Mom, Dad, Aunt Sue, and Grant came for a visit for a little less than a week in mid-July. What a culture shock that was for them :-) I tried to show them as much as I could about the culture here, but am afraid I failed in this task. At the least, they got to meet the important people in my life here, see how I live, where I work, and get a better appreciation for my life as a volunteer.
They arrived on a Saturday, beat and worn from long flights and airplane food. Naturally, they needed some local cuisine to brighten their moods, so we went to a local outdoor café and I ordered a table of traditional foods (sadly, no beshparmak or baursaki). I had beer and salad and watched with great joy as they tried the different foods. Some were hits, some weren’t… eh, that’s life in a nutshell.
Nina’s birthday was on Sunday, the day after they arrived, so we went to their family dacha and celebrated out there. The weather was hot, but there was a little breeze, lots of good food, and wine and vodka for all.
Other things the family saw and experienced: they got to know my beer lady at the store really well and met my fruits and vegetable lady as well, they apparently fell in love with karagandinskaya beer and the vegetable spreads, understand what 100+, no air-conditioning, and no breeze feels like, see soviet-styled buildings, and see lots of trash and littering. Cool!
The highest point of the visit was, for me, when we went to Bayanaul and the ‘rents met the lady. Saule was particularly nervous, especially after I shared news of pre-mature drama that has already been solved, but it went really well and I think we all had a nice time, despite the crappy bus ride and rain. The rain died off and we went for a walk and had a nice time. Then we snacked on some food and beer and I taught my parents how to play “Durak,” and then proceeded to whoop everyone. Score.
Arriving at the airport, tears and all :-)
Showing Kazakhstanis what veggie shish-ka-bobs are.
Having a picnic in the garden.
Family shot!
Mom and Nina
The birthday-celebrating group.
The family trying out lunch at Samal Centre.
Mom and Dad in Bayanaul.
I like this picture.
Family time at the embankment.
Pizza and wine with the family and Andrew and Adam. A very American dinner, as you can see.
Saule
Moi
Grant cooking the last dinner: Ratatouille, apple sauce, etc.
1 comments:
Grant -- and an excellent cuisine it was!
It was great to see Jeffrey again after 10/11 months. The food was definitely different but beer in any language is good! The rats were a little difficult to take, but I think I handled them a lot better than Olga , who screamed and hid behind Slava, her husband. Saule did not need to be nervous, however, Jeff choose to share our reservations --which he really did not have to. (Jeffrey, you haven't changed since elementary school!) The bus rides were definitely bus rides from hell; nevertheless, an interesting experience -- especially the videos at full volume in Kazak!
Time and distance puts a different spin on things...but it was great to see Jeffrey after so long. Love you lots Jeff and tell everyone at the Samal Center that we think of them -- teachers and students/residents daily!
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