More from the Central Asia Standard Time Zone

Sorry this post took so long. We’ve had electricity and internet access issues… Here’s a shot at a few more Ava pictures since blogger wouldn't work last time.

When we got there yesterday the caretakers seemed to be upset with us and the other families we are with for not being there in the morning. Apparently it never got relayed to them that they cut our visits in half. We were all hoping that they would let us go back to the twice a day visits, but sadly they didn’t. At least the caretakers know why now. Ava also had a little bump on her head from taking a fall in the crib. I guess she was pulling herself up in her crib, took a tumble and hit her head on a rail. It didn’t seem to be bothering her though, which is good. She got her passport pictures taken today too! It kind of makes it a little more real that soon she will be all ours and back home with the largest extended family ever. I keep wondering what her personality will be like. She’s a very determined and persistent little girl already, but she’s also very even tempered. She’s perfect in every way.

The weather has been great. It’s been sunny every day but one, with temperatures in the 50’s. It had to be in the 60’s the last few days. Everybody still wears coats and jackets though, and the babies that we see on the street look to be covered in 8-10 inches of padding in the form of snowsuits, mittens, hats, scarves, etc regardless of the temperature. I guess they got some snow and freezing rain a few weeks ago, but so far so good for us. We still have a while to go though. Apparently it gets to -30 C in the winter too. I am glad we aren’t here in January!

The food is actually really good. Most is comparable and their juice, milk, and corn flakes are much better than the US. In fact all of the families agree on this. I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve eaten. Shocking isn’t it? Feel free to make food related jokes at my expense. They have these little meat pies that are phylo dough with meat, chicken, or veggies inside. There is a little stand in front of our apt that sells them, and though they laugh at my Russian, they sell them to us and they are delicious. Two for less than a dollar! I also had beef stroganoff for dinner the other night at a restaurant, and it was awesome. Their salads aren’t particularly lettuce based – more a mixed vegetable thing. We bought some of what we thought was spinach, but it turned out to be very bitter greens. No horse meat yet, but I’ve been promised the opportunity to try some.

We even have a cleaning lady and her name isn’t Amber (HAHAHAHAHA). Thanks, I’ll be here all week. Her name is Luta and she comes on Tuesday and Saturday. I will say that my little Rough Guide Russian Phrasebook has been extremely helpful. Along with the pronunciations of words, it has them written in Russian too, which lets me just point at a page and let them point back or read what I mean. Also, when the store clerks see me fingering through it, I think it gives them a chance to figure out how to talk to the Americans.

We can’t believe we’ve been here a week already and have 2 more weeks to go!