Monday, September 28, 2009
Acupuncture Anyone?
The first picture is the front door of a Chinese doctor who does acupuncture. I have always thought it would be cool to try acupuncture, but after passing this office everyday I'm not sure I would have nerve to step inside. In the back yard there are lots of herbs going in a fenced area. However, there is a big black dog that runs in the garden and in one corner is all the dog's poop piled up in a big pile. Is this part of the medicine?
The next picture is of the apartments right next to our school. They are the ones that make me wonder about my nice apartment and what it would be like to live in one of their apartments.
The last 3 pictures are of my QSI school. It is painted my favorite color. There are beautiful flowers in the entry way. Every QSI school in Kazakhstan envies our playground equipment, because we are the only school that has this huge playground adventure. My kids love it!!!!! An oil company that requested an international school be opened in Aktau paid for it. It is quite fancy. Yesterday I watched a little neighbor boy standing at the fence peering in. I knew he would love to come in and play with my kids. I was so tempted to let him in to play, but I knew I would get in big trouble. I had to turn my back so I couldn't see his little face anymore. When I turned around later he was still there.
The next picture is of the apartments right next to our school. They are the ones that make me wonder about my nice apartment and what it would be like to live in one of their apartments.
The last 3 pictures are of my QSI school. It is painted my favorite color. There are beautiful flowers in the entry way. Every QSI school in Kazakhstan envies our playground equipment, because we are the only school that has this huge playground adventure. My kids love it!!!!! An oil company that requested an international school be opened in Aktau paid for it. It is quite fancy. Yesterday I watched a little neighbor boy standing at the fence peering in. I knew he would love to come in and play with my kids. I was so tempted to let him in to play, but I knew I would get in big trouble. I had to turn my back so I couldn't see his little face anymore. When I turned around later he was still there.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Rescue on the Caspian Sea
I was doing my usual weekend floater activity on the sea where I hang on to a bouy and enjoy the relaxing waves. Saturday when I was blowing up the floater with a foot pump that Marc found for me, a Russian speaking guy about my age came over and started talking. When he realized that I couldn't speak Russian we communicated in sign language. I was telling him that, yes, I was going to take the floater out on the water. He walked back and forth on the beach the whole time I was blowing it up and then was standing there when I went out into the water. (Everyone around here claims the water is cold, but I sure don't mind the temperature!) He laughed and laughed while I was getting on the floater and then I sailed away to my bouy. I was hoping he would be around when I got back and I would let him get on the floater, but he was gone.
The waves were stronger and I was being bounced around so it wasn't the most relaxing thing in the world. I was out there for a long time enjoying the sun and decided to go back in. Right then 2 little sailboats with boys of about 8 or 9 years old sailing them. It looked like fun - maybe I should try that. I was talking to them, but could only understand the word Kazakhstan. I told them I was from America and they got a kick out of that and repeated America several times. I noticed that they were circling closer and closer to me and I couldn't figure out what they were doing. At first I thought maybe they were going to try and make me fall off my floater, but then I saw that they were throwing a rope to me. I didn't know what they wanted, but I grabbed the rope and they started to pull me towards the shore. Then it turned into this funny story. They were rescusing me!!!! The little sail boat really couldn't pull me and I yelled, "I think I am too heavy." The little boy smiled and nodded Yes, but I'm sure he didn't know what I said. Then he got his friend to pull his sailboat up next to his and he jumped out of his boat and stood on the front holding on to the two masts and away we went. It was like a slow motion version of being pulled by a big motorboat. They pulled me almost to shore and I let go of the rope and they headed off waving and smiling after all my thank yous. They probably went home feeling like heroes and are writing a story in school tomorrow how they rescued this elderly crazy American lady who was desperately hanging on to a bouy way out in the Caspian Sea.
The waves were stronger and I was being bounced around so it wasn't the most relaxing thing in the world. I was out there for a long time enjoying the sun and decided to go back in. Right then 2 little sailboats with boys of about 8 or 9 years old sailing them. It looked like fun - maybe I should try that. I was talking to them, but could only understand the word Kazakhstan. I told them I was from America and they got a kick out of that and repeated America several times. I noticed that they were circling closer and closer to me and I couldn't figure out what they were doing. At first I thought maybe they were going to try and make me fall off my floater, but then I saw that they were throwing a rope to me. I didn't know what they wanted, but I grabbed the rope and they started to pull me towards the shore. Then it turned into this funny story. They were rescusing me!!!! The little sail boat really couldn't pull me and I yelled, "I think I am too heavy." The little boy smiled and nodded Yes, but I'm sure he didn't know what I said. Then he got his friend to pull his sailboat up next to his and he jumped out of his boat and stood on the front holding on to the two masts and away we went. It was like a slow motion version of being pulled by a big motorboat. They pulled me almost to shore and I let go of the rope and they headed off waving and smiling after all my thank yous. They probably went home feeling like heroes and are writing a story in school tomorrow how they rescued this elderly crazy American lady who was desperately hanging on to a bouy way out in the Caspian Sea.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A Sweet Day at the Caspian Sea
Dear Folks,
The Caspian Sea is saving me from the hardships of adjusting to a new culture. Marc told me about a nicer beach with whiter sand and no rocks. He was so kind to meet me about noon and walk me to this new beach. He had even found one of those foot pumps to blow up my floater. This floater of mine is sure a deluxe model and has been worth every penny. This beach was right by the boat club, so there were boats in the water and an empty buouy for me to hang on to so that I won't float to Iran.
