Hmmmm....

This morning, I have nothing to write about.  Nothing.  I've been racking my brain, trying to think of something clever to say.  Maybe it's because I haven't finished my cup of coffee yet.

It's a morning of beverages.  I've already had 16 ounces of water that I chugged down while doing the 30 Day Shred.  Day One - check!  I really need to get in shape, and my motivator is our spring vacation down to my grandparents' in Florida.  Since I've birthed a child, I'm being realistic.  Bikinis were rarely in my wardrobe pre-children, so I don't expect them to be now, but I would like to look decent in a one-piece, or dare I say, a tankini?

It's going to take a lot of work.  Before Christmas, I was a mere 3 pounds from my pre-baby weight.  Post-Christmas, I still don't want to know!  I feel like I gained about 10 pounds over Christmas ~ no lie.  I suppose later today, I'll force myself to step on the scale and get an idea of what we're dealing with, here.

After working out, Avery was already awake in her crib.  It was 7:00.  Usually, she'll sleep until around 7:45.  It seems that she wakes up early when I get up at 6:00 and I have about 10 things I want to get done before she wakes up!  She sounded happy, so I left her in there with her noises of "Uh-oh!" and "Noooooo" and "Eh-yo!" (That's hello.)  Then, she was quiet all of a sudden and the angels sang.  I made my half a pot of coffee and some Immuni-C to sip on.

That's 3 different beverages sitting around me.  I like beverages.  And my new favorite cup to drink out of is a red Solo cup.  We have a stack of 3 of them still sitting on our kitchen table from our New Year's Eve party.  (Note to self: clear off kitchen table today.)

I have been waking up super congested the past few mornings.  I asked Huzz last night if I have been snoring and he responded with an emphatic, "YES."  So, I put on a Breathe Right strip and hoped that would help.  I woke up congestion-free this morning, and I asked him if the snoring was better and he responded with an emphatic, "NO."  Sorry, Huzz!

I feel like there could be a few possible reasons for my recent snoring.  And I will give them to you in list form.

1.  We need a humidifier in our bedroom.  Badly.  Avery has one in her bedroom and whenever I go in there, I breathe deeply and enjoy the humidity.  Colorado is so dry!

2.  I need to lose this weight.  Badly.  Nuff said.

3.  I think I'm fighting off a little cold.

4.  I feel like I need to come up with reasons why I'm snoring, ignoring the fact that I probably snore more than I'd like to admit (heck, no one likes to admit they snore) and I want to come across as dainty and a quiet sleeper, when the reality is that I'm just not.  My dad is a snorer, but he got a C-PAP (?) machine, which takes care of the snoring, if he doesn't take it off while he's sleeping.  Bless my mom - she spent a few years enduring the crazy snoring and eventually moving into the guest bedroom to get a good night's rest.  Let's hope that by remedying a few of these reasons, I don't snore anymore and won't need a C-PAP machine!

I can't believe I'm talking about snoring.

Moving on.  Things to do today: unload dishwasher, do about 5 loads of laundry, mop all the floors because a little piece of me dies every time I pick Avery up and her hands are covered in dog hair and dirt.  I just vacuumed yesterday!  Hopefully the mopping will help.

The beverages have all been consumed and I'm ready to go!

So Much to Do...

I am extremely grateful because I don't have to work on Friday or Monday, so four day weekend, here I come!

However, the time is packed, my friends.

The teachers got paid yesterday, so we all make the obligatory trip to the bank to get some cash today. Every month when I get paid, we need to go in and take out enough cash to pay our rent and our driver. Today will be the last time we withdraw money for our driver. We are firing him and here is why:

