This weekend was filled with a little bit of adventure as Sara and I took a visiting adoptive couple on an excursion beyond the borders of Taraz. We often get to meet people coming in to adopt but they often don't get a chance to see village life and some of the most spectacular mountains along the way.

There is something really peaceful about village life as children play in the streets and neighbors sit in front of their houses chatting away waiting for the cows to come home (literally). The steppes are dotted with herds of sheep, cows and horses and the fields are being plowed for the spring plantings. Life just doesn't seem so complicated here.



As we drove into Bauerzhan Momumshuly we spotted a really cool camel grazing and had to stop to get some photos. Of course, I wasn't satisfied with just photos and wanted to see if I could make friends with him which didn't see to take long. He seemed rather curious about our group and was right there to "sniff us out". Definitely an amazing creature!

First Impressions

A recent encounter caused me to think about the importance of first impressions. Heather and I needed to take some clothes in to be altered. We walked into a large room with probably 15 sewing machines and about 10 women engaged in various stages of work. It seemed pretty obvious that we were viewed as an "intrusion" and several of the ladies expressed to their co-workers in Russian that they didn't have time for us. One older woman reluctantly consented to see what we needed and asked us to step into the dressing rooms where I tried on a pair of trousers. I had heard her speak briefly in Kazakh to one of the women so I was relieved that I would at least be able to communicate with her. She came in and I greeted her warmly and with respect. I asked her name and requested her help with my needs. Within a few minutes I had her smiling and expressed my appreciation for taking time out of her busy day to help me. I went back later in the week to pick up the items and I was greeted warmly with a smile and a "come again" as I paid for my items.

What determines how we engage one another? Do I treat someone differently based on their position, education or age? Am I willing to treat someone with respect irregardless of how I am being treated by them or how I am feeling at the time? I recently read that we are to "do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others". A good reminder that each day people come into our lives who WE will make an impression on....what image will they be left with after that encounter?

Magic Wand & Marriage Proposal

Unlike the police in America who, for the most part, legitimately stop people for an infraction...the police here I think do it for entertainment and to earn a little extra cash. The other interesting thing about the police here are the lighted "red sticks" they use to pull people over. They resemble a chopped off "light saber" out of Star Wars.

In Almaty recently I was being driven in a taxi to the train station when a car zoomed by and a red magic wand popped out the window to pull over another driver who from my assessment...had done nothing wrong.

During a recent trip to Shymkent I was talking some guests to the airport when a policeman pulled me over..."just to check my documents". That same day as Heather and I were driving back to Taraz on an open country road I noticed several cars parked off to the side. I saw the sign that said "50" and saw the "gravel pit" ahead in the road which is a remnant from a harsh winter and poor construction. I guess I didn't slow down fast enough as the policeman quickly got out of his car and hailed me with his magic wand. I handed him my documents and he told me to get in the car on the passenger side and proceeded to show me the picture of my car speeding along at 70 on his high tech radar. He threatened to take my license and give me a ticket which if worse came to worse he could have since I had two more in my purse (the advantages of having an international license).

In these situations there is always an "exchange of information"...."what do you do?", "where are you from?", "do you have children?" and of course, "are you married?". He went on to tell me that he had 4 children and his partner went on to boast about his 9 children and 3 wives at which point he asked if I would be his 4th wife. I told him that I thought he had enough already while chuckling and shaking my head. Since I didn't want to stick around much longer and it was clear he was looking for some pocket change or something else I told him he could keep my license. He laughed, handed it back and sent me on my way. Guess I still have three licenses for the next time I am stopped!