Party Time!

Last week was Independence Day in Kazakhstan and it also happened to be the birthday of my host sister – who turned 13! I was excited for her and we had LOTS of guest over. Of course I had thought about what I was going to get her for almost all week. I finally decided on a Rihanna notebook and some gel pens that I was able to find at the bazaar. I also threw in some packets of Kool-Aid (there is no Kool-Aid in KSTAN – those of you who enjoy this bring lots – even if you don’t think you enjoy – bring lots – you will soon come to love this childhood drink). My host sister loves Kool-Aid and is sad that there is not Kool-Aid here, I was happy to share mine. J I didn’t want to buy wrapping paper – you know Peace Corps budget and all, but I didn’t just wanna give it to her unwrap, so I got creative and made it a themed gift. I have a few People Magazines with me – that are forever old, but I just can’t part without them – I went through the pictures and found pages with Rihanna. I taped the pages together to make it large enough to wrap the gift and then wrapped it – I must say, I was quite impressed with myself J

Today has been an exciting day and it is still early! I was finally able to sleep in! (It’s Sunday today – but will most likely be a weekday when I post this) I woke at 10am and cleaned, yea doesn’t sound THAT exciting. Then I had chai and cookies for breakfast and then my host family asked for help with preparation of supper! I was thrilled, of course I wanted to help! We are having Monte, which is my lu-be-me (favorite). I last had it on November 7 – the day Trainees officially became Volunteers – my previous host mom made this for dinner as she knew it was my favorite and it was my last night with them L I was most excited about the meat grinder today though! I had never before used one (and to sound completely naïve, I really never thought about the idea that at some point my own meat back home had to go through this – it doesn’t come out already packaged as “ground beef” – no my friends, it does not J). They let me be in charge of it! I got a little carried away and took pictures lots of me with the meat – but in my defense back home I buy already grinded meat, my family thought it was weird that I would take so many pictures, but I really was excited!

Christmas Trees

Christmas is not a holiday celebrated in Kazakhstan – I know sad day! But before you get too sad, know that I am having a “holiday exchange” at my school and there will be a Christmas celebration – complete with caroling, hot chocolate, gifts and even a Christmas concert, put on by the children of my school (as requested per my director – she asked if I would be interested in doing it on a day that was not one of my greatest here – but that made me SO much happier!)

In class we drew a tree on poster board and taped it to the wall, as well as, a fireplace so that we could hang out stockings there “with care!” We made stockings with colored paper and each took turns hanging them up using tape. Then “Jingle Bells” was the song that was taught – soon “We wish you a Merry Christmas” will also be taught – but that was enough for one day!

Last Sunday I went to the bazaar to purchase my own Christmas tree (or New Year’s Tree, I guess – called a “yolk-a”). New Year’s is a BIG deal in Kazakhstan and there are trees for this Holiday – decorated very much like a Christmas tree back home would be! The one I purchased is VERY small, but I have come to LOVE it! I also purchased some lights to wrap around it and when it was “decorated” I plugged it in and went to get my host family to have them come and see it! They laughed at the idea of a New Year’s Tree being put up this early! I tried to explain that it was a Christmas tree – but due to my lack of Russian, I was unable to say it. They said that they would put a big New Year’s Tree up on December 21!

But still NO snow! I know – I shouldn’t complain – but really – if it’s going to be THIS cold, it might as well be snowing! And Christmas wouldn’t be the same if there wasn’t snow – but there may not be snow for me this year, which is actually unusual for Kazakhstan and just 5 hours North of me there is snow!

A view from the Top!

While PCVs are not allowed to drive, we are allowed to take rides from strangers and from the local friends we make (the ones who have cars). Last Saturday, a local friend drove to an overlook in my city that allows one to see the whole city! The view from the top is WONDERFUL! And it was just above the lake at sunset. It was beautiful – I really do love my city! Afterwards, he drove to another area where we could walk out onto the frozen lake – but the cautious side of me came out as I was unsure about whether or not the ice was frozen enough to support me, so I watched as my friends walked out onto the ice and then wanted to “test the waters” for myself – I managed to walk out a little – but really I just took pictures!

A Kazak Party

Today after work I wandered back through the bazaar, determined today to find a hat! And I found one! It is SO fun looking and warm and cheap! My plan is to always look interested until they tell me a price and then I speak broken Russian – this way no one really knows that I don’t fit in here! I was super happy with my purchase – I also purchased mittens (and thought of one of my good PCV friends)!

