We have finally arrived in Almaty Kazakhstan at 12:30 AM on Sunday (Kazakhstan Time). We have one more flight to go , which will get us to our city where Ben is. We are not sure if we will get to see him today or tomorrow. Today if we do not get to go to the baby house we will a good chance to unpack and setup our appartment.
I must say that I never realized who FAR Kazakhstan is from the United States and both Mike and I now have a clear understanding of how far it is. The airport here in Almaty does not have free internet so I had my first experience trying to pay for internet time with someone that does not speak English and I who does not speak Russian. The good news is I did buy internet time.
Really for the first time in my life I realize just how much I stand out in a crowd.
We did learn that Christmas is Jan 7th here so we get to experience two Christmas', this should be interesting.
We have learned that there is CHICKEN in Shymkent , so there is hope for food.
I am running out of my time, but wanted to let everyone know we made it to Kazakhstan!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Only TWO Days
When we got home yesterday our Visa's were waiting for us!!! This was the last thing we needed for the trip. Mike's bags are packed and I will pack mine tomorrow. We are going out tomorrow night for a little celebration dinner.
Our flight leaves Asheville at 7am on Friday morning and we get into Kazakhstan at 12:30am on the 4th. Kazakhstan is 10 hours ahead of the U.S. East coast.
We will try and post when we get to Germany and then once we make it to Kazakhstan.
Off to finish packing.
Happy New Year!
Our flight leaves Asheville at 7am on Friday morning and we get into Kazakhstan at 12:30am on the 4th. Kazakhstan is 10 hours ahead of the U.S. East coast.
We will try and post when we get to Germany and then once we make it to Kazakhstan.
Off to finish packing.
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Making a List
Making a list and checking it twice, but it has nothing to do with Santa. We are working on our list of things we need to purchase, gather and pack. We are trying to figure out which comforts of home we really must take with us on our journey. Mike says we must take tea bags with us so we can make sweet tea in our apartment, well we are going to southern Kazakhstan. We will not be staying in a hotel ,but an apartment. The good news is we will be able to cook and wash cloths.
We should have our visa's soon! We must have these to be able to travel into Kazakhstan.
Nolan is now talking about his little brother all the time, I think he might be a little disappointed when we come home without little brother.
Most go now, lots to do and oh yah Christmas is this week. Merry Christmas.
We should have our visa's soon! We must have these to be able to travel into Kazakhstan.
Nolan is now talking about his little brother all the time, I think he might be a little disappointed when we come home without little brother.
Most go now, lots to do and oh yah Christmas is this week. Merry Christmas.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Plane Tickets- Purchased
We have purchased our plane tickets we leave on Jan 2nd at 7am and get into Almaty Kazakhstan on Jan 4th at 12:34 am.
Monday, December 15, 2008
DATES!!!!
We have dates!!! We have to be in Kazakhstan on Jan. 4th. Tomorrow we will be working on our visa paperwork and getting plane tickets. I can not believe after all this time it is really going to happen! We are going to Kazakhstan! We should be home around the 24th or 25th.
Time to start PACKING!
Time to start PACKING!
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Phone Call
We were at Chuck E Cheese tonight and got "the call", it was our adoption agency director. She was calling to find out if we could be on a plane in three weeks. Of course I said YES!!!! Next week we will get our official dates and then will need to be on a plane 2 weeks later.
We are very excited, nervous, and a big boundle of energy.
We are very excited, nervous, and a big boundle of energy.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Region Assigment
We got an email today from our adoption agency that we have been assigned to the Shymkent region of Kazakhstan. Here is some information about the area:
Shymkent Region
Shymkent is the capital city of South Kazakhstan Province, the most populated region in Kazakhstan. The population of Shymkent is currently under debate, as census standards are below those in Western countries. It is either the second or third largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population reported between 500,000 and 900,000 people, as of 2004. Either way, Shymkent has the largest single metropolitan-area population, and is the center of the most populated, and most densely populated, Oblast. It is a major railroad junction on the Turkestan-Siberia Railway and a notable cultural centre. It is situated some 690 km west of Almaty.
Shymkent is at the crossroads of two continents from a travellers point of view: it is where the major roads from Europe, China and India meet. The ancient silk road cities of Hazrat-e Turkestan and Sayram are nearby. Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, lies 120 km to the south.
History
Chimkent (Shymkent) was founded in 12th century as a stopping place on the Silk Road, and as a market centre for trade between nomads and the settled people of Uzbekistan, but was destroyed several times by nomad attacks. Once part of the Khanate of Kokand, it became part of the Emirate of Bukhara in 1810 and was then annexed by the Russian Empire in 1864. It was renamed Chernyaev in 1914 and renamed back Chimkent in 1924.