1. It's a lot of money and we don't use him enough to justify keeping him. It was great when Huzz was going to work everyday, too, but he's not. It seems quite extravagant, especially when times are tough.
2. He has become increasingly lazier during the last few months. You would think that since he's hardly working for us that when he does, he would be on top of his game. But he's not. When he takes us somewhere, he leaves until we call him to come back and get us. This would be all well and good if he was within 5 minutes away, but it's not uncommon for him to be 15-20 minutes, so we are left standing outside, waiting for him.
3. His driving makes me sick. Literally. I seem to get carsick every time I ride with him now. I know that my condition is the main reason for this, but seriously, his driving is erratic, at best. He slams on the brakes and takes turns really fast and cuts people off. Not only am I sick by the time I get to our destination, but I'm also exhausted from all of the intense big P's I'm sending up the whole time.
4. Speaking of slamming on the brakes, his brakes have been rubbing raw and squealing (I've never heard brakes squeak this loudly before) for over 6 weeks now and he hasn't gotten them fixed. A little bit of a safety concern, there.
5. Secret reason: I am hoping that with the money we'll save from 2 months of not paying the driver, we could maybe go someplace during the last two weeks we're here, just for a few days. However, I know Huzz is probably just thinking, "Look at all the money we'll save!"

So, once we get the money, Huzz is going to let him go. We have arranged to have one of our friends nearby just in case Mr. Driver has a raging fit. He has exhibited some anger issues in our presence before, so we are taking precautions.

Anyway, tonight, Matthew and Sonia have invited the group over for shepherd's pie and apple crumble. Yes, please!

Tomorrow, we are going to the store to get all items needed for the Italian feast I will be making for 3 other couples on Saturday night.

And on Saturday morning, I am going to put all my trust in Him and get my bloodwork done for my pregnancy. I'm nervous because:

1. I don't speak Russian
2. They do things very differently here in the medical world than they do back home.

Sorry about the lists today. I like them.

So, Saturday night, there will be dinner for 8 at our apartment. I've helped my mom countless times with dinner parties, but I've never done one myself for more than 4 people.

No dishwasher = really fun times after everyone has left!

Probably church on Sunday morning. If not, it is because we'll be going to see Big Almaty Lake with our friends. We're trying to organize a trip there, but don't know which day it will be yet.

Anyway, an event-packed weekend! What are you all up to this weekend?

What to Write...

I have no idea. Huzz and I are just plugging away. Well, I am mostly plugging away, while Huzz is sleeping in to all hours of the late morning/early afternoon. Granted, he is staying up until about 2:00 am, when the markets close in the US, but still...

I am slaving away at this thing called a job.

Let's see...My friend, Julie, is getting married this weekend, soooooo....

HAPPY WEDDING, JULIE & DAN!!!

What else? My sister dyed her beautiful hair black while on spring break in Florida last week. I totally understand the whole dye-your-hair-while-on-spring-break thing, but I always got carried away with the hi-lighting kit with my cousins and ended up with super-blonde locks.

Sista and I may look and sound alike, but we are very different. In good ways, of course!

Only 1 1/2 more days till the weekend. It could not come soon enough. Seriously.

I am having total writer's block. So, here's what I'm going to do...

It's Question Time. If there's something you're wondering about living in the big K or what's been going on during this past year, ask me! I want to answer questions about here while I'm living it so that when we get back to the US, I'm not racking my brain, trying to remember. Plus, since this is the only version of a scrapbook I'll actually take the time to make, it will be a great way to keep these things documented. You know, for all the generations of my offspring that will read it. Ha!

Ask your question by leaving a comment, and I will answer on this here blog. Isn't that quaint?

Students...

With every year that I teach, certain things become more and more difficult, while other things obviously become easier. It seems that the things that should be "simple" and mundane become a hassle and tedious.

For example, lining up. This should be an easy task. When I say, "Boys and girls, push in your chairs and line up," here is what happens: They all jump up and run. The only ones who run to the line are the ones who want to be first, for some reason. The rest of them just look like they are busy. Groups of about 4 to 5 girls gather in various places of the room and just hen-peck. Gab, gab, gab. About nothing in particular or important.

