can be found at eriksperiscope.blogspot.com If you like travel, you can find out about my journeys at Erik's Travel. The address: erikstravel.blogspot.com Hope to see you there.
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
My New Blog
Please visit me at my new blog. It's called Six Degrees South and will chronicle my experiences in Indonesia. You can find it at: atsixdegreessouth.blogspot.com It should start rolling after the first of the year.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Leaving Kyrgyzstan
I will be departing from Kyrgyzstan around the end of the month, COVID and air transport permitting. I will be taking a position at a university in Indonesia as the higher education job market in the United States has completely imploded and retirement is not an option for quite some time.
Sunday, June 21, 2020
After a long hiatus. An update.
Hello all.
I have not posted here in well over a year. I post mostly on Facebook. But that's going to change in a few days. I will be putting a few of my best posts of 2019 and 2020 up for your perusal.
And I have an exciting announcement I will also be making this week.
Be on the lookout.
I have not posted here in well over a year. I post mostly on Facebook. But that's going to change in a few days. I will be putting a few of my best posts of 2019 and 2020 up for your perusal.
And I have an exciting announcement I will also be making this week.
Be on the lookout.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
The Meaning of Three Scallops
(Originally posted November 3)
I am on my way to Tajikistan with an intermediate stop in Bishkek. Whenever I am in Bishkek, I am always searching for food that isn't gretchka or chicken, seeking comfort in cuisine.
Indeed, I discovered that a shipment of fresh seafood had just arrived by plane to one of my favorite eateries. On the top of the fresh list were scallops. Though the price was unreasonable, I could not resist the temptation, because a fresh scallop in Kyrgyzstan is as rare as flamingos and palm trees on a tropical beach in Antarctica. Though give us about a half a century, and given current trends, those Antarctic palm trees might just become a reality.
Scallops are the most delicate of seafood. If you didn't know what you were eating, you might not even guess that they are from the ocean as they possess almost no fishy flavor. Scallops must be treated gently, because when cooked improperly they can become rubbery, not much more pleasing than eating an eraser. They are overshadowed by the breading when deep fried and certainly cannot be casually added to soups or chowders like the tough and durable clam, for when placed in a stew, a scallop disintegrates and almost disappears. Luckily the three scallops I was served, were cooked as they should be, seared in a frying pan with some light seasoning, retaining their richness and slight sweetness.
It was a plate of comfort on this raw, cold November day.
Comfort. After I finished my three scallops, I considered the lengths I sometimes go to while living in Kyrgyzstan to seek out comfort, especially in the form of food. And when I contemplate this excessive comfort I am able to obtain, I always seem to think of those who do not have any comfort in their lives.
What kind of unattainable luxury would three scallops be for most of those who live in Kyrgyzstan? Or for most of the world, indeed? And how many on this planet do not have the comfort of shelter? Or health care? Or clean water? Or are refugees? Those of us who seek comfort without consideration, I wonder about the moral condition we possess. I possess.
Perhaps my eternal fate does not depend upon the three scallops on my plate. But maybe it does depend on the concept of comfort. Advancing our own comfort can be a questionable moral endeavor depending upon the circumstance, but there is no ambiguity about our relationship to the comfort of others. For when we cast a blind eye to the comfort of those in need, then we truly must worry about our fate.
The faith tradition from which I come is quite clear. In the final judgment of humanity, mercy is given to those who provide food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, comfort to the sick and to prisoners, and welcome to all strangers. Providing comfort. That is what we must do as humans. Those who do not provide comfort, do not receive mercy.
This election is all about comfort. The President is offering the opposite. Not only isn't comfort being offered to the stranger or the refugee, but instead, the President is offering 10,000 troops with guns to meet a refugee caravan at our border. No food to the hungry. No comfort to the sick. Even worse, hateful rhetoric is offered, pitting one group against the other. Anyone from my faith tradition who supports this vision offered by the President has actually abandoned their faith tradition completely. That is why this election is so important. Depending upon the results, we will be choosing to believe in a society that attempts to provide aid and comfort to all or to believe in a society where only people from certain privileged groups are considered worthy of receiving the common good.
