Fire station

Mason and I went to the local fire station today. Mason loves fire stations and firefighters so he had a blast. There was as small museum inside where we learned that an oil fire lasted an entire year. The people from Kazakhstan, then Russia, then China could not put it out, but the good USA did. That made me proud.
Mason liked looking at the uniforms the firemen wear, including what looked like a space suit, but it was actually used to battle 800 degree heat for 20 minutes.
Overall the people were very nice and I felt safer knowing they have a fire station here. Enjoy the pics.

Cameron's 6th Birthday Party

Cameron had a pirate themed 6th birthday party. He was very excited about the treasure hunt and all the activities we had planned. Some of them were: Pin the eye patch on the pirate, getting tattoos, treasure hunt, drinking crocodile blood, eating chocolate spiders, rice crispy skulls and finger puppet cup cakes, and of course musical chairs. We had kids from the US, Australia, Venezuela, and Russia. Stacey had lots of goodies for the kids including, tattoos, rings, finger puppets, hats, eye patches, binoculars, necklaces, bandanas, and lots of candy. Everyone went home happy. Cameron received many nice gifts and is already talking about his next birthday party.

A night out in KZ

The other Saturday night we went out with friends to a local bowling alley. We can a good blend of couples from the US, UK, and Australia. It was a typical bowling alley with lanes, colorful bowling balls, an assortment of beverages, and loud music.
An interesting difference is that the pins were held by strings. Needless to say the pins did not fall as easy and often times the same pins that were knocked down were put back up. Even if you knocked down the same pins again you would not get the points.
In addition to the bowling, Stacey had an interesting experience when using the restroom. First, there was no toilet seat. Second, there was a bucket of water next to the toilet to put into the toilet so you could flush it. Third, in order to wash your hands there was a bottle of water you had to use because again, no running water. Bowling anyone.

Clinic

With the weather changing people are going to get sick. We have not escaped the common cold and all have been sick at one point or another. I had a cold, but I guess it did not go away quietly because it caused me to get a middle ear infection. Worst of all is that it caused by ear drum to burst. I stayed up all night because of the pain. I went to the clinic without an appointment, but the doctor (from South Africa) was able to see me after he attended to an emergency. The emergency was that a Frenchman was traveling thru Atyrau the night before on his motorcycle and hit a camel. Not unusual for around here. I asked the doctor if he was injured and he said that he may have broken his legs. After a week the doctor wanted to look at my ear and I followed up on the Frenchman. The doctor just causally told me the he won't be walking out with both legs. Needless to say my ear drum busting was not that big a deal compared to this guy. Now if only I could get my hearing back. I like to show you pictures with my blog, but the only good picture of the clinic is the sign. Except for the other picture, this is a building just across the street from the clinic.

Halloween

Happy Halloween!!!

Cameron was a pirate and Mason was a fireman. They had a wonderful filling up on sweets. We did the trick or treating in Dostyk (the community where we live) and it was very nice. People were overly generous on the candy and it was nice to be in a neighborhood where there was no cars, your felt safe, and you knew everybody.

Enjoy the pics.

Walking between Continents

Today the boys and I walked from Europe to Asia and back again. In Atyrau, KZ the Ural River separates the two continents. We drive over this bridge everyday to take Mason to school. How often can you say you go to school on another continent? It only takes about 15 mintues to get there from our house, but I think it is pretty neat to say.

It wasn't the best day to walk being it cold and dusty, but not unusual weather for around here. The boys always enjoy looking at the river to see what is going on. The water is murky and dirty, but during the summer many people swim and fish in it. I can't wait for winter to go ice fishing and skating on the river. It does get that cold here. I have even heard that cars drive on the river. Can't wait to see that.

Mosque

I visited a Mosque today with Cameron’s class. It is right across the street from where we live and we hear the call to prayer five times a day. To enter the mosque, everyone must remove their shoes, women must have their hair covered with a scarf, and women also pray in a separate room away from the men. The carpet has a rectangular design so everyone has their own space to pray.

Muslim is the religion here except most people do not abide by the rules of the religion. Fridays are also a big day to go to the Mosque. It is nice to learn the Kazak culture and also have Cameron teach me what he learns in his class. I hope you enjoy the pictures and a few of the sites from Atyrau, Kazakhstan.

Turkey Vacation Part 2

Our stay in Antalya, Turkey was very enjoyable. The weather was great and the food was delicious. Since I can't get good ice cream in Kazakhstan, I had it every chance I got and that was about every meal. I also enjoyed a Turkey dish called Adana Kebab (had it three times).

The boys loved playing in the kids club. They swam, ate, did the trapeze, trampoline, treasure hunts, sand caste building, face painting, etc. Needless to say they were very happy. It was their first time at the beach and the pictures show how much they loved that part.