I am just in heaven hanging out on my floater in the water. It was a beautiful day and when I closed my eyes I could imagine easily being back at McKee's Beach on my floater. There was a boat playing some decent music, some sailboats to watch, a gal water skiing, some guys rowing a blown up boat, the lapping waves, and a beautiful sun. Who would know that I was in Kazakhstan??
Marc ended up heading home and I just hung out on the beach, laying on my floater to get all the air out and soaking up the sun.
Marc had told me about this group of people on the beach that were doing this crazy thing of trying to build a fire without any firework, so they were trying to pull branches off of the little trees along the beach. He could just see them wrecking the trees and we both agreed that it was a STUPID thing to do.
When I was leaving the beach, I passed this group of people having a picnic with their little fire going. I looked their way and the only girl in the group of 7 guys said hello to me. We started talking and she asked me to join them. One of the guys was having a birthday party. The blanket was all spread out and in the middle was a huge platter of potatoes,carrots, and meat which had been cooking on the fire. She had homemade bread and everyone was dipping their bread in the potatoes. It was absolutely delicious! She had also made this salad out of tomatoes and cucumbers which reminded me of something I used to make back in Kentucky with cucumbers. They also had a big platter of sliced meat. The girl's name was Venus and she did all the translating for us. They wanted to know so many things about me. Whenever I said something and Venus translated they all laughed and were so friendly.
I told the group that I didn't think the people in Aktau were very friendly. I told them how I try to smile at people and then I demonstrated what their faces (the people on the street) looked like. They got a kick out of that! When they understood what I was saying, they all started talking at once. They were naming other towns where the people were very friendly. Venus agreed with me about the people here. She said that they have many problems and they look down at the sidewalk all the time thinking about their problems.
Actually, I am starting to get more and more smiles. One guy said that he saw me walking to work every morning. I told him that I hoped I was on my best behavior. He just laughed. Then I found out that he was a soldier guarding the streets and I said, "Wow, I better be on my best behavior." More rounds of laughter. You would have thought I was some movie star or something! Venus told me there were many beautiful places to see in Aktau (which was hard for me to believe) and she wants to take me to see some of them next weekend. She knew all about my school. She used to work there I guess, so she is going to call Art and give him her telephone information so I can get in touch with her. I left feeling so happy that I had made some friends even though they were trying to kill a tree.
On the way home I stopped at three different markets to get the last ingredients for my big lasagne dinner tonight. I got home around 8PM and had so much energy that I made 3 pies....two mixed berry pies and one huge apple pie made in a huge glass baking dish because I didn't have a pie plate. Wanda's secret ingredient for the best pie crust around is an egg and a t.of vinegar. Nick had told me that you really had to be careful of the vinegar they sell because you have to dilute it otherwise it will burn a hole in your stomach and could kill you. So here I am with this bottle of vinegar (70%) trying to decide how to make a pie crust without killing everyone off. I just used a few drops and hoped for the best. I couldn't get the image of everyone keeling over after eating the pie, so I decided to eat some before I went to bed. The crust was really not that great and I could taste the raw sugar, but with ice cream it wasn't too bad. I didn't die during the night so I guess I will serve the pies tonight.
I have to go to start making the lasagne. I'll let you know how that turns out. I love all of you. Love, Mom Rachel
The Caspian Sea is saving me from the hardships of adjusting to a new culture. Marc told me about a nicer beach with whiter sand and no rocks. He was so kind to meet me about noon and walk me to this new beach. He had even found one of those foot pumps to blow up my floater. This floater of mine is sure a deluxe model and has been worth every penny. This beach was right by the boat club, so there were boats in the water and an empty buouy for me to hang on to so that I won't float to Iran.
I am just in heaven hanging out on my floater in the water. It was a beautiful day and when I closed my eyes I could imagine easily being back at McKee's Beach on my floater. There was a boat playing some decent music, some sailboats to watch, a gal water skiing, some guys rowing a blown up boat, the lapping waves, and a beautiful sun. Who would know that I was in Kazakhstan??
Marc ended up heading home and I just hung out on the beach, laying on my floater to get all the air out and soaking up the sun.
Marc had told me about this group of people on the beach that were doing this crazy thing of trying to build a fire without any firework, so they were trying to pull branches off of the little trees along the beach. He could just see them wrecking the trees and we both agreed that it was a STUPID thing to do.
