Lesson: In Almaty, when pulled over, act stupid and pretend that you don't know any Russian. Just before we left for the U.S., Joe and I had our third run in with the "law" in Kazakhstan. We've been pulled over a few times by traffic cops. On Friday, we were having a terrible day. After we left work after an early release we drove through awful traffic while our car overheated several times. Just when we were a block from home, one of Kazakhstan's fine traffic police officers pulled us over.
Apparently, Joe was about to go straight on a right turn only. While he was waiting for the traffic to [ass, the cop told him through the window that he couldn't go straight. He had to go right. Joe went right, but the traffic cop motioned him over anyway. Joe got out of the car to go talk to him.
In Kazakhstan, when you get pulled over, you get out of your car and meet them halfway since they are on foot. They are supposed to take your i.d. Then you go to the local police station, pay a fine, and get your i.d. back.
The first thing we learned was not to speak too much Russian. The cop pointed out to Joe the right-turn-only sign he had missed. Then Joe said, "I didn't go straight, I went right."
The cop answered, "You would have gone straight if I hadn't stopped you, so I'll have to take your license."
So Joe's true and obvious answer was, "But I didn't go straight, I went right."
It didn't matter. Joe was about to go get some bribe money, but the cop told him that money wasn't necessary. Now, Joe thought he was really in trouble. Images of the Kazakh jail floated in his mind. He had hit upon the one Kazakh policeman who couldn't be bribed. Joe never let on that he understood that he'd have to go to the police station. He just kept acting like he didn't understand and finally the cop just gave up. With a look of frustration, he told Joe to just go. In Russian, he said to Joe, "I cannot make you understand." With that, he let Joe go.
So, if you are ever in Kazakhstan and you get pulled over, have some cash handy or play the stupid foreigner who can't speak Russian. We've heard that they always threaten to take you to the police station, but never actually do.
That was our last day of school. It was a great end since we had a big "kindness" carnival at school where the secondary students set up games and activities for the elementary students. All we had to do for a half day was walk around and watch our students play. It was lots of fun and an easy end before the break.
We are back in America. Yeah! Sophia made it through all three flights with only one little fuss session. We drove back last night from Chicago, spent the night in a hotel, and continued on this morning. As usual, we are wandering around with our mouths hanging open. What great products there are in America. I went to get my hair cut and the stylist asked what I miss in America. It's the little things, brewed coffee, good chips, vegetarian food, all the new and convenient products. Joe said if anyone was watching the security tape in Target, they'd wonder what was wrong with me, wondering around with a stupified look on my face.
Right now, it's 4 a.m. and Sophia has decided that it's 8 a.m. She's ready to go, and lucky for her daddy and mommy are up too. We are looking forward to the days ahead, Christmas parties and my friend Janie is coming to visit. Now, if we can just get adjusted to the time.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Mama vs. Dada
Sophia has become a motor mouth. All in the course of a day. It's amazing how all of a sudden one day she wakes up doing something new. We came home yesterday and the nanny told me Sophia was saying "da-da." She wouldn't stop babbling away, "da-da-da-da..." on and on. Today I looked right at her and said, "Ma-ma." "Da-da," she promptly responded. Oh well, looks like I lose on this one. After all the times I've repeated mama to her!
Joe and I realized that our blog has become devoted to Sophia. There are only pictures of Sophia! Hopefully, no one minds. I wish there were more interesting pictures to be taken in Kazakhstan. We definitely need to get out of the city to see more of the small town life.
I had an interesting chat with my cooperating teacher yesterday. She's Russian and has lived here all her life. She was telling me how there's a lot of anamosity towards Russians here. She says it comes mainly from people in smaller towns. She said she's been harrassed a couple of times by Kazakhs.
