Day 7

Has it really been a week? Big funding deadline today within the university. Only problems I had were not yet having a computer connected to the internet, which meant I couldn’t print the forms for signing, or email the Research Office from a non-NU account, or access the online help forms. Still managed to put together a couple of proposals and collaborate with different schools within NU. These are all minor problems to be overcome. Actually convincing the reviewers is another matter. Someone sent through a copy of the evaluation criteria with an hour to go, so no hope of properly going through the scripts.

 

I’m really fighting myself not to expect standards from back home. I know the boxes we shipped here with all our possessions are somewhere in the country already (anyone remember that scene from Coming to America when all their luggage goes missing?), but cannot get in touch with anyone about them to assess progress. Actually, this is very much like home; tried contacting Eastbourne Council Tax department before and after leaving the UK and still haven’t heard anything from them. We’re also waiting to find out any repercussions about not being given our Immigration Cards at the airport. The security returned our childrens, because they didn’t need them, but didn’t return ours and because we did not know, we did not ask for them and proceeded into Kazakhstan. The major downside will be trying to leave the country without them. I get the impression that they believe we lost them, because the security have never not given the Immigration Cards to the passport holder before. I’ve search the internet for help and some of the stories paint a troubled picture. But this is in stark contrast to the experience of people we’ve spoken to, who have lived here for 3 or more years. Regardless, this is a country with their own rules and if we don’t like them then we know where to go!

 

It could be that Astana is unique in Kazakhstan and therefore things tend to go more smoothly than other Kazkhstani cities. One could almost say something similar when comparing nightlife in (for want of a better example late at night) Bradford to that in Eastbourne about safety, attitude of the police, interaction with the locals. Eastbourne is a lot more “easy going” than Bradford ever was. Not to say that Eastbourne is Shangri La. Astana is a focal point for the country and therefore the situation appears far less troubled than the goings on in other areas.

 

Nearly the weekend, hoping to get out into the snow and see some sights. Might be a little bit more awake by then. Children’s body clocks finally beginning to return to normal.

 

Ali is missing fish and chips and I haven’t had a cheeseburger in over a week! Wonder if I can get that flown into the country in a diplomatic pouch…

 

Ray

 

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