Tuesday, January 2, 2007

It's Great to be a Trojan!

Wow! What a game. We could hear the smack down all the way over here in Kazakhstan. Actually, we "watched" the game via the Internet. We couldn't get a live video or radio feed, so Michael (complete in his USC t-shirt and hat) refreshed the Fox Sports web site every 30 seconds and read the play-by-play out loud. When USC had a comfortable lead, he told me that he'd bet $300 on the game. (Special thanks to George Musick. He always bets against the Trojans and is slowly funding our kids' college educations.)

We had a great visit with Kyra today. We go to the orphanage every day between 10am-12pm. Today, we took packages of peanut butter crackers. Kyra ate two whole packages and still wanted more. She's starving! After our visit, Michael and I went to the grocery store and, with the help of our translator, bought all sorts of food for tomorrow's visit.

It has been snowing every night and is bone chilling cold. We wake up each morning at 7:00am, when the world is still dark outside and the only sound is the chanting from the local mosque. Islam is the most commonly practiced religion in Kazakhstan, with 47% of the population identified as Muslim (a slight majority over the 46% identified as Christian). Every morning, a man's voice chants over a loud speaker to call all the Muslims to morning prayer. I don't know if it's live or recorded, but it's a beautiful and peaceful sound. I'm going to see if I can get Michael to continue the tradition once we're back in Ladera Ranch.

Well, that's all from this side of the world. We love and miss you all.

4 comments:

mvandusen said...

Plaid pants AND USC colors IN PUBLIC...You are lucky that he didn't attact the bears which surely would have carried him off...Happy New Year...glad the trip is going well

Julie Ball said...

I think those guys are called muzzeins or some such thing. Of course, I could be totally wrong. At any rate, it is a very peaceful sound. It sounds like things are coming along very well.

I still have the Bruins' win over your Trojans to hang on to.

James and Suki Hickey said...

What a great story!!! We are just VERY HAPPY that the trip is progressing so nicely.

As an old Minnesota boy, I understand what you're going through. Stay warm.

dbeam said...

Happy New Year...sounds like all is well. There was never a question as to who was going to win the game. As for the Bruin game, there is only one thing to say, You're a bruin for 4 years and a TROJAN for LIFE!!!!! I think the Buckeyes would be shaking in there boots if they had to play us on Jan.8