I count down. "Get in line! You have 5...4...3...2...1! You should be quiet and in line now...No, that's not a line. That's a bunch...Turn and look around the room, boys and girls! Most of you did not push in your chair! Now, as you walk to PE, please stay in line - that means you are right behind the person in front of you. No one is beside you. No talking." And that's when I just hate the sound of my voice. And as they walk out the room, following my Teaching Assistant, they all start quietly talking to each other and are moving as one large mob. And as they move down the hallway, I can hear them getting louder and louder.

This is my life. Daily. I feel like I've never seen kids like these who just do whatever they want, all the time. It is the most frustrating situation. I have tried all different ways to punish them when they don't listen, but they don't care. These problems continue to be.

I don't want to teach anymore.

I know some of you would disagree with me and urge me to continue doing it. However, each year that I do it, I feel more and more strongly that it is not for me.

I do have my moments when I enjoy it. It is the once in a while, rare occurence when my students are actually listening and paying attention. They'll give me feedback during the lesson and I begin to have fun! It is just so RARE. It's just not worth it.

And I wonder why I'm doing it, when I feel like I'm not making a difference at all. At least, I can't see the impact right now. Right now, I am a baby-sitter, at best. A nagging, grumpy, unhappy baby-sitter.

Like the baby-sitter that took care of me when I was 10 and my brother and 3-year old sister for a weekend while my parents went away, probably to a business conference in Omaha. I think they called a baby-sitting service to hire her. I remember she was old, didn't smile, and extremely grumpy; downright mean, if you ask me. Anytime we asked her if we could do something, the answer was a sharp, "NO!" We had to play very quietly in our house for the whole weekend. I remember Kelsi coming into my room after bedtime and sleeping in my bed with me because she missed Mommy and she was a little scared. I took care of her. I protected her. I dressed her. And I comforted her.

Now, I am the nanny. I am grouchy and I never smile. Does that sound like me?

I am ready to leave the big K. I want to leave the big K.

Has Anyone Seen the Piece with Weird Colors?...

Look what kept us busy for the better part of while we stayed with Stephen's parents?
It's a 1,000 piece puzzle! The last piece found its place on the last night we were in Colorado. Rarely have I seen a puzzle from start to finish. Pretty cool.

Memorisation...

Remember when I posted about writing reports the "British way"? Well, it's report time again...

Now, I have learned to say, "Vladimir needs to practise memorising his basic Maths facts."

Pretty neat, huh?

Just thought I'd let you know I'm learning more British than Russian!


Oh, and by the way, I have only had ONE friend give me their hair color vote. Very disappointing. Come on, people. Don't let me down. This is your chance to change the way I look for awhile! This opportunity only comes once in a blue moon.

What does that mean, anyway?

We Did It....

I just sent the email to the HR guy at my school, letting him know that we'd be moving out of the staff accommodation by February 8.

Huzz and I just feel like it will be for the best. Even if the school follows through with what they're promising now, it will always be something more that we are dealing with. It will probably relieve a lot of stress to live elsewhere. Even though moving is stressful.

But hey, most of our stuff is back in Colorado in the storage unit, so at least we don't have to move all of that!

Now for some random-ness:

I've been thinking lately that I might want to dye my hair. Should I? It is all natural color right now and has been since college, so for several years. I think it'd be kind of fun, don't you? I'm thinking lighter...like blondish. What do you think? Leave me a comment and cast your vote. You will decide for me. When I go home at Christmas, I will do what the majority verdict declares on this here blog.

We really need to do our Christmas shopping this weekend...online. No, we are not bringing back authentic big K gifts. Trust me, you probably wouldn't want them. Unless you have an unfathomable hankering for horse meat. Although, we do have a gift for a few of the men in our families that we just thought they might think interesting. Nothing too exciting.

I knitted some baby booties for our friends, Rick & Katy, who are having a baby girl in March. They are so tiny! I'm nervous they'll be too small, even at the beginning. That's something I'm trying to work out with my knitting, is being consistent with the tightness of my stitches.

I know at least half of you just fell asleep, there, so I'll stop talking about knitting.

