Moving day!

This past weekend, I finally moved out of the hotel and over to what will be a home away from home for a while. The move, settling in and shopping for basics meant no time for a post...

The place is called the Rixos Residences, and while it's about 10-12 years old (considered "older" here), it's in decent shape. It has a gym, pool and restaurant in the building, and is attached by walkway to the Khan Shatyr mall -> It's secure, with a front desk staff on 24/7...and the flat security is over the top. Opening the front door is literally like opening a vault:

⇮⇮Finally, a door worthy of Cam Kos, 12 pins top, bottom and side ⇮⇮

And a quick tour:

After moving my 5 hockey bags of gear over, I got settled in, then went to Line Brew for supper with an old Cameco colleague who just moved to Astana as well (sorry dad, wasn't a church, but the chain looks like a ↓medieval church↓, so that counts in my mind).

Sunday was spent shopping - after brunch. A colleague - Nurik - former CEO of some state-run companies, current KAP VP of Strategy (all by age 35), a former professional gamer and very smart dude - took me to the St. Regis hotel for a popular brunch. Was ~CAD$50, with incredible executive chefs prepping whatever you want - pick your steak (tenderloin/NY/strip) - they cut it off -  game hens, shrimp kabobs, crab legs, whatever, too much to name, they grill it up while you pick up the rest - breads cheeses (every kind), shrimp, caviar, fruits, vegetables, name it. And/or pick pasta with exotic sauces - point to the fresh pasta and they cooked it and brought it to the table. Desert area had about 20-30 different exotic tiramasu, mousses, cheesecake, lemon merague...whole thing was unlike anything I've ever seen, maybe if Jeff Bezos opened a Bonanza. And the St. Regis hotel - beyond the Ritz or Shangri-La in Toronto or Four Season in London, and room cost starting around $300/night...that won't get you a drink in the Library Bar in the Toronto Royal York.

After brunch, Nurik graciously took me for a shopping tour since I needed some stuff. Went off the beaten path - to the "locals" mall. Got a duvet, sheet sets, pillows, bathroom decor (soap dispenser, etc) and a ton of hangers, since the flat had none. The selection of everything was impressive - rather than picking from 3 options and the store having 10 in the back, they have 30 options on the floor (beds, couches, sheet sets, whatever) and when you buy it, it's gone. Even Ikea is setup that way. Well kind of Ikea. "Swedmart", where they just import Ikea items (one of each) and offer them for sale!

After getting dropped back off, I hit the mall walkway for some other essentials - coffee maker, water jugs, some tupperware, more hangers...

...thought I'd also get groceries, but had to make two trips. Being stupid, I shopped like I would in Saskatoon, filling my cart with everything I needed - paper towel, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, cloths, etc - and everything I wanted to try (orange infused cold brewed coffee, pickled button squash, horse meat salami and pepperoni, cheeses, random drinks). Considering I was in a grocery store in the basement of a mall, I was drawing stares. Cashier indicated in broken English - "I've never seen a full cart here, how are you getting it home?" I hadn't considered that. After a couple of attempts to hold about 20 grocery bags and explaining to non-English speakers that I was walking up a floor, across the mall and over the catwalk, a greeter-type dude agreed (I think?) to let me take the cart if I promised to bring it back! All worked out well. Settled in for a pirated episode of "The Orville" and dinner.

Learnings for the week:

- I've set all my clocks and phone to 24-hour time, as that's all everyone uses

- I don't have any English channels on my TV
- linens are "just the right size"...sheets and duvet for a king JUST cover the SURFACE of the bed, nothing over the edge and no fitted sheets! (was same at hotel)

- My "washer" is actually a washer/dryer. Load and set it with a single cycle from washed clothes to dried clothes. If only it would fold. Stuff came out wrinkled AF and as I started to iron my pillow cases, I thought "waiiiiit a minute! WTF, I'm the only one here. Screw that. I'll sleep on wrinkled sheets, thanks." I'll iron when Kim comes over in July.

- While the climate is similar, I find the people are not as "hardy" as us Canadians...so I do feel a bit tougher in this weather. Nobody could believe I'd consider walking to work (literally <3 blocks) in my dress coat ("consider"...the driver picks me up. I feel like a tool the entire 2 minute ride, but also don't want to put a dude out of work). People drive to work in Canada Goose jackets. I got a nice sheep wool duvet and the sales person asked Nurik if I had problems with heating in my flat (common). I said no, I sleep with the window open, like I did when in a tent in the winter during my exploration days. She shook her head and said something to the effect of me having brain trauma at some point in my life.

And with that...I'm in...welcome to Kazatomprom...