Last Thoughts from Kazakhstan

Currently listening to: Tokio Hotel, “Monsoon”

Tomorrow is my last day in Kazakhstan. Actually, I leave early in the morning on Sunday, but my last day to do anything is tomorrow. Right now, I’m sitting on the couch watching Heroes with my parents and my brother. I can’t imagine leaving. It’s weird, you know? I feel like I’ve never left my life in Kazakhstan. I just slipped right back into life here with perfect ease, and it seems weird to think that I have this separate life from my family in MO. It’s completely bizarre.

Today, my parents, Grace, and I went to the Green Bazaar. There’s a mosque near there. Today was Friday so the mosque was crowded with tons of people. It was interesting to see so many people, especially the women with their heads covered—no one was wearing a burqa or anything like that, just a head scarf—mingling with the non-muslims that were in the area as well.

After that we went to Panfilov Park which is close by. There’s a Russian Orthodox church there that is open to the public. I love going there. Its very peaceful and the incense makes it smell wonderful.

Got to see some friends from here that I haven’t gotten to see yet. They have 3 kids, one that is only 3 months old and absolutely beautiful. Only the younger 2 children came. Daniel has gotten so big since I’ve seen him last, and so adorable. We all went to Mega because Colin was getting off work soon, and Daniel rode in our car. Grace and I spent the entire time tickling him. The littlest, Sonya, is beautiful. I think I’ve decided that if I ever have a daughter I’m going to name her Sonya.

Tonight a girl is coming to work here for about a year, and Dad is going to pick her up from the airport. The funny thing is that she is a graduate from CBC and we tried to meet before classes ended for the semester but never got to. Now we get to meet halfway around the world from Springfield. Crazy, huh?

There isn’t much to write. I really don’t want to leave, although I am ready for classes to start. Well, not really. I still feel like a kid and am dreading “school,” but I am ready to be a senior. A senior!

I just don’t want to leave here.