Chimkent and Shymkent are Uzbek and Kazakh variations of the same word, Chim (Shym) meaning turf, and Kent meaning city.
After Kazakhstan gained independence, the city was renamed Shymkent in 1993 as part of the government’s campaign to apply Kazakh names to cities. Interestingly, this created an ambiguity in city's name in the Russian language. (The formal spelling of Shymkent (Шымкент) as codified in Kazakhstan's Constitution goes against the Russian spelling rules of never having the letter ы follow the letter ш.) As a result, the new name Шымкент (Shymkent) is used only in Kazakhstan, while Russia and other countries using Russian language keep using the original spelling Чимкент (Chimkent). The spelling of proper nouns remains a topic of somewhat heated discussions among many present and former city inhabitants.
Demographics
The ethnic make-up of the city is as follows:-
• Kazakhs 49.5%
• Russians 24.6%
• Uzbeks 15%
• Tatars 2.7%
• Others 8% (Azeris, Ukrainians, Koreans)
Economy
Formerly dominated by lead mining, industrial growth began in the 1930s and the city has industries producing refined lead and zinc, processed karakul pelts, textiles, foodstuffs, and pharmaceuticals. Also, the city has a medium size refinery. The Shymkent Refinery is owned and operated by PetroKazakhstan.
Sights
• Ordabasy circle, site of Friday Mosque and MIG Memorial
• Regional Studies & History Museum
• Victory Park
• Central Park
• Museum of Repression
• Afghan War Memorial
• Arboretum
• Nauryz/Navruz Holiday Celebrations over Spring Solstice
• Al-Farabi Square
Time Difference
The time difference:
• between Shymkent and US Eastern Stander time - 10 hours
• between Almaty and US Eastern time – 10 hours
Shymkent Region
Shymkent is the capital city of South Kazakhstan Province, the most populated region in Kazakhstan. The population of Shymkent is currently under debate, as census standards are below those in Western countries. It is either the second or third largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population reported between 500,000 and 900,000 people, as of 2004. Either way, Shymkent has the largest single metropolitan-area population, and is the center of the most populated, and most densely populated, Oblast. It is a major railroad junction on the Turkestan-Siberia Railway and a notable cultural centre. It is situated some 690 km west of Almaty.
Shymkent is at the crossroads of two continents from a travellers point of view: it is where the major roads from Europe, China and India meet. The ancient silk road cities of Hazrat-e Turkestan and Sayram are nearby. Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, lies 120 km to the south.
History
Chimkent (Shymkent) was founded in 12th century as a stopping place on the Silk Road, and as a market centre for trade between nomads and the settled people of Uzbekistan, but was destroyed several times by nomad attacks. Once part of the Khanate of Kokand, it became part of the Emirate of Bukhara in 1810 and was then annexed by the Russian Empire in 1864. It was renamed Chernyaev in 1914 and renamed back Chimkent in 1924.
Chimkent and Shymkent are Uzbek and Kazakh variations of the same word, Chim (Shym) meaning turf, and Kent meaning city.
After Kazakhstan gained independence, the city was renamed Shymkent in 1993 as part of the government’s campaign to apply Kazakh names to cities. Interestingly, this created an ambiguity in city's name in the Russian language. (The formal spelling of Shymkent (Шымкент) as codified in Kazakhstan's Constitution goes against the Russian spelling rules of never having the letter ы follow the letter ш.) As a result, the new name Шымкент (Shymkent) is used only in Kazakhstan, while Russia and other countries using Russian language keep using the original spelling Чимкент (Chimkent). The spelling of proper nouns remains a topic of somewhat heated discussions among many present and former city inhabitants.
Demographics
The ethnic make-up of the city is as follows:-
• Kazakhs 49.5%
• Russians 24.6%
• Uzbeks 15%
• Tatars 2.7%
• Others 8% (Azeris, Ukrainians, Koreans)
Economy
Formerly dominated by lead mining, industrial growth began in the 1930s and the city has industries producing refined lead and zinc, processed karakul pelts, textiles, foodstuffs, and pharmaceuticals. Also, the city has a medium size refinery. The Shymkent Refinery is owned and operated by PetroKazakhstan.
Sights
• Ordabasy circle, site of Friday Mosque and MIG Memorial
• Regional Studies & History Museum
• Victory Park
• Central Park
• Museum of Repression
• Afghan War Memorial
• Arboretum
• Nauryz/Navruz Holiday Celebrations over Spring Solstice
• Al-Farabi Square
Time Difference
The time difference:
• between Shymkent and US Eastern Stander time - 10 hours
• between Almaty and US Eastern time – 10 hours
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