Alma-ata Almaty

The first snow has come. I week ago Sunday, the first snow fell, coming after 50/60 degree weather. The weather here is crazy! It goes from really hot to really cold back to really hot again. It snowed non-stop for two days. Then it turned really cold (down in the single digits) and sunny. Any of you who are from cooler climates know that when it is sunny during winter time, it is frigid – no cloud cover to hold in the warm air close to the ground. This week ...

... the big cities, especially outside of Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan, and a city originally founded in the mid-1800s as a Russian fort, Russian language and Russian culture are no longer so present.<br><br>Supposedly 60% of the Kazakhstan population is ethnic Kazakh and only less than 60% of those ethnic Kazakhs actually speaks Kazakh language proficiently. Most people speak Russian. When Kazakh is spoken, Russian words are often mixed in ...

... strong here. While they are intrigued by the presence of a foreigner, especially an American, and are tickled by the fact that I want to get to know their country better, it is still difficult to get to know them very well. They are a little weary at first. <br><br>Nevertheless, I have found that the people here are some of the most hopeful, friendly, hospitable, and determined people I have ever met. They love Kazakhstan, are proud of their ...

... sondern eher gemütlich. Aber zumindest ist mir jetzt klar weshalb Felskletterer Unterarme wie andere Leute Oberschenkel haben.<br><br>Pünktlich Anfang September ist auch die Schneefallgrenze in den Bergen deutlich abgesunken; auf 3.000 Metern liegt jetzt schon wieder (zumindest vorübergehend) Schnee. Somit haben alle Berge der zweiten Reihe wieder gepuderzuckerte Gipfel, den Sommer ...

... the game show. They added a component in English, because they understand the importance of speaking English, especially if one is to study abroad. Each of the four of us international students, one girl from Nepal, one guy from the Netherlands, another guy from Korea, and me, we each had to come up with about four questions about our country. We first introduced ourselves and what country we are from, then we gave some background information to the ...

... around the table, and in two languages! It seems to me that everyone in the room understands both Russian and English. Many of the members are foreigners who have adopted Kazakhstan for their home. For them, oftentimes, it seems it is easier to speak in English than in Russian. For the Kazakhs and Russian-Kazakhs, Russian is the preferred language to speak in. What an international group!<br><br>Another wonderful time I had was this last Friday ...

... aber wir werden sicherlich auch bald eine Beschäftigung für sie finden. Mach Dir ein schönes Wochenende!<br><br>Den besten Lacher in einer sonst nicht sehr spaßintensiven Arbeitswoche war folgende Anweisung zur Budgetplanung: "...cost budgets are expected to remain flat compared to 2009. Inflation is therwith to be compensated by efficiency improvements." Ja, na dann mal los!<br>

... br>We arrived in the city and went to the hotel recommended by Lonely Planet as their choice. It was going to be $50 per person per night but for some this was too much so we went off in search of cheaper accomodation.<br><br>20 mins or so Pete has successfully navigated us to our hotel which in the end had all the facilities for our three day stay. It had secure parking, covered parking and its own resident welder.<br><br>I set about trying to get my motorcycle parts ...

... taking your friendly guide along with you.There may be some dispensations for language speakers but I'm unsure about that. I don't know about bicycles, motorbikes, prams. hire cars or any other mode of transport. You arrive at the border, your guide meets you and you go through a vehicle inspection, get issued with you China Driving licence and a number ...

... dafür war sie aber sowas von kaputt, dass man auch nicht wirklich schnell fahren konnnte bzw. immer darauf achten musste, dass man sich nicht Ölwanne auf- oder den Auspuff abreißt und nicht den Abhang hinunter stürzt. Für die guten 5 km des letzten Wegstücks brauchte ich 45 Minuten (jeweils, rauf wie runter). Zum See: Alle fanden ihn beeindruckend, da sich aber die Erkältungsfraktion nicht auf 10°C bis15°C ...