I guess the president is trying to make the country very Kazakh. They are trying to switch the national language to Kazakh. The funny thing is that no one knows it. She told me that very few people actually know the language. Everyone knows Russian. She also said that it's so hard to live here now. In the last five years, prices have shot up dramatically. Just today some local teachers were discussing this. They were saying how expensive everything is from fruits to clothes. The local people can't afford anything. Joe and I think it's expensive, and the locals are only making 200-300 dollars a month. I have no idea how they can live off this. Not to mention homes. There's very little chance that an everyday person can afford a flat. Joe and I were told that the rent on a 3-bedreoom flat like ours costs about 2000 dollars a month. It's crazy.
My cooperating teacher said that her sister scored very well on her tests, but couldn't afford to go to university here. She ended up going to Italy and still lives there. From Italy, she sent home money for my cooperating teacher to go to school.
It's going to be very interesting how this country progresses. It's also interesting to see how the people react to the idea of some people having so much money while others have so little. This is how it is in America. One difference I would say is that you can find cheap items in America. Not so in Kazakhstan. So many things are so expensive. We'll have to see how it all plays out.
Joe and I realized that our blog has become devoted to Sophia. There are only pictures of Sophia! Hopefully, no one minds. I wish there were more interesting pictures to be taken in Kazakhstan. We definitely need to get out of the city to see more of the small town life.
I had an interesting chat with my cooperating teacher yesterday. She's Russian and has lived here all her life. She was telling me how there's a lot of anamosity towards Russians here. She says it comes mainly from people in smaller towns. She said she's been harrassed a couple of times by Kazakhs.
I guess the president is trying to make the country very Kazakh. They are trying to switch the national language to Kazakh. The funny thing is that no one knows it. She told me that very few people actually know the language. Everyone knows Russian. She also said that it's so hard to live here now. In the last five years, prices have shot up dramatically. Just today some local teachers were discussing this. They were saying how expensive everything is from fruits to clothes. The local people can't afford anything. Joe and I think it's expensive, and the locals are only making 200-300 dollars a month. I have no idea how they can live off this. Not to mention homes. There's very little chance that an everyday person can afford a flat. Joe and I were told that the rent on a 3-bedreoom flat like ours costs about 2000 dollars a month. It's crazy.
My cooperating teacher said that her sister scored very well on her tests, but couldn't afford to go to university here. She ended up going to Italy and still lives there. From Italy, she sent home money for my cooperating teacher to go to school.
It's going to be very interesting how this country progresses. It's also interesting to see how the people react to the idea of some people having so much money while others have so little. This is how it is in America. One difference I would say is that you can find cheap items in America. Not so in Kazakhstan. So many things are so expensive. We'll have to see how it all plays out.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
I can't believe I haven't written since Thanksgiving! That's just how busy we've been. That and I haven't had pictures to post since our camera was stolen. I don't know why we don't listen to ourselves. Joe and I would always lock our doors at school and people started giving us a hard time for it, asking why we always locked our doors. Well, we stopped, and guess what - our camera was stolen from Joe's room. It's a shame, especially with so much snow around. I want to take winter pictures.
What's new here? Not a lot really. We are counting the days for our first Christmas back in the U.S. with family in a couple of years. The best part will be seeing grandpas, grandmas, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends enjoying time with Sophia and Sophia enjoying time with them. I can't believe we're traveling in just over a week. How will Sophia be during the flights and airport time? Oh, we shall see. Keep your fingers crossed for us. She does like being around people and crowds, so maybe it will work for us.
School has kept us so busy lately, between committees and concerts and meetings. It takes us so long to get home at night since we live on the opposite side of town. Our apartment is near the center and our school is out on the edge of town. Traffic is horrible in this town, our number one complaint. (Joe's more than mine since he does all the driving.) The city hasn't handled its expansion well. In just a few years the number of cars on the road have doubled, but the streets definitely have not. I told Joe I will do all the driving in the U.S. since I think he has become a total Kazakh driver. He'll get arrested if he pulls some of the stunts in the U.S. that he does here.
It is nice to be in a country where Christmas is celebrated. They have lights up around town. They don't seem as nice as at home, but it helps. The snow really gets us in the mood too. You can even find Christmas decorations at the supermarkets. I remember how difficult it was to find anything decent in Egypt.
