Vocabulary 101

Chai – It’s the everyday term here used (in all languages) to refer to tea. I’ve been given both black and green teas at various occasions, but my family prefers black tea, with tons of sugar. They find it strange that I refuse to put tea in my sugar. Luckily, this has facilitated a learning opportunity about our differences, plus, I’ve now learned how to say a variant of ‘Different strokes for different folks’ in Russian. It’s my first of many Russian proverbs.

Banya – It’s by far the best time(s) of the week. For most of the families in these rural communities who lack indoor plumbing, bathing can be a luxury. We have a separate structure on the property, between the barn and the flower garden area, called the banya. It’s basically a sauna designed for bathing, although we do our laundry in it as well. The wood/coal burning stove is lit to heat the vat of hot water filled up in the corner of the sauna. The room becomes nice and cozy, hot, and when I bathe I can maneuver all kinds of buckets and bowls of hot or cold water to suit my bathing needs. I can see how this would be the only logical bathing method in harsh winter temperatures. Right now, it’s still, like I said, a luxurious experience.

Marshrutka – This is the primary mode of public transportation in the Chui Valley area (where I currently live) and I cannot really speak for other parts of the country where I think public transit is limited. It’s similar to a tall van, so passengers without a seat can stand in the aisles, but barely. The idea of personal space in a marshrutka is thrown out the window. And in my short time here so far, several marshrutka drivers have invited small groups of us to board the vehicle when it seems physically impossible for us to do so. He reassures us that lots of people are getting off at the next stop, as if this knowledge will allow us to defy the laws of physics. They are otherwise quite comfortable modes of transportation, in which elderly are ALWAYS given seats and change is passed back from the driver with utmost trust that no one will snatch some to short change his fellow rider.

Mayack – I’m not sure how widely used this Kyrgyz term is…it could very well be Peace Corps slang. Mayacking is when you need to talk to someone, but don’t have enough units on your cell phone. You call them and hang right up, which signals them to call you right back. Since no cell phone plans charge to receive calls here, it’s basically a collect call. Some Peace Corps staff encourage us to mayack them, so we don’t have to waste units when they have better cell phone plans. So, beware, I may mayack you. Just go with it.