Arrival to Almaty

Just a few words as to why I'm starting to this blog: I am in the trenches of a big adventure and it has been tough to wrap my head around the idea that Asia - Kazakhstan - Almaty are my new reality. The majority of things are completely different from the great US of A, but finding the smallest of similarities is what makes me feel part of a bigger plan, part of the human race and helps me to see outside of a well-manicured planned community, a la The Woodlands, Highlands Ranch. I hope to share anecdotes from this crazy thing called life and I hope that they bring a little perspective to your reality.

I start at the beginning:

The biggest ordeal of getting into Kazakhstan was conversing with the Russian-only speaking man at customs about bringing 2 dogs into the country. We had done our homework before leaving the states and had all appropriate paper work with us (including a stamped document from the USDA office in OKC). It was recommended but not required that our documents be translated into Russian. In retrospect, wise advice. It took my very patient husband more than an hour (after more than 29 hours of travel) to convince the customs official that we should be let through. And then trying to get 6 suitcases and 2 very large dog crates physically out of the airport was interesting and ridiculous, which reminded me of.....

I used to be waiting for my luggage (2 suitcases max) at the Houston or Denver airports and would watch the Indian (not Native American) families collect piece after piece of luggage off of the carousel. I could not fathom why anyone would need so much stuff. And now I know.....when all of your stuff is being shipped via semi-truck, then boat, then train half way across the world, you are left with quite a few things that you are unwilling to part with for 4 months. So now I pity those families of 6 who are trying unsuccessfully to stack 15 suitcases and then find a vehicle large enough to transport them. I feel your pain!

We are currently living in a temporary apartment, right next door to Kyle's office. Once our furnishing, clothes and basically all of our house hold goods arrive mid-August, we will be moving to a townhouse a little further away. But in the meantime, the dogs have become accustomed to riding the elevator 5-6 times per day. We take ambling walks around the city, trying to select those streets with as few vehicles as possible = less exhaust fumes and fewer ear-buzzing car horns.

The city, Almaty, is quite beautiful this time of year. Tree-lined streets, warm, but not humid temperatures, outdoor cafes, all add to the "ambiance". I read online that "Almaty could be mistaken for western Europe," well, in this girl's opinion, not quite, but it has a flare all of its own and I have found it enjoyable and even delightful.