Technically, it is still day 9, but I know I won't have access to internet tomorrow. So I am writing as if it were day 8.

Hmm. How sexist did I sound in that last entry? Women showing underclothes, cleveage, skin...What a lead in to...

....Things I won't miss. I won't miss the prevalent sexist attitude that is found here. Men are always right. Women are to be subservient. Women do the housework. Men sit and watch them do the house work. I could go on like this for a while with examples of things that I have seen and experienced. But, I don't feel like it. Not today, at least. And so I won't. Instead I will talk about something....

....that I will miss. Springs in Uralsk. Uralsk has a large number of cotton wood trees. During the spring time these trees begin shedding whatever it is they shed and turn parts of the city into virtual summer snow days, especially if the day is windy. It really is a beautful thing that is next to impossible to catch on camera, so I haven't and won't do it. The other thing about spring in Uralsk is the comfortable change, the metamorphosis if you will, of people from winter clothes to summer clothes. It is nice to see skin after six months of seeing layers and layers of leather and other clothes. During the winter, the only skin ones sees is the area around the eyes and an occasional hand or two. This I don't mean in a sexist way. I feel myself better...wait, that a Kazakhstanism...I feel a lot better now that my skin is turning to a nice shade of brown. They say that you can absorb vitamin D through your skin from the sun. How interesting. I am glad that I will have to wear fewer clothes the next winter or two...maybe, depending on where I am. I am pretty sure that whereever I end up that I won't have to deal with -45C for weeks on end.

And that concludes day 8's ramble.

I hope you are all well and happy with life and all that jazz. BTW. I saw "Guys and Dolls" on television today. The words were in Russian, but the songs don't get translated. It's marvellous.

Take care.