Scenes from the Steppe

In my youth, I always associated both Siberia and the Soviet Steppe with serious punishment. I imagined scenes from Dr. Zhivago and Fiddler on the Roof with harsh winters, scarce resources, and almost certain death for the exiled. In my adult life, I have been lucky enough to visit both Siberia and the Steppes of Kazakhstan. Although there is no escaping the terrible history and difficult winter conditions, both are among the most beautiful places that I have visited. I have been fortunate enough to accompany my husband on some recent work trips to Kazakhstan. During a recent trip to the Astana, I requested a tour of the surrounding Steppe. My tour guide could not imagine why I would want to take such a drive, and would not let me exit the car as the sun set on our return to the capital. "The wolves in the steppe will eat you alive" she warned. I proceeded to have Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild" in my head for the rest of the drive.