Day 4

Going round in circles?

Took a little while for everyone to wake this morning, so up against the clock to make it to our destination. Becomes a little difficult to describe the day; not sure how much we can really divulge. Apparently we go to a Sunday thing where there is a children’s programme and some fries and tea for the adults. Then we went next door to a restaurant with a few others that attend this Sunday thing for more fries, and a calzone, and a pizza. And then back towards the apartment for another Sunday thing in a different location.

We had heard about Kazakhstani people taking an interest in children when they feel they are not dressed properly. So today was our first experience of it. Kyria was on a bus (yes, we survived a city bus, but used a friend to guide us through to the right one) and coughing and didn’t have her hat on. The conductor spoke to me and I smiled, but someone else translated that she wanted to know if Kyria had a hat and she was concerned about her coughing and the temperature outside. It didn’t feel like they were nosy, but probably that was due to some foresight and preparation on Kazakhstani customs.

As foreigners, we do stand out. Perhaps having our friend from the US made the contrast stark. She finds being black in Astana is quite a novelty for the locals and they do tend to stare. She finds it quite funny. I find it curious as a study of the diversity in humanity. I guess this was tempered by hearing someone’s testimony today; a Kazakh lady who is on missionary work in Afghanistan as a medic. Why mention this? Over here, if a Kazakh man is introduced to a Kazakh lady, often they will not shake their hands, so last year on my visit to Almaty I made sure I shook hands with anyone I was introduced to. What the missionary was saying was that if a Kazakh lady is working in Afghanistan, is single and a Christian then she is lowest of the low. It seems cruel, alien, lamentable. Pick your word. She didn’t like it and wanted to leave many times this past year. She went on to say that even between a male doctor and female patient almost no interaction occurs and this is why she is there. Female doctors are a rare thing. She is willing to give up her comfort and security in order to provide care, love and connection to those in greater need than hers.

How feeble that made me feel. How thankful for what I have.

Ray