I suppose I should not worry too much about the three scallops on my plate, as long as I am willing to share two of them, with anyone, each and every day. And as long as I work actively and vote actively to extend comfort and hospitality to all those in need. As our first priority. No matter what.
I am on my way to Tajikistan with an intermediate stop in Bishkek. Whenever I am in Bishkek, I am always searching for food that isn't gretchka or chicken, seeking comfort in cuisine.
Indeed, I discovered that a shipment of fresh seafood had just arrived by plane to one of my favorite eateries. On the top of the fresh list were scallops. Though the price was unreasonable, I could not resist the temptation, because a fresh scallop in Kyrgyzstan is as rare as flamingos and palm trees on a tropical beach in Antarctica. Though give us about a half a century, and given current trends, those Antarctic palm trees might just become a reality.
Scallops are the most delicate of seafood. If you didn't know what you were eating, you might not even guess that they are from the ocean as they possess almost no fishy flavor. Scallops must be treated gently, because when cooked improperly they can become rubbery, not much more pleasing than eating an eraser. They are overshadowed by the breading when deep fried and certainly cannot be casually added to soups or chowders like the tough and durable clam, for when placed in a stew, a scallop disintegrates and almost disappears. Luckily the three scallops I was served, were cooked as they should be, seared in a frying pan with some light seasoning, retaining their richness and slight sweetness.
It was a plate of comfort on this raw, cold November day.
Comfort. After I finished my three scallops, I considered the lengths I sometimes go to while living in Kyrgyzstan to seek out comfort, especially in the form of food. And when I contemplate this excessive comfort I am able to obtain, I always seem to think of those who do not have any comfort in their lives.
What kind of unattainable luxury would three scallops be for most of those who live in Kyrgyzstan? Or for most of the world, indeed? And how many on this planet do not have the comfort of shelter? Or health care? Or clean water? Or are refugees? Those of us who seek comfort without consideration, I wonder about the moral condition we possess. I possess.
Perhaps my eternal fate does not depend upon the three scallops on my plate. But maybe it does depend on the concept of comfort. Advancing our own comfort can be a questionable moral endeavor depending upon the circumstance, but there is no ambiguity about our relationship to the comfort of others. For when we cast a blind eye to the comfort of those in need, then we truly must worry about our fate.
The faith tradition from which I come is quite clear. In the final judgment of humanity, mercy is given to those who provide food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, comfort to the sick and to prisoners, and welcome to all strangers. Providing comfort. That is what we must do as humans. Those who do not provide comfort, do not receive mercy.
This election is all about comfort. The President is offering the opposite. Not only isn't comfort being offered to the stranger or the refugee, but instead, the President is offering 10,000 troops with guns to meet a refugee caravan at our border. No food to the hungry. No comfort to the sick. Even worse, hateful rhetoric is offered, pitting one group against the other. Anyone from my faith tradition who supports this vision offered by the President has actually abandoned their faith tradition completely. That is why this election is so important. Depending upon the results, we will be choosing to believe in a society that attempts to provide aid and comfort to all or to believe in a society where only people from certain privileged groups are considered worthy of receiving the common good.
I suppose I should not worry too much about the three scallops on my plate, as long as I am willing to share two of them, with anyone, each and every day. And as long as I work actively and vote actively to extend comfort and hospitality to all those in need. As our first priority. No matter what.
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Go Little Vote, Go!!!
Today I picked up my ballot for the upcoming midterm election at the Central Administration Office. My mother was kind enough to send it to me via DHL and it traveled from Spokane to Seattle to Cincinnati, Ohio, to Leipzig, Germany to the DHL sorting center located "North of Moscow, Russia," ironically enough, then to the Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan DHL Center, to the Central Office, where it came into my possession.
