Dostyk is Russian for friendship, it’s also the name of the village where we live. Purpose built homes often described as a little bit of Americana.  They are spacious and comfortable, but more importantly warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  Nearing 100 huddled together in the middle of Atyrau, some less generous describe them as monotone and bland.  To us however they are reassuringly familiar in their uniformity, and are home when we are thousands of miles from our homes.