Like nomads, but with more stuff

Well, OK, not exactly. What I did do was write a chapter in a book. Still a pretty big deal to me (and, I'm sure, to my mom). A Cup o...

I had a business trip this week that required me to overnight in a hotel.  This was sitting on a shelf above the mini-bar, right nex...

As we stare at our last few months, we realized there are many things in Astana we'd been holding off on checking out. But now there...

Oh, new hockey arena!  I want so badly to love you unconditionally. Let's face it, compared to the ghetto dump of the old arena, your b...

Last year Astana did not create its usual annual ice city, I heard the rumor that the reason was a previously warm and melty winter t...

The kids are junior archers! A couple of weeks ago we went into the steppe for a picnic and for them to practice shooting the bow.  When ...

We were supposed to go camping last weekend. The weather was turning up perfect, and we figured it was the last (and first) chance this ye...

September 1, the Day of Knowledge , is a traditional first day of school in at least two countries where I have lived (Russia and Kazakh...

Kazakhstanis are known for kindness, generosity and tolerance.  Here's something I am really getting used to and will miss when we move...

Kazakhstan had a presidential election Sunday April 26. I was one of the embassy folks who participated as an election observer. I'm no...