We even learned a little French while we were there since the resort was a French resort. You have to think about what you are saying because I would want to say French, but Russian, English, or sometimes Spanish would come out. I will get better with the different languages with time.

Stacey and I were able to reconnect and we took advantage of some of the activities they had such as snorkeling, windsurfing, wake boarding, and relaxing.

We are already planning the next vacation, but this one will be hard to beat.

You may see us in Thailand or France next so stay tuned.

Turkey Vacation

This may be a long story, but then again I am known for great stories (he he).

On our departure from the airport we showed up somewhat late. As we are checking in I realize that I had not taken pictures of our bags. Not a big deal, but since we borrowed 3 bags from friends (to stay under the European weight limit - 20kgs/bag) I thought it would be a good idea so I started taking pictures while the bags were moving on the belt with my phone. They told me in Russian you can't do that and to delete the pictures. I proceeded to try and delete the pictures for a minute or two. They asked me if the pictures were deleted, but I couldn't figure it out so I just said yes. They never checked my phone. Tight security.

Since we checked in late we got the very last seats on the plane. Don't you just love it when you have to sit by the bathroom. The sights the smells. AHHHH. Before we took off a man asked if I wanted the window seat because he told me he would be in the bathroom a while. I told him the row next to me was empty and I like aisle seats better anyway.

After the 3 hour plane trip to Instabul we had a 5 hour layover. We immediately went to Starbucks so Stacey could get her fix. Then we went to have lunch at Burger King. A little hard to find until we asked. $40 later we had our bellies full of fast food. Tell me again why I eat that stuff anyway.

It was back to Starbucks since they had the cushy chairs. We proceeded to watch a movie and while doing that Stacey noticed a flash coming from behind her. She didn't think much of it, but after a lady came up to us and asked if she could take a picture of the boys she had a pretty good idea.

People in Turkey loved the boys to say the least. They wanted to touch them, kiss them, hug them, and take their pictures. It makes you feel uncomfortable and the boys were too at times. What do you say, no and look like the mean Americans. We still don't have a nice way to tell people no.

After a few pics and a movie later we decided to make our way to the gate for our next flight. We left early to the gate and I thought we had plenty of time. Boy was I wrong. Since all the times are in military I though it was 5:15pm for the departure, but it was actually 3:15pm. It was 3pm when we noticed. So we were off. God was looking out for us because we still had to check in and go thru security. Thank the Lord there were no lines in each and we got to the gate with a few minutes to spare. Stacey gave me a nice look and of course I sad I am sorry.

Again since we checked in late we got the last seats on the plane. It was only an hour flight and then another hour cab ride.

Well, it was not that easy. After we landed we exited the plane onto the ground and proceeded to go to baggage claim. All the bags came, but not ours. There were signs of people's names who were to go on a bus to the international terminal, but Stacey said our names were not on it. There were two signs, but who knows. So off we were walking to the international terminal. I go in and the show them my baggage stubs and then walk to the belt where our bags are. They had made it and we were glad.

The cab was usual. Crazy driver. You are thinking pick a lane, lay off the horn, and not so close to the other car.

An hour later we are there. Hurray!

Our Shipment Has Arrived

It has been 10 weeks since we left and it amazing what you get used to. Don't get me wrong having your things never felt better, but a part of me feels that we can all do with so much less.

In trying to pack for a year’s worth of items we quickly went through our 7,500 lbs limit. About 1/3 was food and some things we have brought over such as brownie mix, rotel, and beans (all good types) you can't get here. Overall we did a good job of bringing what we needed except for the fact that not everything we thought we would get made it. We can't say if the items are with the rest of our things in storage, the packing crew now has them, or a customs agent took home more that day than he brought in. We are leaning towards they are not in storage and will try to claim them. Some items are batteries, rollerblades, and oh did I mention that our brand new mattress just doesn't feel the same. Ah, the joys of moving.

It was interesting to see how the men taking the items off the truck never used a dolly or a ramp. A bit sketchy, but considering where we are living it in not too bad. All 193 boxes were in fare shape and we all spent the next week unpacking. Enjoy the pics and we leave for a vacation to the Mediterranean this week for 10 days so I will send pics of the house next time and the vacation.

Size Comparisons

We all know that things are bigger in Texas. I was able to compare a box of Cheerios from the US and Kazakhstan. Funny thing is the one from Kazakhstan costs more. When you go the grocery store here people look at you funny if you fill up your basket. Locals buy things just for the day. We tend to buy things for the unforeseen future.

I had an experience once at the store that I guess this old lady was tired of me checking out and she just wanted to move my basket out of the way so she just pushes it. Strange, but personal place here is much closer than back home. Also while checking out I will still be putting my groceries on the belt and the next person in line will just start putting their items on the belt too. You get used to it, but it takes time.