When I was leaving the beach, I passed this group of people having a picnic with their little fire going. I looked their way and the only girl in the group of 7 guys said hello to me. We started talking and she asked me to join them. One of the guys was having a birthday party. The blanket was all spread out and in the middle was a huge platter of potatoes,carrots, and meat which had been cooking on the fire. She had homemade bread and everyone was dipping their bread in the potatoes. It was absolutely delicious! She had also made this salad out of tomatoes and cucumbers which reminded me of something I used to make back in Kentucky with cucumbers. They also had a big platter of sliced meat. The girl's name was Venus and she did all the translating for us. They wanted to know so many things about me. Whenever I said something and Venus translated they all laughed and were so friendly.
I told the group that I didn't think the people in Aktau were very friendly. I told them how I try to smile at people and then I demonstrated what their faces (the people on the street) looked like. They got a kick out of that! When they understood what I was saying, they all started talking at once. They were naming other towns where the people were very friendly. Venus agreed with me about the people here. She said that they have many problems and they look down at the sidewalk all the time thinking about their problems.
Actually, I am starting to get more and more smiles. One guy said that he saw me walking to work every morning. I told him that I hoped I was on my best behavior. He just laughed. Then I found out that he was a soldier guarding the streets and I said, "Wow, I better be on my best behavior." More rounds of laughter. You would have thought I was some movie star or something! Venus told me there were many beautiful places to see in Aktau (which was hard for me to believe) and she wants to take me to see some of them next weekend. She knew all about my school. She used to work there I guess, so she is going to call Art and give him her telephone information so I can get in touch with her. I left feeling so happy that I had made some friends even though they were trying to kill a tree.
On the way home I stopped at three different markets to get the last ingredients for my big lasagne dinner tonight. I got home around 8PM and had so much energy that I made 3 pies....two mixed berry pies and one huge apple pie made in a huge glass baking dish because I didn't have a pie plate. Wanda's secret ingredient for the best pie crust around is an egg and a t.of vinegar. Nick had told me that you really had to be careful of the vinegar they sell because you have to dilute it otherwise it will burn a hole in your stomach and could kill you. So here I am with this bottle of vinegar (70%) trying to decide how to make a pie crust without killing everyone off. I just used a few drops and hoped for the best. I couldn't get the image of everyone keeling over after eating the pie, so I decided to eat some before I went to bed. The crust was really not that great and I could taste the raw sugar, but with ice cream it wasn't too bad. I didn't die during the night so I guess I will serve the pies tonight.
I have to go to start making the lasagne. I'll let you know how that turns out. I love all of you. Love, Mom Rachel
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Buying Bread in Aktau
Dear Loved Ones,
It is truly an experience buying bread in this town. Every little grocery store has a bread section, but also there are small stands on the street and in the bazaars that sell bread. The bread is never wrapped. I walked into the grocery store and was just standing in awe in the bread section. Bread was just thrown on the shelves without any wrapping. There was also a grocery cart of loaves of bread just thrown in all piled up. I've never seen anything like it. I couldn't even imagine where to start. Then 2 young boys came over and I watched them take a plastic sack, turn it upside down over their hand, and then they started to feel all the bread. So I got a plastic sack and started feeling all the bread - hard, hard, hard! Then I went to the grocery cart and felt that bread. It was warm - right out of the oven. The boys didn't know any English, so I motioned them over very excitedly to the warm bread. So they were buying the warm bread, I was putting the warm bread in my sack, and then a man came over and started to buy the bread. I told the boys, " See, this must be the best bread here!" It was cute how they laughed and then got out of there as soon as they could.
It is just hard to find simple things here that we just take for granted back home. If I need something back home, I just make a list and go get it. Job is done! Here I have to look and look trying to figure out what is in the packages. Then I look in another store. Then I head to the bazaars. Finally, I have gotten a list of Russian names for the most common items, but still it is hard to find things. Sugar is never near the flour. It is sold in a plastic bag. It is a fun challenge trying to find things, but it also can be exhausting.
I decided to make lasagna and invite the school crew over. I also am going to make some pies. I have spent the last 2 weeks trying to find the ingredients. I've gone all over town to get different items. It is unbelieveable, but I even found my favorite ingredient - pesto for $6. I paid $18 just to buy a pan to bake the lasagna. There is no ricotta cheese and their cottage cheese doesn't look anything like the cottage cheese I am used to. It will be fun to see how it all turns out.
I met Marcy from Texas who has lived here for 14 months. She shipped all her stuff over here and is so willing to share. She gave me some baking powder which is a huge gift. She also gave me some Italian spices from Costco and other spices. I wish I had known her when I was making the gingerbread cookies.
I was trying to put on more pictures, following my directions exactly. It is not working and I am in such a sweat that I gave up. It was so easy last time.
There was a huge excitment here last week. The president of Russia and the 3 countries that surround the Caspian Sea made a stop in Aktau to talk about expanding the oil business. Workers worked all night trying to finish up the sidewalks. I thought the President was going to be walking down the sidewalk or something. I know all the streets were going to be closed down. We didn't think many of the kids would be in school because of the traffic problems, but it turned out to be just an ordinary day. The only thing I saw different were the amount of policemen on the streets when I walked home that day! I must have missed it!
