Sunday, March 19, 2017

Vacation from working abroad?


I'm writing this at the office, because I've got internet access on my work computer now. Score!

 I've been keeping busy at work with emissions reports, equipment time card reports, availability and utilization reports, reports, reports, reports, excel, excel, excel... It's becoming very apparent to me this is NOT where I'll spend my time in the future, no matter how much it pays. For now, it's fine, and I'm happily putting my best effort into my work.

 Every 3 months our on site machines go through inspections and, if they pass, a sticker with the appropriately color coded background gets put on the machine, valid for another three months. I just finished making the stickers, dating them, assigning them to certain groups, and eventually handing them off to someone else. When I get back from NYC next week, I'll actually be able to take part in the inspection process, which will be a nice change of pace for me.

I've actually been out quite a bit when not working. I visited an art show with Iyad in the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. Yeah, that's the actual name. It's a huge multi level glass covered pyramid with gallery space, banquet hall, opera theater, library, historical exhibit, and other various offices and areas.
The smoke in this photo is actually my breath that night. The top of the pyramid isn't lit up very bright.

Here's a paper cross-sectional model of the pyramid and the interior layout.

 I got to meet the artist, Anastasia, and talk with her briefly, in English. Some of her art is pictured in the photos posted here.









After checking out the exhibit, Iyad and kinda wandered around, and stumbled upon a rehearsal show in the theater. The show was to commemorate the 25th year of Kazakhstan's National Olympic Committee, with the president himself in attendance.


The glimpse we got of the show was a very strange mix of some performances, children giving speeches, singing, recognition, and other stuff I'm sure I have no idea what it is.

I've also been out to some different coffee shops, grocery stores, a new to me bazaar, and made my way to O'Hara Irish pub on St. Paddy's day! What a blast.


Met some fun people, drank too much, ate more than enough, and had a huge bar tab. Fun all around! There was a great cover band that played sang in English. Surprisingly, everyone knew the song ins English even better than I do.


The upcoming holiday of Naurys [nouˈɾuːz], is the historically Persian and/or Iranian celebration of the new year. So we have a few days off from work, and I'm taking a few days off additionally to fly to NYC and visit with my sister. I'm really exctied! And I know it'll be a blast. Flying first to the Ukraine, then to JFK. It's only about 18hrs travel time, no biggie. It'll be refreshing to eat some good food in NY and speak English to complete strangers. I'll try to take a bunch of pics for the blog.

As always, let's end with some random photos from my days out.

C-ya later.
 KazMunayGas building in the background and Khan Shatyr farther past the archway. 
(WAY in the background)
 Some decorations set up for the new year.
These metallic animal sculptures are all around a park near where the opera house is.

Opera house.

Snow gently clinging to the trees at work.

Beautiful dried fruits and nuts, meticulously arranged.

Reads: "Franklin Cafeteria"

A vape shop, haha. Even Kazakhstan must have hipsters.

Peanut latte. YUP.

Doner! Shawarma meat wrapped with fries, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and mayo sauce... Yes it's good.

Home made apple sauce from the leftover apples from lunch!

The stately Hazrat Sultan Mosque

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Same ol' same ol'


Haven't done much of anything new at work. Went to the site Saturday to witness the partial dismantling of a passenger lift, the kind that takes people up and down in a steel cage. Not so interesting really, but good to see how the system worked. The huge crane on top of the building was used to hoist down large pieces of the track utilized by the passenger hoist. So that was cool to see in action.
Hashem and I walked up and down a few levels in one of the buildings on site, and kinda just explored and looked at some of the final equipment being installed, such as air handlers and flooring panels. Today, I'm back at site and walked around most of the site, breaking in my new boots that I got from the bazaar yesterday.

Sunday, yesterday, Iyad and I went and got said boots at the same bazaar we had visited before.
Afterwards, we wandered for a bit, looking for a place to eat and drink a beer or two. We stumbled upon a place called shashlikoff, perfect!

We didn't even know what we were getting into. The place offered beers brewed on site, and special meter long platters of meat and veggies. We had a beer to start, ate some fried cheese, and then ordered way too much food. You can see in the picture, the meter long board of food didn't even fit on the table.
 So, after we feasted, we walked a bit to a bus stop, and headed home.

I'm going to NY to visit my sister in the end of March, and I'm really looking forward to that. Until then, this Wednesday is a holiday, women's day. So we're off from work! I'll probably go and get some dinner somewhere. Also, St Patrick's day is coming up, so I've got an Irish pub picked out to go to. :)

I've also been cooking at home somewhat frequently, trying to always have something in the fridge.
 I found some of the most AMAZING cheese at a store called Galomart. It's a cheese called chechil, and this particular type is smoked. 
It literally tastes like someone rolled it in a campfire and it's so amazing! Also got some more wine for myself, as sometimes it's nice to have a glass with some cheese at dinner, or anytime really.

Apparently peanut butter is not something very common here, although I found it in Galomart for $9 per jar, and it's super cheap processed stuff. So no thanks, I'll bring some back from the US. 
I also found some quinoa at the same store! Which is kinda a big deal for me as I've been unable to find it, and it's a food I like to have around to mix with veggies or beans or chicken.
So, not much has changed yet, and I'm just trying to learn as much as I can for now. I'll do my best to keep the updates coming!
Ciao.