I live in a place called Tajikistan in Central Asia . The country is ninety percent mountainous, has hundred degree-days in the summer, and gets cold in the winter. The Tajik mountain ranges that lead to the distant Himalayas cover the whole country, like the scales on a dragon’s back. In summer Tajiks eat outside in early and late summer on cots. Cots in Tajikistan are raised platforms on which Tajiks eat and also sleep, weather permitting. The cots often have roofs and are made of wood and metal. I have not been here in the hottest part of the summer, but people usually stay inside during the hottest part of the day, turning the old Russian air conditioners (if there are any) to the maximum. The thermometer does drop to a temperature where you might need a sweater in September. Power cuts generally accompany winter. People use gas and diesel heaters if electricity is out. If gas and water go out, too...well, you hope that won't happen too often. When the power goes out, things get chilly.

The Tajiks say they are Muslims. However, having been in the USSR for so long most are not like those you find in Afghanistan or Iran. During the Soviet System Tajikistan grew cotton and wheat for the USSR and would get other necessities from the other parts of the Soviets. So when the USSR collapsed in 1991, the Tajiks continued growing cotton and wearing out the earth. Since they kept growing nothing but cotton, the soil lost nutrients and the Tajiks had to resort to fertilizers. Often they couldn't read the directions. Fortunately, they have learned to grow other crops, so the soil is slowly improving

Still, life is pretty good, and Tajikistan has improved since we were last here for about six years. Living here does not cost as much as it does to live in the States. God has been good to us, and we can get several items we were unable to have before. I am taking violin lessons twice a week for less than it would cost in the West. My siblings and I have Tae-kwon-do three times a week. I am not very good yet; we only started a few weeks ago. Friends have left for the USA or New Zealand, and others have taken their place. The only foreign restaurant before was Turkish, but now there are also Chinese, Indian, and Tex-Mex restaurants. The food at Salsa (the Tex-Mex restaurant) is nice and is available for a good price, too. We often go there with our friends for ice cream. Thanks to foreign aid workers and Russian influence, new products have come in, including peanut butter. If you want to go paintballing, you can, but only for an outrageous price. We have gone paintballing in the mountains with our friends. Tajikistan has definitely improved.