Yuki the Dog

Our dog Yuki is a world-class traveler! She has now spent half of her life in a foreign country half way around the world from the place she was born in (which was the state of Iowa). She is one of the two shiba-inu dogs in Astana, so you can imagine she is quite a celebrity wherever she goes. Our vets here love her. Girl-students on campus go crazy when they see her, always wanting to pet her. Boy-students are more reserved but she can squeeze a smile even out of them. Some of our basketball girls squeal with delight whenever they see us outside with her. What can I say, life is great for her! Especially when Babushka comes to town. That lady just spoils her rotten!!! So, here is Yuki's life in pictures.

This soul-piercing look! By the way our dog matches our interior! Or is it the other way around? 

"When it is -30 C outside, I like to lay under the radiator!"

Family movie night? Sure!

"I need my beauty sleep every single day! No, make it every single hour!"

Awe, those tired paws... they've gotten her into a mischief so many times!

"OK, boss, show me where it's written that popcorn is not for dogs!"

"May be if I lay here quietly, she won't notice that I am on the couch..."

"Hey, you, down there! That is MY territory!"

"Oh, you want to take a picture of me?"

"I don't think I am ready...I didn't have time to put myself together this morning."

"Nope, not going to look at you!"

"Still taking pictures? I am out of here!"

And the first prize goes to ... The Lion Queen!!!

Ethno Villiage

On August 15 we went to visit the Ethno-Village.  This was a permanent area that was built up outside the city near the horse track (about two miles from campus).  Similar areas pop up during holidays - especially Astana days in July and Nauryz  in the spring, but this ethnic village was set up as a way for tourists to see traditional Kazakh life and handicrafts.  It was also meant as a way for local artists to sell their arts and crafts.

We took one of the new buses (500 numbers) that stopped right in front of the university.  The bus took us directly to the ethno-village, and then it turned around.  The cost was a bit more than for a regular bus, but much cheaper than taking two taxis to and from the area.

We had a good time looking around. The kids had fun on the traditional swings. We also paid for everyone to take a shot with a bow and arrow.  Nika was the only one to hit the target, and she did it without even looking - and hit the bullseye, too!  We bought Oma a leather passport holder as a souvenir for the day.  

It was a very nice day, and when we got back to our stop, we went to the mall and had McFlurry ice cream from McDonald's for a treat. 

Girls swinging on traditional swings.

A row of Yurts where artists sold their wares.

An example of the work - saddles for Uncle Burl's viewing pleasure.

Dombra and other musical instruments.

Oma getting her passport holder.

Little restaurants selling different kinds of food local to the region.

Inside a restaurant yurt.

Posing - and arm wrestling.

Some figures showing traditional life.

Nika winding up.

Nika making her bulls eye.

Sophie taking a shot.

Lexa giving it a try.

Nina!

Papa having a go at it.

Yulia let me sit on the throne.... for a little while and only for the picture.

Kazakh Folk Instrument Concert

The Expo has begun in Astana.  Besides the actual site with all of the pavilions, the city is geared up for visitors to come and experience Kazakhstan.  Yulia was looking at the different events and found some tickets to go and see the Tlendiyev Kazakhstan National Ethnic Folk Orchestra.  The orchestra plays traditional instruments (like the ones our university orchestra plays) and plays both Kazakh traditional music as well as classical music.

Yulia got tickets for us and told our friend, Ramona, who got tickets for herself and her girls as well as a few friends.  The concert was held at the new ballet theater, which is only about a mile from our house - within walking distance easily - and which we hadn't yet been to.  We dressed up and took the bus two stops and then had to walk about the same distance up the road. The theater is beautiful on the inside and out.  It is a modern style, but since the opera theater is classical, it is a nice contrast.

Some "plant" sculptures on our walk to the theater

On our walk to the theater. Behind us is a row of flags of all of the countries participating in EXPO

A view of the main EXPO building from the theater

Ladies

Our crew at the Ballet Theater

We didn't realize that the twins dressed this way until we got here. If you are wondering what's up, here is the deal: they are wearing Indian shirts (Native American) and Indian skirts (from India)

The chandeliers were incredibly beautiful.