As you can see, I cast my ballot for Democrat Lisa Brown for the U.S. House of Representatives against the Republican Trump Enabler who voted in agreement with Trump's positions over 97% of the time the past two years. Unfortunately, my home 5th District is very Republican, but Brown has an outside chance (about 20%) of winning. If enough Democrats win House races across the U.S. on November 6, the Democrats will take control and will be able to stop some of Trump's terrible policies. And they will be able to investigate some of the horrible corruption that Trump and his minions have been engaging in.
This election is potentially the most important one in my lifetime. If the Democrats cannot take back the House, then Trump will remain unchecked and will be able to engage in even worse actions during the next two years. Everyone out there who is able to, be sure to vote as if your life depends on it, because it actually might.
Even though sending DHL packages back and forth across the planet is horribly expensive, the price is worth it, because the cost of not casting a vote is far, far greater. So, fly back to the polling station, precious little vote and may you be one more tiny voice of dissent against the anti-democratic forces currently in power and my wish is that you will serve as one small drop in a massive blue wave that I hope will be the first step in helping to wash injustice and intolerance out of the mainstream of our political landscape and back into the murky depths from which they have emerged.
As you can see, I cast my ballot for Democrat Lisa Brown for the U.S. House of Representatives against the Republican Trump Enabler who voted in agreement with Trump's positions over 97% of the time the past two years. Unfortunately, my home 5th District is very Republican, but Brown has an outside chance (about 20%) of winning. If enough Democrats win House races across the U.S. on November 6, the Democrats will take control and will be able to stop some of Trump's terrible policies. And they will be able to investigate some of the horrible corruption that Trump and his minions have been engaging in.
This election is potentially the most important one in my lifetime. If the Democrats cannot take back the House, then Trump will remain unchecked and will be able to engage in even worse actions during the next two years. Everyone out there who is able to, be sure to vote as if your life depends on it, because it actually might.
Even though sending DHL packages back and forth across the planet is horribly expensive, the price is worth it, because the cost of not casting a vote is far, far greater. So, fly back to the polling station, precious little vote and may you be one more tiny voice of dissent against the anti-democratic forces currently in power and my wish is that you will serve as one small drop in a massive blue wave that I hope will be the first step in helping to wash injustice and intolerance out of the mainstream of our political landscape and back into the murky depths from which they have emerged.
The Joy of Pie
(Originally posted, June 30)
I have participated in debates, icebreakers, and other activities where people (Americans) discuss which they prefer: cake or pie. While I enjoy cake, I definitely fall strongly into the pie lovers camp. Although, one can find a nice cake in virtually every country of the world, including Kyrgyzstan, pies are a much rarer commodity.
This evening I went out to dinner with my parents and we all had pie for dessert. It is almost July and yet it is only my first piece of pie of the year. Luckily in the State of Washington it is berry season--cherry and berry pies being my favorite type of pie. I enjoyed a delicious piece of Oregon Marionberry pie (a hybrid cousin of the blackberry only grown in the West) and my parents both enjoyed strawberry-rhubarb pie.
The eating of fruit pie is a reminder that the simplest of pleasures are sometimes the ones that touch our spirits most deeply.
I have participated in debates, icebreakers, and other activities where people (Americans) discuss which they prefer: cake or pie. While I enjoy cake, I definitely fall strongly into the pie lovers camp. Although, one can find a nice cake in virtually every country of the world, including Kyrgyzstan, pies are a much rarer commodity.
This evening I went out to dinner with my parents and we all had pie for dessert. It is almost July and yet it is only my first piece of pie of the year. Luckily in the State of Washington it is berry season--cherry and berry pies being my favorite type of pie. I enjoyed a delicious piece of Oregon Marionberry pie (a hybrid cousin of the blackberry only grown in the West) and my parents both enjoyed strawberry-rhubarb pie.
The eating of fruit pie is a reminder that the simplest of pleasures are sometimes the ones that touch our spirits most deeply.
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