Don't worry, Claire Fan Club, she'll be back tomorrow!
Nothing terribly exciting today. Justin and I are addicted to 24, which we Tivoed and brought along on our laptop. We’re trying not to watch all the episodes in one day, but after each one, we look at each other and say, “One more?” I think we brought plenty of movies, though, so after 24 is over we’ll still have plenty to entertain us (besides the constant source of entertainment that is Russian television).
We went with Asel to the Kazakh History Museum today. After we got there and realized that most of the plaques were also in English, we felt bad for dragging her out on a Sunday, but it was nice to have her along and get her commentary on the things we saw. She told us that the president is a former furnace worker and his wife sold goods at the market. We thought it was interesting that here, in a country that was part of the Soviet Union 15 years ago, a man of such typical background could be elected president. This country is so new, and it’s fascinating to see their “history” section, which begins in 1991. Kazakhstan has plenty of history prior to 1991, but the first floor is dedicated to the post-Soviet Kazakhstan, with displays of their Constitution, National Anthem, and various gifts from heads of state around the world sent to commemorate Kazakhstan’s independence.
After the museum, Justin and I decided to explore near our house. Apparently, our exploring skills are a bit rusty, and we wound up in a less-than-desirable (and incredibly muddy) area. It was interesting to see the parts of Astana that our driver doesn’t take us through. It wasn’t scary; it was just much more run-down than what we’ve seen. The homes in this area don’t have running water and people go to nearby wells to fill buckets and take them to their homes. The people were actually much friendlier there than they are closer to our apartment, where it is very busy and people will pretty much mow you over if you don’t keep up a brisk speed.
We’ve gone on what we’re referring to as the “Anti-Atkins” diet while we’re here. Starches are pretty much all we recognize and trust, so we’re loading up on the carbs. Bread, oatmeal, pasta, popcorn, and then more bread (we’re going through pretty much a loaf of bread every two days, but it’s oh-so-tasty). We went out on a limb the other day and bought some yogurt, which worried me because it wasn’t refrigerated, but oh my gosh, it is the nectar of the gods. I’m sure it’s as bad for you as yogurt can possibly be, and I’m loving every delicious, artery-clogging spoonful.
We went with Asel to the Kazakh History Museum today. After we got there and realized that most of the plaques were also in English, we felt bad for dragging her out on a Sunday, but it was nice to have her along and get her commentary on the things we saw. She told us that the president is a former furnace worker and his wife sold goods at the market. We thought it was interesting that here, in a country that was part of the Soviet Union 15 years ago, a man of such typical background could be elected president. This country is so new, and it’s fascinating to see their “history” section, which begins in 1991. Kazakhstan has plenty of history prior to 1991, but the first floor is dedicated to the post-Soviet Kazakhstan, with displays of their Constitution, National Anthem, and various gifts from heads of state around the world sent to commemorate Kazakhstan’s independence.
After the museum, Justin and I decided to explore near our house. Apparently, our exploring skills are a bit rusty, and we wound up in a less-than-desirable (and incredibly muddy) area. It was interesting to see the parts of Astana that our driver doesn’t take us through. It wasn’t scary; it was just much more run-down than what we’ve seen. The homes in this area don’t have running water and people go to nearby wells to fill buckets and take them to their homes. The people were actually much friendlier there than they are closer to our apartment, where it is very busy and people will pretty much mow you over if you don’t keep up a brisk speed.
We’ve gone on what we’re referring to as the “Anti-Atkins” diet while we’re here. Starches are pretty much all we recognize and trust, so we’re loading up on the carbs. Bread, oatmeal, pasta, popcorn, and then more bread (we’re going through pretty much a loaf of bread every two days, but it’s oh-so-tasty). We went out on a limb the other day and bought some yogurt, which worried me because it wasn’t refrigerated, but oh my gosh, it is the nectar of the gods. I’m sure it’s as bad for you as yogurt can possibly be, and I’m loving every delicious, artery-clogging spoonful.
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