Remember when I had a back ache the first few days of school? Dinara blamed it on the air conditioner. Since then I have been told that they blame all colds on airconditioners, fans, leaving the window open at night, or drinking ice water. I came down with a cold last week and Dinara told me it was from my ice water. Thank goodness I had brought some Airborne with me. I think I kicked it this weekend. Every weekend so far I have gone swimming in the Caspian Sea, but I just stayed home the whole weekend trying to get better. I would have loved to go swimming, but I know how cold the water is.
Be good everybody. Love, Rachel
It is truly an experience buying bread in this town. Every little grocery store has a bread section, but also there are small stands on the street and in the bazaars that sell bread. The bread is never wrapped. I walked into the grocery store and was just standing in awe in the bread section. Bread was just thrown on the shelves without any wrapping. There was also a grocery cart of loaves of bread just thrown in all piled up. I've never seen anything like it. I couldn't even imagine where to start. Then 2 young boys came over and I watched them take a plastic sack, turn it upside down over their hand, and then they started to feel all the bread. So I got a plastic sack and started feeling all the bread - hard, hard, hard! Then I went to the grocery cart and felt that bread. It was warm - right out of the oven. The boys didn't know any English, so I motioned them over very excitedly to the warm bread. So they were buying the warm bread, I was putting the warm bread in my sack, and then a man came over and started to buy the bread. I told the boys, " See, this must be the best bread here!" It was cute how they laughed and then got out of there as soon as they could.
It is just hard to find simple things here that we just take for granted back home. If I need something back home, I just make a list and go get it. Job is done! Here I have to look and look trying to figure out what is in the packages. Then I look in another store. Then I head to the bazaars. Finally, I have gotten a list of Russian names for the most common items, but still it is hard to find things. Sugar is never near the flour. It is sold in a plastic bag. It is a fun challenge trying to find things, but it also can be exhausting.
I decided to make lasagna and invite the school crew over. I also am going to make some pies. I have spent the last 2 weeks trying to find the ingredients. I've gone all over town to get different items. It is unbelieveable, but I even found my favorite ingredient - pesto for $6. I paid $18 just to buy a pan to bake the lasagna. There is no ricotta cheese and their cottage cheese doesn't look anything like the cottage cheese I am used to. It will be fun to see how it all turns out.
I met Marcy from Texas who has lived here for 14 months. She shipped all her stuff over here and is so willing to share. She gave me some baking powder which is a huge gift. She also gave me some Italian spices from Costco and other spices. I wish I had known her when I was making the gingerbread cookies.
I was trying to put on more pictures, following my directions exactly. It is not working and I am in such a sweat that I gave up. It was so easy last time.
There was a huge excitment here last week. The president of Russia and the 3 countries that surround the Caspian Sea made a stop in Aktau to talk about expanding the oil business. Workers worked all night trying to finish up the sidewalks. I thought the President was going to be walking down the sidewalk or something. I know all the streets were going to be closed down. We didn't think many of the kids would be in school because of the traffic problems, but it turned out to be just an ordinary day. The only thing I saw different were the amount of policemen on the streets when I walked home that day! I must have missed it!
Remember when I had a back ache the first few days of school? Dinara blamed it on the air conditioner. Since then I have been told that they blame all colds on airconditioners, fans, leaving the window open at night, or drinking ice water. I came down with a cold last week and Dinara told me it was from my ice water. Thank goodness I had brought some Airborne with me. I think I kicked it this weekend. Every weekend so far I have gone swimming in the Caspian Sea, but I just stayed home the whole weekend trying to get better. I would have loved to go swimming, but I know how cold the water is.
Be good everybody. Love, Rachel
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Dear Folks,
I've been saving up some of your questions. #1. What is the weather like there? On my blog it seems like it stays around 76 - 82 F. Rebecca wrote and said they were having the same weather in Iowa - chilly and rainy. I had to laugh because it is not chilly and rainy here. It just seems hot and dry here. It has only rained once since I got here and everyone seemed surprised because it doesn't usually rain in September. I usually get through the school day without the air conditioner, but if I had my druthers I would have it on all day. The first thing I do when I get home is turn on the air. It is starting to get darker and chilly at 6:45 AM when I walk to school, but on the way home I get very heated up.
#2. What is the sea like? I haven't taken any pictures yet, because everytime I have gone I'm in my swimming gear and don't want my camera hanging out on the beach while I am in the water. People say that the water is too cold to go swimming, but I think it is perfect. I went back to buy that $20 floater that I found. I was definitely on a mission to buy that floater. I walked into the store and the whole wall display had been changed and the floater was nowhere to be found. I tried not to panic. I took out my little Russian-English dictionary and looked up the word for floater. It didn't have the word floater. That is the most important word in the English language and it wasn't in the book !!!!!!! I then found water - asked the girl and pointed to where the floater had been a few days before. She caught on and brought out the deluxe model for $25. I really wanted the other one, but couldn't get her to understand so bought the deluxe model. I went down to the sea and found the water and beach almost empty. Lots of people were hanging out on the pier and I'm sure they got their entertainment for the day. First, it took me forever to blow that thing up. I was trying to stand in the water, but the waves kept crashing around me and I had to go sit on the beach. The first time I swam in the sea it was nice and calm, but the last two times it has been windy and choppy. I couldn't get on the floater for the life of me. I tried to get on before the next wave hit, but it always swept me right off of it. Several times the floater flew right out of my hands and I had to chase it to the beach. Finally I just laid over it and went surfing the waves. I was having so much fun! I did finally get on it, but it wasn't a very peaceful ride. I kept getting thrown onto the beach. I'm glad I couldn't hear what people were saying about the crazy lady in the water.
