V-in-V (Indonesian Blogger in Saigon)

Riskul is the young girl on the farthest right in the picture below. She was one of my Kazakh students while I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Karatau, Kazakhstan. At least once or twice a month, I think about Riskul. My memory of her never goes away. In August, 1998, Riskul died in an accident inside her house. Several days later, I attended her funeral with Raihan, her class teacher, and several of her classmates. I still remember how my students cried when entering the room where her body lay wrapped inside a traditional Kazakh carpet. I remember the wailing the Kazakh women made and how time slowed down as I was viewing her body. Her face was so pale.  A teacher should NEVER have to go to their student’s funeral…

(The only picture I have with Riskul (on the right) smiling)

Related posts:

1. My Kazakh Students – Today One of my Kazakh Karatau Lyceum students, Alpamys, contacted me...
2. Memories of Kazakhstan Sometimes it is hard to believe that I left Kazakhstan...
3. Alpamys Bakytuly One of my Kazakh students back when I was...
4. Best English School in Saigon Many expat English teachers have probably not heard of this...
5. Vietnamese Body Painting Some interesting photos from the VietnamNet Bridge demonstrating artist Ngo...