September 15: Green Market

We are doing some serious soul-searching today. We have spoken with friends and doctors, and some serious concerns have come up, regarding the reality of life with Dinara. This morning we told Irina that we want to take her back to the apartment with us for the weekend, so we can observe her more closely, and feel the reality of being with her, as well as how much impact direct, constant interaction will have.

However, we brought clothes in 3-6 month old sizes, not infant. So, this afternoon, after Vanessa and I (Brian) returned from our visit, Mom and I went to the “Green Market” to shop for more clothes. You’d think something called a “Green Market” would be a good place for produce, and it is, but that’s not where it got it’s name. It’s actually a huge, completely unorganized (at least to our American eyes), bazaar and in the hundreds of 4 by 4 foot booths, you can buy almost anything: Power tools, videos, random TV remote Controls, all kinds of clothes, phones, alarm clocks, jewelry, and on and on, and most of it seems relatively inexpensive. And, it's all in and around a huge green warehouse-like building. So, Mom and I, with Mira to help us not get lost, wandered around, and bought a few clothing items for Dinara while she’s with us.

The Green Market is really crowded, and … well, it’s no mall, or department store that we’re used to. I’ll just say that. Mom suggested she'd had enough of the bazaar part, and wanted to go look for food, and Mira was thrilled to interpret that as "let's get the hell out, and go back across town to the real mall/department store, Silk Way City" – I think she spends more time in this latter shopping facility. Not what Mom meant, exactly, but fine.

We went shopping, got real food for the apartment, a few more clothing items, really small diapers, and found our way back home.

Oh, there's something worth mentioning because I find it so odd. There are normal taxis here, but not many, and, according to Mira, they're quite expensive. Instead, what seemingly everyone without a car does, is hitchhike. But really, they pay the driver some negotiated price for the ride. There are some people who seem to make a living at this. They just drive around or hang out at largely populated venues, and provide rides to people who ask - very much like a "Taxi Driver", but without the fare meter, and the "TAXI" sign on the roof. Others simply make a few extra bucks on their way to work. Crazy. And that's how we got back to the apartment from the Silk Way City. Some dude and his Opel for 200 tenge (about US$1.50).

That’s it. Not much if any interest today, yet I milked it into 5 paragraphs. Talk to you tomorrow.