Mason's 1st Day of School

Mason had his first day at his new school today. Since he is only 3 he has to attend a different school than Cameron called QSI. It is an English speaking school that allows several companies and some local children to attend.
Mason is growing up right before our very eyes. He was so excited to go to school and make new experiences. Mason loves the fact that we take a car, which we call a taxi, to school every day.
Mason was quickly loved by all and did not cry one bit. He even asked Stacey if it was okay for him to go play in his classroom. (What a good boy) All the teachers quickly fell in love with him and had to tell him goodbye several times when he left. The only bad thing that happened was that Mason stuck his finger in the door, but he is so tough that it didn’t bother him in the least.

Cameron's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Cameron had his first day of Kindergarten today. He was happy and excited about his new friends and school. Mason cried when Cameron left and said, “I miss my brother.” Cameron will come home for lunch every day. On his first day he couldn’t wait to go back for his computer class. He will also have the chance to get individual attention from his teacher, Mrs. Chen, since there are only four girls and two boys in his class. In a camp community that we live in you see the same people all the time. Cameron will see his teacher after class too since she lives only two houses away. We look forward to Cameron’s development here and the many exciting stories it will bring.

Pepe's Place

It is so cute that our dog, Pepe, watches us from our second story window when we come and go. I know you can barely see him so I attached another picture so you can see who the big man in the house is.

Stacey couldn't travel without him. He brings everyone so much joy and comfort.

All the kids here like him too. Even adults who don't like dogs have a soft spot in their hearts for him.

Electricity

Over the last two weeks, we have experienced many power outages. They are not long. Sometimes a second or two, but it has fried an alarm clock and a baby monitor. In addition to the power outages, we have different voltage, cycles, and outlets. Since we came from the states where we have 110 volts, 50 cycles, and three hole outlets to 220 volts, 60 cycles, and two holes could also be the problem we have lost two electronics. Now we are learning to buy European electronics. One nice thing is that the home we have has both 110V and 220V outlets.

How to care for a garden the Kazak way

Being an avid gardener or at least I used to; I noticed how the gardening and watering are done here and just had to share.
The workers build up small mounds of dirt around gardens to create a pool effect so when they water the plants all they have to do is turn on a hose and leave. Sometimes they leave for hours and I have even seen overnight. Sprinklers and hoses are a luxury here so I am assuming this is the best way to get the job done. I don’t know if they realize that once the water goes past the deepest roots it is wasteful.
In addition to the watering they seem to cut off the tops of trees that were just planted. What I mean by trees might be different than you think. Trees are planted here with little to no support and the circumference is a twice that of a pencil. To cut the top of the tree at that size only hinders the tree from reaching its true height.
With little knowledge and very little tree experience I can understand why this can happen. When you fly into the airport you don’t see one tree for miles. As things westernize I am hoping this will get better.

Typical Experience

There are lots of little experiences that happen and you forget to share them with others, but yesterday was interesting enough to post.

When we arrived here the entire house was painted bright white. It starts to get to you since we are used to color and most of our things have not arrived yet, so I decided to paint the kitchen and dining room. Off I went to what I was told was a good paint store. I took my housekeeper (in case I needed a translator) and the boys. It was a small building with paint tubs of different sizes displayed on the floor. I knew the color because I had the code from the swatch.

I ask how much the smallest size was (around a gallon and a half). The response I was told was around $4. I thought that was cheap, but knew I did not want to have to mix paint later fearing it might not match so I asked what the next size up was. (around 4 gallons) I was told $35. I decided to get the larger one. When I went to pay I was told there were no lights. That means no electricity. Common here in Atyrau. I decided to pay and come back after an hour. Next discovery was how much the price changed. The total was now $125. Big difference, but what other choices do I have. Supposedly when you add color the price jumps or did I just get taken to the cleaners? I paid my money, but they did not have change and neither did I. I told them I could bring change back when I came back to pick it up. The change was 7 cents.

As I was buying the paint, the boys were curiously looking around. An older local was talking to them in Kazak and Cameron just looked at him. My housekeeper told the boys that the man was asking what their names are. Cameron told him and then we soon left. I told Cameron in the car that not everyone here understands English so we have to learn another language to communicate better.

When I got home the bug spray man was spraying the house. Back in the states he would spray along the edges of the walls. Not here. The man wore a mask and was spraying the entire floor except for the edges. It must have been strong since he was wearing a mask, but you would think he would be mindful of things in the house such as shoes, furniture, dog bowls, and the boy’s toys. I think you know the answer to that one.

I did get the paint and it is working out well and I will only have the bug man spray the outside next time.

On to the next experience.