I made chicken parmesan last night and it was sooooo YUM. Thankfully, we have leftovers for tonight. Although, Huzz likes to have large second portions, which throws off how much is left for the second night. So, I usually end up having a half a portion, plus anything else I can find...usually bread. Which is not a good choice, but hey - I roll with it.

I am in the midst of writing reports, figuring out grades, and grading exams.

Yes, I had to give my baby seven year olds exams. And to the ones who can't read English, too. Of course, I read it to them, but their understanding is still so minimal. I make them sound like sweet, innocent things, but they're not. I am praying for patience each day, as they are very challenging children...spoiled, to say the least.

So, this week is crazy! I'm almost done with the written reports, though, so that's a relief.

Now, I need to pack up my things so I can grade exams at home tonight. Oh, joy.

Hopefully, I will post some pictures soon. I really need to get better at doing that. Maybe that will be my New Years' resolution.

Ummmm....

Found this on the boys' restroom door the other day. It makes me giggle.

P.S. I miss Velveeta Shells 'n Cheese

I Am Trying Really Hard...

It's true. I am.

To those of you who have emailed me and left comments, offering encouragement and prayers, I am so grateful. I know it is easier to have the attitude that I need to get over the things that bother me here and just suck it up. I know it's easier because I will admit that I've had that mindset about people before. However, I think that until you actually experience culture shock from living someplace so foreign from what you are used to, it is very difficult to understand what it entails.

There are many people I know who are much more well traveled than I am, but maybe have never lived outside the U.S. Again, I am realizing there is such a huge difference between visiting a place and living there. Even if you visit for a few months, you still have a relatively short end in sight. I have been struggling because there have been so many frustrations and things piled on top of me in a relatively short amount of time and all I can think of is, "I have at least three more years of this to endure."

The part I am learning, though, is that these things will eventually all stop bothering me. Already, some of the things we found out when we first got here, don't even phase me anymore. I know that even if my groceries are on the conveyor belt, I will still most likely get pushed out of the way by someone who thinks they need to remind me that I'm not Kazakh. I am anticipating that by the time our time is finished in the big K, I may not agree with the way a lot of things are done here, but I will accept it as a reality.

We have good friends living in China and have told me they know exactly how I'm feeling. As my friend put it, "We didn't understand 90% of what was happening. But don't worry we've been here a year and now we don't understand only about 85% of what's happening. I guess we just kind of accepted it and realized there is no way a couple of foreigners are going to change one of the worlds oldest and largest civilizations."

One thing that I think will continue to be difficult for me to accept is that there are just so many opportunities for things to change here -- for the better -- not my opinion, just a clear fact. But some of those things will never change, just because the people accept what anyone tells them as true and don't strive for something better. It's frustrating because they can attempt for better; no one will stop them, other than telling them that they can't and they accept that as truth. Does that make sense? Probably not, so I'll stop babbling.

Stephen is working so hard lately! He just wrote me an email, telling me that he'll be home around 8 tonight, but will probably be working until around 3 in the morning. I'm just glad he can work from home, so I can at least look at him! I am going to make stewed lentils and tomatoes for dinner, I think. New recipe, we'll see if it's good.

Things are getting better, little by little at the school. I really can see an improvement each day with the students. They understand me more and more, which is nice. It's nice to know that, as a teacher, your students might have an inkling of what you're saying.

Stephen's boss, Marc, brought us FITTED SHEETS, people! We ordered flannel sheets from Land's End - I highly recommend them - and had them sent to his place and he brought them with him for his visit here this week. I am seriously sleeping so well. It's the little things...

Anyway, need to catch the bus back home in a few minutes. Thank you for enduring me. We all have our bad days and good days. I want this blog to be a place where I can share the good and bad without feeling weak because I'm sharing the bad. That's alright, right? I mean, it's my blog. Haha.

Our New Place

It is a little after 4 pm on Monday and I just got home from my first day of reporting for work! This week is slightly leisurely, only reporting by 10 am until mid-afternoon and having the afternoons free and usually some sort of dinner or evening gathering is planned.

