Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Pwetty fwowers!
We got the key to our house last year July, and by then the garden was a jungle (it still is) and we had no idea what plants had been planted whatsoever. This year, we get to experience the whole blooming season from the start, and to our surprise, flowers keep popping up all over the place! The old lady that lived here before really put in an effort, thanks! :)
Kazakhstan, glorious nation?
Kazakhstan it is! Or was. I went there to give a few people a crash course in maritime meteorology. I thought I'd prepared rather well, I wrote all the course material, make a nice book with all the reading and handouts, got my visa in order: check!
NOT! When I arrived in Atyrau, the customs guy looked at me and said: this is a 3. (as in March). Uh...no, it's a 5 (May) I replied. "No. 3. *stamp*. Heee.....hey man! Wait a minute! But he wouldn't have it. What do you think it is?
He had just stamped my passport so that I had to leave Kazakhstan in 5 days. Great. That cut my visit short by a few days, perfect. :(
That was not only problematic for my "teaching schedule", it's also kinda unprofessional not to have your stuff in order. Even if it's not your fault. I asked around, but there was no changing it. Penalty for leaving the country late is at least 1 day in jail, and a fine. Naah....I'll pass.
The course went ok, but it was kind of hard to figure out if they really "got"
the material. their English wasn't very good, and apparently it is impolite to argue with someone who knows the material. All they did was nod violently to indicate everything was clear and understood. That could mean I'm either very good, or they we're in fact being polite. To test them, I said two sentences in Dutch.......and they kept nodding. :( Ah well, I'll just assume their Dutch was very good as well. ;)
Kazakhstan became independent in 1991. I think since then, the only investments being made are by foreign businesses. The local architecture suffers significantly, it doesn't look like everybody get's their fair share, shall we say. In any case, I think the "glorious" part originates from at least a few decades ago. That being said, I hear the eastern part is quite beautiful. The west isn't. See for your self:
Ice fishing on the river.
The bridge from Asia to Europe (or vice vera)
Kazakhstan New Years celebrations
Renovation started! And abandoned years ago....
Glory days have been and gone.
Perhaps some paint?
On my way home.....quicker then expected.
NOT! When I arrived in Atyrau, the customs guy looked at me and said: this is a 3. (as in March). Uh...no, it's a 5 (May) I replied. "No. 3. *stamp*. Heee.....hey man! Wait a minute! But he wouldn't have it. What do you think it is?
He had just stamped my passport so that I had to leave Kazakhstan in 5 days. Great. That cut my visit short by a few days, perfect. :(
That was not only problematic for my "teaching schedule", it's also kinda unprofessional not to have your stuff in order. Even if it's not your fault. I asked around, but there was no changing it. Penalty for leaving the country late is at least 1 day in jail, and a fine. Naah....I'll pass.
The course went ok, but it was kind of hard to figure out if they really "got"
the material. their English wasn't very good, and apparently it is impolite to argue with someone who knows the material. All they did was nod violently to indicate everything was clear and understood. That could mean I'm either very good, or they we're in fact being polite. To test them, I said two sentences in Dutch.......and they kept nodding. :( Ah well, I'll just assume their Dutch was very good as well. ;)
Kazakhstan became independent in 1991. I think since then, the only investments being made are by foreign businesses. The local architecture suffers significantly, it doesn't look like everybody get's their fair share, shall we say. In any case, I think the "glorious" part originates from at least a few decades ago. That being said, I hear the eastern part is quite beautiful. The west isn't. See for your self:
Ice fishing on the river.
The bridge from Asia to Europe (or vice vera)
Kazakhstan New Years celebrations
Renovation started! And abandoned years ago....
Glory days have been and gone.
Perhaps some paint?
On my way home.....quicker then expected.
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