Wednesday, September 1, 2010

What's next

Now, the craziness begins.
We will begin our journey to this new, foreign land.

We are excited about going to Atyrau, Kazakhstan. It is something completely different than these last two assignments in Maracaibo, Venezuela and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
We are going to a land of extreme weather, camp life (as opposed to apartment living), and a small school. The kids are looking forward to a winter with snow, finally...
I'm just not sure they realize how cold it gets there!
I have seen pictures of kids throwing snowballs and ice skating, so that is good enough for them!
I just have to find all the right gear.

My husband and I will be making a trip to visit and see what we are getting into. We actually can turn the job down after this trip, but I know we will not do that.
I'm anxious to go and actually see this camp life living situation.
I hear it can be a great resource and fun times because the city offers not much else. At the same time, I've heard it is like living in a fish bowl...good thing I know how to swim ;)

We have to separate a shipment from our current location. Most of our belongings will go into storage in the US. The townhouses are furnished there in Atyrau. Oh yea, that's another high point...a townhouse!
We are finally free (at least for a few years!) of apartment living. We are all looking forward to this...just being able to walk outside your front or back door with no elevators to wait for!

So, I'm trying to remain calm. I am ready to be there and get things started and settled. I'm ready to have the kids begin their new life amongst new friends and new teachers.
The school is extremely small. It really is only for those crazy families (like us!) that are working for my husband's company and a few outside contractors working for them. this translates into either a lot of attention for our kids, or the fish bowl feeling of claustrophobia.
Our kids are highly adaptable, so I think they will thrive with the attention. Let's see...more to come on this as it happens...

Oh, this is like my favorite TV show...24!
Coming to you in real time...hehehehe
I will keep you updated on when we are going on the look-see!

6 comments:

BLOGitse said...

I hope your life in Kaza will be good!
After that you could move to Finland. It's not even that cold/hot - so it would be much more easier! :)

We've had an elevator problem for 3 weeks now. It doesn't take us up to our floor (down yes). We have to stop one floor above or down of us and walk.
But we have to pay full rent of course.
Here they collect the money to fix a problem before it can be fixed.
1 of 5 has not payed so we wait...and we get more and more frustrated...

We've decided to leave at the end of March. This is not what we thought...
Most disappointed we're with people. So sad. Of course we know a few nice but...
We can manage but I don't have joy in my life - I do when I'm alone at home (even if it's hot and humid)...

Waiting to hear more about your adventure!

mythopolis said...

It's hard to imagine all the planning it takes to make such a move. I hope it is a wonderful experience for you and the children. I just keep thinking of how much real life experience your children are getting about life in many places. One day, maybe I will be reading blogs of their adventures!

Brenda said...

Wow, what big changes. I'm so glad we get to follow them with you on this blog. Take care and let us know. . .

Harmony said...

Wow Kazakhstan, hope that will bring a Dramatic change in your lifestyle but a difficult situation for the childrens..its life and it shows evry knid of Paths which we may like or not..hope you will conquer that challenge like others!take care! best of luck..oh i am waiting for the pics in snow!!great !!

FancyHorse said...

You have such a positive attitude about the prospect of moving to a new and totally different location! I'm sure that you and your family will do well, with a cheerful outlook and the confidence that you can depend on one another. I'm looking forward to reading all about it!

andalucy said...

I was distracted from commenting yesterday by the urge to google your new home! Congratulations! It looks like it will indeed be a dramatic change from Rio. I look forward to reading about your new adventures, and I agree with FancyHorse that with your positive can-do attitude, it will be a great thing.