People at work tell me there is glass in the Sea and that the city empties the sewage in the Sea. However, I have found it very clean. I try not to drink any of it though.
#3 Has anyone smiled at you yet?
Yes, I have gotten some smiles. I realized that maybe I just don't look that foreign to them, so they might think I'm just a crazy local smiling at everyone. Maybe I'm kidding myself. Maybe I really look foreign. There are just lots of people here that look American or Caucasion and many others that look Asian. There is such a mix. I need to start taking pictures of the people here.
#4. Are the kids cute and happy? I love my preschool class! They are adorable and well behaved for what I was expecting. They call me Ms. Rachel and it sounds so cute. Their favorite thing to say is, "I'm finished. I'm finished. I'm finished" and that usually means that they got their name written on their work. Today one little girl told me that her stomach was tired. I'd give anything to have more of my school stuff with me. I spend alot of time making things and going on the internet for ideas! We are now doing color days where we all wear a certain color to school. I went out and bought a yellow shirt just to have something to wear for Yellow Day! It was so cute when they all dressed in red yesterday. Not one person forgot to wear red!
My 11 children are from the following countries: Turkey, Russian Federation, Italy, Kazakhstan, Canada, Portugal, Hungary, USA, and Lao Peoples Democrat. I have some beautiful skin colors in my room.
That's all for now! Love, Rachel
I've been saving up some of your questions. #1. What is the weather like there? On my blog it seems like it stays around 76 - 82 F. Rebecca wrote and said they were having the same weather in Iowa - chilly and rainy. I had to laugh because it is not chilly and rainy here. It just seems hot and dry here. It has only rained once since I got here and everyone seemed surprised because it doesn't usually rain in September. I usually get through the school day without the air conditioner, but if I had my druthers I would have it on all day. The first thing I do when I get home is turn on the air. It is starting to get darker and chilly at 6:45 AM when I walk to school, but on the way home I get very heated up.
#2. What is the sea like? I haven't taken any pictures yet, because everytime I have gone I'm in my swimming gear and don't want my camera hanging out on the beach while I am in the water. People say that the water is too cold to go swimming, but I think it is perfect. I went back to buy that $20 floater that I found. I was definitely on a mission to buy that floater. I walked into the store and the whole wall display had been changed and the floater was nowhere to be found. I tried not to panic. I took out my little Russian-English dictionary and looked up the word for floater. It didn't have the word floater. That is the most important word in the English language and it wasn't in the book !!!!!!! I then found water - asked the girl and pointed to where the floater had been a few days before. She caught on and brought out the deluxe model for $25. I really wanted the other one, but couldn't get her to understand so bought the deluxe model. I went down to the sea and found the water and beach almost empty. Lots of people were hanging out on the pier and I'm sure they got their entertainment for the day. First, it took me forever to blow that thing up. I was trying to stand in the water, but the waves kept crashing around me and I had to go sit on the beach. The first time I swam in the sea it was nice and calm, but the last two times it has been windy and choppy. I couldn't get on the floater for the life of me. I tried to get on before the next wave hit, but it always swept me right off of it. Several times the floater flew right out of my hands and I had to chase it to the beach. Finally I just laid over it and went surfing the waves. I was having so much fun! I did finally get on it, but it wasn't a very peaceful ride. I kept getting thrown onto the beach. I'm glad I couldn't hear what people were saying about the crazy lady in the water.
People at work tell me there is glass in the Sea and that the city empties the sewage in the Sea. However, I have found it very clean. I try not to drink any of it though.
#3 Has anyone smiled at you yet?
Yes, I have gotten some smiles. I realized that maybe I just don't look that foreign to them, so they might think I'm just a crazy local smiling at everyone. Maybe I'm kidding myself. Maybe I really look foreign. There are just lots of people here that look American or Caucasion and many others that look Asian. There is such a mix. I need to start taking pictures of the people here.
#4. Are the kids cute and happy? I love my preschool class! They are adorable and well behaved for what I was expecting. They call me Ms. Rachel and it sounds so cute. Their favorite thing to say is, "I'm finished. I'm finished. I'm finished" and that usually means that they got their name written on their work. Today one little girl told me that her stomach was tired. I'd give anything to have more of my school stuff with me. I spend alot of time making things and going on the internet for ideas! We are now doing color days where we all wear a certain color to school. I went out and bought a yellow shirt just to have something to wear for Yellow Day! It was so cute when they all dressed in red yesterday. Not one person forgot to wear red!
