Ahh Kazakh hospitality! About 50 kms from Aktobe I stopped at a bus shelter to take a rest and take on fluids. At this point a car pulls up and a young woman asks what I am doing. I tell my story, at which point she asks if I would like to stay with her and her family for the night in the near by village. I jump at the chance! Her house is only a few kilometers away, so I follow her car on my bike. I am soon introduced to her family and taken to the sitting room, fed and watered and allowed to rest. In the evening Anara (my host) takes me to a friends house who has a Banya, and after we sit in her car drinking beer and chatting about life in Kazakhstan.
Anara is immensely proud to be Kazakh and describes herself as a patriot. She loves the Steppe and her life in Aktobe, and has a season ticket to watch Aktobe FC. Over the years she has traveled to many countries including numerous European nations, the US and other Asian nations. As a 32 year old Kazakh woman she has taken an unusual life path in that she has no interest in settling down and getting married, she is more than happy running her business and spending her free time drinking beer with her friends and having fun with her 3 boyfriends! At this point I was beginning to feel a little inadequate! She also has a traditional side to her in that each weekend she comes home and spends time with her family where she helps with her mother, who is up at the crack of dawn working around the house. The house is quite large, and has a little bit of land around it where veggies, chickens and a few cows are kept. Space is plentiful as this is the steppe! A small cottage industry operates out of the house and neighbours are forever popping by to purchase eggs and veggies. Tomorrow will be an even bigger day as a cow is to be slaughtered, butchered and sold. On arrival I saw Anara's father sharpening an axe. Initially I thought it was to be used for chopping wood in preparation for the winter. However gas is plentiful here and the house is centrally heated, wood fires are not needed. The axe is to be used during butchery.
We talk long into the night, and respectfully towards Anara's parents do not drink in the house. I sleep well!
Anara and muggins.
Family and neighbours sit down for a chin wag, tea and a bite to eat. Anara's parents are on the left.
Anara is immensely proud to be Kazakh and describes herself as a patriot. She loves the Steppe and her life in Aktobe, and has a season ticket to watch Aktobe FC. Over the years she has traveled to many countries including numerous European nations, the US and other Asian nations. As a 32 year old Kazakh woman she has taken an unusual life path in that she has no interest in settling down and getting married, she is more than happy running her business and spending her free time drinking beer with her friends and having fun with her 3 boyfriends! At this point I was beginning to feel a little inadequate! She also has a traditional side to her in that each weekend she comes home and spends time with her family where she helps with her mother, who is up at the crack of dawn working around the house. The house is quite large, and has a little bit of land around it where veggies, chickens and a few cows are kept. Space is plentiful as this is the steppe! A small cottage industry operates out of the house and neighbours are forever popping by to purchase eggs and veggies. Tomorrow will be an even bigger day as a cow is to be slaughtered, butchered and sold. On arrival I saw Anara's father sharpening an axe. Initially I thought it was to be used for chopping wood in preparation for the winter. However gas is plentiful here and the house is centrally heated, wood fires are not needed. The axe is to be used during butchery.
We talk long into the night, and respectfully towards Anara's parents do not drink in the house. I sleep well!
Anara and muggins.
Family and neighbours sit down for a chin wag, tea and a bite to eat. Anara's parents are on the left.
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