Day 67

A tiring day. Mostly trying to recover from the stress of yesterday and the week. A manager got in touch to say that all the issues on the apartment I raised would be dealt with and offered many suggestions. The problem was that one of them was for us to buy an electrical extension lead and plug it into the socket just above the sink in the kitchen, so that we could plug the toaster and the kettle in at the same time. I guess that often health and safety is not a priority to some or once again they just do not think it through. Another was for us to buy a special cleaning fluid and clean the apartment to get rid of any grouting stains. I was less than pleased. After sending a plumber, he managed to resolve the leak in the kitchen, by flooding the kitchen and leaving me to dry it, managed to turn one radiator down to halfway heat (whilst being fully switched off) and unable to do anything about the other radiator. I should be thankful it’s a Sunday and there was service, but I reckon that we will be paying the bills whilst they try and fix their mistakes. Whilst we appear to struggle with (what is for us) a few problems, the place itself is quite nice, despite the tiny kitchen. Managed to cook a meal for all 5 of us, but it was a very simple affair, having to balance plates, cookware, dirty dishes, sauces, all within our small workspace.

Was really please with what they had provided in the kitchen. Some excellent knives and cookware. Just wish they provided a sink plug or a washing up bowl. Ray had to improvise by using the largest pan. At least we don’t have to bathe our children this way. Anymore!

Ali had a great idea and that is to get those making these decisions to come and try for themselves, rather than making policies from afar. But this type of management only occurs in Undercover Boss. Tomorrow I try and meet with one of my managers. I doubt much can be done. I suspect that some of the Kazakhstani managers, who are tucked up in their luxurious apartments, want to bring the remaining foreign staff in line with expectations of the local staff. A few of the perks are being chipped away and the value of the social policy contract is highly suspect. Perhaps the foreign staff have just had it too good and now the rest must get in line.

To be honest, these are only minor concerns for Ali and I, but the potential of where it could lead is more concerning. It was funny, though perhaps you have to be in the situation, when I heard it reported again that the HR department workers believe that our new contract is better than the old one. They said this to a friend of mine and justified it by saying that, for example, the tuition provision had doubled over the last contract. My friend said that was great news, only that he did not have any children and from what he knew, the higher tuition allowance was still nowhere near covering the actual costs of tuition in Astana. It highlights the parrot repetition of policies from above as well as being unable to compute the real impact on our lives. I remember Joe from my office saying that when he started here, their health policy only covered $300 for terminal illness. When he and the other foreign staff complained, HR were really affronted. It turns out that in Kazakhstan, the best policy any worker anywhere would received just less than $300 for their terminal illness cover. And so the policy precipitated from a position where they think that what is better for them is going to be equally as attractive to us. It is strange to try and navigate through this, but by understanding why things occur the way they do, it will make it easier to bare.

Mum, how do I stop this crazy ride?

Rebekah and Matthias are improving with their roller blading and enjoying a huge lobby area to skate in (the pictures are not from our lobby by the way). Found a multi region code for the DVD player, so we can play all our old and new DVDs. Even managed to run the new stairs and was pleased that most of the lights worked and all the stairs were evenly spaced. Kyria had a minor nose bleed so had to unpack the humidifier and hydrate the place.

Found the local, on campus shop a 10 minute walk away in the slush and was better stocked than we first realised. Seems we can pick up emergency supplies of bread, milk and chocolate without a huge taxi ride. Pleased Ali lots. Tricky to push the pushchair through the slush, missing the Phil & Teds.

Ali & Ray