My 11 children are from the following countries: Turkey, Russian Federation, Italy, Kazakhstan, Canada, Portugal, Hungary, USA, and Lao Peoples Democrat. I have some beautiful skin colors in my room.
That's all for now! Love, Rachel
Friday, September 4, 2009
I got this picture thing figured out. Now I can download pictures on my own computer. Maybe now I will be more excited about taking pictures.This is only about half of my huge bedroom. You can barely see the refrigerator over to the right. It is an extra one and I know I will never use it. I can't even keep my kitchen refrigerator full. The door leads to my jucuzzi. There is another door that leads to my bathroom. You can see the huge wardrobe. I couldn't possibly fill that up.
This is a picture of the entry room. The door to the left leads into the dining room and living room and kitchen. The door to the right leads into the bedroom. The couches are covered with blankets, but they are leather couches. The computer set up is back to the right. There is also another bathroom with shower that you can't see in this picture.
Here is my lost treadmill. I'm sure you have never seen one of these before. I also have a small electric fireplace and a space for my ironing board. This is part of the living room.
I took this looking out my window on the 14th floor. Pictures of all the leaders of the Soviet Union and Kazakhstan are painted on these buildings.
I look at these pictures often and try to read their faces. Is there any sign of kindness in those faces? What kind of leaders were they? I might have to do some research.
You can see how close the Caspian Sea is to my apartment.
This program only lets me put 5 pictures on at a time, so until next time have a wonderful life.
Love, Rachel
I'm at school and Dinara just helped me with these pictures.
The first one is my treadmill sitting in my living room. I want to move it in my bedroom, but it is pretty heavy. I just did something and my treadmill picture disappeared. Goodbye treadmill.
This is a picture of my kitchen which is part of the living room. It has a bar with 2 stools at the end. The dining room table with 4 chairs is hard to see. The refrigerator is to the left.
This is another part of my living room. I hang out here on this couch with my computer. The couch is very hard and makes me sit up straight.
This picture is taken from my 14th floor apartment window. I realized that there are only 14 floors, so I have a beautiful view. This is the way I walk to work every morning.
This is the same shot, but taken at night. You can see the Caspian Sea in the background.
The first one is my treadmill sitting in my living room. I want to move it in my bedroom, but it is pretty heavy. I just did something and my treadmill picture disappeared. Goodbye treadmill.
This is a picture of my kitchen which is part of the living room. It has a bar with 2 stools at the end. The dining room table with 4 chairs is hard to see. The refrigerator is to the left.
This is another part of my living room. I hang out here on this couch with my computer. The couch is very hard and makes me sit up straight.This room is huge. I could have a dance class in my living room if I knew how to teach dance.
This picture is taken from my 14th floor apartment window. I realized that there are only 14 floors, so I have a beautiful view. This is the way I walk to work every morning.
This is the same shot, but taken at night. You can see the Caspian Sea in the background.
I will try and get my other pictures on here at home since Dinara showed me how and I wrote everything down.
Love, Rachel
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Okay, Folks, I took some pictures of my apartment, put my camera card in my little connection thing (Lexar), plugged it into my computer, was delighted when the green light came on my Lexar, and then was disappointed and frustrated when nothing came up on my computer. I looked everywhere for it since it wasn't on my desktop. I'll take my Lexar to school tomorrow and see if Dinara can help me. It is so great that she is a computer person. She saw me cutting and pasting the other day to make a chart and she told me that all I had to do was draw a picture of what I wanted and she would do it for me on the computer. She's a gem! I don't know what I would do without her!
I wanted to describe a Kazakht person to you, but there are so many races here that I am confused myself. Since Kazakhstan is in Central Asia there are lots of Asians living here. It reminds me of Korea, except they are talking Russian instead of Korean. Many of the Russians look like Americans until I hear them talking. I have already been mistaken for a local about 3 times so far. Some lady will walk up to me acting like they need directions or information and speak to me in Russian. When I start talking in English, they seem surprised and walk away. I'm sure I look like an expat (the word they use here for foreigner) to most people. I saw an older man wearing a black hat, black coat, and sunglasses. He looked like a Russian spy.
So people are usually speaking Russian or Kazakht (maybe I am spelling this wrong). Both Marc and Nick can always tell the difference when I can't. When I ask them how they can tell, they tell me that it sounds completely different. I haven't figured it out yet. It all sounds foreign to me.
I have one little boy, Adilbek, that I have had so much trouble saying his name. I still can't get it right after one whole week of school. Today Nick had him for the first time for music and he got his name in one second and had no problems. Nick has taken Russian classes and is really good at getting around. We all want to hang out with Nick because he is such a great help when we're out shopping, etc. Poor guy!!
I was out on the playground today talking to the staff about our teaching training coming up in October in Almaty. I was all excited and was asking Julie if we would be allowed to go shopping and Nick wanted to take us to the mountains to go on a tram. Julie said, " We'll be in meetings all day and believe me you won't want to do anything afterwards. Maybe you young ones will have the energy." I immediately put myself in the "young ones" catagory, even though Julie is only a few years older than me. So we will see if I have the energy to hang out with the "young ones'!
