hello all - not falconed out at all steppie - didn't see a single falcon . I did see some of the most beautiful dogs (salukis?) and lot of other hunting/gun dogs. The Kazakh camp was lovely with a little yurt and a big yurt you could go inside and lots of kazakh falconers wearing traditional costume. They all wanted their photo taken with DS who was quite the star of the show it seemd. I think they all felt sorry for him being adopted by the single white woman and the head honcho (I think) gave him a tiny felt yurt and a badge with kazakhstan on it. I was so glad I took his little kazakh flag which he went in waving [teary eye emoticon] and his kazakh hat which he looks truly cute in.
The secretary of the british kazakh society (who is unsurpringly kazakh but married to a brit) agreed to arrange some more events for the childrne and make a special effort to include the adopted children.
It was really emotional seeing DS being passed around the kazakhs there with mum and I being the token whites for a change! The falconers in particular were incredible, between their kazakh costumes and their amazing faces - they looked like copper, so weather beaten and tanned that they almost looked polished. Incredibly beautiful in a way IYSWIM.
No other of the Kaz-adopted kids there sadly as it was a free event for us (normally £10 per adult ). If its on again next year I'd go back like a shot (beautiful location in teh grounds of stately home - terible food will bring a picnic next time)
The sec of the brit/kaz soc - watched DS being handed around around and commented on how good he was. He is, I said, he's lovely. You're so lucky, she replied. It's so nice to hear that. They think I'm lucky. The brit response tends to be he's so lucky. I love that they value him (or indeed any child) that you are considered the lucky one to have them. I suppose thats always true, isn't it. Children are an incredible priviledge (on the whole ).
Incredible day - sad and happy at the same time.