Man Day

Yesterday was a national holiday in Tajikistan. Everyone still had to go to school and work, but it was a holiday nonetheless. The city was decked out with the customary propaganda reminding citizens to observe the date. Every February 23 Tajikistan celebrates Tajik National Army Day. In Russia it's called Defender of the Motherland Day. I think the whole thing started in 1918 or 1919 when a bunch of citizens (comrades) were first drafted into the Soviet Army during the Russian Civil War. The stories I was hearing from my host family and professors didn't match up perfectly, but that's what I managed to glean from these conversations.

Anyhow, Tajik National Army Day is basically just a day to celebrate soldiers and veterans. I'm not quite sure how, but at some point Tajiks broadened the definition to just include all Tajik men. Thus February 23 has essentially become Man Day. Though the 'holiday' sounds a little ridiculous, I think it is supposed to be the response to International Women's Day. Woman Day is celebrated on March 8. We even get off from school for that one. So though Man Day seems like some diffuse and arbitrary social construct, it kind of makes sense.

Last night, to celebrate, my family and I had a heaping platter of Osh. In case anyone has forgotten, Osh is the big communal rice dish, drenched in oil and topped with fat, that everyone eats with their hands. Do the Tajiks know how to have a good time, or what? At the end of the meal, my host mom made a nice toast to my host dad, host brother and myself. She even gave me a small gift. After the toast we had the usual gigantic cake that has become a bit of a fixture at every holiday meal. It was a nice night. I asked if this meant that the men had to cook a large meal on Woman Day. I've never heard my host family laugh so hard. Tajik men don't cook. We finished the evening by watching a movie about Russian terrorists. It may sound strange, but I'm really beginning to acquire quite a proficiency in low-budget movies about organized crime in Russia. My host dad can't get enough of that stuff.

So that was Man Day. Only 364 days till the next one!

Other than observing the holiday, not much went on this week. My old peer tutor has left the country. I met my new one for about thirty seconds the other day. Her name is Maryam and seems pretty cool. 

Also English class went really well this week. We talked about Los Angeles and changed the structure of the class to be far more interactive. There was a lot more participation this week. I don't really think anyone's proficiency is going to sky-rocket, but at least we're providing students with a hospitable environment for practicing their language skills. I feel good about where the class is heading.

Alright that's about it. Just one picture below.

Two days (according to my host dad) until spring springs!

^ some serious icicles hanging from the neighbor's roof today; that little blue door on the left is our front door