May 09, Part Jen

May 09, Part Jen


It was still a holiday here so we could not see junior again today. Rob spent the afternoon recuperating from these foreign germs by watching Star Wars movies and finishing up some laundry. What better way to celebrate the Kazak holiday celebrating freedom from the Germans in World War II. You’d think with all of this hand sanitizer we would have warded off the germs, but I guess a couple made their way through our defenses. Apparently orphanages are the Petri dishes of germs like day care centers are at home.

I headed out to the holiday festival which had a lot of green metal military fighting machines, and marching bands in unattractive band uniforms….some things are constant regardless of culture.




But they do have really pretty flags here, and some impressive looking murals of military guys sitting around shooting the breeze and buildings with fountains are everywhere. The greenish blue flag is the Kazak flag, and the blue/red/yellow flag we think is the Astana city flag.

























They also had an eternal flame near one of the monuments, and it was a big eternal flame, not like those puny little red plastic/glass enclosed things we have. Of course they had the obligatory unhappy looking guy guarding it, along with kids trying to make him move.













The festivities also had a stage with gigantic flowers and some marching bands. I don’t think I’ve ever seen flowers that big.















Another family from our agency arrived today, so now we have more people to talk to. We went to a little mall to have lunch (beets and corn) and shopping. They also had a rug store, so I stopped in and took pictures for Rob to see if these are the rugs he’s looking for. Hopefully one will strike his fancy and our quest for a rug can come to a close.


The first night in our apartment the owner sent her driver over to drop off some cleaning supplies. Her driver did not speak English but he was to arrive at 7pm. When we heard the door bell, which sound like chirping birds, we opened the door, which takes about 5 minutes with all of our Fort Knox locks. Instead of the driver at the door, we found some Russian speaking lady who was saying something about a hospital and baby blah blah blahsky. We had no idea what she wanted and within a minute the driver showed up and shoed her away. It kind of freaked us out. So then last night we get a call from some woman who said she left a bunch of clothes in our ‘flat’. We thought we were getting scammed so we had her call our translator. After about 4 or 5 calls between the owner, us, the translator and the lost clothing lady we decided it was legit and she came over. Rob sauntered out to the porch, ready to launch an attack in case any hi jinx took place. As it turns out, the woman, who I might add was quite attractive (Rob never saw her) had left about a half dozen Wonder Bras and bikinis in the entertainment center next to the Television in the living room. I’m not sure what to make of the situation, but I cleaned the apartment extra good last night. And for any lecherous men out there, and you know who you are, no I did not get a photo of her.

In Kazakhstan everyone has cell phones. But these people go overboard with their ring tones. Walking down the street, or when we are out with our Kazak Posse, you hear a multitude of very high pitched ring tones that sound like they are from an old Get Smart! Episode. And everyone answers Da Da Da Da Da! It sounds like they are always in a hurry. We don’t bother with a cell phone here since most of the time we are with someone from the in country team….and if we’re not then we are not far from the apartment. Instead we just use the phone in our apartment, which when it rings sounds like 40 chipmunks in heat. It is quite disturbing.

If I have not mentioned our bathroom yet, it’s colossal…at least compared to our bathroom at home. There’s a big tub, which is about a foot higher than the ones at home which makes for a challenge trying to step out of it in the morning. There’s a washing machine, sink and potty in there, and then an area in the middle large enough to do calisthenics.

Yesterday we had lunch at the Chelsea English Pub, which apparently is Russian for Extremely Overpriced Food. I had tomato soup and potato skins for the stately sum of about $15. And Rob had a chicken parts sandwich for about the same. But they did have the oddest Hot Chocolate I have ever tasted. You know that scene from Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory where they first arrive in Wonka Land and there’s that chocolate river? Well, that’s what my Hot Chocolate taste and looked like…..after adding a ton of vanilla. It was so thick that when I scooped up some and let a bit drip back into the cup, there was no splash. I needed a liter of water to wash it down. Or, image eating raw Brownie batter…..then you can imagine what my drink was like. When you ask for Hot Chocolate, that is literally what you get. Since the translation was so literal, I am afraid to ask what the Milk Cocktail was on the menu.

The other night, in a moment of sheer boredom, we decided to prepare the gift bags that we will give out for when we leave. We brought lotion and fragrance sets, and pens/pencil and post-it note gift sets for the caregivers and other orphanage people. I have to thank my neighbor, HRR, for buying awesome gift bags and tissue paper. She did a great job buying girlie looking things. The gift bags are all lined up on our oh so fancy chine cabinet, stacked with fine chine and tons of wine and shot glasses. These Kazak’s are ready to party.


In case you are wondering if the Cadbury Company makes any horrible chocolate? Yes, they do and it’s sold in Kazakhstan under the name “Whispa” which is Russian for Dark Chocolate That The Land Of Sugar Forgot. I am not one to discard a snackie, but I’ll leave this one to the dumpster divers.

While we were out and about today I took a picture of this stylin’ car. I’m sure my niece Megan will think it’s cool and want to tool around York College in it.















Hopefully tomorrow our colds will be gone and we can go back to playing with junior, who may be named Arman York Taylor…..or maybe not. Gotta keep you guessing.