What I Love About the Life on the Steppe

Last time, I did a list, so to speak, and expounded on the things that suck the very life out of me by living here. This time around, I want to focus on the positive side of things. What do I find great about living here? Come with me to find out...

1) I love that I can walk down the street and feel safe. I can send the kids outside to play on the street (not really IN the street, but you know, ON the street) and can feel safe about them not being snatched to a horrible doom of perversion.

2) I enjoy the warm relationships with the local friends we've made. They will go to most any inconvenience to help you out in a pinch. IF you are friends, if not, forget it!

3) I love the lack of over-government intrusion here. I don't have 15 local depts. breathing down my neck if we want to make a minor change to our house.

4) I love the fact that our property tax was $15 this year.

5) My kids are having an amazing adventure growing up where they can learn to appreciate a different culture, and see a different view of our Father from a non-Western perspective.

6) Our family has been blessed with the ability to go on vacations to places we've never dreamed of going. That would not have been possible if we didn't live here.

7) The other workers here are amazing, offering a unique view of how creative and enthusiastic people in our line of work can be. We've made some lifelong friendships with so many poeple from all over the world.

8) My kids can take guitar, dombra, or piano lessons for about $25 a month; twice a week!!

9) The fresh baked bread here is fantastic!! Yummo! But be sure to pick the coals off; they taste awful!

10) We are mostly self-employed, which means we can set our own schedules. If we are out late with locals, we can rest or sleep in the next day. Likewise, if we have a long string of hard days, we can take a Monday off if we need it. Flexibility is a very good thing!

11) I've learned the art of bargain hunting in a bazaar, and am proud that I can knock the price down to almost 1/2 sometimes!

12) Unlike in France, here the locals are overjoyed that you can speak at least a litte of the language. It's gotten us out of too many traffic tickets to count.

13) Freshly cooked bauersak, which is like American doughnuts.

Well, that's enough for one evening, I think.

I'll try to share another story next time from Life in Central Asia,

Until then,

Your SteppeSister