Friday, July 20, 2012

Day 51: Last Day! What An Experience This Has Been

Assalomu alaykum!

Quick hello from my last day here in Tempe. This experience has been so amazing and I am endlessly grateful. A quick video to close for tonight:





Will be posting more soon here at the blog to continue my studies and share some more photos and videos from CLI. Thank you so much!

Xayr,
Brian

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Day 50: Second to Last Day! Test Reflection, Award Ceremony Pictures

Assalomu alaykum!

Second to last day! Can't believe it's already the conclusion of my program here at CLI.

First in today's blog post, a brief reflection video on this week (final reflection soon):


Great ceremony tonight! Will post videos tomorrow

I am so honored to share my selection for highest achievement award in Elementary Uzbek. Thank you so much to all the people who helped make this experience a reality for me this summer: my parents, my teacher, classmates, friends, and of course all the CLI staff and ASU support. I am extremely grateful to be here and could have never imaged such a great opportunity to study a subject I am really passionate about. For many years I have wanted to learn Uzbek and am so appreciative of this recognition tonight. Katta rahmat, thank you!

Nick, Saodat Opa, me
Me and Kathleen Evans-Romaine, director of CLI
Me and Nick Lambson from Uzbek class. Congrats on your award, you rock!
Me and my other friend Nick Collins from Persian
Me and Liz from Armenian
Me and fellow language friends Eddie and Keri. Great to hear your Arabic conversation today guys!
That's it for tonight, more soon! Totally wiped but had a great day. Depart Saturday morning...!

Xayr,
Brian

Key Free Links for Current, Past, or Future Uzbek Students

Assalomu alaykum!

Brian here with a quick reference post for any past, current, or future Uzbek students stopping by the blog. Throughout my time at CLI I have either created or collected various documents, resources, study tools, and more that have proven extremely helpful for my learning of Uzbek, and I wanted to consolidate the most useful of them here for you today.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me.

KEY FREE LINKS FOR UZBEK STUDENTS

For viewing, downloading, or printing:

Elementary Uzbek Midterm Review (PDF)
Review of language concepts from Elementary Uzbek Semester 1.

Elementary Uzbek Final Review (PDF)
Review of language concepts from Elementary Uzbek Semester 2.

Uzbek Brian Quizlet Page (All Vocab!)
Dozens of free Uzbek vocabulary flashcard sets for easy practice.

Free Online Uzbek Resource Collection
Tons of free links all around the web for Uzbek students.

Brian’s Uzbek Reference Document Collection
A huge compendium of free PDF files including textbooks and research.

Brian’s Uzbek Homework Practice Collection
All of my shared homework practice pieces in PDF form for viewing.

And especially for any students from CLI Elementary Uzbek 2012:

Elementary Uzbek Flipchart Practice (PDF)

CLI Uzbek Students Group Photo (PNG)

Please enjoy!

Xayr,
Brian

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Day 49: Elementary Uzbek Final Review: Flashcards & Study Guide

Assalomu alaykum!

Final tomorrow! Last official test here at CLI Elementary Uzbek and doing massive review work. Cumulative test on all the topics we've covered. Here is our collective grammar example review for Semester 2 topics. Not entirely finished but still useful for reference:



Note: My Semester 1 grammar review packet is available here as well as that section's vocab.















And last but not least:

A picture of me and my grandma. She and my mom came down to see me off, program ends Friday! Thank you for your support and for reading my blog :)
Xayr,
Brian

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Day 48: Homework Practice About Travel Recommendations in the USA

Assalomu alaykum!

Good day today! Had regular class in the morning and then in the afternoon took a proficiency test based on the ILR scale. Very casual and involved conversation to determine oral proficiency on the various daily life topics we have learned thus far. -Feel really confident about it, will let you know how it goes!

Passing on yesterday's homework on travel advice around the USA:



See ya!

Xayr,
Brian

Monday, July 16, 2012

Day 47: Awesome Views, Friends & Food Finds Around Phoenix! Ranch Market & More

Assalomu alaykum!

Awesome awesome day today! Last Monday here in Arizona and wanted to continue my quest to make the best of my time here while it lasts and hang out with friends, check out the area, etc. Had regular class in the morning, working on finishing up key lesson items so we can review for the final on Friday. Busy busy with computer work, emails, tying up loose ends, etc.

Hung out with my friends David and Nadia in the afternoon who are studying Russian. Did a fun spontaneous interview (my favorite thing to do) here if you want to check it out. Photos below too. You guys are awesome, thank you so much for your fun company!

