Touch down in Almaty was at 7:00 pm EST Thursday, 6:00 am Almaty time on Friday. We had to clear passport control,
get our luggage and go through customs in time for a 7:15 am (Almaty time) flight. The passport control and customs were very
fast but our baggage was some of the last baggage off the plane so we were running very late. Our translator and driver
were waiting for us and they had our tickets for the next flight to Uralsk. We got to the counter that was listed for
our flight to check our baggage and there was no one from the airline there. We waited a few moments and then a supervisor
from the airline had someone at another counter help us. A rep from the airline escorted us through security and we literally
RAN downstairs and out to a waiting bus that took us to the plane. We were not the only ones late, there were three
other people that were going to Uralsk too. We waited a few more minutes before push back (probably because of our checked
baggage :o) ) and then take off was at 8:40 pm EST Thursday, 7:40 am Almaty time on Friday. Celeste cried because we
are going to be in Uralsk today (several travel agents we spoke with before we left said we wouldn‘t have enough time
to make the flight)!!!!!!!
Touchdown in Uralsk was at 11:51 pm EST Thursday, 9:51 am Uralsk time on Friday. After we landed the plane did
a 180o turn at the end of the runway to return to the building. When we got off the plane we had to walk on the tarmac
to the building and it was VERY cold (~10o F). Celeste had an empty aquafina water bottle and it started to collapse
it was so cold! . Marina (our translator) met us at the gate (literally a gate for a fence at the side of the building) and
we went inside. Getting our luggage was interesting. It is in a separate room with one door and everyone pushes
their way in - a man pushed me aside and practically stepped on my foot when I tried to follow Marina inside! This time our
bags were the first off the plane (probably because they were the last to go on :o) ).
We went by the store on our way to the apartment but I was too tired to think so we only got water and bread. The
apartment is cozy and bigger than I thought it would be. (it is common to remove your shoes when you enter a building and
they have two solid doors on the entry to their homes and apartments.) We got settled in -I got cleaned up- and then laid
down for a nap. Daddy eventually joined me. I woke up very cold at 3:00 pm local time. Marina and
Valery (the driver) returned at 4:20pm and we went to the department store. Very interesting, it is set up like an antique
mall at home. Each person rents out space in the building to sell their goods. You could buy almost everything
there. We got our groceries, surge protector, blankets and an I-card for calling home and connecting to the Internet.
We still are not able to call home or get anything uploaded to our website as this is the last day of a four day holiday
of independence here. December 16th is Kazakhstan’s Independence Day, when they celebrate the day they declared independence
from Russia in 1991 (it is one the biggest holidays of the year). We will call and update the website tomorrow. Yulia
and Natalya will come by tomorrow at 11:00 am and we pray we can meet with the Ministry of Education and go to the baby house.