Yulia and I waiting for the concert to begin.

Girls and Babushka before the concert. 

We had bought our seats online.  We sat down (about fifteen minutes early, so VERY early in Kazakh time) and had two groups of people come and try to sit in our seats.  They had hand-written tickets from the expo.  We guess that they had reserved blocks of ticket for there, but that the reservation system wasn't quite synced.  The ushers told us to stay and put the other groups in seats around us.  When the concert started, the theater was only about 2/3 full, which was a shame because it was a very nice concert.

The repertoire consisted of traditional songs with guests vocalists, classical operas, and classical instrumental music.  There were a few songs where they had different instruments doing solos and that was really neat.  We love the round clay flute especially.

Solo number with a violin-like instrument that is held between the knees.  This was probably the most beautiful song overall.

The final bow with all the conductors and singers. 

We had a wonderful time.  When the concert was over we walked to the new mall and had McFlurry ice cream at McDonalds and then walked the rest of the way home.  It was a lovely evening and a lovely concert.

On our walk to the Mega Mall we passed some EXPO buildings. They were still doing some work in places even though EXPO opened the day before.

McFlurries! Yum!

Nazarbayev University Graduation 2017

This year was the third graduation from our university.  The first two years graduation was held in one of the halls in our new administration building.  It is a nice space, but not big enough.  This year, the university completed (and by completed, we mean finished enough to be functional) a new outdoor amphitheater to be used for larger events.  The president has attended all three graduations, but his schedule dictates things.

This year his schedule changed about two weeks before graduation and so the date was changed to a day earlier.  This meant that the families of many of the students could not attend.  That is unfortunately par for the course here.  The thought isn't about the students and their families.  It's a big reason why things here can only be scheduled at the last minute (two weeks' notice is an eternity) - because anything more and you are reliant on someone else's schedule and they may change their mind.

I was asked to be the marshal of the graduate students from our school (Econ, Eurasian studies and Political Science).  That meant that I had to be at graduation practice.  That took place on Friday, May 26. We did photos in the morning and practice in the afternoon.  The practice was very hot, and we went through every single name - meaning that we spent about 3 hours in the heat in our robes.

With colleagues waiting for pictures on Practice day.

My MA student, Madina.  She was our first MA student to defend her thesis this year.

Workers started re-doing brick sidewalk right when everyone came out for pictures.  Taken from our apartment.

Everyone lining up, but construction must go on!

New part of university. Two days before graduation and working like crazy to get it "done enough."

The students had an extra practice at the new amphitheater.  Lucky them!

Because the president was coming, we had to go through additional security.  We were told to bring our university identification, a copy of our passport, and a printed invitation saying we were faculty.  We had to be through security and lined up at 8:30 to start the ceremony at 9:00 (the processional began at 8:45).  I brought all the listed items and was grilled for not having an official identification.  I had extra security pat downs and was only reluctantly let through.  I don't imagine that many people would take the time to dress in academic regalia to crash the president's speech.... but what can you do?

The big excitement was the rain.  It started as a drizzle, but by the time we were all seated it was a downpour.  The university president gave his prepared 20-minute speech, and then they awarded the doctorate degrees (the first in the university) to 9 students from the school of education.

This was a photo from a local news site from the real graduation.... My face about sums up how I felt about being soaked through.

By this time everyone was soaked through to the bone and the decision was made to move the graduation inside for "plan B."  This plan had not been practiced, and so it was chaotic.  The president was going to cancel, but decided to come.  When that announcement came, they stopped giving diplomas, announced that we would have a brief pause, and then we all stood for over an hour while furious activity to spruce things up took place.  New podiums, new chairs, balloons, and flower arrangements were brought in.  Then we waited.

The president came and spoke for about twenty minutes.  The acoustics were awful, so even though I was within twenty feet I couldn't make out most of what he was saying (he spoke half in Kazakh and half in Russian.  He gave the diplomas to the PhD students, and then left.  Then we continued giving diplomas to the rest of the students.

It was a long day of standing.

A surreptitious photo of the president.  Shot through the press scrum while he awarded diplomas to PhD students.  I was about 20 feet from him.