gossip!

If you read this blog for deep, philosophical thought or to discover cultural information so deeply rooted in the depths Kyrgyz culture that one would need a pair of ratnose pliers to get it out, then my friend, today is not your day. For on this day of days, my friend, I bring to your doorstep none other than the famed: Gossip! Yes Gossip! Snatches of tales, true or untrue, told between the giggliest of fourteen-year-old girls! So get ready for the juciest gossip in Kyrgyzstan!

A few days ago was Amy's birthday. So, Mahima and Wilbur thought they would do something funny. They dressed up in Kyrgyz clothes (Wilbur had a Kalpak on) and with Kyrgyz expressions (the Kyrgyz are very solemn picture-taking people) on their faces they took a picture. They were both sitting on a futon with, as I have said, very solemn expressions on their faces with the words "Mahima's New Kyrgyz Husband" written across the bottom. In the text of the message it said that Mahima was getting happily married to Udiapur (or some other Kyrgyz name) or "we sometimes call him 'Wilbur.'" Some much needed background information now: Wilbur is a Chinese-American so he looks like a Kyrgyz person to the average laykishi. Mahima is Indian-American, but that's neither here nor there in this story. Mahima sent this picture to a few close friends thinking they would get a good chuckle out of it. Wilbur, however, sent it to Mahima's entire mass email list including such people as her parents and distant relitives, friends from Germany, America and India, old College Professors, and just about everyone Mahima had ever met.

Well, these people from different parts of the world did not know that it was a joke nor who Amy was nor that this "Amy" was having a birthday. They thought that Mahima was getting hitched to a random Kyrgyz man named Udiapur or, "Wilbur." Mahima and Wilbur both had some congratulations and some angry messages (especially from Mahima's parents) in their Inboxes when they checked. Mahima got messages from friends (as did Wilbur) saying how happy they were for her and that they had no idea that she was even engaged! Mahima's father said something to the effect of, "Why did you do this without telling us! Come home now! You are not mature enough to be helping people!" No kidding! He really said that! If anyone's ever seen "Bend it like Beckham" (it's a shame I'm comparing a race of people to a movie) you know how the Indian parents were in that. *I hang my head in shame* Uyat! Uyat! Although having never met Mahima's parents I assume (perhaps rather ignorantly) that they are somewhat like that. Well, Mahima is still trying to get things cleared up back home and switch angry faces (hopefully) into laughing ones, but, as of now, America, Germany and India are pissed and confused (but donning the mask of happiness) at Mahima and Udaiapur.