I think I’m adapting to life in the chill rather well. After countless lectures I’ve final bought proper shoes (tall boots lined with fur) and fur lined caps. Actually, to be honest, I’ve enjoyed the novelty of snow and ice. Although the enjoyment may fade with time, the crunch of my shoes in the early morning silence as I walk to the bus stop is a pleasant accompaniment to whatever song I’m currently humming. For now it’s funny to see my hair turn white with ice by the time I reach my bus stop. Yesterday I had to laugh when I realized that the steam rising from my breath had frozen my scarf to my cheek! Later, my response was the same when my coworker Sara had to scrape ice off the INSIDE of her van windows! Supposedly this is the coldest winter most locals can remember. Oh the irony that this sunshine seeking heat loving girl arrives to be greeted by the coldest winter on record. The lows are expected to continue until mid-February. I’ll keep you posted!
My first day on the bus to work, they pushed me off. Seriously! No joke. However they didn’t
push me off to be mean, the bus was just too full and people couldn’t get on or off…and guess who was nearest the doors. My host sister, who road with me the first day was helpless as she was bound by arms and legs so mixed it was as if strange beast had taken over the inner compartment of the bus with eyes looking out reproachfully from fur covered heads when any new victim boarded the bus. Despite the looks, the beast did let me back on and I made it to work. Day two though…I was on my own!
Though I’m slightly intimidated by the rude busmen, the crowds, and my inability to see out the
ice covered windows, there has been a strange sense of satisfactory victory when I manage to get off at the right stop! The first time I made it on my own I had to literally restrain myself from jumping around with the realization I had beat the beast! I had to settle for striding briskly, head down, singing praises quietly behind my scarf. This way I at least looked like I somewhat fit it!
The top picture is me next to the Interlink office. Then there is Sara scraping ice off the inside of windows. The last picture is of my host home street. My houseis the shorter one on the right.
I think I’m adapting to life in the chill rather well. After countless lectures I’ve final bought proper shoes (tall boots lined with fur) and fur lined caps. Actually, to be honest, I’ve enjoyed the novelty of snow and ice. Although the enjoyment may fade with time, the crunch of my shoes in the early morning silence as I walk to the bus stop is a pleasant accompaniment to whatever song I’m currently humming. For now it’s funny to see my hair turn white with ice by the time I reach my bus stop. Yesterday I had to laugh when I realized that the steam rising from my breath had frozen my scarf to my cheek! Later, my response was the same when my coworker Sara had to scrape ice off the INSIDE of her van windows! Supposedly this is the coldest winter most locals can remember. Oh the irony that this sunshine seeking heat loving girl arrives to be greeted by the coldest winter on record. The lows are expected to continue until mid-February. I’ll keep you posted!
push me off to be mean, the bus was just too full and people couldn’t get on or off…and guess who was nearest the doors. My host sister, who road with me the first day was helpless as she was bound by arms and legs so mixed it was as if strange beast had taken over the inner compartment of the bus with eyes looking out reproachfully from fur covered heads when any new victim boarded the bus. Despite the looks, the beast did let me back on and I made it to work. Day two though…I was on my own!
ice covered windows, there has been a strange sense of satisfactory victory when I manage to get off at the right stop! The first time I made it on my own I had to literally restrain myself from jumping around with the realization I had beat the beast! I had to settle for striding briskly, head down, singing praises quietly behind my scarf. This way I at least looked like I somewhat fit it!
Well, I am safe and sound in Kazakhstan. I thought I'd help out others who may be planning to travel to this grand land any time soon...
out to 
open the luggage compartments leap from your vehicle and point repeatedly at your bins. Wait until the persnickity old bus man goes away...then grab your bins and run!!!!! If need be, stack two and drag to your van! Get in and GO!
4. How to use the internet: Begin by gathering all possibly electic wire and gagets within a 20 mile radius. Plug as many things together as possible and walk away. Call the electronics people who will come, probably the day after they said they would, watch them do what they could have told you to do on the phone, namely switch two wires...and wait. :) 
Well friends, a miracle has occurred and I have a new passport and visa...and got them in less than 4 hours! My advice to repeat this process follows:
That said, here's my shout out to Mildred at the US passport agency who issued a new passport in 3.5 hours even though I didn't have evidence of a visa appointment and should have waited a few days. And here's another shout out to Raooshan at the KZ embassy who gave me a visa in 5 minutes just as the noon hour struck for her lunch break! And yet another shout out to Rekah and Druba for hosting me and to Dipesh and Katherine for offering! You guys are the best! And here's a final shout out to all of you dear people who called and prayed and called and worked so hard on my behalf to make this happen (especially Barb and Marsha!). 
.gif)
