Hello again!

Hi kids! 

How are you?  I hope you are learning a lot every day!

I am doing great!  Dr. Appelgren and I are seeing so many places all over Kyrgyzstan, and I want to tell you all about it! 

Do you remember when you looked at the map of Kyrgyzstan with Mrs. North?  Do you remember the big lake?  I got to visit it last week.  It is very pretty!  It is called lake Issyk Kul (you say it like "iss-ick cool").  It is up in the mountains, and all of the water comes from melted snow.  The water is very clear!  Let me show you some pictures:

Me at the lake!  It was very cold, but I went for a swim anyhow! :)

The water of the lake was very clean and clear!  Those are Dr. Appelgren's feet!!

OK, now I am going to open up my backpack and see what other questions you have.  Let's see....

Michael H. wants to know: Do you have the same clothes like us? 

Some people wear clothes just like the people in Rock Hill, but some people wear traditional clothes that people have been wearing here for many, many years.  One of the traditional things that men wear is a special kind of tall hat.  Some women wear scarves to cover their heads.  Here are some pictures to show you:

Here I am with some of my new friends!  They are wearing very traditional clothes.  I tried to ask them about their clothes, but they were very quiet.  I think they must be shy!

Here is a nice family that I met during my trip.  What are they wearing that is the same as what your family might wear?  What is different?

OK, I have time for one more question today.  Amari M. wants to know: Do you have alot of open land in Kyrgyzstan? 

This is a very beautiful country!  Yes- there is a lot of open land!  I will show you a picture from the area near Issyk-Kul lake:

There is a lot of land that has no buildings on it, so people can use this land for farming or for raising sheep and horses.  In the north part of the country, people grow hay, wheat, and potatoes.  In the south part, people grow cotton and sunflowers.  What things do people grow where you live?  Why do you think that people who live in different places might grow different things?

Well, I have a big day tomorrow so I need to get some rest!  Good-bye everybody!  I will send you another letter soon!

Your friend,

Flat Stanley