WEDDINGS!!!
1. Do you see a line of cars outrageously decorated or hear a lot of car horns honking for no apparent reason??? It’s probably a wedding!!! 
I love weddings in Kazakhstan. It’s something that grows on you. In the summer you’ll see SO MANY brides and wedding parties going around the city from monument to monument taking pictures with their wedding party! I LOVE THIS! I totally want to get our wedding party together and do this in Virginia! How freakin’ cool would that be?
GIANT BAURSAKI
2. Not many people know about this… but this actually does exist in Kazakhstan: BAURSAKI DAY! There is a day in October when the national food “Baursaki” is celebrated in Almaty. We happened upon a Baursaki festival and it was awesome. Here we were trying to eat the giant Baursak!
sorry about the mess...
3. During training we had a washing machine… then, when we lived with our host mom, she bought one just for us, but when we moved out on our own I washed our clothes by hand for over a year. SUCK. But, having our own little washing machine is AMAZING. We can only wash 5 things at a time, but WORTH IT. Wringing out clothes = SUCKAGE to the max.
DELICIOUSNESS
4. Compliments about food. So, I’m sure you remember our turkey.. well, this was our homemade pumpkin pie that can never. again. be created. It was from scratch and I how now idea how I did it… there was pumpkin in the oven… pumpkin in the blender… multiple times… seasonings… milk? anyone, Boggsie said it was the most delicious pumpkin pie he’d ever tasted. EVER. That’s right people. Getting compliments on your homemade food = awesome.
Oh, open lessons, how we loathe thee.
5. Open Lessons… most of the time NOT AWESOME. First I’ll explain what the heck an open lesson is… usually twice a year teachers have to give an “open lesson.” It is basically when your vice principals and other people you like or don’t like come and observe your lesson, maybe even your principal! Anyway they are all usually well rehearsed and the students know EXACTLY what to do and say so it is more of a theatrical performance than a lesson. However… these kids.. in the picture… they did an actual lesson… do you see their smiles? It’s because WE ROCKED IT and they felt like they were smart because we didn’t prepare ahead of time… AND THEY STILL KNEW ALL THE ANSWERS!!! Fancy that! Actual teaching?! My students = amazing.
Kazakh Nick!
6. SPECIAL BONUS: By far, this has to be my favorite. Kazakhstani Nick. Enough said. :)
