If you have adopted from Kazakhstan or are in the paperwork stages -- please mark your calendars to attend the 7th Annual Family Weekend – Friday, June 22nd through Sunday, June 24th. We have secured a group rate of $71.99 for families who will travel to the event at Comfort Suites Inn located in Twinsburg, OH – please call 330-963-5909 by May 24th to guarantee the group rate. To receive this rate book under the Midwest Kaz Group. These are suite rooms and include a hot breakfast buffet in the rate.... more

As always a big thank you to Susan for creating her website and keeping it up to date with information for parents who are considering adopting, have adopted – the greatest joy is keeping our children connected and she has a link on her website for local groups through-out the USA:

US Regional Groups for families with children from Kazakhstan: http://kazakhadoptivefamilies.com/groups.html

Since August of 2001, this group of CA families has shared info and was... more

From the Desk of Susan Saxon

Info about this year's Kazakh Aul of the US's Nauryz festival to be held on March 24th in Arlington, Mass is now up on the Aul's website, including information about programs and a downloadable registration form. Nauryz is a major Central Asian holiday to welcome the new year at the spring equinox.

Our Kazakhstan Culture Liaison, Assylgul Dalabayeva, is coming from Almaty to perform Dombra, plus traditional dances will be performed by Gulsaya Tuleubayeva, Daniyar and Bakhtiyar Baidaralin. Admission fees are cheaper if you register by March 17th http://www.kazakh-aul-us.org/Activities.htm

For... more

The IU Navruz Student Association invites you to the Annual Celebration of Navruz, the New Year Holiday for many of the peoples of Afghanistan, Iran, Central Asia (Kazakhstan), the Caucasus and Turkey. This year's Navruz Festival will be on Saturday, March 24, 2007 from 2PM - 7PM on IU's main Bloomington, Indiana Campus in the Wilkie Auditorium, 150 North Rose Avenue (off of E. 3rd Street). Following the program, "a taste of Central Asia" will be served in Forest dining hall. The IU Navruz Festival has three components: contemporary and traditional... more

FROM THE OFFICE OF SUSAN SAXON:

If you know you can come to camp this summer and want to get the best rates, you have less than 2 weeks to submit your registration materials and deposit. The early bird deadline is February 7, 2007. We will be accepting registrations after this date, but campers whose registrations/deposits are received after Feb. 7th will be charged at the Regular rates.

In case you haven't heard, the Kazakh Aul of the U.S., Association for American & Kazakh Families is thrilled to be hosting our Zhailau, Kazakh Heritage Camp for Families once again this summer in New Hampshire. The dates are July 23-28, 2007, and more information, including... more

From the desk of: Susan Saxon VolunteerAdministrative Executive Director Kazakh Aul of theU.S., Association for American & Kazakh Families

The Kazakh Aul of the US's summer camp host site, the Geneva Point Center on Lake Winnepesaukee in New Hampshire just informed me that they had a group cancel a week in July 2007 and they offered this week to our group.

This is exciting news for our Aul because many families across the U.S. are unable to come during the previously reserved August week because their children return to school during that time. The opportunity to hold Zhailau during July means that many more of our members and other... more

As I’ve said in many of my blogs – I’m constantly learning in life and through those life experiences – I am growing….

I learned many things about adoption through raising Becca – especially during her teen years. She did the required school heritage report in 7th grade and no longer wanted to be “Albanian” – it broke my heart. I still remember feeling so lost when I tried to have her see my view of Albanian. We discussed adoption and the journey to her openly through her entire youth – she shared her story and her heart with those around her.... more