November 11, 2002

Привиет Фсе (Hi All),

(WARNING, THIS ENTRY IS NOT FOR THE EXCESSIVELY SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS, VEGETARIANS OR ANIMAL PLANET VEIWERS)

Today’s Headlines:

• Maineboy eats horsemeat!
• Fur is a good insulator!
• Winter’s arrived!

Story #1. I finally tasted horsemeat, a Kazakh delicacy. Megan and I went to a birthday party for a 75 year old Kazakh man (incidentally, I think he’s the oldest person in Kazakhstan, which has an average lifespan of like 60 years). Anyway, this was a SEVEN HOUR party. From 4 until 11pm, constant toasting of the gentleman, constant food, and constant very, very loud music and forced dancing. A strange Russian/Soviet custom is this forced fun concept. Every event is so structured, with every step very defined and mandatory. When its time to toast, you toast (no drinking between toasts). When its time to dance, you dance, period. This is something us Americans struggle with. Anyway, back to Mr Ed. A national dish of Kazakhstan is called “Besparmack”, which is flat noodles, onions, bullion, and horsemeat. I have been delaying this event (even though the boiled sheep’s head was pretty tasty), but after a few shots of vodka, I was feeling pretty local, so I helped myself to a bit of Trigger. It was pretty uneventful. It was better than the squirrel we roasted up in Air Force survival training, but worse than a butterflied filet mignon, medium-rare, from Sparks Steakhouse in New York.

Next week, dog (I’m kidding, I’m kidding).

Story #2. Today, I buy FUR. It feels so wrong, but so right J. I went shopping this weekend (I found a local girl to be my shopping escort), and found a coat for winter called a “Dublonka”. It’s a popular leather coat with a fur lining. She explained its sheep’s fur, but having never seen a sheep with fur, I think something was lost in the translation. Anyway, it costs just over $300, so its not cheap, but apparently, it’ll keep me warm in the bitter upcoming winter (story #3 below). I am buying it today, after I can figure out how to physically get 60,000 tenge (it’s a cash economy here). I also shopped for FUR lined boots and a “Shapka”, which is one of those Russian hats made from Minx. I found everything I want, and will pick them up this week. I was in the bazaar trying on Shapkas, laughing out loud, as I looked like a human Q-Tip. Pictures will definitely be provided, as I know its that particular picture that has been talked about since I considered this little voyage back in January. It is so strange to buy fur products, as we’ve grown up to despise fur coats, but here it’s needed for survival, so I really do feel ok. Plus, it feels great and chicks dig it.

Story #3. Winter. Its here, it came in one day. Three days ago, it turned cold and started snowing, and it hasn’t stopped. The accumulation is very small, but its just a constant cloudiness and flurrying. The temperature is hovering around 25-30F, but next week’s supposed to go down to -20F. Its weird that I feel like the world has completely changed, the sight, the smell, the feel, it’s a totally different city. Except for me, who, until this afternoon, still walks around in my thin jacket with my ski hat (the definition of a dork). It affects me, though, because the change of season makes me realize that I’m here for a very long time, and that this winter that has been on my mind for months is here, and won’t leave until April. They say this year will be bad because last year was mild (what do weathermen know, though).

Ok, that’s this week’s headlines. I want to give a big shoutout to a couple folks. My friend Holly, for your package, everything is cool, thanks for the Stephen King book, I haven’t read it, and I am ready for new reading material. Also, thanks for the hot cocoa, between yours and Carla’s, I am set for the beginning of this winter. Frank, thanks again for keeping the site current, the viewship is growing! I also want to thank my sister for the photos, they are proudly displayed, especially the one of the Kronemeyer Lady Cousins, you all really do clean up well J . Oh and Frank, and anyone else who’s considered calling, if you want to call the Andrew and Megan Show, and be on the local radio waves, give it a try. The number is (3232)-42-28-60, country code of +7. We’re on every Thursday night, 8-9pm our time (9-10am EST). The phone will be answered by a mumbled “da”, so just start babbling in English and he’ll pass you on to either Megan or me.

Speaking of the Andrew and Megan Show, Megan has only three weeks left here, so I don’t know what will happen to the show. We get a new volunteer at the end of December, but I fear there is no replacement for Megan, she’s one-of-a-kind L.

Later,

Andrew