The Walkings and Talkings of Gingerbread Bear

The following is a series of photographs taken over the course of one day in the life of Gingerbread Bear, an altruistic pastry that lives and works in the city of Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. This is a humble attempt to share his daily routines and actions, so that other people can gain a greater mental image and/or understanding of what happens in a regular day.

Gingerbread Bear is an American citizen, has no legs, has a penchant for indie rock, and enjoys debating the finer points of global diplomatic politics. Also, he fears milk and pigeons.

Gingerbread Bear stops at a local fruit and vegetable stand on his way to the Public Foundation Challenge office.

Everyday starts with a little sunshine! Gingerbread Bear greets his counterpart and colleague, Dina.

Sometimes, Gingerbread Bear gets yelled at by his primary organization director, Elena Bondareva, for no reason whatsoever. It is comical.

Despite having no thumbs, Gingerbread Bear types away on grant opportunities, strategic plan outlines, translations and other lesson plans.

Gingerbread Bear assists Dina in writing a program plan to help the people of Pavlodar combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and the abuse of drugs. What a pastry!

The nice weather calls to the inner depths of Gingerbread Bear's place where a heart should be, and he has to bust out of the office. Let's go for a walk to the city library and see what's happening.

Wow! Some of the books that Gingerbread Bear's friends and supporters have generously sent are now being prominently displayed in the New Books section of the library. Check em' out!

Gingerbread Bear can't resist a good literary description utilizing baseball, and goes directly to the Hemingway section.

Hey, how are you? Gingerbread Bear is greeted by the director of the International Language section. And yes, we will have tea together.

Back to the office...but look at that fountain! Gingerbread Bear gleefully -- yet carefully -- looks on.

Would you take a look at that! It's the fifth longest river in the world, the Irtyish! 'I can't wait to get my tan on', thinks Gingerbread Bear.

Gingerbread Bear passes through the WWII memorial park to check out the eternal flame. Gingerbread Bear notes that the flame seems to only be blazing on weekends and holidays.

Gingerbread Bear quietly observes the student preparations for May 9th (Victory Day).

Nobody is forgotten. Gingerbread Bear doesn't forget about the sacrifices of the men and women of the armed forces.

Gingerbread Bear gazes upon one of the numerous Nursultan Nazarbayev billboards in town with an ironic reverance. 'Huh, we could be twins!' exclaims Gingerbread Bear.

It's getting hot. 'Good thing I don't have any cream filling,' he muses.

Danger lurks around every corner. Gingerbread Bear narrowly avoids death by pigeon.

This is Gingerbread Bear's language class. 'They speak English gooder than I do', Gingerbread Bear claims.

'Hello, ladies!' Gingerbread Bear stops to greet the helpful secretaries of New Generation Language Center.

Gingerbread Bear unlocks his door with his key/eye gouger.

Time to greet Гриб (GRB), his trusty friend and pet. He is unafraid of him, for they are dear friends.

Time to study and improve those Russian language skills. 'This is futile', bemoans Gingerbread Bear (editor's note: yes, it is).

Gingerbread Bear checks out the fridge for dinner. 'Hmmm...Kvas could be good right about now...'

Turns out Gingerbread Bear only has potatoes for dinner. 'I never expected to eat like a king being a United Gingerbread Volunteer, but this inflation and lack of proper government support and funding due to silly in-fighting is killing me', Gingerbread Bear complains.

Gingerbread Bear talks to his dear friend, Baurzahn Ablyavich, and talks about life, philosophy, work and an astounding amount of odd topics. 'No, I didn't know that about the seven levels of sociological study, Baurzahn', replies Gingerbread Bear.

'Who needs a girlfriend to keep you warm at night, when you can rest well knowing you can wash your socks and undies by hand before going to bed?' says Gingerbread Bear to himself out loud, kinda depressingly. Either way, Gingerbread Bear turns in for the night, thinking and dreaming about the next day full of surprises and fun.

THE END

I was recently invited to be a guest speaker at one of the local universities to give a presentation on the US.

I was also invited to give a presentation on the electoral process in America. For some reason, I brought the flag of Pennsylvania, and students went nuts for it.