tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11216426365822160222011-04-22T01:05:38.539+06:00Hi family, friends, and colleagues! I am excited to launch this new blog. Many thanks to Na, who helped me set this up. I have created this blog in order to keep in touch with you important peeps while I am in Almaty, and it will be my main method of communication with you. So, please check up frequently to see what my life is like. Comment on my blog, enjoy the tunes, watch the videos, see the pics, and ask me questions. Much Love, Anne shout out to the fam <3Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-39745549195216299562009-05-02T23:55:00.004+06:002009-05-03T01:39:07.205+06:00

During my visit to Astana, Pete and I checked out the famous ice-city. While we were there, the news crew asked to interview us. We thought the interview would be in English, but then it was in Russian. When we watched it later that evening in the dreamy TGIFridays restaurant, we found out that my statement, "I always wanted to see the ice cities" was translated into Kazakh, "I never saw this

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-50437866358036049772009-05-02T23:28:00.002+06:002009-05-02T23:54:44.897+06:00

Merry Christmas!Emily invited me and Pete to her house for breakfast, and exchanging gifts. Later, we went for a Chinese lunch with some other friends.Later that night, I went to Club Heaven with Ailya's company--world exchange.Left to Right--don't know guy in the back, Timor, me, Aliya, Salta, ---, Caleb

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-42290013402450982162009-05-02T23:11:00.004+06:002009-05-02T23:25:57.371+06:00

KYRGYZSTAN VACATION-3Dressed in Krgyese tradition hat--dancing on a mat to make felt rugFamous Kyrgese Band--Lady is playing the tradition Kazkh (and Kyrgese) dombraInside Yurta

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-52465405557493739862009-05-02T22:48:00.003+06:002009-05-02T23:09:49.769+06:00

KYRYZSTAN VACATION -2Riding horses in Chon-KeminScenery from the bus-reminds me of Montana/WyomingRuins at Burana Tower-Alpha and OmegaLake Issyk Kyl-reminded me of Yellowstone Lake

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-67223957440009623922009-05-02T21:13:00.006+06:002009-05-02T22:47:40.179+06:00

KYRGYZSTAN VACATION OCTOBER '08About 8 of my colleagues and I traveled together on a bus with a tour guide.Bishkek--This one's for you, Kristen!Bishkek-Me and Robby posing as Asian touristsNo, I am not kidding. This is Lenin. Kyrgyzstan is supposedly the only former Soviet Republic with a statue of him still standing...ew.Hiking in the Mountains-I thought it would be, like a one-mile hike on a

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-75491583995841424752008-10-17T20:20:00.001+06:002008-10-17T21:15:14.417+06:00

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-23068380512661968482008-10-04T21:53:00.005+06:002008-10-04T22:10:49.613+06:00

My classroom is brand new. It's in the addition that the school just put on. The walls were fresh, carpet new, smarboard new, desk new, cabinets new....and I inherited materials from last year's teacher. We didn't have a carpet for the longest time and then...they delivered this. Could it fit me any better?

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-47099983933575934942008-10-04T21:47:00.004+06:002008-10-04T22:10:25.866+06:00

Here is my classroom...I should mention that I have a cooperating teacher. Her responsibilities are to help with grading, lunch count, neatness of room, working with groups, and basically anything I need--super blessed, right?At AIS (Almaty International School), we have a mastery learning system--meaning, every child MUST master each learning goal. This makes a cooperating teacher handy,

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-83113122957794127972008-10-04T21:39:00.004+06:002008-10-04T22:10:08.666+06:00

Today at school was the international brunch/open house. Everyone at the school, including factulty, were to bring a dish to share. What's more American than good ol' pb&j?! This idea was recommended by a colleague. I was almost going to make eggplant parm...Family should know that as I spread the jelly, i remembered when Ashley abruptly argued that my pb&j's aren't as good as "grandma's"... So I

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-59764480548882978762008-10-04T21:18:00.006+06:002008-10-04T22:09:47.230+06:00

Pictured here is my very Russian-looking living room. Isn't it nice? Green is the color of choice. I was so blessed. When I arrived, there was everything I needed except internet and a dvd player. There is a vacuum, hair dryer, dishes, linens, utensils...It's very nice and I love it!

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-32882840026183962522008-10-04T21:14:00.003+06:002008-10-04T22:09:30.608+06:00

Two Friday evenings ago, I went to a traditional Kazakh concert. The music was beautiful! Very dainty, and many songs celebrated the end of winter (ha ha). Ironically, I am listening to this music right now as I post this...I guess there's a concert somewhere close or my neighbor has it on cd!Hilarious- one of the traditional instruments makes this "boooeeinngg" sound. For some reason, it's kinda

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-31021387490261810522008-10-04T21:11:00.004+06:002008-10-04T22:09:08.992+06:00

This photo was taken at the top lookout at Medeo in the Tianshan Mountains. The ice skating rink seen in the above post is behind and below the photographer.When we got to the top, this man charged 300 tenge to hold his eagle pet. I was freaked, but knew I couldn't pass up this opportunity! I did not look the eagle in the eye. ;)

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-70172307390271736692008-10-04T20:55:00.005+06:002008-10-04T22:08:38.110+06:00

One Sunday in early September, we took a school trip into the Tianshan Mountains. This spot is called Medeo. We walked up 800 some steep steps (they reminded me of the Great Wall) to a lookout. Here, we ate our packed lunch, I snapped this photo, and we walked back down. The view is breathtaking. The white thing you see in this photo is the famous Medeo ice rink. This is where Kazakhstan's

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-65530669230483931652008-10-04T20:51:00.003+06:002008-10-04T22:11:35.616+06:00

I'm actually a teacher. After moving here, we were thrown into teacher induction, then staff development, and suddenly, teaching. I have students... and a classroom. It was all so fast, I actually don't even remember the first day of school right now as I write this. Here I am the morning of my very first day.

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-36185359388912108472008-08-20T20:54:00.002+06:002008-08-20T21:10:45.359+06:00

Hi! So, yea...as soon as I figured out the "log in" button, I could get into my blog. This was difficult b/c everything at the top of the menu bar was in Russian--yea. Thankfully a nice Kazakh guy helped me out...So i'm sitting in Gloria Jean's Coffees. Cushy, right? Yes, well, there is a very western mall just 3 mins. by trolley from my apartment, but before I get to all that I wanna* fill you

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1121642636582216022.post-46102864092646029492008-08-06T04:43:00.001+06:002008-08-06T04:46:18.434+06:00

Hey guys. So, i leave in, like, 8 days. it's kinda crazy. i'm pretty excited, but also kinda nervous. i know things will be great, and i'm so grateful for many of your prayers. please continue! :) just so you're updated, i'm still waiting for my visa, met with the bank this morning to go over accounts. i'm hanging out tomorrow and will actually start packing new boxes on thursday---repacking,

Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346575419645406660noreply@blogger.com0