Life in Kostanai

We’re settling in here, and getting more accustomed to our environment. Our apartment itself is very comfortable. It’s about 1,000sf, with a large entryway, living room, eat in kitchen, full bath, and a very compact bedroom. OK everyone at MetCab – your challenge is to redesign this kitchen to give me more working space! Actually, I think within the next few years as the economy begins to improve there might be quite a market for updated kitchens!

Kostanai, or at least this neighborhood, is laid out in a grid, so it’s fairly easy to make your way around and, more importantly, find your way home. Our apartment is on a broad boulevard lined with 5-storey apartment blocks distinguished by the different shops at ground level. Many have enclosed porches, which serve as extra rooms in the warm months, and storage or clothes drying areas in colder months. We took advantage of that yesterday, and freeze-dried our blue jeans. These two pictures were taken from our kitchen window. The building in the picture on the left with the purple accents is one of many markets within walking distance. We discovered this one today with the help of Michele and Robertson, the couple from Miami also in process here. Great produce, fresh eggs, and an extremely interesting meat department. You name it, they have it, out for all to see. Obviously, the FDA hasn’t arrived in our neighborhood!

A bit further away is a place called TSUM. It’s kind of like a department store on 3 floors, but each department is individually owned and operated. Lots of commercial goods are available there, from small electronics to fabric and clothing to some beautiful leather and fur jackets. PETA hasn’t set up shop here, and most women wear fur coats as a matter of comfort. Hey, when it’s 20 below, who’s thinking about the little critters???

Beyond Tsum is the University neighborhood. There are about 5,000 students enrolled, as this is the regional capital. Education is highly prized here, so the school is well attended. There’s a large park (Central Park) just outside the university which, despite the cold, seems to always have people promenading. More pictures on that another day.

And then there are the dogs - seems that you can find “sabakas” everywhere. These two live at the baby house, and serve as a kind of a guard force. They come to recognize the people who belong, but defend the property if someone who doesn’t belong arrives. Not sure of the breed – they look a bit like collies, but way smaller.

As for us, we should have some good news to post tomorrow – need to finalize some paperwork and make things official before we go into any details.

Paka Paka (bye-bye)!