Karaganda

We are based in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, the city where Lily Grace’s orphanage, or “baby house” is located. Living in Karaganda has been fascinating, as it’s a city that’s literally transforming in front of our eyes.

Karaganda, also spelled Karagandy (Russian: Караганда), is the capital of Karagandy Province in Kazakhstan. It is the fourth most populous city in Kazakhstan, behind Almaty, Astana and Shymkent, with a population of about 500,000.

Karaganda has primarily been an industrial city, built 75 years ago to exploit nearby coal mines using the slave work of prisoners of labor camps. Recently however, with the surge in economic growth of Kazakhstan (due in large part to the discovery of vast oil reserves in the early-to-mid 1990’s), Karaganda is quickly becoming a cosmopolitan city. Observing the co-existence of the old with the brand new, native Kazakhs with Russians, the poor with those with new wealth, has made these two months a very full experience, above and beyond our primary adoption journey.

Steve and Tonya

Here's a collage a pictures we've taken in Karaganda:

A few comments about the pictures:

- water pipe: Karaganda is heated using hot water through radiators in all buildings, including residences. Water is delivered in large pipes from a central boiler. In many parts of the city these pipes run above ground, along the roadside and up and over cross streets.

- apartments: Most citizens of Karaganda live in large apartment buildings. A more analgous term for us would be "condos", as most own their apartments. Single family homes are rare.

- statue of Lenin: Along a main street is a plaza with a statue of Lenin carved in granite. This was clearly the centerpiece of the city during the Soviet era. Now, it appears to be just another piece of history in this city that has voraciously embraced capitalism.

- public workers: Karaganda employs thousands of public works employees. You see them everywhere, laying concrete tiles, restoring the opera house, or sweeping leaves off of sidewalks with handmade brooms.