The Soundtrack of Our Trip

There seems to be a short list of songs in very heavy rotation here. The constant is a heavy disco beat and a candy-pop sound. What we’ve been hearing over and over (and over, and over) on MTV:

• Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape
  
• Mika - Relax, Take it Easy, which sounds light and fluffy, but the lyrics are kind of dark
• Madonna - Caught Up
• Something that sounds like Ya, Ma Ya, Ma Ya, Ma Ya from a Russian boy-band
• A song that goes “Malinki, Malinki,” which translates to “little, little”…???
• Anything from the PussyCat Dolls (I think this is more about the visuals than the “talent.”)
• Beyonce & Shakira

Oh, for some National Public Radio!

By the way, spring has officially arrived in Kostanai. People are not wearing hats for about the first time since we arrived; the streets have all been swept; all winter detritus has been removed from the curbs, sidewalks and planting beds, and Easter cakes are being carried about. We read about the bad weather in New Hampshire and Maine…I think we’ve actually had better weather here! While it was very cold when we arrived, there has been no precipitation to speak of. This is a grain-producing region, but we’re not sure where their precipitation comes from!

Today's visit was good. We were in the sleeping room again - fewer distractions. Nicholas has certainly gotten his parents well trained. We now do the following on cue:

• get a pacifier
• pick him up
• help him not fall when he pulls himself upright
• look as if we understand when he says "ba ba ba ba ba sa sa"

The milestone for today was his actually sitting and 'listening' to his first full book. The winner was the book "Way out in the Desert" which came from Barbara. Many thanks for being part of that event!

Sorry for the lack of pix - we only got one good one of little man. On the way out, we captured the guard dogs (sabaki) hard at work, and then the sign at the gate of the Dolphin Baby House.