Then after class headed out on an excursion with Skaidra from class to check out two local markets as well as some other sights around the Phoenix area. I'm telling you, I love this place! Not only is the food and weather good, I just love the feel of it. The views from the roads of mountains and endless skies with pretty good air quality and sunshine is just so empowering and beautiful. And this is totally sunset country. Really great time, thank you so much for your friendship Skaidra.

Check out all the photos and videos below. Enjoy!

David and Nadia outside the library. Great photo!
Us three
Visiting some beautiful Black Sphinx date palms in Arcadia. Check out the video (turn up the volume, sorry for the blurry sound. Great story behind these though!):

Beautiful palms! Dates not ripe yet, but would be so delicious for this variety
Would be so cool to have these as the neighborhood trees :)
Me and Skaidra 
The destination Asian market in the Phoenix area (besides Mekong!)
MAMEY!!!
Ranch Market #2... too funny they both have that in their name
AMAZING price on limes. Shout out to my dad who loves limes. You can't get them cheaper unless you basically have a lime tree in your yard!
Delicious fruit for my last week in Phoenix.
Thanks for reading. Talk soon.

Xayr,
Brian

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Day 46: Happy Sunday & Shout Out to Readers!

Assalomu alaykum!

Happy Sunday everyone! Had a great day today too. Really fun weekend in general. Another active day with 5 miles on one of those gazelle elliptical-ish machines at the ASU gym. Burned 750 calories and was less tired and sore than the treadmill, awesome! Other than that, some puttering around and random emails and work today.

Wanted to pass on some flashcards from the other day for today's post:



This one's my favorite, Uzbek fruits and vegetables!



And one quick photo:

My famous beanie baby monkey who guards the fruit stash! :)
Special shout out to all the lovely people who have been reading UzbekBrian! We officially have 3500+ visits! Very excited and honored. Thank you for all who have sent in lovely comments and emails, your support means a lot to me.

See you soon!

Xayr,
Brian

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Day 45: Busy Saturday - Great Yoga Practice & More Fruit Finds

Assalomu alaykum!

Great Saturday! Had a nice sleep, the weekend was much welcome. Busy morning with some computer work and catching up on random tasks, then some cleaning and scurrying around the dorm, preparing food, etc. Usual weekend items, feels good just to putter! Then headed off to yoga and got caught in a flash flood! But made it nonetheless and it was fun to witness. Couldn't miss my last weekend class here!

After a great practice felt like a million bucks and am overall very grateful for having been able to attend yoga while here and find a ever renewed interest in continuing. Feels so strengthening and relaxing at the same time. Stopped at the Safeway for some nectarines and mangos and melons and then walked back to the dorm for a quick dip in the pool before heading in for the night. Great day!

Tomorrow, some more studying items, flashcards, blog info, etc. See you soon!

Pics from today:

Random but delicious lunch to use up leftover lettuce leaves and melons
Flash flood in Tempe!
Me and Danielle, my yoga teacher, outside the studio. Thank you for your tips and support and for such great classes here!
Couldn't pass up these giant delicious good-ripeness 2/$5 honeydew melons!
Awesome pool & cool weather
Delicious stonefruit in the house! :)
Ertagacha xayr,
Brian

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Day 43: Uzbek Test Review! Quick Vocab Link Pass-on

Was already for bed and realized I didn't post tonight! Can't miss a day. Go check out the new vocab at Quizlet.com/UzbekBrian for now, and I'll be back with more tomorrow!

Brian

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Day 42: Practice Using Uzbek Modals for Necessity/Obligation/Possibility (Kerak/Shart/Mumkin)

Assalomu alaykum!

Quick post today! Passing on my homework using the topic I introduced the other day, Uzbek modal words.

Tonight's homework is below (sort of like a "do's and don'ts" practice) and is linked here:



:)

Xayr,
Brian

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Day 41: Trip to Golden Valley Uzbek Restaurant in Phoenix! Photos & Videos from Uzbek Club Outing

Assalomu alaykum!

Fun day today! Regular class in the morning continuing our unit on food and restaurant etiquette, which came in handy this afternoon on our trip to Golden Valley Uzbek Restaurant! For Uzbek Club this week our teachers and administration treated us tonight at an unassuming yet cool-to-visit center of Uzbek culture and cuisine right here in Phoenix. Good times had by all. And an awesome dinner! Feasted on delicious melon (a variety from the Ferghana Valley in Uzbekistan) grown locally. What a treat, thank you so much!

Here is a video with fun clips and pictures from tonight:



And another one, speaking Uzbek featuring the local melons:



And of course pictures for sharing and viewing:

With the Uzbek teachers
Har kishiga katta rahmat! Thank you everyone! See you tomorrow.

Xayr,
Brian