Our Family
Andrew
Charity
Avinelle Lynn
Eloise Ann
Recent Blogs
Let’s have some “chai”
Having “chai” (tea) and snacks is a way of life here. It could be an isolated event (like my “English Club” I’ve started….another blog on that later), or it could be at every meal. This is not as much a coffee culture, although there are LOTS of coffee shops across the city (NOW… only 10 Read more about Let’s have some “chai”[…]
“Napkin Ninjas”
This is something Andrew and I giggle at every time we go out to eat here. Sometimes there are cloth napkins and even so, there is usually small flimsy napkins or even tissues on every table. But once you use a napkin and set it down on the table- beware!! The servers quickly come snatch Read more about “Napkin Ninjas”[…]
Central Asian Bread
This post has been a long time coming. Oh my goodness! Any of you Americans that have traveled to Central Asia or my expat friends who live here in Central Asia can attest that the bread here (know n as naan- pronounced “non”, tandoori naan, flatbread, Read more about Central Asian Bread[…]
Happy Nauryz! 💐
We are in full swing Nauryz (Nowruz) holiday weekend here in Kazakhstan. Three of the working days are recognized holidays, and this year it falls over the weekend. So 5 days of holidays! That is something we have had to get used to a bit here. Holidays are not stand alone like in the States, Read more about Happy Nauryz! 💐[…]
International Women’s Day
Did you know this holiday, March 8, is celebrated in over 100 countries and is an official holiday in 27 countries (including Kazakhstan 😉)? (It took me awhile to post this blog because of a crazy week.. more on that later) Last year was our first one here and we hadn’t a clue that the Read more about International Women’s Day[…]
Dreaming in Russian 😴
So last week was the first time I actually had a dream about thinking and communicating (that I remember) in Russian. It was such a funny dream about visiting other Americans for a party (in none other than our PJ’s 😂), then I left with Eloise in the stroller to pick up an online order Read more about Dreaming in Russian 😴[…]
My First “Banya” Experience 😍
So the “banya” is the bath house. We went to the above bath house (Arasan means “pure water hole” in the Kazakh language) This one was built between 1979-1982. It’s actually considered a sight-seeing location in Almaty! I was invited by my two friends and they knew all the things. It is a former Soviet Read more about My First “Banya” Experience 😍[…]
New Year’s At Our Place
This year we invited friends over to our place for New Year’s. Andrew and I made some food and our friends made food, too! One was a dish from Uzbekistan called “plov” with rice and beef and the other one was “samsa”, which are actually all across Central Asia but are made differently in each Read more about New Year’s At Our Place[…]
What Do We Miss?
Let me preface this blog by saying that we thoroughly enjoy living in Kazakhstan and wouldn’t trade it for anything! Also, hands down, the “thing” we miss the most is not things at all but people…. Family and friends and thankfully because of technology we are able to keep up with a lot of you Read more about What Do We Miss?[…]
The Bedding Things
So one interesting thing to note is the bedding situation. (Our bed pictured above on the left) Not terribly different than what we are used to but it seems duvets are popular here, you use the top sheet underneath and the duvet is stuffed in a sheet type cover, then there is a top blanket Read more about The Bedding Things[…]