More Food Experiences

There are many influences on food in Kazakhstan. It may be from Russia, Turkey, or India to name a few. Most Kazak food is very bland. You never realize how much you miss flavor until it is taken away from you. Luckily some of the spices at the grocery store have English on them, but it is hard to make things when the words are in a different language. Stacey got me this candy bar just for men. You would never see this in the states. At a meat market, I received matches for change. This is a common practice when they do not have small change and since smoking is so cheap and common here it is accepted.

Another change is that customer service does not exist. Instead of getting whatever the customer wants, they just say no and that is it. They will inconvenience you before they are inconvenienced. It seems they are always asking me if I have smaller bills. They say, "melch" which means change. Sometimes I just look back at them and shrug my shoulders as to say this is all I have. Whoever is prepared to wait the longest usually wins.

Happy 4th of July

We do not get the same holidays off as we would being back in the states, but since a local holiday fell on Monday the 7th, Stacey was able to take off then. No fireworks, but they did try and do a barbecue with hamburgers, sausage, and horse meat. Doesn't sounds too bad except that the food does not have the same taste as you would have. You get all excited for hamburgers, but you can't even compare it to what you are used too. Happy 4th.

Arrival of Air Shipment

We received our air shipment. It took almost 3 weeks to get to us. That was expected, but you don't realize how much you miss your things. It really was like Christmas in July. The boys must have run up and down the stairs 20 times putting things in the correct rooms. They were a big help. I let them play in the three boxes the shipment came in after we were finished. Enjoy their smiles. We always do.

Stacey's First Day @ Work

The boys and I surprised Stacey with flowers on her first day at work. (The boys picked the colors red and pink since red is Stacey's favorite color and I like her in pink.) All the local women there loved to bring the boys around to meet everyone and all gave them candy. Do you think the boys want to go back? You already know that answer.

Food

Obviously the food with be different. From the way it is prepared to the different language that is on the packages. We have not tried anything too far off the beaten path although we did try sushi with our new Australian friends. The main shockers so far are the $5 Pringles, the $180 turkey that weighed 15lbs (there was only 2 in the store), and the $20 small bottle of Teriyaki sauce. The people here live for the day so the shopping carts are small and almost no one fills them up. The government regulates the price of staples such as bread and that is very cheap. Vodka and cigarettes are cheap too. You can get vodka cheaper than water and cigarettes for under a $1.

An experience I had a market recently was a pack of little boys followed us to the car asking for money. The older boy was very persistent. He kept asking even when we got into the car. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He then decided to jump onto the floor board of the SUV and ride along. The local driver tried to use words to get him off the car and him even road with him through the parking lot and onto the main street. Once on the main street the driver would take his seat belt off as if to get out of the car and the boy would jump off and start running away, but as soon as the driver would put his seat belt back on the boy would jump back on the car. This happened 3 times before the boy finally stopped. We were not in fear for ourselves, but for this boy. I don't know if his parents put him up to this or if we was really in need. We are discouraged from doing anything since it will only intensify the situation.

TV in KZ

When we arrived it was nice to know that we had a settling in kit which had some food, linens, TV, vacuum cleaner, etc. It is weird to eat cheese for the first time out of a bag you put your groceries in, but you get over it fast. When I turned on the TV for the first time it was funny to see Jerry Springer and TV shows about 5 years old. I guess if I ever missed a show I may be able to catch it now. They have lots of soccer or futbol and or course rugby. Man those guys can hit.

Preparing to move

Moving overseas is quite a challenge. I believe we all get accustomed to having our things, but don't realize it until we have to do without them. We thought we would get to bring most of them until the end of the first day the movers were packing and they told us we were going to be over the 7,500 lbs we are allotted. Needless to say we were a little depressed because for the past 3 months we have been buying new things and getting used to the idea of taking certain items with us. It all worked out in the end, but we had to go to the warehouse where they store our items and off load 1,000 lbs. NOT FUN. We learned from this experience and will not make the same mistake twice.

First Impressions of Kazakhstan

On my first visit to Atyrau, Kazakhstan I had some unforgettable experiences. One of them was when we went to an outdoor market where there was fresh fruit and vegetables. There were also different types of meat and fish. When I ventured into the meat area, I was mesmerized by the sight of what looked like a barn. As I got closer, I noticed blood on the ground. As I got to the entrance a wheel barrow went right beside me carrying different parts on a cow. There was cow heads everywhere you looked. There were also full slabs of beef hanging on the walls. It took me back that these things still existed. At least we never have to see how things are cut back home. In the back of this room was a man cutting the meat with an ancient looking axe on a 2 foot wooden block. I just had to take a picture even though it does not fully capture the experience. After I took a few pictures I was greeted by a worker with a firmly raised middle finger. That was my sign to leave. I walked out thinking it could have been a sight in a movie, but not real life. All the other experiences I had that trip put me in the right mindset to lower all expectations. See the pictures and look closely.