A room with a view

This is life in Ust as seen from our windows and around town. This women arrives each morning around 6am. The local people as you see come to buy. They bring clean empty glass containers and not a drop of milk is spilled. Talk about our memories of the milk man. This women brings the jugs of milk, a pail of eggs, bags full of what I think is butter and a container that she scoops out of, that which looks like heavy cream as it does not spill when she places it in the container the customer provides. If it slides down the side of the container no problem a quick wipe with her hand and in the container it goes so as not to waste a drop. This is a scene which unfolds each morning giving us a glimpse into life here in Ust Kamenogorsk. We have not heard any yelling or fighting. This small gathering place serves as a play ground for the local children by day, a hang out for the local youth in evening and a place to beat the dirt out of the carpets which make a noise that brings us to the window to investigate. As you can see in the morning it also serves as a market place. Yet a short ride over the bridge and technology is beginning to explode. The young people all look like home with jeans and sneakers and cell phones. There are small department like stores which I explored yesterday but nothing like our expansive malls. Upon entering the shops you are waited on like royalty. This is how they do business. It somewhat intimidating when you just want to look but they are not pushy they stand in attendance with an at your service demeanor. No sale no problem a smile and a goodbye. I had the opportunity to get my hair done yesterday and I have to say they do it right here. A quite shop,a quiet station and beautiful relaxing music. I felt like a queen and so relaxed they could have cut my head off and I wouldn’t have noticed. Life here is simpler,slower paced and respectful. At least this is my take so far.
Our visit with Leah was again the highlight of our day. Her health is improved and she was glad to see us again. It has finally occurred to us that we have thrown off her schedule and she is now the last to eat when we bring her back to the care givers. How frightening the next couple of weeks will be for her. We pray we can comfort her when again she is separated from the only family (caregivers) she has known. Her security will again be rocked.
Christopher is well and we have gotten his updated passport. Thank you Alma you are the best!!! One less thing for me to worry about. Christopher continues to be a child that brings out the child in all of us. Here is a picture of him playing catch with Sergay (sp?) our driver. This man was so quiet the first few days we thought he didn’t like us. We won him over I think. He loves to play catch now and you should see the smile on his face. We are teaching him NY slang and when we get in the car at the end of the day he looks back at us and says HOME JAMES!!!!! What a kick.
Like I said this experience is life altering and a gift to treasure. These photos took a while to download but well worth the internet time. Two photos are the view out the back window of the apt where a new apt building is just in the beginning phases. We over look the Irtish River (Sp?) and the bridge is one we travel over each day to get to the baby house. The bus picture also says it all. I took it while riding to the baby house. These memories will last a lifetime.