I certainly don't have the energy today. I did something yesterday to hurt my lower back. It could be sitting on the floor a good part of the day. leaning over to reach those little ones, lifting a kid up because he couldn't reach the calendar. walking all over with my backpack, trying to get my little 3 year old to sit in his chair and behave, or Dinara thought it could be the air conditioner blowing cold air on my back. I couldn't help but laugh at that one. There was only one day that I turned on the air. The kids all started saying they were cold, so I turned it off and sweated the rest of the day. It doesn't get too bad until the afternoon.
Jamara- I'm not sure the weather is set right for here. It always says 76 or 78, but I know it has to be hotter than that. By the time I walk home my shirt is all wet in the back from my backpack and I am HOT!!!
Oh, I found my dream floater in a store - it would cost about $7 in the states, but here it cost $20. Today I found out why the prices are so high in Aktau when they are lower in other cities. This town was founded on oil and people come from all over to work in the oil industry and get big bucks. They don't care what things cost. They don't even try to bargain. They just pay the price and it jacks up all the prices. These fancy apartments were built for the oil people. They make alot of money!
Come on over and work in the oil industry!!!!
Love, Rachel
I wanted to describe a Kazakht person to you, but there are so many races here that I am confused myself. Since Kazakhstan is in Central Asia there are lots of Asians living here. It reminds me of Korea, except they are talking Russian instead of Korean. Many of the Russians look like Americans until I hear them talking. I have already been mistaken for a local about 3 times so far. Some lady will walk up to me acting like they need directions or information and speak to me in Russian. When I start talking in English, they seem surprised and walk away. I'm sure I look like an expat (the word they use here for foreigner) to most people. I saw an older man wearing a black hat, black coat, and sunglasses. He looked like a Russian spy.
So people are usually speaking Russian or Kazakht (maybe I am spelling this wrong). Both Marc and Nick can always tell the difference when I can't. When I ask them how they can tell, they tell me that it sounds completely different. I haven't figured it out yet. It all sounds foreign to me.
I have one little boy, Adilbek, that I have had so much trouble saying his name. I still can't get it right after one whole week of school. Today Nick had him for the first time for music and he got his name in one second and had no problems. Nick has taken Russian classes and is really good at getting around. We all want to hang out with Nick because he is such a great help when we're out shopping, etc. Poor guy!!
I was out on the playground today talking to the staff about our teaching training coming up in October in Almaty. I was all excited and was asking Julie if we would be allowed to go shopping and Nick wanted to take us to the mountains to go on a tram. Julie said, " We'll be in meetings all day and believe me you won't want to do anything afterwards. Maybe you young ones will have the energy." I immediately put myself in the "young ones" catagory, even though Julie is only a few years older than me. So we will see if I have the energy to hang out with the "young ones'!
I certainly don't have the energy today. I did something yesterday to hurt my lower back. It could be sitting on the floor a good part of the day. leaning over to reach those little ones, lifting a kid up because he couldn't reach the calendar. walking all over with my backpack, trying to get my little 3 year old to sit in his chair and behave, or Dinara thought it could be the air conditioner blowing cold air on my back. I couldn't help but laugh at that one. There was only one day that I turned on the air. The kids all started saying they were cold, so I turned it off and sweated the rest of the day. It doesn't get too bad until the afternoon.
Jamara- I'm not sure the weather is set right for here. It always says 76 or 78, but I know it has to be hotter than that. By the time I walk home my shirt is all wet in the back from my backpack and I am HOT!!!
Oh, I found my dream floater in a store - it would cost about $7 in the states, but here it cost $20. Today I found out why the prices are so high in Aktau when they are lower in other cities. This town was founded on oil and people come from all over to work in the oil industry and get big bucks. They don't care what things cost. They don't even try to bargain. They just pay the price and it jacks up all the prices. These fancy apartments were built for the oil people. They make alot of money!
Come on over and work in the oil industry!!!!
Love, Rachel
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Dear Loved Ones,
I love to read all the comments that are coming in. It makes me feel more connected to everyone. I'm sorry about not getting pictures posted of my apartment. My camera has been at school for the last week and before that I had misplaced my camera plug in advice to my computer, but I found that. I did take some pictures, but they really didn't do the apartment justice. It's the size of the place that is so amazing!
I have to be at school by 7:30 AM. I walk every day with Mike which takes about 40 minutes. I'm really getting my exercise in. The younger guys always take a taxi together. School starts at 8:00, but if any kids come early I have to be in charge of them, so there is not much planning time in the morning. Everyone in the school gets a snack brought from home and a playtime for 15 minutes, but my kids stretch that out because they are so slow. Then lunch and playtime is only 30 minutes and we have to eat in the room with our kids and supervise them on the playground. I am so lucky to have Dinara because I can run to the bathroom during this time and then usually go back to the room and quickly set up for the next activity.
