Up to Chymbulak

We finally made a second attempt at going up to Chymbulak, the big ski resort near the city that is popular tourist spot. (The first time we were turned back because the road was closed.) We went with our good friends, Dake and Amy. However, halfway up our car overheated (it's a very steep climb) and we had to stop. Fortunately, we were all able to squish into Dake and Amy's van and made it to the top where the resort is.

We then took two chair lifts up to where there was still large patches of snow and had a bit of a walkabout and some snowball-throwing. It was amazing how much the temperature changed from the city (around 1500 meters) to the top of the second lift (around 2600 meters). The kids didn't hesitate at all getting on the chair lifts and really enjoyed them. And when we got back down to our car, it had cooled off enough to drive home (although we had to get a gasket and a hose replaced).

Pool Party

Ever since the weather got hot, the kids have been asking for a pool. After a bit of hunting we found an inflatable pool for a reasonable price (for here, anyways). We don't really have a great place to put it (since our backyard has no level spots at all) and it's not easy keeping it clean, but the kids are really enjoying it. And it's a great relief on these hot afternoons!

Cherry Picking

Derek and the kids spent a couple of hours today harvesting our cherry crop. (Thomas actually spent more time eating than picking.) Our yard is full of fruit trees. We have two cherry trees, a plum tree, a pear tree and three apple trees. Our neighbors have what we think is a walnut tree that hangs over into our yard too. The cherry trees seem to be different varieties because only one is ready for picking now. Last summer we didn't have much fruit on the trees -- there was a late frost here in Almaty and most of the cherry and plum blossoms perished. But this year, there are a lot! We have already taken some cherries to two other families and still have lots left over from the first tree. We may have to learn how to make jam!

Our Outstanding Students

Last night was the all school awards ceremony. Will and Kate both received the "Outstanding Student" award for their classes. The award is given to the student in each class with the highest overall average. The award consisted of a certificate and 1500 tenge (about $12); needless to say, the kids were much more excited about the cash than the certificate.

Today, after the last day of classes, we went to celebrate at a newly-opened restaurant here in Almaty: Kazakhstan Pizza Hut! The pizza was very normal, the manager spoke English, and the menu was in English (and Russian, of course) so we felt quite at home (sort of).

Saying Good-bye

We are discovering that a fact of life overseas is that people are always coming and going. The going is the difficult part. This year Kate has had to say good-bye to her closest friend at school and we are having to say good-bye to close friends who have worked with us at the school. Most of the high school staff is staying on for another year but many are leaving from the elementary staff. (Both Kate's and Will's teachers are returning to the States.) We had party to say good-bye to leaving staff. It was a snack pot-luck and games night. We had a good turn-out and everyone had a lot of fun.

Sports Day

The school year is winding down and with that comes the all important Sports Day. At our school, every student family is put into one of four "houses" at the beginning of the year, named after famous Kazakhs. We are in Zhambul; the other three are Abai, Auezov, and Sefullin. Throughout the year the students and families get points for a variety of things. One of the big points events is Sports Day (especially since it is near the end of the year when the competition is heating up) and all the students and families participate in events.

Unfortunately, we are on a decidedly unathletic team so our team came dead last for the day. But we had a great time, despite getting rather sunburned. We all ran in 100-meter races of some sort: Kate and Thomas ran 100-meter races, Will and I ran both 100-meter races and 4 x 100-meter relays, and Karla ran in a 4 x 100-meter relay. It was a strange coincidence that in each of our 100-meter races, all four of us (not including Karla) came in second place! But the best race to watch was definitely Thomas' race -- look at his great form!

Will and Kate participated in a lot of different events, while Karla and I were "house leaders" -- which meant that we were constantly running around making sure that all of the Zhambul kids were at their events at the right time. A busy but fun day!

Trip to Kurmetta

Last weekend I had the privilege of going on a trip east of the city with a couple of friends, Mike and Blair. Our first stop was at Sharyn Canyon, Kazakhstan's much-smaller version of the Grand Canyon. After heeding the warning sign (stating: "Warning! Dangerous For Life!") we spent some time walking around the top and climbing on some of the rock formations. The lack of hand rails or any form of safety apparati (is that a word?) was both refreshing and nerve-wracking. And if we were standing near an edge when the wind gusted, it was downright terrifying.

Then Mike amazed us with his off-road skills by somehow getting us down to the bottom of the canyon in the 4x4. I took some pictures of the path we drove down, but none of the pictures do justice to how steep and bumpy it really was. Even on the canyon floor, we drove under rock overhangs and between huge rocks that seemed to allow our passage by a few feet only.

After getting back on the main highway, we travelled around the end of one of the long mountain ridges and back around along another wide valley. In one of the smaller valleys that branched off from the larger valley is a small village named Kurmetta, where a family lives that Mike knows quite well. He often visits to lend a helping hand. I was initially hoping to help out myself, but local hospitality insists that guests are not allowed to work (at least, not until they are considered very close to the family).

The first night we met the whole family: Askar and his wife, his mother and father, and his three small children. A cousin was also staying with them at the time. (Unfortunately, I only got a picture of the grandparents and the cousin.) Despite they numbering eight and we only three, we ate and slept in the large dining room.

Either Askar or his father ate our meals with us (with Askar's wife or mother sitting at the table to serve us tea), but the others ate in the kitchen. We were overwhelmed by their hospitality -- the food was tasty and plentiful. I was also lucky enough to avoid having to cut up the cow's head we were served the first night (not sheep's head this time) -- that was Blair's honour!

The next morning Askar took the three of us on a horseback ride up the valley. The horses wouldn't go any faster than a walk (and my horse was very comfortable following behind the other horses) so it was a slow leisurely trip. We travelled up to a cabin-type building where some of the villagers stay when they are cutting the grass for hay in the fall. It was a beautiful scene; it made me wish that I had some time to go strolling about the hills.

We travelled back down the valley, stopping to meet some of the neighbours. Again, my horse enjoyed staying about 10 yards behind the other horses. But I had stopped trying to prod him along on the return trip and we both had a much more enjoyable ride. Although I couldn't take part in the conversations with the others, I talked to the horse and even sang to him. (He seemed to walk well to "Crown Him with Many Crowns"... or maybe the beat just fit in better with his pace and it only seemed like we were going faster.)

In the afternoon, we travelled (by car) up another valley to a popular lake called Kolesai. It was a beautiful blue color, just like Lake Louise and similar lakes in the Canadian Rockies. We walked around the lake a bit, had some good talks, and came back to the house. Lots more good food and lots of chai (tea). We slept well again and drove home the following morning -- very thankful to have hot showers and flush toilets again.