Shanyrak Orphanage

About twice a month I get the joy of volunteering to teach English at the Shanyrak Orphanage. The orphanage consists of children from 2 to 18 years old. They live in groups with all different age ranges and there is even a woman that takes care of them. They call her mother. The children are happy, healthy, and mostly eager to learn English. Since Cameron is on his spring break I took him along this time. Cameron was very excited, but I believe the older children enjoyed his company more.
For doing a good job on their lesson, Cameron gave each younger child a sticker. Stickers still go a long way even in Kazakhstan. After the lessons were finished the older children wanted to show Cameron their rabbits. Cameron even got to feed them and wanted to take one home. Maybe next time Cameron.

Thanksgiving in March

We hosted a team building dinner at our house for Stacey's team and when asked what the nationals would like to eat they requested a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The nationals believe we eat this meal all the time. Unknown to them is the amount of effort it takes to make the meal and to do it all yourself.
I was able to buy a 15lb turkey from the states here in Kazakhstan so of course we had turkey. We also had two types of stuffing, two types of gravy, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, corning pudding; and for desert Kentucky derby pie, pumpkin pie, and vanilla ice cream.
The nationals were very appreciative and tried all the food. As you would expect since the food is different than they are used to, they ate with caution, but I believed they enjoyed the turkey the most.

Nauryz

Nauryz is the holiday of spring. It is celebrated by Oriental nations such as Kazakhstan. According to the Oriental calendar it is a New Year's Eve. We all went to the Mahambet Square where there was a large festival where lots of national go to celebrate Nauryz.

There were vendors selling everything from bananas to shaslik. We were able to see arm wrestling and locals using a swing. (see the pictures and video) Stacey's company had sponsored a yurt that we were able to go in. A yurt is what the nomads used as a home in Kazakhstan. It is a portable dwelling that is cross between a tee pee and a tent. They are very warm, comfortable, and rather large. In the yurt we take off our shoes and sit down to eat local dishes. There was anything from sweets to bish parmak. (a local favorite of noodles and meat) (see the pictures for photos of the inside and outside of the yurt) After the festival we went to the Renaissance hotel with friends from London and celebrated with chocolate donuts and cappuccinos.

Happy Nauryz!!!

Mud

We all take for granted the drains that flow underground to wash away the rain water. Well, I have a new found appreciation for that after seeing how that does not happen here in KZ.

When it rains or snows the water finds the lowest point and gathers there. If it happens to be a place where people walk or drive it gets moved around and on everything. I have put some pictures of the challenges during these times. They are pictures of where I bring Mason to school and a store near Mason's school. The locals are used to it and they all wear boots. There are shoe cleaning stations at just about every public entrance. These stations consist of a bucket of water with a stick and a piece of cloth wrapped around it. It is amazing what you get used to. Or maybe not.

The Crud

The Crud. At least that is what I call it. It is when your are sick with symptoms such as fever, bodyache, night sweats, coffing, running nose, and head conjection just to name a few. Here in KZ, Mason brought it home school and has been sharing with us.

The first two nights he slept in our bed. He NEVER does that so we knew he must have been sick. Bad move on our part since Stacey got sick two days later. I guess getting breathed on for two nights was not a good idea. I must not have learned from that because three days later I got it.

Mason was sick for a week with a constant temperature. His high was almost 106. We could always tell when Mason's temperature was lowering because his mouth would start moving faster and faster the lower the temperature fell. (This boy can sure talk. He even talks when no one is in the room.)

Stacey and I were both sick for a week and longer with the lingering cold. I guess The Crud goes around the world and hopefully next year we can avoid it.