There is no recess in the afternoon, but we do have specialist time. I end up having four planning periods of 45 minutes each week. The kids leave at 2:30 and the staff have to stay until 4:00.
You will not believe it! So far I have never gone to the school on a weekend and have never stayed at school past 5:00. My goal is to leave at 4:00 and today I walked right out of there at 4:00. It sure felt good! I always walk home by myself because I like to stop and explore all these different little shops.
My little class is so well behaved. I haven't met two of my 3 year old's yet. They have never been to school before. My only 3 year old was a terror the first day. He kept running out of the classroom and wasn't able to follow any instructions - of course he doesn't know any English either. However, Art commented today on how much change he has seen in him over the last
few days because of my expectations for him. I can't wait to see what he will be like at the end of the school year. He has the biggest sparkle in his eyes. Most of the four year olds were here last year and they sure were whipped into shape. They all know how to line up, put their work in their home folder and other work in their school folder, tidy up after themselves, and sit criss-cross applesauce on the rug. I am going to have to work really hard to keep up all those expectations. Dinara just told me today that I was way too nice to them!
I am discovering so many little stores and bazaars as I walk around. Today I bought a XL blouse and when I got home I could barely squeeze into it.
That reminds me - I finally ended up getting a round swimming tube to hang out in the sea. I had looked everywhere for them and could only find the round ones. I was so proud of my bright orange tube and carried it into the sea. I couldn't even get my butt to go through the hole in the center. I guess it was made for a child, but I thought I could fit in it. I felt rather foolish out there trying to balance on top of that thing. I finally just layed on it stomach first and splashed around like a little kid. I hauled it back to my apartment, but I should give it to some kids in the water next time.
I have been shopping for a keychain, skirt hangers, small kitchen towels, waste baskets, and kitchen dish drainer and I haven't found those items yet. Oh, I was going to buy some ice cube trays and was told that I would never find them. Nick gave me one of his, but I know what I am going to fill my suitcase full of when I come back - icecube trays! Maybe I could make my fortune selling them.
These kids or maybe it is the heat that is wearing me out. I love going to bed early. Love, me
I love to read all the comments that are coming in. It makes me feel more connected to everyone. I'm sorry about not getting pictures posted of my apartment. My camera has been at school for the last week and before that I had misplaced my camera plug in advice to my computer, but I found that. I did take some pictures, but they really didn't do the apartment justice. It's the size of the place that is so amazing!
I have to be at school by 7:30 AM. I walk every day with Mike which takes about 40 minutes. I'm really getting my exercise in. The younger guys always take a taxi together. School starts at 8:00, but if any kids come early I have to be in charge of them, so there is not much planning time in the morning. Everyone in the school gets a snack brought from home and a playtime for 15 minutes, but my kids stretch that out because they are so slow. Then lunch and playtime is only 30 minutes and we have to eat in the room with our kids and supervise them on the playground. I am so lucky to have Dinara because I can run to the bathroom during this time and then usually go back to the room and quickly set up for the next activity.
There is no recess in the afternoon, but we do have specialist time. I end up having four planning periods of 45 minutes each week. The kids leave at 2:30 and the staff have to stay until 4:00.
You will not believe it! So far I have never gone to the school on a weekend and have never stayed at school past 5:00. My goal is to leave at 4:00 and today I walked right out of there at 4:00. It sure felt good! I always walk home by myself because I like to stop and explore all these different little shops.
My little class is so well behaved. I haven't met two of my 3 year old's yet. They have never been to school before. My only 3 year old was a terror the first day. He kept running out of the classroom and wasn't able to follow any instructions - of course he doesn't know any English either. However, Art commented today on how much change he has seen in him over the last
few days because of my expectations for him. I can't wait to see what he will be like at the end of the school year. He has the biggest sparkle in his eyes. Most of the four year olds were here last year and they sure were whipped into shape. They all know how to line up, put their work in their home folder and other work in their school folder, tidy up after themselves, and sit criss-cross applesauce on the rug. I am going to have to work really hard to keep up all those expectations. Dinara just told me today that I was way too nice to them!
I am discovering so many little stores and bazaars as I walk around. Today I bought a XL blouse and when I got home I could barely squeeze into it.
That reminds me - I finally ended up getting a round swimming tube to hang out in the sea. I had looked everywhere for them and could only find the round ones. I was so proud of my bright orange tube and carried it into the sea. I couldn't even get my butt to go through the hole in the center. I guess it was made for a child, but I thought I could fit in it. I felt rather foolish out there trying to balance on top of that thing. I finally just layed on it stomach first and splashed around like a little kid. I hauled it back to my apartment, but I should give it to some kids in the water next time.
I have been shopping for a keychain, skirt hangers, small kitchen towels, waste baskets, and kitchen dish drainer and I haven't found those items yet. Oh, I was going to buy some ice cube trays and was told that I would never find them. Nick gave me one of his, but I know what I am going to fill my suitcase full of when I come back - icecube trays! Maybe I could make my fortune selling them.
These kids or maybe it is the heat that is wearing me out. I love going to bed early. Love, me
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