Last night, we went to Mad Murphy's Irish Pub for the school-sponsored BBQ of shashlik (kebabs, usually lamb) and some other traditional Kazakh foods - potatoes and this coleslaw that tasted like kimchi. We were able to meet most of the teachers, so it is great to make some new friends. So, today when I arrived at the hotel for our welcome ceremony, there were some familiar faces.

After being officially welcomed by the British ambassador, we enjoyed a "business lunch," which is extremely popular here in Almaty. It was alright. Soup was offered, but I was sweating hot, so I passed on that. The main course was some spaghetti noodles with some sort of meat sauce that did not taste like spaghetti sauce. But, it was okay tasting. I might be having an apple here pretty soon, as I'm hungry! The apples are great here, since they supposedly originate from Kazakhstan. Little tidbit fact for you, there.

Anyway, after lunch, they bussed the teachers over to our apartments that we will be moving into on Friday. Stephen and I visited them when we first arrived here about a month ago, but they have come a long way, thank goodness! I am soooooooo excited to get moved in there and get everything out of our suitcases and boxes. The apartments are HUGE! 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, living room, kitchen....a little different from our teensy-weensy NYC apartment. I'm pretty sure we will lose each other!

I took a couple of pictures when I went, but was rushed, so didn't have time to take a picture of each room. Plus, we couldn't get the door unlocked to the living room, so I didn't see that! Apparently, they have been having troubles with theft already, so they're locking the living rooms, since the TV's are in there.

This is a picture of the kitchen, well, half of it. The other half is behind the camera, where the fridge is. It is long and narrow, so I'm pretty sure I'll be rearranging this somehow. Plus, there is supposed to be a dishwasher, but there isn't. We will be purchasing one, as I absolutely despise washing dishes.
This is one of the bedrooms. They are a good size and each has its own full bathroom attached. Notice the hideous curtains.
This is the Master bedroom, as it is the largest and has a balcony! I'm not loving the furniture, but you can't complain, when it's provided for you. It has a very Asian feel, which I just am not the biggest fan of. Notice the carpet ~ it is brand new and about 10 times better than what was in there in July. It was that indoor/outdoor carpet in varying colors throughout the place of blue, gray, and black. And the seams were exposed and looked horrible! I thought it was just laid down to cover the real flooring underneath. Then, it was explained to me that that was the permanent carpeting. A few days later, I learned that the woman who owns these places was appalled at them and demanded that better carpeting be laid, thank goodness.

There are some things that I hope to change, to make it our own. They have already hung up curtains, which is nice so that we aren't having to duck down to change when we first move in. However, they are U-G-L-Y. Remember the curtain in our current kitchen, with the fake sunflower? They're along that calibur.

So, I noticed when we were at the Mega Center (nice mall here) that the electronics store had sewing machines for around $40! I might be purchasing one of those and making some nice, normal curtains. Who would've ever known that my sewing skills would come to use in Kazakhstan, of all places?

But, I am very excited, in case you can't tell. I'm just rambling on and on about this place. Don't worry, I will post many more pictures, once we move in this weekend. I haven't heard yet what the internet situation will be at the houses, so I am unclear as to if we will have it when we get there. Based on how everything else seems to go in this country, I'm going to say no. However, we will get it set up as soon as we can.

Yeah!!!

Did you see this?

Isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen?

And a little weird?

Click here for the article.

But it makes me think about my dog, Riley:

Riley would definitely nurse tiger cubs.

Ta-Da!

Some of you have been requesting some pictures. Well, I have a small confession to make: I haven't taken many. I will get better at this, I promise. But, we'll start with our temporary apartment. A tour, if you will.

This is the living room, home of the most uncomfortable couches we have ever sat on. They make my buns fall asleep.

Oh, and they are ugly. That brings to mind that old "cheer" from high school: Ahem... U - G - L - Y! You ain't got no alibi, you UGLY!!!

So, apparently, I am in a sassy mood.

