Blast to the Past -- Part 2

After college I was sentenced to Siberia by the U.S. government (otherwise known as a Peace Corps assignment).

I lived in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan.





That is tundra people! We are talking snow in August. I'm sure it is gone now.






Lyceum #1 -- where I taught:


Doorway to my apartment:


The Switzerland of Kazakhstan (I've since learned that most countries have an area they choose to compare to Switzerland, but this was an odd claim in Kazakshtan. We had the Tien Shan, they can actually put the Swiss Alps to shame!)


Testing snow near the coal-fired power plant:


Snow palace made out of ice for New Year's.


Babushkas at the bazaar:


Cecelia pulled Santosha into the mud. Since laundry was difficult to do (no hot water and jeans definitely freeze while line drying) this accident was a real tragedy.


Staged wedding in the traditional Kazakh style:


House of Mercy, where we taught English to help pay for medical care for the pensioners in town:


Wow, these pictures actually make Kazakhstan look beautiful.