10/30/04-At least there is really good bread...

We’ve definitely settled into a routine around here, which makes things a little easier. It is amazing how much easier when you get to know what they want. It isn’t that I can read their cry or anything. It is just that when they get fussy at certain times of the day, you know they are ready for the next biological activity – eating, sleeping, changing, etc. (Actually, the changing is more driven by the particular aroma, but you get the drift.)

Today, our big event was taking a walk to the baby store to get some wipes and baby food. It was a little colder than we’d like but the air was good for the kids. I was pointing out another phenomenon here to Gma. I’ve mentioned the numerous Malls they have. It seems like every building has shops inside it. The exterior does not have any significant signage, but you walk through an often unwelcoming door and inside you will find 7-10 stands, counters or stores usually a specific type of product – soaps, socks, towels & bedding, baked goods, candy, alcohol, newspapers, meats, etc. (And, yes, at times, in that order.) As far as I can tell, that is what a lot of the people here do for a living. I guess they make enough to buy from each other.

Gma has also been amazed by the bread. There is a large variety which are all good and incredibly cheap. There are these little bakery stands that you can go to, get all kinds of rolls and cookies and pay 100 Tenge. (That is 70 cents to you Americans.) I went to one and then on the way back walked into a little market (which again had 8 stands in it) and bought a small loaf of brown bread for 18 tenge. (Basically 14 cents.) It was delicious. You have to buy it this way because they do not use preservatives. So you buy small loaves that you eat with a couple meals. The nice thing of this market I just found is that it is next door, so I can get basics – milk, juice, bread, butter, etc. each day and then only have one bigger trip a week.

Well, that is all for today. There are a few pictures to check out today. Check them out.