Joe Ragan

I just returned home from running numerous errands. I turned on the TV to find that a major earthquake had hit China. After watching CNN for a while, I remembered that I receive a Chinese channel in English (CCTV 9).

So I turned over to the station. What were they showing? The Chinese PM in some rural city checking out the grain harvest. I have been watching for the last 10 minutes and they still haven’t mentioned any thing about the earthquake. Maybe the station is pre-recorded… I find it incredible that CNN just reported 900 students buried in their school and a Chinese station isn’t reporting a crises in their own country…

UPDATE: I did find out that much of their programming is pre-recorded…

My mother loved the color purple.  She would buy clothing with purple in them.  She especially loved flowers with purple intermingled in colorful arrays.

My mom’s birthday (April 16) and Mother’s Day were always about one month apart.  Usually for one of the special days I would send flowers.  Being overseas, the best thing to do was search online.  So, I would go to several of the larger florists online and look for some arrangement with purple flowers.  (side note: I have done this numerous times, that I received several email reminders this week to buy flowers for Mother’s Day).

Recently, a friend wrote me that the “firsts” will be difficult.  The first Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday,  Mother’s Day.  I was in Kyiv on my mother’s birthday.  Now, I am back in Karaganda, and with the email reminders, and talking with my sisters, I have had lots of time to reflect on my mom.

It has been tough for certain.  I didn’t think it would be this hard, but it has been.  I miss calling my mom.  I miss buying flowers for her.  I just miss her.

Today is Victory in Europe Day in Europe.  It was on the day that WWII came to an end in Europe.  The Soviet Army celebrated their victory on May 9.  Since last Saturday officials in Karaganda have been preparing for the celebration.

They have closed the main street twice in order for troops, etc to have time to practice their marching, routines, etc.   Day of Victory is observed every year here.

Recently, I met with one person in our regional government building.  He asked me if Victory Day is observed in the US.  I told him not to the degree it is here.  Of course, WWII was not fought on American soil (I am not forgetting the troops who died in Pearl Harbor).  It happened elsewhere and many of our WWII troops are dying each year.

I wish I knew more about the war.  My father was stationed in France (and maybe Italy), but he never spoke about the war.  I got my dad’s service records a few years ago, however, there wasn’t much information there and much of it I could not read.

I hope to some day visit France…

Also I hope to get some photos of the observance tomorrow in Karaganda…

I noticed some tress last evening which finally have green buds.  Hopefully, this means that spring is finally coming…

It still gets around freezing every night, however, this weekend promises temps in the 70’s!!!

Yippee!

Little things can mean so much. I received a couple of boxes while I was gone. One full of dryer sheets and another full of Bear Creek soups. Wow! I am so blessed.

Some colleagues told me about something they bought in one of the grocery stores in Astana. On my way home on Tuesday, I stopped by the store and found 3 bags of this… [Read more →]

When I arrived home the kitchen cabinets were already installed. Wow, they look great. Here are a couple of photos…

I am so pleased with the way they look with the flooring.  In the first photo, the refrigerator with go in the corner.  They made the cabinet over the refrigerator too large, so they are getting it remade now.  It will be ready in a few weeks.

Here are a few photos from my 5 days in Frankfurt.

This first photo is something I never believed I would see on a Mercedes Benz…

Look closely at the upper part of the window. I guess it is true that duct tape will fix anything!! By the third day I noticed the tape had been removed…

Here are some shots from the city…

Frankfurt sits on the Main river.

Interesting trees, not sure why they have been cut back… The old Opera House…

There is a beautiful Catholic church in the heart of the city, near the river. The sign was inside the church. I arrived there around 12:30 p.m. and there was a service in progress. Now, admittedly, I can imagine that they don’t appreciate visitors coming in during their service and taking pictures, however, the sign startled me. I cannot imagine ever putting up a sign that says “service in progress, no visitors please.”

My last photo is funny to me. In 2004, I visited friends that used to live in Frankfurt. A mutual friend flew over to spend time with us over Thanksgiving. James and I laughed so hard at this sign.

I had one evening free in Ukraine and spent it visiting some dear friends. Pasha and his sister, Olga attend Grace church in Kyiv where I attended. Both of them got married during the summer of 2006 and both couples had baby boys in the fall of 2007.

Here are a couple of photos:

Max, Olga, Kirill and me.  Grandma and grandpa with the two boys…

I forgot some photos on my camera from the Naurez celebration I attended with some friends.  Naurez is the New Year celebration on March 22.

A Kazkak singing group; Eltai and Massagut

Ploff, an Uzbek rice dish; Girls serving free tea

Well, I’m sitting in the Frankfurt airport.  I arrived early here as one never knows how long the lines will be at this airport…

I had a great day Sunday.  I woke up thinking I should have asked my friends Andrew and Judy  (who used to live in FF) where the International Baptist church was.  I will write later about my experience at the Catholic church I wanted to see (most interesting photo I took there.

Anyway, Judy wrote me about a Mexican restaurant in the city that served good food.  So, I decided to eat there for lunch.  I figured out the route and arrived about 1 p.m.  I ordered  enchiladas with beans and rice.  I was served chips and salsa.  The chips were obviously packaged, but the salsa was very tasty (and spicy!).

The food came and I began to eat.  It was pretty tasty.  I enjoyed it knowing it would be the last from a restaurant for some time!  Some Americans came in (the restaurant wasn’t busy…) and then one of the waiters told me that one of the Americans was a Baptist preacher.  Well, I had to talk to them of course!

After introductions, I found out he was the pastor of the International Baptist church.  We visited for some time.  It was interested how I woke up Sunday morning thinking I should have found out where the IBC was located and then God brought the pastor to me!  Small world, huh!

God is so good!