I'm not usually a fan of "reflection" photos, but this one I could not pass up. The bridge is called the "Oblique Bridge" - because, I think, there is just one arch that crosses obliquely from one bank to the other. The building in the center is the St Regis Hotel - no you can't afford to stay there - Marriott chain.
We had a busy week! It was really stressful because we were planning to meet with our wheelchair partners. We spent a lot of time working on an agenda and writing emails trying to clarity different things. Finally it was time to meet with them. It was like there were four meetings going on at the same time 1-with the government agency 2- with the wheelchair repair shop 3 - with our translator
4 - with each other.
The meeting was exhausting!! The next day day we spent reviewing our notes, making reports to send to our supervisors. Now we are waiting until this coming week to start making some follow-up phone calls and to see if people have followed through on their assignments. This wheelchair project has been the hardest activity of our mission. If you see a video on Facebook which highlights an LDS Charities wheelchair project, know that hours and weeks of work went into the effort before the PR photographers arrived on the scene.
After the meeting we celebrated by eating a doner at Dad's favorite doner place.
We might try this restaurant some time -the lamb looks yummy, head and all.
We had our final follow up meeting with the NGO called Мама Рада, or Mom is Happy. This is the place that works with children who have autism and also children with speech disorders. They'd requested equipment to help with sensory perception. And here is the sign to prove it: Sensory Room
It was a great experience. The equipment had all been installed (except for a pool with plastic balls which had to be returned for repair), but none of the children had been allowed to go into the room and see all the new 'toys'. The kids came in, and they just stared with delight at all the stuff, then they began jumping and leaping, and dancing to the music. Enjoy the sensory toys with them!
Dancing on spinning lights
Sand painting
Matching textures on one hand with the correct texture on the other hand
Balance
Crawling
Even Dad can feel the different textures on the soles of his feet.
All of us!! Well not all of the children---just some of them.
Here is their outdoor play area
We went out to the Twelve Months Store - a Kazakh version of Home Depot to see what kind of water filters they had. We went there specifically because we have a friend, Timur, who works there (his uncle owns the store, so Tumur's future is at the store, if he wants it).
We ate at a little cafe in the store.
Some random street pictures:
Apples are a big deal in Kazakhstan because apples originated here, in the southern part of the country.
Here is a better photo of the landscaping crew's workshop (made from a storage container) which I walk by every morning. I was there before the workers showed up for the day.
Live crawdads for sale at a booth along a street.
And boiled (think, dead) ones
This sign at a stomatologists office (a dentist's office). "Treatment under anesthesia for adults and children"
Remember the cobblestone road that was being torn up?
One day it was getting it's new layer of asphalt (no more cobblestones here!).
new parking lot
smooth road
Literally, the next day, there was a hole dug up, in the middle of the road
But next day all repaired and parking lines painted in the parking lot.
Along the canal is this big blue synagogue. Note the fence with the Stars of David
We went to eat more sashlik at our new "well liked" place. Last time we think the meat may have been pork. This time is was lamb. And, don't forget the ubiquitous tomato and cucumber salad.
This is just a funny picture. Dad was washing all the sheer curtains - they get so dusty in the summer when the windows are open. He started to load the washing machine but got distracted....and found this a couple hours later....just waiting for him.
Down by the river there is a bench with interesting iron work which you can't see in the photo because I missed it - the sun made such a glare that I could only guess, point, and shoot. At the top there is the head of a guy in a top hat and a woman in a frilly hat. A perfect place for a couple to sit for a photo shoot. Well, a couple must have sat here the night before - and possibly were covered with rose petals - which they thoughtfully left on the sidewalk for all of us to enjoy the next day.
Here is the en h, taken the next day.
Everyday I try to look for beauty in the things that I see. And here you can see the beauty of the mountains on the horizon with the early morning glow of the sun brightening the sky.
Tomorrow is August 13th We leave Kazakhstan, for our way home, on September 13th. Not counting, though..........
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