Speaking of Egypt, I've started teaching my kids about Egypt. It really makes me nostalgic. I was showing the students pictures of Egypt the other day, and there really are things we miss about it. Egypt was so exotic, so new and interesting. We miss that thrill of the unknown. Kazakhstan is normal by comparison! We definitely like it here, but as always there are positives and negatives wherever you live.
We had our Christmas party at work last weekend. It was very nice. They hosted a formal dinner at the Hyatt Hotel. We figured we'd have to pay when we got there or something, but it was a full buffet. They even served wine all night. Since then I've learned that there are students at our school whose parents work for the Hyatt, so maybe that's where it all came from. It was really nice, though. The Korean ambassador even graced us with his presence and a member of the American embassy staff. Big wigs at our school, let me tell you. I teach ambassador's children. How weird. I guess I taught one ambassador's child in Egypt too.
Tonight we went to "It's a Wonderful Life" presented by an English speaking university here. It was a community production and our computer teacher (who happens to be from Iowa and has a house in Panora) was the star role. It was nice to get a little bit of the Christmas spirit that way.
The week ahead should be a good one. We have one week before the holiday and the week ends with a carnival at our school. Should be fun. I know my students are going to be bouncing off the walls just waiting for it all week. Ahh...nine year olds :) They take such pleasure in the simple things. It never ceases to amaze me and it makes me appreciate the small things more.
We can't wait to get home, and I guess I can say, we'll be seeing everyone soon!
What's new here? Not a lot really. We are counting the days for our first Christmas back in the U.S. with family in a couple of years. The best part will be seeing grandpas, grandmas, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends enjoying time with Sophia and Sophia enjoying time with them. I can't believe we're traveling in just over a week. How will Sophia be during the flights and airport time? Oh, we shall see. Keep your fingers crossed for us. She does like being around people and crowds, so maybe it will work for us.
School has kept us so busy lately, between committees and concerts and meetings. It takes us so long to get home at night since we live on the opposite side of town. Our apartment is near the center and our school is out on the edge of town. Traffic is horrible in this town, our number one complaint. (Joe's more than mine since he does all the driving.) The city hasn't handled its expansion well. In just a few years the number of cars on the road have doubled, but the streets definitely have not. I told Joe I will do all the driving in the U.S. since I think he has become a total Kazakh driver. He'll get arrested if he pulls some of the stunts in the U.S. that he does here.
It is nice to be in a country where Christmas is celebrated. They have lights up around town. They don't seem as nice as at home, but it helps. The snow really gets us in the mood too. You can even find Christmas decorations at the supermarkets. I remember how difficult it was to find anything decent in Egypt.
Speaking of Egypt, I've started teaching my kids about Egypt. It really makes me nostalgic. I was showing the students pictures of Egypt the other day, and there really are things we miss about it. Egypt was so exotic, so new and interesting. We miss that thrill of the unknown. Kazakhstan is normal by comparison! We definitely like it here, but as always there are positives and negatives wherever you live.
We had our Christmas party at work last weekend. It was very nice. They hosted a formal dinner at the Hyatt Hotel. We figured we'd have to pay when we got there or something, but it was a full buffet. They even served wine all night. Since then I've learned that there are students at our school whose parents work for the Hyatt, so maybe that's where it all came from. It was really nice, though. The Korean ambassador even graced us with his presence and a member of the American embassy staff. Big wigs at our school, let me tell you. I teach ambassador's children. How weird. I guess I taught one ambassador's child in Egypt too.
Tonight we went to "It's a Wonderful Life" presented by an English speaking university here. It was a community production and our computer teacher (who happens to be from Iowa and has a house in Panora) was the star role. It was nice to get a little bit of the Christmas spirit that way.
The week ahead should be a good one. We have one week before the holiday and the week ends with a carnival at our school. Should be fun. I know my students are going to be bouncing off the walls just waiting for it all week. Ahh...nine year olds :) They take such pleasure in the simple things. It never ceases to amaze me and it makes me appreciate the small things more.
We can't wait to get home, and I guess I can say, we'll be seeing everyone soon!
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