I got home and was informed that it was the birthday of my host mom’s brother-in-law and we were going to a birthday party – I was nervous because I didn’t have any toasts memorized, but I went with it anyway! We got there and of course, I was awesome and amazing just for being there! That’s my favorite! They didn’t do toasts at this party – they also didn’t speak in Russian at all – only Kazak. I know very little Kazak, but managed as best I could. We had beshbarmark (which translated in Kazak means 5 fingers) and yes is eaten with your hands! It’s a fun tradition that I am still unable to do – thankfully they allow me to have a plate and don’t think of it as rude – it’s just the “crazy American.”

Thanksgiving!

My first 12 hour overnight bus alone went well, I mean I made a few “friends” who talked to me and tried to be patient with my Russian ability or lack there of. Early Friday morning my train was in a BIG city and was greeted by a familiar face! It was a wonderful meeting after 3 LONG weeks of being apart and in unfamiliar settings (mind you we spent every day together for 12 weeks – so 3 weeks is a lot!). We attempted to purchase my ticket back, but the woman wanted us to go speak to the police – since our Russian isn’t all that great, we opted to “come back later” and hopefully with someone who would be able to help.

We took a bus back to her place where I met her host mom, ate breakfast, changed and showered…she has a REAL shower – you know the kind where you stand during a shower and keep the water running? IT WAS WONDERFUL!

In the afternoon, my friend’s host mom agreed to meet us to purchase a return ticket. This time it worked – no questions asked. Then we headed over to her site mate’s apartment where we celebrated Thanksgiving with other Peace Corps Volunteers. We had lots of delicious food! Including: chicken, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, hummus, cauliflower and even pie! One of the Volunteers here made pumpkin pie – with real pumpkin! Be impressed! But no Jell-O L I know usually I say, “It’s not a holiday, unless there’s Jell-O, but it was the best we could do in another country! After dinner we watched “A Christmas Story” and others of us chit-chatted about everything!

The following day, I finally purchased a classy purse and can stop carrying my huge back pack everywhere!

Don't Judge

So the time of day that used to be my favorite has now become my least favorite. During PST I loved lunch time – I loved meeting up at the hub with everyone and discussing everything about everything. I loved that we would all share lunches, if someone forgot a lunch it was never a problem because the rest of us all had TOO much lunch anyway. I loved setting the things we didn’t want in the middle and the daily saying of, “is this up for grabs.” I loved when someone received a package from home and it was Christmas for everyone because we all shared (we were all winners!), I love us Kaz-20! Now I have lunch with 5 wonderful women who don’t speak any English and generally I speak very little and understand next to nothing; we all have the same meal so it’s not like we can trade and I don’t know how interested they would be in trading anyway. Today I went to lunch a little bit late only to find far more than 5 women in the “Teacher’s lunch room!” There were 15 women sitting around a much larger table! On the table was lots of delicious looking food! Among the types of meat…HORSE! I was so excited to try horse! Now before you begin to judge me, know that in Kazakhstan horses are not kept as pets and there are lots of “wild” horses. I know that eating horse back home would be so WRONG! And how many others times in my life will I be able to try horse! I thought I might gag at the idea of eating an animal that we don’t eat at home (and couldn’t help thinking about one of my good friend’s back home who has a horse – sorry Deb), but to my surprise it was very delicious! There was also wine at this lunch which we don’t normally have with lunch and it was followed by toasts, which I cannot really say yet because of my lack of Russian skills, but I did what I could and most people are generally impressed – Maladeyets Christina!

I attempted laundry again today and did it the way that I was taught last week – personally I think it’s more efficient the way I do it, but then again, during PST my host mom did everything for me, so I guess I really don’t know and I wanted clean clothes for my weekend trip! I could wash like 4 items at a time – which really is not that many at all, but on the upside only took 20 minutes in the washer and I didn’t have to hand wash them! I purchased a ticket to go north to be with other Volunteers for Thanksgiving – well, actually I get there on Friday because I work on Thanksgiving and would work generally the day after as well, but took a day off – I know crazy! I’m totally excited! I’m going to meet one of my very favorite Kaz-20 friends! (and all of her site mates). I was told that they have snow – we do not have snow yet – I know I shouldn’t complain about that, but if it’s going to be cold it might as well be snowing! So thankful I don’t have to drive in it this year!

Last week I was riding the bus home when I saw a massive amount of people at the Cinema, curious about what was going on, I made my way toward the cinema. I could see a bazaar type thing, but could not see what it was they were selling. I thought ‘this must be a mini bazaar’ which I was all about because BIG bazaar are too overwhelming for me. I went to the cinema and as I got closer I realized it was a meat market. They were cutting meat everywhere and there were cow heads sitting on tables! It was kind of gross / cool at the same time!