Names and other things

Lithuanian names used to just stretch the vocal chords a bit, but my new students' Kazakh names will be the ultimate test.
Askarova
Togjan
Kyzzhibek
Magzhan
Asel...all girls so far
Sham ills
Bibigul
Zhanybek...first male
Shirin
Abzal
Gulzhana
Otesh
Gulchekra
Shakhnoza
Alihanids
Merey.......and the list goes on

I sure hope these students have a sense of humor, for there will be some mispronunciations. Everything is pretty set for Monday's classes. The rooms are quite small, so it's good there are less than 10 kids in each class. I had to reprint some articles at Grade 2. Then I am going with Grades 4 and 6 to start off. Our teachers' seminar were successful...so successful that the teachers want to continue them after the student lessons for the next 10 days. So, I will teach from 9-1, have lunch and continue from 2:30-4. It will be a full day.

I live about 20 minutes by bus/ walking at the Baptist church building. Slava is pastor there and also director do the school. The two entities are separate, except that Slava has ties to both. It has it's confusions, but living in a new culture means adapting to their rules and cultural nuances. It's all good.

Have I mentioned the weather? For me it is hot...+90 every day. However, the humidity is only around 14%. I don't sweat as much here. Last night , Slava and his wife invited us over for supper. They live in a first floor Russian style apartment building. They have two children: a girl about 5 and a newborn baby boy about 4 months. After supper we played hide and seek with the 5 year old. It was a good evening, yet it was very tiring.

Below is a shot from the teacher seminar...




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Location:1 May St,Shymkent,Kazakhstan