Misha's Last Concert, ... and Must-Sees in Bishkek

Misha's Last Concert

Luckily, the boys were able to finish up their school year at Ak Bala, saying goodbye to their classmates and teachers at a natural stopping point as summer vacation was about to start. Misha's end-of-the-year concert was Thursday, May 23, so Bud and Ashley had the chance to watch him perform. After that, Misha's first-grade class had just one day of school left, a fun day of relaxation and wrapping up.

The concert was fun to watch - Misha sang, danced, and recited his lines beautifully. At the end, each student was presented with a diploma and a medal  for finishing first grade. The director even gave Misha a special present because he would be going back to America. I know we will really miss the boys' wonderful school.

Looking spiffy and ready to head to school!

A partner dance

Misha, in the front for this dance about the sea.

Making waves for the "morie" - the sea

 

You can enjoy the "sea dance" for yourself:

 

The proud first-graders with their diplomas and medals

Pasha, Misha, and Timur

The director giving Misha books in Russian and Kyrgyz, a special present

Must-Sees in Bishkek

After the concert, we hit the streets. The best way to appreciate a city that you traveled halfway around the world to see is simply to walk through it, so we made sure Bud and Ashley got to do a lot of walking in Bishkek. At the same time, it was great for me to say goodbye to a lot of favorite spots.  

Bishkek is truly beautiful in May - full of flowers, greenery, and fountains. Bud, Ashley, Alesia, Josh, and I started by the Philharmonia with its charming rose gardens and from there made our way to see the Orthodox church. After that, the guys were starving, so we ate at the Obama Bar. We hurried out of the restaurant with just enough time to catch the Changing of the Guard in the center square, the fascinating marching soldiers who switch places every hour on the hour. (We weren't about to let Bud and Ashley miss out on that.)

 

Bud and Ashley at the Russian Orthodox church. Alesia, ever-prepared, brought extra scarves to cover our hair.

Enjoying American and Mexican food at the Obama Bar

"Meeting" Obama.

The Changing of the Guard

The logical place to go from the guards of the Kyrgyz flag is, of course, Panfilov Amusement Park. We took them to our two favorite attractions - the Ferris wheel and the Komnata Smeha - the Room of Laughter.

Alesia and me in the Ferris wheel

Ashley and me

The brothers high above Bishkek

The Room of Laughter is simply an exhibit filled with silly mirrors that distort one's appearance, nothing overly special. But for some reason, every time we go there, we end up laughing like little children, unable to stop even when our sides are killing us. The more people we're with, the funnier it is - in particular the mirror that makes everyone look like short, fat little Shrek people. Oh yes, if only you could see what giggling school children we turned into!

Heading up to the Komnata Smeha

Mirror, Mirror

Five chubby munchkins

Tweedledee and Tweedledum?

After that, we continued our wandering, happening to catch a cultural display of rugs and souvenirs before directing ourselves homeward through the fountains, Erkindik Park, and ice cream sellers.

Looking good!

Cooling off.

Splash wars

Time for ice cream

There were many more places we would have loved to have shown them, but you can only do so much in two weeks! And we still had Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before our flight date on May 27.