June 8 (Kaz)

June 8

The other night we went shopping and I saw these lovely littel gnomes. I thought to myself "Hmmm, what would Robbie want from Kazakhstan as a lovely souvenier? GNOMES". Luckily there was no room iny any luggage to pack them, and it would cost like a bazzillion tenge to mail them home, so they will remain in the store in the Italian Mall in Astana along with the other ugly souveniers.

Rob wanted more pictures of Andrew, and here are a couple from the day. I got him a new hat for 200 tenge, but it was too small so it only lasted a day. One more contribution for the orhpanage. He was not a fan of the Tigger Woods hat, so we went back to the other Nike skull cap thing. He is also sporting some stolen clothes. The clothes we bought here either shrunk too much or have been mysteriously distributed amongst the other kids. So now we are wearing clothes other kids brought from home. Orange is not really his color, but it will do for another couple weeks.

For dinner we went out with another American family to share battle wounds fo our adoption process. We went to the Oasis, one of the places with an English menu, non-smoking floor and Air Conditioning: Triple Play! Part of the menu is Beer Foods, and I got these pringles arranged in the shape of a flower, well ok a flower blowing in the Astana wind.

I've been living here for a month and a half now and have not known my address, at least how to spell it. I've just been telling peopel Titanic and they find their way here. the other day, yes after a month here, I noticed the address on the side of the building where I meet the driver each day. The name of the strret is pronounded Ear-Chenk-Oh. I have no idea what k-CI is. If there was a Doinoes Delivery Man here I guess it would be important, but I do not have those worries.

While we were out on one of our walks we ran across this billboard for BM ENERGY. Given the amount of cabbage rolls that are consumed here, we found it huorous, but I did get my fair share of stares as I took a picture of a billboard which no one else found humorous.

And for when you eat too much, or maybe get a hold of some rancid honey from your roommate, these footsteps will led you in the right direction.

The other night we had the muchies, well ok we were just stocking up on

bottled water and Tide, I saw these little packets at the Kazak 7-eleven. I decided to treat myself to the 134 tenge (a little over a dollar) for a Kazak Facial of Face Food. Just as the package said, my face was "delicious and glistening". Not quite the same as a facial at Linda's House Of Wax, but it did provide entertainment for a night, and give me the urge to each Peaches.

Here are some pictures along the RiverWalk by our apartment. The cranes in the background are pretty much in every direction you look.