Seeing Balkanabat through rose-colored glasses has given me a few skewed ideas. I've been in the city for exactly one week, and for the first time I took my eyes off the nearby mountains long enough to notice the number of used needles lying on the ground. Maybe it's just my block (I hear it's not), but the moment I saw my first dirty needle, I started counting. Within ten steps the count was at four. I've already noticed the broken-glass-ridden playground near my building. They evidently don't believe in woodchips here! The drug problem supposedly comes across from A-stan. We call heroin users and sellers "Narcomen", and they are easily noticed. On my first late night out my mother made sure I had someone to walk me home-- specifically because of Narcomen.
My route to school is down a main road, so I've mostly seen businesses. In a startling revelation, we now understand how illogical business is here. No one takes the time to clearly mark their stores. No one ever puts on sales. If there is low demand and high supply, no one thinks to lower their prices. The store workers couldn't care less. The end result is our depleting economy and a bunch of unhappy store owners.
I mentioned rose-colored glasses because of my family setup here. I have a great cook for a mother, easy communication, and my own floor for peace and quiet. I don't think I have as much potential for strong bonds as the people living with Turkmen families do, but I'll take the convenience for all it's worth.
Taxis here are cheap and easy. 2000 anywhere within city limits. The atmosphere is overwhelmingly Russian, which makes the school completely undisciplined, but the city life more comfortable. I can dress as I wish and most Turkmen rules of culture don't apply. I hear the city is very rough overall--it's compared to New York in that respect--but I find the people very personable after meeting them. I'll just have to keep my head down and walk with a purpose through the streets, and hopefully I won't be bothered!
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