Happy New Year 2016

Here's wishing everyone a happy, prosperous, healthy new year!

The Ice Palace

Christmas Doings at School

We had a charity event at the Radisson, Christmas concert, Christmas party for teachers, Secret Santa and Christmas party for kids. This week. Whew! I'm glad it's Saturday. Two more school days til vacation!

Some of my students singing at the charity bazaar

Some of the thousands of people at the bazaar

QSI's table of student art work for sale

Our wonderful Dasha

Ten year olds singing at the Christmas concert at school

A gift my Secret Santa gave me

 

Lovely Evening, Gorgeous Day

I may be repeating myself, but Astana at night is beautiful.  The buildings are lit up, with a variety of displays. Now that Christmas is coming, there are more lights.

The Wavy Towers change color

The Pope Hat Buildings with Christmas lights along the frozen river

Entrance to the park

Lighted arch along the river. More are going up

Ded Moroz

Today, December 1 is First President of Kazakhstan Day. We had the day off school. It was a gorgeous day. Another thing about Astana is that it is usually clear. It hasn't been very cold except for the three day long cold snap. The air feels crisp and clean. The park was filled with people cross country skiing, sledding, and walking.

Sledding in front of the Wavy Towers

Even the kids cross country ski

People were ice fishing on the river, sledding on the river and I saw a couple of women with packages walking on the river. I saw cross country ski tracks on the river, too. I'll have to get my courage up before I walk or ski on the river.