The snow!

Aren't we all glad that Al Gore is a bad scientist!?
You aren't the only ones freezing over there! The snow hit us here too! We walked in around 3 with a flake or two and walked out at 5 to a white wonderland! It's beautiful! We have several more videos we are going to post for you all if we could ever find an internet cafe that actually can stand uploading a video file.
Charlotte and I have had a cold for the past week, but we are recovering steadily. Our sniffles didn't stop us from heading up into the moutains to dip in a hot spring, too cool. We've got some great video from there that we're sure you'll love. It seemed like everytime a Kyrgyz man riding bareback with a big furry hat lassoed a bull we happen to have the lens cap on or something, sorry. But you'll see the video soon enough and we think it'll still be fun for you.
I'm sure you've heard in the news about the Manas Airbase that is closing. That's bad news for everyone, even the Kyrgyzi. Charlotte and I have never heard anyone complain about the base before and a few people have commented on how brutally the gov't controlled news treats the American's presence. Supposedl they are keen to report any accidents or troubles, but leave out the school, orphanages, contruction projects, and most of all, the EMPLOYMENT that the base offers scores and scores of people here in Kyrgyzstan. Although the American press would like to believe there is still some negotiation that can take place, there isn't. Bakiyev signed the closing of the base and the Americans have one year to exit (unless we had someone who knew foreign policy as our president...). Russia is ecstatic to have another satellite comfortably back under its wing.
Other than that, we are experimenting with new foods and are now totally settled into our new apartment. The snow, which fell heavily a few days ago, is almost melting just as fast!
Charlotte is the most wonderful girl, who is game to trek up the mountains for a hot-spring and off aroudn the city teaching english everyday here and there. Kyrgyzstan is lucky to have her here, to say nothing about all of us and especially myself!