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    remains of soviet life

    Photos from Kyrgyzstan

    There are [5] photos from Kyrgyzstan

    My grandfather sleeping. Every time I enter a silent room where my grandfather is sleeping, my heart misses a beat, and I bend closer to check if he is still breathing. I can only be peaceful when he resumes is reassuring snore. Views[503] My grandmother prepares everything in bulk, in this image the winter supply of handmade noodles is in progress. She spends a day and 44 eggs to make enough of a pasta stockpile to last all winter. She has a true squirrel nature, and the basement is stocked with enough preserves, pickled watermelon, compotes and other produce to last at least 6 years. When she kills a chicken, she automatically places it at the back of the freezer for later, and instead chooses an elderly specimen, which has been in frozen for a long time. On one of my first visits, I discovered a chicken that had been in the freezer for 5 years. Views[603] My grandparents just have each other, and rely only on each other in all daily tasks. This typical hairdressing scenario is a tender yet utilitarian moment between the two. My grandfather is by no means a hairdresser and the resulting hairstyle is usually haphazard and ragged. This shot was taken as my grandmother was giggling and telling him not to clip her neck or ear again. Views[335] My Grandfather (Cholpon-ata in rural Kyrgyzstan). He makes homemade vodka from a large flask full of fermented jam, and drinks it warm. He drives at breakneck speed, ignores police, tells war stories, plays chess and has a street named after him because he once had a bet with the town mayor. He also saw Americans for the first time since WWII in August 2012. Views[356] My grandmother lives in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. Life here reverts back to the Soviet era. In this photo my grandmother is offering steamed dumplings on my last day there, she was emotional, nervous, sad and yet eager to please. Everything is made by hand, and there is no such thing as an electric mixer in my grandmothers’ world. In fact almost all the equipment she owns dates back 15 or 30 years. This is a place where wires hang exposed from walls, washing machines are like gods - and are even given rest breaks ( meaning we revert to hand washing) to ensure that the washing machine doesn’t over work. My grandmother somehow turns into a comedian when I bring western travelers to their place to stay, she becomes the charismatic centre of attention as she sits in her kitchen happily questioning and joking with a room full of young travelers. Views[881]
     

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