Here is another view of the living room - the large windows, which are nice. Notice the drying rack with our laundry on it. See? I am kind of keeping busy. I do laundry for fun now.

Here is our bathroom. Oh, it looks nice. However, we are lucky if the water stays hot in the shower. And the water sort of smells weird...like ramen water. I am hoping that my citrus scented bodywash masks it. You guys would tell me if I smell weird, right? Here is the kitchen. My favorite part is the beautiful curtain with the fake sunflower.
And here is our bedroom. Please pardon the horrific mess. Remember all of those Space Bags I packed in NYC? Well, they all made it here and have managed to spew themselves all over the place. This is what happens when before getting to your destination, you have lived out of your suitcase for 5 weeks and then are supposed to do it for another 5 weeks, but you don't want to.
I need to start going through them and re-organizing things again. We are waiting to hear from our landlord if we can rent this place for an additional week. Our permanent apartment's move-in date has been moved to the 8th. If the landlord says no, we will need to move ALL THIS STUFF to the Hotel Kazakhstan for a week. Not the most convenient of situations, but what are you gonna do?

I am heading out in a few minutes to this place called Palladium, where I have been invited by my boss, Andrew. Some American guy is having a whisky tasting tonight there with other food and drinks. I'm not a whisky drinker, but it'll get me out of the house.

By the way, I woke up at about 5:00 this morning and the power had been out for at least an hour. It stayed off until 4:00 this afternoon. Then, it went out again for about an hour. It's back up again and I'm hoping it stays on for the rest of the night, as I'm not a fan of climbing up and down the 12 flights of unevenly constructed stairs.

Season Finales

We were gone over the weekend, down in Maryland to celebrate Kyle's graduation from GW's Masters program. So, we missed Thursday night's season finales: ER and The Office
I know you might've gasped right there, but don't worry ~ we take FULL advantage of the most wonderful invention yet...DVR. When we got home last night, after a 7 hour drive that was supposed to take 4-5 hours, I had my shows, happily waiting for me to push "play."
Well, we watched The Office last night and I have to say that by the end of it, I was just...sad! First of all, could Jim have any more bad luck? But, he should have still proposed to Pam. Figure something out ~ take her out for ice cream or something and just do it! But I mostly feel angry at Andy. It was a hilarious proposal, though....um, okay. She said yes!
I can't get over how funny the whole bit with Kevin is. Kevin has always been one of my favorites, mostly due to his love of M & M's. "I love pie!"
But the most disturbing season finale, thus far is the ER one, which was on last night. I think it's just cruel that they leave us loyal viewers hanging like that! Who was in the ambulance that blew up? Pratt or Sam? And, did Abby get hurt, since she had just walked by? I watched this first thing this morning and couldn't stop thinking about it all day.
Alright, I know they're just TV shows, but still.....
We are also big How I Met Your Mother watchers, which was on tonight, but Husband doesn't like watching shows with commercials. So he'll watch other things, like basketball while the shows are recording and purposefully watch them later.
American Idol is on tomorrow night! Who will win, David or David? Here's what I think, in case you care. But this is my blog, so if you didn't care what I thought, you wouldn't be reading it. Anyway, I have loved little David Archuleta since the beginning, but now I'm not sure I would actually buy his cd. I think he has a great, pure voice, but I'm not sure what his style of music really is...he's kind of Josh Grobanesque, don't you think? David Cook, I think has great rock style and I can see him being a great song writer/producer-type dude. I don't think he's as vocally talented as little David, but he's more interesting to watch and listen to. I think Cook will win it all. And little David will still be famous and probably get signed, anyway.
The End

We are on the same page...

Okay, I managed to make it until I was 27 years old without watching any of the Star Wars movies. Then, I married Stephen, who grew up watching them and if you allow him to, he will quote all of them, while he's watching them. Stephen conspired with our good friends, Nathan and Katrina, and they FORCED me to watch the three original movies, thus far. Did it kill me? No. However, this three year old in the video pretty much sums up Star Wars for me, too.