Day 10 (Tuesday May 6, 2003) – A Walk in the Park

The title today is appropriate in two aspects.  One, we actually did take a walk through a park today (and we’ll get to that later).  Two, this entire trip has been a walk in the park.  We’ve gotten into quite a rhythm here and this entire trip has been a blast so far (discounting the 20-hour trip here of course).  The days are filled with my morning walk to go get my $3 USA Today that is usually two or three days old, Roza picking us up in the morning and a 1-½ hour visit with the kids until noon.  We move next to a hearty lunch with some shopping thrown in (booo!) or some site seeing (yeah!!!); we then go visit the kids again for another 1-½ hour visit (these visits of course are what our days revolve around, and we wouldn’t have it any other way).  Afterwards, we’ll maybe do some more shopping or site seeing, then dinner will consist of either going out on our own or with Roza or at times cooking back at the apartment.  After dinner, the ladies resign themselves to a little reading and chatting, while I hit the notebook for the day’s update, loading the pictures to the computer, choosing which to send to the website (hardest part of my day) and attempting an Internet connection (normally an unsuccessful endeavor until around midnight or after).  The ladies normally hit the rack around 10:00 pm and I’m not long to follow.  That is unless I actually want to get the update out to Al, and then I don’t hit the rack until about 1:00 am (not only is it very late before I can get to most websites, the connection is VERY slow – one day’s update usually takes about 25 minutes to mail).

 The Frank Foundation is taking care of us quite well.  The apartment as you have all seen by now is fully functional, quite comfortable and in a good location.  Now that we have figured out the Italian-made washer with Russian instructions, laundry is a breeze (although, I never thought I’d say this, but damn do I miss my clothes dryer – everything is so stiff - I know we’re spoiled).  Food is great.  Site seeing is spectacular (pictures can’t capture the beauty).  The Kazakh people are generally a friendly bunch (for Russian standards at least).  We have never felt unwelcome anywhere and there is absolutely no anti-American sentiment to be found.  Gallina is constantly running around town on our behalf and other adoptive parents in her care (either getting paperwork completed or networking the officials that have to be dealt with in this process).  And I can never say enough about Roza.  She is our lifeline here.  She spends so much of her time with us even though she has a young boy of her own at home.  Not only (as many of you have noticed and pointed out) is she quite easy on the eyes, but also she is one of the most genuinely kind and caring persons I have ever met.  And of course the best part of this trip is that I’m bringing home the best darn souvenir you could ever imagine.   (For the dense out there….I’m talking about Alia.)

The day included our visits, of course.  It’s comforting to see Alia happily reaching out (with a big grin on her face) to Leilani as soon as she enters the room.  And please don’t hold this against me, but it was also comforting to see her cry today when she had to leave us at the end of the morning session (Alia crying that is…Leilani’s been doing that since the first day).  Our shashlyk feast and walk around the park (that will have military – Russian and Kazakh – memorabilia on the weekend, i.e. Joe’s time to shop) were next on the agenda.  The park is very popular with the children since it has a water park inside, boat rentals, amusement rides, etc.   The afternoon session ended happily with our little dreamboat falling asleep in Mommy’s arms.  Dinner was a chance.  Pam and Leilani came across this interesting frozen pie next to the pizzas.  Since it was only a buck and not big (since we were still a little stuffed from lunch), we said “what the heck” and brought it home, plopped it in the oven (I’m down to only slightly scorching my fingers when lighting the stove).  After about 45 minutes we were treated to a potato pie.  A little bland in the filling but the crust was good and since we all weren’t that hungry we weren’t too picky either.

I’m going to end the day by righting a wrong from one of my earlier updates.  In day 3’s update, I had a picture of Leilani and I in front of the statue of (as I had put it) the Great Kazakh poet blah blah blah.  And of course the Webmaster had to point out my potential International blunder.  Since I just can’t stand Al making funnier comments than my own, I figured I’d fix my gaffe.  So I did a little research and here goes … Writer, translator and Educator Abay (Ibrahim) Kunanbaev (1845 – 1904) was born in the village of Kaskabulak on the northern fringe of the Shyngghystau hills in East Kazakhstan.  His translations of Russian and other foreign language literature into Kazak, and his public readings of them, as well as his own work, were the beginning of Kazak as a literary language and helped broaden Kazaks’ horizons.  He wrote: ‘Study Russian culture and art – it is the key to life.  If you obtain it, your life will be easier …’.   His Russophile writings were enshrined by Moscow.  Now he is Kazakhstan’s greatest literary figure, with museums both in Semey where he spent most of his life and the village of Zhidebai, where he died. 

 I can now go sleep the sleep of the innocent.  Good night and good news.

 Click on the Thumnails to Enlarge the Picture

Say Cheese. I'm the heart throb of the FAA Tech Center.   (Joe, don't let Carleen hear that)

And of course the heart throb of Illinois.

Moooooooooom! I'm really concerned about this big empty spot in the back of Daddy's head.

Hangin' and chillin' with Mom on the steps.

I love Daddy thiiiiiiis much! (oh yeah, Mom's kinda cool too)

I'm ready, Ma! Got the striking pose down, got my sunglasses on, Dad's promised to bring a truck load of stuff down. So when are ya gonna take me to the beach in Ocean City already??!! And hopefully I'll have a cooler swimsuit then this.

(1) Another great place for lunch. It's a BBQ or kebab (shashlyk) joint. Tasty morsels of MEAT!!!! (2) Here's the presentation of lunch (some chicken, mutton, pork and mutton sausage). mmmmmm. Doesn't that look yummy Irene? (Can someone call my doctor for a perscription to Lipator for when I get back?)

(1) Hit this park after lunch to try and digest and walk off all that meat (I think we'd have to walk back to Jersey to walk off that meal). (2) I was hoping for my shopping revenge here, but alas war memorabilia stand are only out on the weekend. Drats! Spoiled again. You can however rent boats here, take a horse ride, many amusement rides, water park and just a nice walk around the park.

Now THAT'S funny Ma. He did WHAT last night?

Say aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh. Hmmm looks like strep to me.

Beach Ball, Beach Ball Not on the wall Who's the cleverest of them All? Karsten!

Joe singing a little Pearl Jam to Alia. I don't think she's to pleased.

Quick! The sunglasses Mom! My rabid public may recognize me and we'll be swarmed.

She sleeps!

Again, I think I can already hear the collective "aaaaawwwww" throughout the Internet. A very nice way to end the day.

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